Serpent Lake (M) Two straws, one check, girl, I got you.

He was going to extinguish the flame searing through her. Towhee rumbled encouragement as Soto made to embrace her, though he suddenly slid away. Her ears disappeared against her head as her orange eyes snapped to his face, a sense of déjà vu hitting her even as those eyes narrowed incredulously.

No? she echoed in disbelief, whiplashed by the change of heart. Pedo—what? Towhee repeated, frustrated as ever by the language barrier.

She hadn’t noticed her son’s cameo at all, though that word got stuck in her brain. Who was he calling a pedo? Himself? Her? Something cold slithered through her gut, dowsing the flames. Well, that was one way to take care of the problem, she supposed, but now Towhee felt like she was going to yack.

Backing away from him, she shook her head, telling herself it must be a misunderstanding, even as she barked, You pushed away Fiamma too. ¿Por qué, Soto? Do not tell me you’re into kids now…

She refused to believe it, though the Redhawk’s eyes flashed as they bored into the Segundo, demanding explanation.