Redhawk Caldera it's gonna be may

Her son was gone again. Bushtit had seemed so much more grown during this last visit. Towhee missed him but she found herself less worried about him in general this time around. He could very clearly take care of himself. Besides, she had other losses to distract her, though the Redhawk didn’t want to dwell on those either. She gave herself a few days to mourn, then she resumed her daily rituals, attention facing forward to the caldera’s bright future.

She was on the last leg of her latest patrol when Killdeer found her. They saw each other multiple times a day most days now, so Towhee didn’t pull him into a hug. But she did press close, her shoulder bumping his, her snout snuffling at his cheek before blowing a breath in his ear. A moment later, she sidestepped away again, if only to better see his face.

You look particularly bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, she observed, oblivious to the celebratory howl she’d missed.