Sun Mote Copse Coyote ugly.

Raspberries were at least familiar, even if Towhee couldn’t say she’d ever eaten either the berries or their leaves. She wondered if they’d be able to find any this time of year. She frowned thoughtfully.

Oh, just fucked around and found out, Towhee replied. I had my heat a few weeks back, she continued, frown deepening at the recollection, and then maybe a week ago, I… miscarried? I think? I passed a pretty big clot, then I’ve been bleeding ever since.

Towhee blinked slowly. There had been that brief bout of nausea the other day. What if… no, she wouldn’t entertain the thought. If she’d been pregnant in the first place, it had ended. She was almost sure of it. Keyword: “almost.”

Do you think we’ll find any raspberry leaves around here? Maybe we can look while you tell me what you’ve been up to, she suggested after a moment.

She couldn’t help but wonder how Fennec would handle her heat this year. Or perhaps she’d already gone through it too? Inevitably, that line of thought made her think of Fen’s only child. Towhee missed that kid, who wasn’t a kid at all anymore.

Oh, she blurted abruptly, then wished she hadn’t because now she would have to explain herself. Shoot, Towhee muttered. Did Meerkat tell you about your brother? And… Gods, poor Killdeer. And Bronco?