Sun Mote Copse Plasma storm.

Or did it? As their eyes locked and he replied unhesitatingly that yes, he did want kids, plenty of them, another errant thought crossed her mind. Towhee could quite possibly have more children of her own and plan accordingly next season. That thought alone made her heart skip a beat. She would have to try to control herself next year, be choosier; she should only go after suitors with the best possible genes. (Maybe she should even consider a *gasp* mate...?) Bronco came from the same stock as Colt, yes, but also Finley and the rest of the Blackthorns. Despite their shared surname, they didn't share blood.

He said something to that end and Towhee caught herself, eyes widening just in time for another flash of lightning to veritably blind her. She squeezed her eyes shut and let out a breath, trying to redirect her thoughts. Her guts twisted and her blood felt overly hot in her veins. It reminded her of her unexpected feelings toward Arcturus, which had come on after watching him mentor Meerkat. Despite how weird she felt at the moment, she laughed, eyes still tightly closed. How strange, even backward, was it that watching men doting on her little girl pushed all her buttons?

Slowly, she reopened her eyes but pointedly did not look at Bronco for a moment. She harnessed her thoughts and eventually turned toward him, not looking directly at his face as she lamely said, "True, true..." Something else occurred to her and she finally did make eye contact. "So you're not planning on flying the coop too? Huh." Awkward thoughts aside, this truly pleased her and her tail tapped the ground.

Between them, Meerkat put her head on her outstretched paws. Her eyes remained wide open, though it was likely only a matter of time. Something about storms always lulled her right to sleep.