Hideaway Strath Stay a thousand years.

Towhee shook out her coat as they began to walk, turning to face Dingo when he paused noticeably to say something to her. Her head cocked at his musing. "I plan to live here a very long time," she replied, "the rest of my life, if I can help it." Her lips pursed. Had she felt that way about the caldera? The plateau? She couldn't remember. But she'd relocated twice in her life now and was not interested in making it a hat trick. She hadn't lived here long yet but she planned to do just that, then die here one day far in the future (no dying young like so much of her family).

They'd begun moving again and Dingo stepped aside to let her pass in front. Towhee had been a leader most of her life and, despite her pride (and her elitism), she wasn't one for pulling rank. But there was something pleasing about the reminder that she was the ruler here. There was no Raven (not that she minded her sister's dominance) and definitely no Quixote. Was it terrible that she veritably relished that latter thought? There was only Phox and they were equal partners, which was exactly how it was supposed to be.

Shaking off these errant thoughts, Towhee said, "I don't think you ever told me where you came from."