Sun Mote Copse Plasma storm.

The Regent watched her daughter for a few seconds, then shifted her eyes to exchange a glance with Bronco. Only, he chose that moment to drape his snout over Meerkat's back. Towhee snorted a quiet laugh at the sight, curling slightly closer to share Meerkat's warmth as the youngster continued to be riveted by the storm.

With the pup tucked in between them, Towhee opted out of signing but continued their conversation, shifting gears a bit. "You're really great with her, with all the kids," she observed. "Do you ever think about being a dad one day?" she wondered, which immediately made her think again about his aversion to mating. If he did want children of his own someday, he'd have to work on that alongside his issues with a guilty conscience.

Speaking of which, a thought drifted through her mind then, totally unbidden, as she watched Bronco snuggle Meerkat. He was so big compared to her, so strong. He was quite strapping, actually. He was... handsome. Towhee felt a cool mist of rain on her face as she let herself think that thought. Sure, he was Niamh's son but he was grown now. And she was kind of like his aunt, so it came from a maternal place.