Hideaway Strath How I wish you were here

Which one of them had finally succumbed to old age: Finley? Or Elwood? Somehow, Towhee couldn't imagine them dying one at a time. Surely when one went, the other wouldn't be far behind. So did it matter who'd gone first? But before she could wander much further down this inane path, Niamh spoke, putting all her fears to rest. Her godparents were fine.

She hated to admit it, yet she breathed a (thankfully silent) sigh of relief at the news. Of course, a heartbeat later, the horror crept up on her. Kiwi had attacked Colt, resulting in his death? That was enough to throw Towhee completely off course. Those were the facts, then there were the feelings. Although she couldn't even pretend to feel the loss, she could see the grief written all over Niamh.

-"Oh shit,"- she breathed, moving a step closer to Niamh, -"I'm sorry, Niamh. That..."- Towhee didn't know what she intended to say. She made a helpless gesture, then swept forward to press her shoulder against her friend's in a supportive embrace better known as a hug. There was something else she wouldn't want to admit: with the news of Colt's death, it felt like the wedge between them was gone, just like that.