Sun Mote Copse How can we live in charcoal towns?

-"There's no signs of pregnancy whatsoever,"- Raven had eventually said and signed. Maybe she'd thought that's what Towhee had wanted to hear; she hadn't known about her younger sister's hopes and dreams. Towhee hadn't been able to bear the uncertainty in the medic's face and had simply thanked her and left soon after. Fortunately, they'd done much of their catching up prior to the exam.

A young voice broke into Towhee's flashback, scattering her thoughts. She opened her eyes and beheld Nellie, the source of so much strife between her brother and friend. But the mercenary couldn't muster up any feelings about her or that entire issue, not with her hopes for motherhood snuffed out for good, the fatal blow so fresh that the smoke still lingered, burning in her breast and making it impossible to breathe.

She didn't even realize she was on the verge of passing out until her chin suddenly dropped to her chest and she lurched forward. Luckily, Towhee actually caught herself and snapped out of it in part, striking out a foreleg to break her fall. She sank down more slowly after that, her entire right flank rubbing down the pine bark, which bit at her skin and left clods of sap stuck in her fur. She leaned heavily against the base of the tree.

"No," she finally answered Nellie's inquiry. "Could you please call for Fig and Fen?"