Northstar Vale Mitéra

She struggled to look at him, when all Towhee wanted to do was drop her eyes and look down at the spot of dirt between her forepaws. But she must keep her eyes on him, else she might miss what he had to say. It was a little torturous, though she bore up, even straightening her spine as she sniffed again.

The words Arsenio spoke next were all at once expected and unexpected. Towhee knew she and Maxim were good candidates for leadership, especially now that they were so integral to Epoch. But the timing was, of course, wrought, which the Arche acknowledged.

After a shaky breath or two, Towhee said, I don’t want to speak for Maxim, and paused, chewing at the inside of her cheek, but… I accept.

Staying busy and taking on some additional duties would be a much more productive use of her time than wallowing in her den. Towhee had been toying with the idea of resuming leadership since her Mereo days, although there were so many roadblocks there, her current condition included. Even with Leo’s death looming over them, this felt right.

We should call for him, Towhee murmured.