Redhawk Caldera New rule: you steal my baby, you get punched.

She didn't hear the mewl, though she saw the pup's mouth move as she leaned into the touch. Towhee smiled, then glanced upward when Finley stirred. She was cleaning another of the little girls and the Xi watched, fascinated, as the puppy sneezed suddenly. It took her a moment to realize what had happened (without the sound to give her a hint). When she did, her eyes crinkled in merriment.

"Well, that was cute as crap," she said, mostly to Finley, who took the time to quickly give each pup's name before closing her eyes again. Appreciating the implicit trust being shown, Towhee curled even more tightly around the puppies, touching her nose to Fiadh's again before reaching out and nosing along Clover's tiny little spine.