Redhawk Caldera ...and then everything goes screaming off the rails and it's our asses.

Towhee hesitated at first, and Elwood would not have been surprised if she turned down his offer. But after a moment of consideration, she agreed and suggested that Colt join them and Fiadh act as referee. He nodded, already taking a step back so that he could turn to face his brother-in-law and daughter, only to be distracted by Clover's sudden arrival. She was -- as always -- raring to go, and she and her sister pronounced their readiness to fight.

"You girls know you aren't coming with us to fight Blackfeather," he said, his voice stern. He and Finley had made that clear, and no amount of protesting on the children's part would change their mind. But sparring was a practice that he believed they could learn from, especially if they decided to become a warrior or guardian when they were a bit older. "But you can spar with us now, if you want," he offered.

Gesturing to Towhee, he added, "We do have a master guardian here who can show us how it's done."