Redhawk Caldera Magnet (639Hz).

It was nice, waking up in the Hobbit Hole beside another warm body. It made Towhee think of better days. She closed her eyes but didn’t fall back asleep, just rolled over a little and relished the coziness. She nosed toward Bushtit’s ruff, burying her muzzle between his shoulder blades and letting out a contented breath.

Too soon, her son roused and disembarked from the hillside lair. Towhee took her time getting up and trundling outside. Something soft struck the back of her head. She spun, glaring daggers at the laughing Bushtit standing on the hillock above her, framed by the naked dogwood tree. Her orange eyes dropped to see the dead squirrel he’d thrown at her.

Nice, she remarked, dropping her head to sniff at the kill. It was fresh. I assume it’s a parting gift? You headed out?

Bushtit nodded, jumping down to join her and butting his head against hers. Towhee leaned into his affections, savoring them. Because soon enough, he said his goodbyes and disappeared toward the caldera’s rim. She was left alone with nothing but the dead squirrel for company.

She snatched it off the ground and climbed up to the base of the tree, settling among its roots with a light groan. As she nibbled at her breakfast, she thought of everything they’d talked about these past two days, namely @Towhee Jr’s litter. Such news would’ve had her packing her proverbial bags once upon a time, though her days of easy travel were over.

Towhee drew in a breath between bites, orange eyes casting over the caldera’s inner slopes as her mind wandered to @Killdeer and his ilk. He still hadn’t come. Maybe he never would. That was all right. She could still stay here whenever she liked, living in the present and taking some time here and there to relive the good old days.