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

Her hollering attracted the stranger’s attention, which wasn’t unexpected. It was sort of unwelcome, if only because Towhee had no interest in anyone outside of her youngest child at the moment. Therefore, her eyes skirted past the woman, pausing only to watch her lips before looking right past her as if she wasn’t there.

What gives you that idea? Towhee said overly loudly, not looking at her. BUSH!!! she added, practically bellowing this time.

He came scampering out of nowhere, his tail tucked between his legs as he ran toward her. Bushtit shot the stranger a wide-eyed look and then prostrated himself at the Redhawk’s feet, ears flat to his skull and tail wiggling in an unspoken effort to placate his mother.

-Sorry! I caught a scent and I chased—I’m not sure what it was,- he signed after rolling partly onto his side to free his forelegs.

Towhee exhaled harshly through her nostrils and said, Look, I get it. But please quit trying to give me heart attacks. I’m too old for this shit, and prodded him to his feet. Motioning at the she-wolf, she said rather unnecessarily, Anyway, we have company.

-“Hi,”- he signed and spoke once he got to his feet, expression bashful but tone friendly.

I’m Towhee and this is Bushtit, Towhee introduced, eyes resting heavily on the other woman’s face.