Dahozhoni Meadow cut my loosened tongue

Uh, yeah, Towhee retorted, squinting at the ludicrous question. She gestured at her son, saying, I need to know if you’re putting my child in danger. You need to take a couple deep breaths, she added, not particularly kindly. I can’t help you if you insist on being all erratic.

“There’s a couple friendly packs that way,” Bushtit piped up from behind Towhee, pointing in the direction of the distant Moon villages.

His mother didn’t pick up on this, of course, though she sensed something and glanced backward at Bushtit. He gave her an innocent smile, falling back into deferential silence.