Moonspear Longstoryshort.

Towhee could only smile softly at Killdeer’s words. She knew just what he meant, of course. Technically, he and his mother weren’t her blood, they were Phox’s. But that hadn’t ever stopped her from loving them exactly as much as she loved her direct descendants.

When one of the children—who couldn’t be anything but Killdeer’s, based on their patterning—greeted her in Ptero, it delighted a happy laugh out of Towhee. She saw the look on little Pie’s face and opened her arms, gathering them into a fierce and grandmotherly bear hug.

She loosened her arms after a moment, though one stayed slung over the youngster’s shoulder as they pressed to her side. Towhee looked at the top of their head, then raised her eyes to meet Sialuk’s. Even in this joyous moment, she hadn’t forgotten the woman’s words.

I’m so sorry about Pauk, she said, wishing she could offer more than condolences and empathy.