Sun Mote Copse A dream drawn from the sheath.

Meerkat recaptured her attention by abruptly making a beeline for Phox. Towhee swept onto all fours to go after her and pull her back before she disrupted their important conversation. But the puppy was swifter and more agile these days, so she managed to reach Phox before Towhee could thwart her. Instead of ramming his leg this time, Meerkat reared onto her hind legs and wrapped her forelegs around him, hugging against him. She didn't even say anything, just clutching at her dad and rubbing her sandy cheeks against his fur.

Towhee slowed to a stop a foot or so away, blinking. She waited to see whether Phox would tolerate the child clinging to him or if he would prefer she take Meerkat and shuffle her elsewhere. She suddenly remembered she should probably tell him she'd relocated the pup to the rendezvous site permanently, though now was not the time.