Moonspear SOFI needs a ladder.

Mother and son spent the night in the southernmost corner of the weald, waking to a cold, clear morning. Bushtit seemed fascinated by the frost sparkling in the morning sunlight. Towhee didn’t hurry him, letting the little guy explore while she rationed out the rest of the rabbit they’d supped on the night before.

Hey, you, Towhee called when breakfast was ready. Yeah, you, with the face! she jested when Bushtit’s little head whipped toward her. You hungry?

He gamboled over to her and sniffed at the offerings, then began to eat. Towhee imbibed too, watching the pup curiously. He was two months old now and just hitting that particularly gangly stage. Her question had been rhetorical; he was always hungry and ate whatever she offered him. He was fairly fluent in Ptero now, though she noticed he was a man of few words. He didn’t often bother speaking aloud at all.

Okay, remember, it’s your pick today. Do you wanna hit Moontide, Moonglow or Moonspear first? Towhee asked, pointing in the direction of each territory as she spoke their names. We’ll visit all three eventually, plus others when you get a little older. You just need to pick a starting point.

Bushtit chewed his latest bite and motioned, -Moonspear!-

Moonspear it is. We’ll head that way as soon as you’re done.

It was nearing noon by the time they arrived at the far side of Silverlight Terrace. Towhee glanced toward the glen, wondering if the hunters were still gathered there or if everybody had headed home by now. She sniffed the air but it was too cold and still to tell her much, so she shifted her attention to the looming mount.

Do you remember Killdeer? He lives here. He has a couple of kids. They’re older than you but I bet they’d like to play with you.

In fact, they were spotted by Treepie, who rushed down the mountain to greet them. She seemed absolutely enamored with Bushtit. She kept referring to him as a “cute, sweet baby,” which made Towhee chuckle. Pie ushered the two across the borders, insisting the three of them head up toward the rendezvous site.

Pie was so good with her little—well, whatever he was to her—so Towhee left Bushtit in her care and sidled to the other side of the rendezvous site, hoping to spot @Killdeer, @Sialuk or another grownup. Especially since Bushtit wasn’t particularly conversational, she was dying for a proper conversation.