Heron Lake Plateau fake happy

She should have expected the frank question, especially from Clover, though it surprised Towhee into slowing to a stop as she considered how to answer. -I have reasons to believe we've been wrong about Screech,- she signed slowly. -He's still an asshat but I think he's been the victim of bad luck, bad timing and misunderstanding more than anything else. It's... complicated.- That felt like such a cop-out of an answer. Towhee's white-streaked shoulders sagged as she shot the girl an apologetic look.

"You don't have to trust him," she continued out loud after taking a breath, "although I'd argue we should all try to give him a chance to earn it." This time, she shrugged. "I don't know how this is going to shake out in the end. But trust your gut. Keep an eye on Screech, especially around your little brothers. Let me—ah, let the leaders—know if you see anything sketchy." Towhee wondered if that had come out sounding as fumbling as it had felt tripping out of her mouth.

Motioning at Clover, Towhee resumed walking toward where she knew the Betas were quartering with the puppies. "You were here first," she said to Clover, motioning toward the figures of @Elwood and @Finley as they approached. "Just don't keep them all day," she requested with a faint smirk that didn't reach her orange eyes. "I have something important I need to talk to them about."