Redhawk Caldera Little Eden

She appreciated how Bronco almost always made the effort of signing as well as speaking. Towhee laughed openly at his words, if only because she felt like a dirty diaper most of the time. It wasn't that far from the truth, considering how many times a day her pups voided on her. But she appreciated the sentiment and gave him a careworn smile.

"You too," she rejoined, aware how lame that probably sounded. "I'm glad you're back. And..." Towhee paused, swirling her tongue around her mouth as she carefully chose her words. "I know you and your mom didn't necessarily get along but, for what it's worth, I'm sorry about the... circumstances." Those pups she'd run off with were his baby siblings, after all.

For the nth time, she wondered if Niamh had been forced to stop who-knows-where to give birth and that's what was keeping Phox: he was tending to her and their newborns. That was probably the best case scenario. Hopefully they would get word soon, one way or another. Towhee couldn't quite envision a future where everyone was one big, happy family again, but... well, she didn't want to dwell or speculate right now.

"I bet both my daughters shat their britches when you rejoined," Towhee thought aloud, changing the subject. "I'm referring to the two elder ones, though the babies deifnitely shat themselves too. And me. And the entire den." Suddenly her eyes grew distant and unfocused. "So. Much. Shit. Bronco."