Redsand Canyon (M) The needle.

Encounter? Towhee echoed, her laughter suddenly reappearing. Is that what the kids are calling it these days? She couldn’t say why but, shit, that really tickled her funny bone. She tried very hard to suppress it, though she just ended up jiggling and making stupid noises through her nose.

She decided not to voice her thought about suppressing her heat. Although Towhee feared what might happen—she hadn’t been in control of herself, historically—she reminded herself that she hadn’t had much trouble last year. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad this year. Hell, maybe it wouldn’t even happen. Usually it would’ve come and gone by now.

That thought erased her laughter again. Taking steps to prevent estrus would probably be smart, but she suddenly realized she wasn’t actually ready to do something so final. Was she really prepared to skip this year? Did she really not want any more kids? At one point, she’d been pretty convinced, but so much had changed, including her mind. And, of course, now it would be nothing short of a complication.

Trying to shove those thoughts down, Towhee murmured aloud, I really hope Rue—and Germanicus, of course—will let me get their kids to call me Aunt Towhee… That thought settled her some.