Firefly Glen I shiver

It pleased her when Toad began to speak. Meerkat held still, giving every bit of her attention to her friend. When Toad mentioned the newfound pack's median age, it didn't quite click that she didn't include herself among them. She quickly segued to Kukutux, explaining how much she admired her friend, particularly in her role as a mother. In contrast, she spoke very deprecatingly of herself, implying she didn't possess beauty, youth—click!—or any particular claims to fame, least of all motherhood.

Meerkat couldn't help but think of her own mother. She didn't know the full breadth of Towhee's struggles, though her mother had explained some of it to her. Quietly, the youth wondered if Toad was afflicted with infertility. But there must be more to the story. She almost described herself as old and ugly without actually using either of those words, which made Meerkat frown gently at her friend, who had by now turned aside.

"But you're young and pretty," she found herself arguing. She was a little out of her depth, truthfully, and on some level, she was aware these were platitudes, though she meant them. "Among other things," she was sure to add, since those certainly weren't the only or even most important attributes her companion possessed.

After a beat of thoughtful silence during which Meerkat gnawed on the inside of her cheek, she questioned, "Why don't you think you're destined for motherhood? It sounds like it's something you want." Meerkat spoke these words slowly, trying to catch Toad's eye to gauge whether she was right about that.