Redhawk Caldera lying upside down

She stared across Lake Rodney from the foot of the caldera, eyeing a small herd of deer—just four does, by the looks of it—nimbly moving along the shoreline. Towhee made no move toward them, simply observed, letting her ticking muscles cool down after a long patrol around the territory’s base.

The temperamental spring wind shifted suddenly and Towhee’s head turned so fast, she didn’t see the deer flee. Her eyes widened when they saw the bear lumbering this way, her own fight-or-flight instincts kicking into gear. It was an easy decision.

She began loping upward, which would afford her a better vantage point. Towhee kept an eye on the beast from over her shoulder, suddenly glad her grandson had taken his time moving here. It meant she would have to deal with this threat on her own, though hopefully she could just stay out of its way and it would simply pass by.