Bramblepoint Will it ever stop

It was cozy, despite its height and breadth. Towhee flashed him a quick smile, then finished walking toward the rear, where she’d made a nest out of a ratty old skin and some other odds and ends, like dry grass and feathers. It’d kept her warm enough, even on her nights here alone.

She sat, then eased down into a sphinx position, canting her head to indicate Rodyn should do the same. She knew he knew to settle at an angle where she could read his lips. It might be a little tougher with the lair’s mouth backlighting them, though she would manage.

So I’m going to rewind our conversation a little bit. I know neither one worked out, she said, frowning a little at the reminders of what had become of them, but it sounds like you were trying to get back out there again?

She ignored the tiny flicker in her chest. Although Rodyn wasn’t a spring chicken anymore, he wasn’t far past his prime, if past it at all. He had several years left to find a mate and bear more offspring, which she assumed he wanted. Towhee probably couldn’t give him the latter, so even if he’d ever thought about her that way—which she doubted—she wasn’t exactly a viable option for that and other reasons.

Even if little crush remained forever unrequited, Towhee liked to think her companionship could fill in some of that hole she knew still existed in his chest… probably still Samani-shaped, even after all these years. She knew, because hers was still shaped like Maxim.