Verdigris Ravine (M) And wrens have begun to sing an old song in the mouth of your kettle.

S'ari is not going to-- She cut herself off, remembering even in her current state that Zoug did not want Towhee to know of Candle or the pups. Haltingly, she switched to Clan-speak, as it were, though her motions were not sure. Dug out own den, she told him. Not cave. Wolf will stay far from Candle. Not worry. Then she added, aloud, Zoug will not chase Towhee from these lands until S'ari speaks to her again. Not unless she is a direct threat, which she will not be.

Then, without waiting for Zoug to respond, she glanced at her friend. Come, she said stiffly, wincing, wobbly on her paws. S'ari will lead you to water, then you will stay and S'ari will go away and have her babies, yes? She began to lead Towhee inside the Ravine. And if this one, she looked at Zoug, gives you trouble, come hide in S'ari's birthing den. Then he cannot reach you, for fear of hurting the sunlings.

There would probably be hell to pay for her behavior later, but she did not care. She would not leave a helpless one out here to die in the desert heat of some nasty infection. She stopped walking as another contraction rolled through her and gritted her teeth and moaned, but then kept walking again. The contractions were still spaced out, so it would be some time yet. She hoped.

[Last from me? Cos then I can go make an actual birthing thread.]