Bramblepoint Southstar.

Every time she introduced her child, it evoked a reaction. This time was no different. When Ceridwen glanced away in an effort to hide her laughter, Towhee grinned and laughed herself.

It’s okay, you can make all the jokes you want, she assured with a twitch of her tail. Shaking her head, she added, No, I’m not doing that again. As long as I’m able-bodied, my plan is to resume moving from place to place. I’ll visit with everyone but I’m not putting down roots again anytime soon.

Even as she said the words, Towhee realized how it must sound. She was a senior, with a young child, and she wanted to go it alone? It probably wasn’t the soundest decision she’d ever made, but she knew she could rely on herself to keep the two of them fed in between pit stops with family, friends and allies.

Especially after hearing about your dad, I’m well aware that I only have a couple of good years left. That’s if I’m lucky. I want to make the most of them, you know? There’ll come a day when I’ll have no choice to slow down, then stop. Until then…

She would make the most of her days, sightseeing and spending time with loved ones. She would particularly cherish her time with her son—surely, her last child—before he inevitably grew up and went off on his own. Towhee would probably have a misadventure or two, maybe go a little hungry from time to time. But having spent these past few months in a fading pack, she realized that she would rather die of starvation (or any number of things) than boredom.