Redhawk Caldera The boneyard.

She had gained a grandson and paid quite the price of admission. Days later, Towhee was still thinking about everything he’d told her. She tried to push it out of her mind and succeeded only for it to wander down another dark path. She hadn’t seen @Trailhawk lately and feared the woman might have absconded in the wake of Towhee’s pregnancy. This presumption was probably as narcissistic as it was paranoid, though she couldn’t shake it as she plodded heavily along the borders.

This would be her final patrol, she’d decided. She was heading into her seventh week of pregnancy and getting wider every day. Her back and leg were both aching quite often—probably due to the cooler weather as much as her condition—and her instincts were demanding she begin nesting. Normally, she would’ve balked at the thought of bedrest, though right now it sounded kind of nice. Besides, even with Trailhawk in the wind—she frowned deeply—there were many wolves capable of looking after patrols.

Reluctantly, she slowed her step and ground to a gentle halt on the west side of the caldera. It was early afternoon but already the sun was sliding down in the sky, cutting a mild glare. Towhee squinted, her tail twitching as the pups inside her stirred. She ran her tongue along her teeth carefully, making note of how much it hurt still, and eventually swiveled to face the slope and this last climb for awhile.