Redsand Canyon ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Maxim took a seat next to her and Towhee rolled her head to shoot him a weary smile. Otherwise, she kept her eyes on Aquene, so she caught it when the medic told her to chew on some needles in preparation. Resigning herself, she lapped up the fragrant needles and began masticating.

Every single one of my kids has left me at some point or another, Towhee said almost conversationally, as they do, I guess. I love them and I’m always happy when they’re around, although I wouldn’t say it’s the same thing. Point taken, though. I also have the rest of… well, yous guys. She laughed wearily and used her good foreleg to gesture at both Aquene, Maxim and the rest of Mereo in general.

She lapsed into thoughtful silence then, letting Aquene work. Her dry eyes raised thoughtfully to Maxim again. The dude looked so young, though maybe that was because Towhee felt more aware of her age lately. She remembered what Germanicus had pointed out about age. That made her fall down into the rabbit hole of her memories about that whole conversation. She remembered resenting the idea of even asking permission to breed back in Moonglow, and now she was consider giving up her independence and rank for the small chance of a “yes.”

Towhee shook her head and pointedly looked away from Maxim. Not so long ago, she’d been convinced she didn’t even want more children. She wanted to get back to that place. Couldn’t she just be content, playing aunt to Rue’s kids—and maybe even the others born here—and enjoying the company of her older kids and, at some point, their kids? It was just the season messing with her head, but the Redhawk believed in mind over matter.

A sharp jab of pain jolted her out of her thoughts with a hiss. Towhee wanted to yank her leg out of reach but she made herself hold still and stay put.