Moonspear Longstoryshort.

He wanted Sialuk’s permission, which Towhee understood. Fortunately, the woman in question appeared beside him, her nose pressing against Killdeer’s shoulder with a familiarity that made Towhee wonder. Sialuk didn’t speak and looked a little hangdog, though Towhee’s gaze shifted back toward Killdeer as he filled the proverbial silence.

She felt a flicker of unease, though Killdeer’s easy grin quashed some of it. Towhee looked back to Sialuk, sensing something amiss with her. But with Killer behaving like his usual self, she doubted anything seriously horrible had happened. Maybe Sialuk was just worn out from child-rearing, which was valid.

Above and behind the pair, a child’s face appeared. Towhee didn’t notice, their happy little shouts of course falling on deaf ears.