Sun Mote Copse Cartoons in progress.

Tags are for reference; please let me know if I need to adjust anything! This is all welcome.

Her son’s eyes opened the morning of Towhee’s journey back to the copse. @Kukutux did not send her home empty-handed, fastening a pouch full of herbs around her neck. Additional supplies, including dried meats, were given to @Meadow. After a thousand goodbyes and thank yous, Towhee picked up the blue-eyed Bushtit in his sling and began the trek home.

They arrived in the early afternoon, striding across the borders toward the center of the territory. Towhee paused at the log, then decided to keep going until she arrived at The Taigh. She unshouldered her goody bag and unwrapped Bushtit, arranging the fur into a soft little bassinet for him on the dirt floor at the back of the cottage.

He would need to be fed soon. First, Towhee helped herself to some of the caches they’d brought with them, thinking fondly of “Moonwoman” as she chewed. She padded to the doorway of the cottage and peered out at the copse, sighing happily through her nose.

Meadow had returned with Towhee. To say reyson was slightly irritated was an understatement. Mostly because it had all happened so fast and he had received a howl. But he did understand.

So he had gone hunting and he carried with him a haunch of goat. He dropped it at his feet and stepped into Towhees line of vision.

Someone stepped into her line of sight. Towhee had been leaning against the threshold but she straightened, swallowing the last of the meat.

Sunshine, she greeted, giving the haunch an approving look. Want to come inside and see the baby? You know, now that we’ve established you’re not afraid of them? she acknowledged with a chuckle.

They had so much catching up to do, not just because of the past couple weeks but all the time they’d been apart before that. Towhee couldn’t wait to have a proper conversation with him that wasn’t interrupted by live birth. She took a step inside, motioning him into the cottage.

He chuckled at her moniker for him. Once upon a time it has hurt each time she said it. But he had laid Renaud to rest.

He nodded. He felt overly lsrge in the small space, but it was cozy. He tilted an ear and bent his head forward to eye the little thing. It hurt a little that he knew this one wasn't maxims but he also didn't hold it against his friend.

He settled to his haunches with a wolfish grin.

Reyson stepped inside. Towhee gently took the haunch from him and set it in a larder not too far from Bushtit’s bassinet. She glanced at the snoozing pup, then turned to face their guest.

Make yourself at home, she invited, dropping to her haunches. I’m sorry about the dramatics. Things should settle down now. Speaking of which, how’re you and the kids settling into the copse?

Reyson had to shake the cobwebs from his head. As he worked through the correct Ptero to answer her questions. And even then it was a crude repeat of the finesse of Towhee. But he tried. Speaking as he did so. Though he had to take more breaks than most, because it was not something that had come easy to him surprisingly so. But it was alright.

A laugh. It's alright Towhee. I'm glad the two of you are well. Good. Rhonen likes all the flowers. And Lotus she will get used to it. And of course Meadow. Well she's just happy to be among friends. And the plant life here is much like the Vale, which she dearly missed.

Surely she’d inconvenienced him by stealing away his wife mere days after their big move, though Reyson didn’t seem irritated. Towhee felt a surge of gratitude for him. She was so glad the four of them had decided to come live here.

Oh man, the vale… Towhee mused, letting herself get lost in thought for about fifteen seconds. Refocusing, she asked, Sounds like Lotus might be having a hard time?

She wondered if there was any way they could ease the transition, though maybe she was getting ahead of herself. Towhee cocked her head, waiting to see if Reyson would embellish on his remark regarding his daughter.

It had been a little rough and irritating to have Meadow running away as soon as they arrived. But it had been for a good reason. And Towhee was one of his dearest friends. So he could forgive this.

He nodded. She has since we left teh vale. She wants to go back, but we can't. But she seems to like it here. And I hope having another girl near her age will help. She has all brothers. And Rhonen stutters so she tends to protect him rather than he protect her.

