The Heartwood Dance fruits.

She was grateful for the pup’s slow mosey, as she didn’t have much energy to spare after today’s long trek. Towhee kept an eye on her miniature, in between sweeping glances at the surrounding woods. They were very dark and deep, especially at this late hour.

While Jr scooted over to investigate something, something compelled the elder Towhee to look upward. She locked eyes with an owl perched on a bough overhead. Although she was fairly certain her daughter was too large now to be picked up by a raptor, Towhee nonetheless swept closer to Jr, right as the youth plopped something at her feet.

She had to bend down and squint, it was so dark now. A soft laugh escaped her when she realized it was… a rock. Towhee didn’t know why the little girl found it fascinating, though she raised her head and ruffled the dark fur atop her little noggin.

-B+ for effort. Now see if you can find anything edible,- she encouraged, glancing backwards only to see the owl had swooped away. -You know, like something we can eat. Dead meat. Or even berries. Look for something like that.-