Redhawk Caldera The safety dance.

Thanks for the entertaining thread! :D

Then, Towhee rudely interrupted, why are you doing it?

His politely deferential demeanor was gone in an instant, his impatient and querulous energy suddenly matching her own. Towhee’s eyes continued boring into him, full of judgment and mistrust as the facade disappeared in a puff of smoke. Her forelegs pressed together, fully shielding her child as the stranger loudly broadcast his true feelings on the matter.

Towhee said nothing. She scoffed, but silently. She waited for him to leave, a brow arching when he spat out directions. Despite herself, she committed them to memory. She was morbidly curious, though she hid this fact behind a stony expression as the man departed.

Wonder what made him think I was a mother? Towhee said sarcastically as she stepped over and away from her son, rolling her eyes for comedic effect. You okay? she asked more softly, nuzzling Bushtit’s face.

-Yeah, I’m okay,- he replied simply. -Who was he?-

Never did catch his name, did we? And he didn’t even ask mine, she realized aloud, followed by a scoffing laugh. He was a shit detective, is what he was. He should probably quit his day job, Towhee mused, thinking of his sudden and sour shift in demeanor.

She was tempted to usher Bushtit back to the safety of Moonspear, though Towhee hated to miss out on this chance to explore the caldera. If they were going to travel together, just the two of them, she needed to rely on her own ability to protect her son. It was nice having allies everywhere she went, yet she shouldn’t default to falling back on them.

C’mon, she decided, nudging Bushtit, we have a Hobbit Hole to explore.