Redhawk Caldera Fire away, fire away.

He agreed with her, though Towhee wondered if it was really that simple. Not a chance, she thought, though she said nothing. A moment later, Eljay declared that he needed to go, promising not to go far. She knew she should let him, though before she even realized what was happening, she felt words springing off her tongue.

"I need to find a den," she blurted at his back, "and I'd be happy to use the Blackthorn one, if..." Even as she said the words, Towhee realized she was putting her foot in her mouth in a huge way. "Unless you'd rather reserve it," she said hastily, suddenly feeling like the world's biggest asshole. "But these kids and me, we could use someplace..." Because she would never set foot near that cave again.

She was sitting, so she placed a paw on her belly. Since the miscarriage, it had lost some of its heft. But they kicked away, like usual, and Towhee let out a sigh. Their biological father may very well not be in the picture anymore. There was still Phox but he had his babies with Niamh to consider. And right now, Towhee wanted nothing to do with her, which forced a chasm between her brother and those babies too. She had no idea if it would resolve by the time they all got here.

"I'm sorry, I know I'm being a selfish dick," Towhee murmured, not even sure if Eljay had stopped to listen, as she was now gazing down at her own belly, "but we need you."