Heron Lake Plateau But I'm ten toes down, I will not fold.

Towhee gave up on every pretense as she engaged her son, tickling him and cooing straight gobbledygook, very much living in and enjoying the moment. She knew the sayings about how kids seemed to grow up in the blink of an eye. She had seen it for herself, with her younger siblings. That was in the back of her mind right now as she tried to be present.

But, eventually, her responsibilities niggled at her so much that she couldn't ignore them any longer. Hoping that Fig was tuckered out again, Towhee announced that she really ought to go patrol, then planted a big, slobbery kiss on the crown of the kid's head. "I'll be back as soon as I'm done," the Beta promised, giving Fig's ribs one last tickle before she finally tore herself away to tend to her duties.