Redhawk Caldera when there's nothing left to burn,

She was dying. And it wasn’t a metaphor. Towhee woke this morning with the knowledge embedded in her old bones. And an ancient, primal instinct prompted her to rally her remaining strength and slink away somewhere quiet to do it. Sure, dying surrounded by family was a lovely thought, but as the actual end drew near, Towhee sought the peace of total isolation.

She knew exactly where she wanted to go to die. She made it to the foot of the caldera, pausing to catch her breath and gather her energy for this final trek. Her eyes slipped shut. Towhee didn’t let herself think about saying farewell to the land or any of its inhabitants. She shoved the thought aside and swayed forward before opening her eyes.

She walked straight into something solid but soft. And familiar. Towhee reeled backward in something like slow motion. Her orange eyes cut up and down as she beheld Killdeer. Her heart clenched as she realized she must be seeing things as the hour of her death drew close.