Heron Lake Plateau I roam the city in a shopping cart

She expected to feel different without her title, yet Towhee felt exactly the same. That included her gimpy leg, which still showed no signs of revival. She had come to accept that she would never feel it again. It was a tough pill to swallow, yet at the same time, she was proud of how well she was adapting.

After a long, meandering circuit around the plateau, Towhee made her way to the lake for a drink. Maybe today's the day, she mused as she shuffled toward the shore, eyeballing The Roost. She hadn't risked the swim yet. She was afraid the dead weight of her leg would increase drag, not to mention she was down a paddle.

Before she could deliberate much more, she noticed Ambrose skulking along the shoreline. Towhee's ears shifted as she regarded the swarthy Kappa. It was hard to believe he was Niamh's brother; their pelts could not have been more different, save for the auriferous streak down his back. It made her think briefly of the Blackthorns, which reminded her of her godparents. She hoped they were enjoying their trip.

"Hey," she eventually called, setting aside her itinerant thoughts. "Everything all right?" she wondered, noticing the proverbial thundercloud above his brow.