Lake Rodney Sugar in the creek

The back to back confrontations with Fennec and Reyes had taken a lot out of her. She felt like shit in every possible way, including physically. Nevertheless, she dragged herself to the borders to do a patrol. Towhee paced herself slower than usual, trying to ignore what felt like acid eating a hole in her stomach. Her head pounded too, the constant pain at least helping her keep it clear of all the dark thoughts that wanted to well up like poison.

On the southernmost leg of her journey, she saw a dark figure beside the lake. For an instant, Towhee thought it might be Phox. But as she stopped and stared, she realized the body type wasn't right. It wasn't anybody she knew. She drew in a breath and thought about confronting him, only to make a leery face at the stretch of ground between them, as if searching for snakes waiting to ambush her.