Towhee had once considered the vale a paradise, so she could definitely understand Lotus’s attachment. She wondered where they’d lived in between here and there, though she supposed it didn’t matter. Hopefully the copse was more to her liking, like Reyson implied. Although Towhee wasn’t so sure Jr could necessarily provide the companionship she sought, at least at first.

I mean, there’s nothing wrong with a sister looking out for her brother, she said, thinking of Phox. You may want to let Lotus know that Jr can be a little prickly at first. She’s also deaf and mute, so Ptero is really the only effective way to communicate with her. If Lotus learns how to sign, I’m sure she’ll win her over soon enough. I’m always happy to help in that department, if you wanna nudge her my way for some informal lessons.

Out of nowhere, Towhee hiccuped loudly. Where there was one, there were many more. She tried to take a deep breath, to no avail. The hiccups rocked through her every few seconds. She did her best to ignore them.

I have an invasive question for you, she said, apropos of nothing. Your kids are all grown. Did you not have any this year?

Towhee knew this might be a sensitive subject. For all she knew, they’d had a litter and lost it, or something else dire might’ve happened. She just hoped she wasn’t picking at any sores. She was immensely curious and hoped that his answer might give her a sense of what their lives had been like this past year.

Reyson too had enjoyed the vale. it was a nice change of pace from the usual life he had led. And of course Meadow was there, which made it all so much better. And Towhee and Maxim. Then things had slowly unraveled.

I taught all the kids at least the basics or I tried. Whether they took to it or not is not something I can say. I will send them your way to learn.

He blinked surprised and shrugged his shoulders. We just didn't. But her season was late last year. It is possible her body just didn't have the time to get back in order. And the pregnancy and birth was hard on her. Our sizes made it difficult.

It was something of a relief to hear it just hadn’t happened, when so often these things were informed by tragedy of one kind or another. Towhee bobbed her head and raised a fisted paw to her mouth as the hiccups continued to assail her. She also tucked a tiny little laugh behind it at the reference to sizes, since her mind was always in the gutter.

Bodies and hormones are crazy bitches, she said, the declaration punctuated by a particularly loud hiccup. Mm. Sorry to be so nosy. I’ve just got babies on the brain, Towhee said, eyes sliding over to the snoozing Bushtit before cutting back to Reyson and adding, I had quite the fertility journey this year, though I’ll save that story for another day.

She glanced at the pup again. Towhee always hated to wake a sleeping baby, though she knew she ought to rouse him to feed soon. She couldn’t care less if Reyson stuck around while she nursed, though she wondered if he might want to dip.

Delaying a few moments longer, she said to him, So, how come you guys left the vale in the first place? It sounds like you were just following Tamar and Arsenio, but why did they decide to leave? And where did y’all end up?

It occurred to her that if Jack Snipe returned from wherever he’d gone, he would find no one and nothing. The thought bothered Towhee. She wished she knew where he’d gone and why. She wished she knew if she would ever see him again. But there was nothing for any of it.

Reyson was concerned at the way the hiccups seemed to continue to assail Towhee. And he made a not to ask Meadow if it were normal or if perhaps she should look in on his dearest friend.

An ornery grin lit up his face at her laugh. He knew exactly why she giggled and he didn't blame her for it. Actually was glad to hear it.

He shrugged. I don't mind talking about it. And perhaps it may even do Meadow some good to talk to someone if you're willing to listen. I know she wanted more. At least I'm fairly certain she did. I will wait to hear it. I hope it wasn't too traumatizing for you or this guy. he spoke kindly.

Reyson had to marvel at teh difference between now and when he had first met Towhee. She had wanted to rip his face off and now she was kind enough to let him near her in her most vulnerable state. It made him feel good and humbled.

They could not stay where their children were no longer. So we followed them. We found a pack called Raventhorpe and we joined. Soon after Arsenio disappeared. We could nto find him Then Tamar went to look for him and she too never came back. So we stayed for a time, but none of us were happy there. Despite that the pack was so kind to us. It was not home.

It’s the least I could do, she said when Reyson indicated Meadow might need a listening ear (or eyes, in her case). And unless it upsets her to spend time with him, I’d love for you two to babysit Bushtit sometimes. I can do it on my own but I’ve always really leaned into that whole ‘it takes a village’ thing.

