Moonspear I awoke only to find my lungs empty

The truth? He gave her a brief, alarmed stare, wondering what truth she could have told Toad. That he'd once nearly barfed on her because her mother had mentioned sex? That was a truth he hoped Meerkat would take with her to the grave, but was otherwise perfect ammunition should she ever choose to knock him down a few pegs. Instead, though, it seemed she represented him kindly, and he laughed. He was about to ask if she'd mentioned Broncosaurus when-

Meerkat froze, and he did as well. He felt the pattering of rain fall on his back with such sudden intensity that he wondered if they'd walked into a cloudburst, but she said she'd heard something. Another pattering of rain fell on his back, and Bronco slowly, carefully, lifted his head to gaze up, half fearing what he might see above them in the trees, shaking the water droplets down upon them.