Heron Lake Plateau got a touch like a thorn

Towhee didn't hear the howl, though she had watched his approach from the cliffs above and began to descend toward the borderline even as his snout pointed skyward. Her orange eyes assessed him as she approached, noting that he looked a lot thinner than the last time they'd met, which had also been the first time.

"Did you thunder smash that?" she asked, pointing at the dead grouse.