Sun Mote Copse I feel so close to you right now, it's a force field.

His lips formed the words, "Not much right now." Towhee's own lips parted to ask if that was normal, though she decided that it was, judging by his unconcerned expression. She blinked down at Meerkat for a beat, who unlatched and began to squirm tellingly.

"Meerkat," she replied to Eljay's question right before plucking up the newborn and placing her between her forelegs. Under the caretaker's watchful eye, she gently rolled Meerkat onto her back and began licking her, compelled by some instinct to help her infant eliminate and then clean her. It should've been gross—especially with a witness—but Towhee accepted it easily as part of her new role. If anything, it was kind of funny.

"Maybe I should've called her Poop Factory though," she mused, finishing the job and looking at up her older brother, giving him a literal shit-eating grin and wondering if he'd remark on her skills at wiping a baby's ass with her tongue.