Heron Lake Plateau Red robin

As the days passed and the emotions churned up by the confrontation with Colt—right on the heels of the relocation and all that noise—settled, Towhee realized she felt less and less inclined to consider inviting Quixote into leadership. She and the Blackthorns were far from perfect, yet they were doing the thing and didn't need help. Besides, it had occurred to Towhee that the Alpha male should be her mate. She'd never felt so much as a romantic inkling toward anyone (except maybe that Étoille guy, now her sister's baby daddy—not that Towhee knew the first thing about that). She could see herself pairing up with Quixote in a sort of businesslike arrangement... but what if he wanted a proper romance, with her or otherwise?

The Alpha brushed these thoughts aside upon arriving at the Betas' den. She had spoken to her godparents at length about Quixote's eligibility but she knew they'd let her make the ultimate decision and support her either way. But right now was not about business or leadership or anything like that. Towhee was here for one thing and one thing only: she wanted to play with her little brothers.

-Tywyll, are you making an escape?- she asked playfully upon arriving at the den site and finding the little black cub scooting about outside. She hadn't even noticed the robin, though she became very aware of it when X suddenly dropped from the sky, pounced it and just as promptly winged away with the poor birb squeezed tight in his talons.

"Damn it, X," Towhee exclaimed loudly, stepping closer to Tywyll in case the hawk had frightened him.