Redsand Canyon dunefruit

Towhee very nearly missed Tamar’s reply, since she turned away again to swipe at her eyes. But the Praefectus followed the movement carefully this time, catching most of the words. For a moment, she couldn’t parse them, though. Your time for—? she thought, almost aloud, when it clicked.

She drew in a sharp breath, the woman’s expression causing a long forgotten ache to echo deep inside Towhee. She blew out the breath, eyeing Tamar, trying to guess her age. Had she, like Towhee of yore, gone through a heat only to bear no fruit?

But Tamar looked young to her, young enough perhaps that perhaps her season simply hadn’t come yet. Towhee could empathize on that level too. It could be hard here in Mereo, watching everyone couple up and pop out kids, some of them by complete accident, while sitting here and waiting for nature to run its course. The FOMO was real.

Hey, Towhee spoke up after a moment’s thought, catching those teary eyes, your worth is not defined by your ability to have children. She paused, just in case she was barking up the wrong tree entirely here, then continued, But I totally understand how you feel. She thought about mentioning her own saga, though somehow she didn’t think telling Tamar she’d gone more than a year thinking she was barren would be very reassuring. Instead, she said, It is hard to be patient while feeling sidelined. That said, I’m sure your time will come. Is this your second year?