Sun Mote Copse Should have bought myself a home when I was a fetus.

the explanation came, sensibly, and tziporah gathered that her vocation was not needed here. she inclined her head with grace and backed away, giving the mother-and-child pair a gracious smile.

if that is so, i will take my leave, she told towhee. i should be where i am needed.

she looked upon towhee and her youngster with a sympathetic gaze, then turned, though feeling a prickling at her nape, as if she was followed. it would not leave until she left the territory, and even after that—

well, that was the way of things. a lone woman, exploring. wariness was all part of it.