Redhawk Caldera We're sitting up above the sea

Her own ears twitched as Lyric’s head tilted, as though they could hear the howl that left his little pursed lips. Of course, they couldn’t. Towhee watched, wondering despite herself. Was he loud? Did his voice carry? How far did it carry? It kind of made her brain itch, trying to wrap it around these things she had no real framework to understand.

She glanced at the den, wondering if Carolina was still asleep, then returned her attention to Lyric. He reminded her so much of Killdeer, it made her chest ache. Part of her wanted to pull him into her arms and weep. Though she was physically weak at the moment, Towhee summoned all her mental strength to stave off a breakdown.

-How are you today?- she signed to him, too choked up to articulate alongside her signing.

He and his sister were too young to comprehend Killdeer’s absence. It was a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it didn’t impact them in any meaningful way. And if he failed to return, they may not even remember him to miss him, which was the curse of it. Towhee drew in a shuddering breath, trying to push all thoughts from her mind and wait for Lyric to react to her question.