Redhawk Caldera Circus minimus.

Fennec quickly confirmed, "There's someone." Towhee felt some tension leave her muscles and she nodded, forgetting momentarily that her daughter wouldn't see it. Although it definitely wasn't great, knowing there was an actual threat to Bronco's life, at least he hadn't lost his mind like his mother before him.

The stiffness returned an instant later when the ramifications began to unfold in her mind. "No," Towhee agreed quite firmly, "a threat to Bronco is a threat to you and Killdeer too. It's a threat to all of us, and we're here to protect you guys. That's the entire point of a pack, a family." Maybe she wouldn't use the word "coward," though Towhee had a hard time making sense of the rationale behind Bronco's flight.

She mulled for another moment or two and then said, truthfully, "I'm with you. Leaving wasn't the right call, especially if he just decided to do it unilaterally?" She paused, wondering. "I'm glad you told me about this, 'cause I also don't think something like this should be kept from the pack. We want to keep you guys safe, so we need to be informed. I didn't realize..." She trailed off with a shake of her head. Well, it didn't matter now.

What mattered now was putting the situation to rights. Towhee sensed Fennec was still waiting on some guidance on where to go from here. "I know I already said it but I'm sorry. This is a lot to deal with alone. Fuck." She wiped a paw over her mouth, thinking, eyes resting on Fennec's face. "I think both of you have your hearts in the right places but he shouldn't have ever left. And I understand why you gave him an ultimatum, though that probably wasn't the best timing either."

Spending those weeks with Rave, she'd learned a valuable lesson about addressing the root of the problem rather than just its symptoms. "I'm here to support you guys, so's the whole pack. You guys need a sense of security, stability. That starts with making sure you both feel safe here. Maybe once that happens, Bronco will feel more like himself and you two can build your trust again. And happiness will follow. You both deserve that."