Redhawk Caldera Kiss my (uh oh).

Out of politeness, Rue hadn't asked Towhee to explain her decision, but the Sovereign did anyway.

No things really hadn't gone according to plan. A litter that was supposed to have two fathers ended up with none.. at least the Auntie Woo thing had worked out. No doubt Towhee and Phox had intended to raise their children up side-by-side, and they had yet to even meet. Well, with the exception of Tierra, whom Rue assumed would have come in contact with her cousins during her brief stay with Phox outside the Caldera. 

Although Ruenna knew how difficult and dramatic everything had been lately, Tohwee's admission that she had struggled came as a surprise to Rue. 

"Towhee, I didn't know. I'm sorry." Rue's expression clouded. Was there more she could have done to support Towhee? The Sovereign always seemed so strong. 

But Towhee didn't dwell on that. She went on to sing Killdeer's praises, and Rue smiled despite herself. Towhee wanted more kids around, even if they weren't hers. Especially if they weren't hers. 

"I'll see what I can do about that," Rue answered, raising an eyebrow facetiously. "That reminds me, weren't you supposed to be finding me a mate..?" She was definitely kidding at this point. Towhee had enough on her plate with the kids, and Phox, and Wraen, and Reyes, and the venomous snakebite, et cetera, ad infinitum.