Bramblepoint Before planet Earth was here, I was riding a light year.

She thought they would spend a while longer near the edges of the Moon villages, though Bushtit surprised her by asking if they could go visit the Hobbit Hole again. Towhee had no desire to deny him and no real reason, either, so they set off southward after splitting a pheasant for breakfast.

They stopped at Big Salmon Lake to break up the ice and fetch a drink before plunging into the snowy woods over yonder. Bushtit scouted ahead, mindful to stay in her sight lines as he wended through the trees. At some point, he must’ve picked up a promising scent because his meandering suddenly turned very deliberate.

What is it? she called out to him from a small distance.

-Dunno!- Bushtit signed distractedly before abruptly darting out of view.

Oh. Okay then, Towhee muttered, breaking into a lope as her eyes and nose scoured the wintry brambles.