Northstar Vale Incredible thoughts, incredible minds

Oh, this was the hardest decision he'd ever faced.

He heard out Towhee with his teeth gritted, then welcomed Fennec's insight—that matched every single word he could have said.

She was so smart, his mother. He wished he could just make her do—

No. He had  to make his own path.

Epoch was connected to Mereo, he said. We want our own thing—Ma and I. And we want the Redhawks. . . We want something of our own. Not Mereo.

Killdeer stared at Towhee, face plaintive. Please join us, Gramma, he said, expression guileless.

It was their last shot.