Redhawk Caldera Event horizon.

So many scenarios wanted to play out in her mind, though they had tortured her enough over the past several days. If Killdeer had been killed and eaten by a larger apex predator—her theory for Maxim’s own vanishing—then they might never know. And living through that lack of closure again was an intolerable thought.

Towhee stared at the paw extended out to her, eyes shifting up to catch Trailhawk’s words. She wasn’t entirely sure what was expected of her, yet she was suddenly even more grateful, because the oddity of the gesture had jarred her out of her thoughts. She even huffed a little breath, though it wasn’t quite a laugh.

After the storm eases up a bit, I’ll show you the way, Towhee said, her words punctuated by a throb of light and noise as she briefly touched her own paw to the newcomer’s.

She slumped back then, letting the fruit tree take her weight. She cast her eyes out to the tempestuous world beyond the shelter of the tree, drawing in deep breaths of muggy air. The wind kicked up a few notches, billowing the rain in sideways curtains and sending a mist over the two wolves hunkered beneath the tree.

Towhee knew she should probably try to make conversation—get to know the new recruit a bit better—but all she could do was let her head thunk against the bark as her eyes slipped shut. Her face was already wet, so she didn’t bother worrying about the hot tears that oozed out from beneath her eyelids and streaked down her peppered cheeks.