Redsand Canyon Cut slope.

He swallowed down the betrayal. Kept it tight within him. It threatened to surface when Towhee's call rang out, but he again forced it back and away, not lighting his gaze or choking his voice.

Instead, he came, arriving after his mother, a smile upon his face.

Gramma, Killdeer greeted, and strode forward to nuzzle her briefly with both the confidence of a warrior and the affection of a grandson, eyes slitted in comfort from the latter. I missed you. What's up?

He stepped back to flank Fennec, tail flicking unconsciously against her hind leg in reassurance.

The two made a handsome team, if he did say so himself.