Heron Lake Plateau [M] the red and the black

She was likely the only member of his family that cared about him, and he could bask in her company - and her love - without the usual constraints. There was a lot on his mind and the inquiry towards Towhee's condition was the tip of a very large ice berg. It was mostly his way of starting a conversation; while he had no trouble voicing himself in the past, things felt as if they had reached a tipping point.

When she asked about him, he wasn't expecting it. Screech glanced at her - studied that face he hadn't seen in months - and dismissed her with, I'm fine.

Not knowing what to do next, he resorted to silence and good company while his thoughts ran away within him.