Moonspear Longstoryshort.

Killdeer's call would not go unanswered, though it took some time for Sialuk to rouse herself from the ulaq. Pauk had been gone for weeks now, no sign of his dark sooty face. The Ostrega did not know why or how he had gone off, and perhaps that was the most difficult part of it all. He was so young, so small, so defenseless. At least with Maggak and Acrux, Sialuk knew they were well-equipped to live a life on their own—Pauk was still a babe.

Towhee's face was a welcome one to see, and Sialuk forced a smile onto her own face. To Killdeer, she gave a friendly nudge to his shoulder with her muzzle. Even though one of the children had gone, he had been steadfast in his commitment to be involved with the lives of the others. Not just her own children, but Moonshadow's as well. His presence—while it did not make up for Pauk's disappearance—had softened the blow.