Towhee fell silent as Reyson explained their departure from the vale, save for the occasional hiccup. Tamar and Arsenio had abandoned the place only after their children had disappeared. Towhee’s insides clenched. Why was that always the way of it? It was no surprise at all that they had subsequently disappeared themselves, one after the other.

Fuck, Towhee said softly. I really hope you guys are able to find a fresh start here and that it’s a better fit than Raventhorpe. You know, your timing is crazy for reasons besides that’un, she said, gesturing at Bushtit. This was—is—Meerkat’s and Njord’s home. They just left to travel for a bit. But for literally the past year, they’ve been dying to find another couple to join and raise kids here. Well, I guess they’re gonna be thrilled to find you here when they get back.

REyson chuckled. Meadow will never be upset to spend time with little ones. She adores them.

Reyson nodded his head. We don't mind. The kids would like a little playmate i'm sure too. Though Rhonen will probably be just a mite gentlier than Lotus. He grinned amused that it was his behemoth of a son that was a gentle giant and his daughter who was a little more bold.

It had not been an easy departure and Reyson did not wish what happened to the two to ever happen to anyon else. He didn't even know if they had ever been reunited or if they were alive. Or what have you. But life was never easy.

Reyson listened. Well hopefully they will be. I'm sure Meadow would be happy to have others around. She always likes big villages. Makes her feel better.

I haven’t lived in a big pack in a while. The copse has always been small. I know they picked this side of the mountains for the peace and quiet but sometimes it feels a bit isolating, if I’m honest, Towhee mused in reply. Talking about this kinda makes me nostalgic for the bustling days of Mereo and Epoch. You know, I spent a little time with the Moon villages after that but I actually did the nomad thing for, like, a year before settling here in the spring.

They’d covered a lot of ground, including where they’d been and what they’d been up to since they’d last seen one another. Towhee felt like they’d only just scratched the surfaces of their lives, though now that Reyson lived here, she supposed they shouldn’t linger in the past too long. Now it was all about the present and the future.

I’m not sure exactly when they’ll be back but I’m anticipating it… well, my best guess—or maybe hope—is that they show up before winter. I know Meerkat didn’t wan’t to commit to any particular time frame but they left… well, literally just a few days before Bushtit got here.

In retrospect, it hadn’t been that long yet. Her baby was only a few weeks old. Towhee could hope that their adventuring would wrap sooner than later, though if she was being realistic, she imagined they might want to be on the road for a month or two.

I seriously can’t wait to see their faces when they come home to you guys and a bonus Bushtit.

Reyson nodded. He understood. At times it was too quiet for him and the nightmares of the night came seeping into the day. When he had too much free time to think about it. He wondered if this was the same with Towhee. After all she was a seasoned bad ass in her own right.

Reyson dipped his muzzle. I was nomadic before finding Mereo. It is a different kind of enjoyment. Just your own company and the world.

Reyson smiled. I hope it brings you much laughter.

He chuckled. Wait until you tell them how he was born.

Just hearing that word, “nomadic,” made Towhee’s chest ache. She wouldn’t renege on her promises to her daughter, nor put Bushtit at risk by exposing him to the greater wilderness too early, but she really missed wandering at will. Just as soon as Njord and Meerkat came back, she was going to assume a rover’s lifestyle again. This time, though, she was taking her youngest child with her.

Stowing those thoughts, she tittered at Reyson’s remarks. She just hoped they wouldn’t mind the newest addition. Towhee hadn’t exactly asked their permission. She would not soon forget that Meerkat and Skipjack had been there to witness the arrival of her second heat, complete with hilarious commentary from the young man.

As much as I like seeing your face, I think you probably ought to get back to your wifey now, shouldn’t you? Towhee posited, tucking a yawn behind a paw. On that note, you should get her and the kids to move in here. The Taigh is meant to house everyone in the pack, although I totally get it if you’d prefer to stay in your own space.