Sun Mote Copse Ten thousand hours and ten thousand more.

Towhee would be a big, fat liar if she said she hadn't gone to ground for the rest of her heat and maybe cried a little (read: a lot) over the idea of Phox and Niamh. She was happy for them, truly! But hearing about her brother's and friend's hopeful prospects while facing her own bleak outlook was tough. She gave herself a good few days to wallow in the name of self-care, then emerged afterward feeling more or less back to her normal, usual self.

She was headed out for an afternoon patrol when she crossed paths with Phox and Sundance. "Hey guys," Towhee greeted, the tip of her tail waving, "what's up?" She could take a few moments to catch up with them, particularly the latter, who she looked at directly as she queried, "How're you?" Little did Towhee know that her other charge had gone missing sometime while she was busy screwing around.