Heron Lake Plateau fake happy

By the time Towhee's gaze returned to Finley's face, Clover had evidently already spoken. Whatever she'd said, the Beta female replied with a simple, "Okay." She then looked expectantly at the Alpha, just as Elwood did when he materialized. It suddenly occurred to her that she'd been spacing out a little bit and promptly blinked and frowned in apology.

"Sorry, um." She glanced at Clover, wondering if she was going to say more. Perhaps she'd simply needed to vent her thoughts about Screech to a wider audience. Judging by the way everyone seemed to be looking at her now, it was her turn already. Towhee deliberated a moment. Did she want Clover to overhear what she was about to say?

Deciding she'd find out sooner or later, just like the rest of the pack, Towhee cleared her throat overly loudly before slowly saying, "I'm stepping down as Alpha. I just don't think I'm cutting it. And now X is gone." She rolled her shoulders in a sort of self-conscious shrug, face crumpling a little as she added another, "Sorry." For dropping this bomb on them in the middle of so much drama, for which she was also sorry... and, of course, for not living up to their expectations as the head of the pack.