Heron Lake Plateau Rivets and screws.

Timing had a weird way of catching you with your pants down. Being in heat was not something Poe had ever experienced, but she had no doubt that was what was happening to her when she awoke that day to find the blood and the smell and the hormones singing dirty things in her ears. Unlike Towhee, however, she did not immediately run off to find a guy to bone. She kept herself hidden and contemplated her next move.

Because if there was one thing that could NOT happen, it was for her to get pregnant. But how to prevent that? Staying here and hiding the whole time didn't seem likely to work. She was surrounded by males she wasn't related to that would certainly take notice of her. While her resolve to not engage was strong, she didn't know how well it would hold up against instinct if she were to encounter one of them. The other option was to go to Raven or one of the other females to see if they would help guard her, but that seemed like asking quite a lot.

The other option was to go. She'd accomplished what she'd come here to do, so it was time. She'd promised to let them know before she left, and she really wanted to say good bye to each of them. But it seemed now like a bad idea. But maybe if she could just find Raven and explain, she could pass the message along. It wasn't ideal, but it was maybe the safest route.

Poe steeled herself and crept out of her hiding place, intent on locating Raven, if only to speak with her and get the woman's opinion on the matter. If it came to a hasty exit from the Redhawks and the Wilds, she would find a way to be okay with that, though she was very helpful the medic might think of some alternative route for her to take (like making herself scarce until she wasn't in heat anymore and then coming back, which hadn't occurred to her and I blame her hormones).

Unfortunately, Poe did not find Raven. She found Towhee. And Rye. And did I mention the whole timing catching you with your pants down thing? Because that was basically what Poe inadvertently walked in on, or would have if wolves usually wore pants. Her eyes widened as Towhee's scent overwhelmed her senses and mingled with her own. She was telling Rye to... What now?

Poe shook her head, looking between the two of them like a deer in the headlights. She should go. Why wasn't she moving? Oh my god, she was so uncomfortable. Just go. Just go just go just go just go just go.

"Oh... gods," Poe stuttered, "I'm.. sorry... Oh dear." She looked away, crazy flustered, but still not moving WHY.