Sun Mote Copse rancho mirage

Pine cone, Skipjack repeated, taking a seat and rolling it back and forth with a paw.

He stopped and made a loud whining noise at his grandma’s next words. He wasn’t ready to go back yet! He had half a mind to dart back inside the hideout, with the knowledge Towhee couldn’t come after him.

But her proposal certainly piqued the Bairn’s interest. He considered it. Not only did it sound like a fun game, he would get to be on his own for a bit. Part of Skip quailed a little at the thought, though a much larger part latched on to this opportunity for independence.

Okay! he said with more enthusiasm this time.

He batted the partial pine cone back inside the hollow—he missed the first time and had to nudge it along the tree’s base before finally pushing it back through the doorway—and then sprang into all fours, ready to go.