Sun Mote Copse It’s been a long day without you, my friend.

She didn’t say much until they approached the edge of the copse. Towhee couldn’t put it off any longer. She let out a great, blustering sigh that would likely alert @Njord to an incoming declaration of some sort before she gestured him to a halt. Towhee moved to face him, gazing at a spot between her forepaws, before raising her head to look him in the eye.

I need to tell you something. I was going to tell you and Meerkat together but I want to tell you first, so you can help me figure out how to tell her, Towhee said, a sort of pleading look in her eye. And I’m sorry to start off on such a cryptic note, so I’ll just spit it out: I found Swordfish. He’s not just alive, he’s okay, at least physically. He told me to tell Meerkat he killed the bear for her. He called himself Shardik. I tried to get him to come back with me but…

This was the part she’d dreaded telling her daughter and son-in-law these past five days. Towhee drew in a big breath, then let it out slowly. She resisted the urge to break eye contact, her face softening into a look of apologetic remorse.

He wouldn’t come with me. I told him where to find us but, Njord, I’m not sure he's going to come. I’m really sorry.