Firefly Glen (PHE) The ballad of the witches’ road.

She knew it was probably irresponsible and selfish, though Towhee at least took every possible precaution before heading out to join the great hunt. She packed a bundle of supplies in the same wrap she’d carried Bushtit in once before, then asked @Towhee Jr to escort her and the baby. They would take lots of breaks on the way. As soon as they reached their destination, Jr would return home to hold down the fort with @Seal and @Otter. She would come pick up her mother and brother in two weeks’ time, if Towhee didn’t cajole @Reyson, @Meadow and their kids to escort her home earlier.

After several days and many rest stops, the matching Towhees and their little invert arrived at the edge of the glen. Towhee Jr didn’t linger, departing to the west and leaving Towhee Sr to nose Bushtit toward the hustle and bustle of the camps. She knew @Kukutux was probably very busy, though Towhee hoped to locate her to show off the baby—and thank her again, of course. After that, she supposed they would seek out Reyson and Meadow’s campsite.

Amid the hustle and bustle of helping marshal the troops toward this collective hunt-thing—being a good little lieutenant to Sialuk, whom he still hoped to win over in a romantic sense—Killdeer found himself exhausted, physically and mentally.

Leaving him quite vulnerable to the nearby scent of his grandmother. . .because who doesn't want to go snuggle their grandma when they're feeling—well, any kind of way?

Only, he was about to discover the two of them would not be alone.

-Gramma Towhee,- he greeted her upon arrival, though his eyes were trained toward the youth at her paws. He couldn't be more than a moon or so, right? -Who the heck is this? And what are they doing here?-

It couldn't be. . .COULD it? 

Killer felt his stomach flip in disbelief at the thought—though he supposed it was better that she be running her own kid all around creation with her, rather than someone else's. Marginally better, anyway.

I have no idea whether he knows IC or not so I called an audible and said he doesn't! Feel free to correct if I'm wrong and I can edit

kukutux did not understand. like killdeer, worry rose. towhee had been upon her borders not long ago with the pup newly born; now the child was here, among so many.

quietly she wondered if her companion from the sun mote was unwell. it would not do to say aloud. but towhee's status as mother and grandmother should have led her to consider these things. it did not, and so concern flowered where kukutux did not allow judgement to grow. perhaps the fear of losing the child to hunger had opened some terror inside towhee that only a mother comprehended. having sung two daughters to sedna, kukutux questioned if she too might have tucked a new child close and never let them from her sight. towhee would be given the warmth of the camps as was best and right, and in doing so, the duck hoped she  might come to feel safer.

"it is good to see your faces," she murmured, stepping alongside killdeer to regard the baby with great warmth. why had towhee come now? why had she not arrived with meadow and reyson and their children? "will you rest in the healing camp with me for a time, towhee? i must at last sit down," she added, turning her attention to killdeer. "will you come with us? i wish to hear all word of the mountain."

A familiar face emerged from the general milieu. Towhee’s heart lurched as she regarded Killdeer, who looked a little frazzled. Bushtit immediately caught his attention, of course, but before she could drop a quip about saying hello to his little uncle, he demanded to know what they were doing here. It wasn’t asked in a particularly positive way, going by his expression.

Before she could think of how to react, Kukutux appeared beside Killdeer. She looked worried. Towhee’s orange eyes flicked between their faces as she reached out to protectively gather her son closer to her. She knew he was very young—too young, even—but she guessed she hadn’t properly prepared herself for the judgments she might receive for bringing him here.

She took a breath and looked to Killdeer first to say, This is Bushtit, my latest and greatest creation. He’s here because I’m here. Towhee paused, eyes sweeping to Kukutux. The copse is very lonesome and quiet with Meerkat et al gone and Reyson’s family here for the hunt, she said, feeling defensive but softening as she said, Don’t worry, Jr was with us the whole way here. And she’ll be back to take us home.

The pale Alpha asked Towhee and the baby to accompany her to the healers’ site. Kukutux said she needed a break, which was probably true, but the Redhawk also figured she was being led to one of the safest areas of the encampment. And she was more than okay with that. When Kukutux requested Killdeer to accompany them, Towhee bit her lip and gave him a hopeful look.

Of course, she murmured, bending to nudge Bushtit again. It goes without saying that we won’t be going anywhere near the hunt. We’re just here to look cute and mingle, Towhee assured both her escorts, maybe eat a little food, do a little grow…

Killdeer stared at his grandmother for a long, slack-jawed moment—because he could have sworn on his father's grave that she had said the kid's name was "Buttshit."

In the wake of that misunderstanding, he didn't realize Kukutux had arrived until she spoke to him directly, and had totally tuned out most of the conversation. Giving himself a brief shake, he looked at moonwoman and nodded, giving her a smile, before turning back to Towhee.

Butt— he began, then stopped with a sudden burst of clarity. Ah, fuck, he had heard it wrong! -Bush-tit,- Killdeer said slowly, carefully. He cast a soft look down upon the little guy. His life had to be nothing short of miraculous; he'd have figured Towhee was too old to have children.

-Who's the dad?- he asked, glancing at Towhee. Maybe it didn't matter. He'd never known his grandmother to have any sort of long-term love a la Eljay & Maia, or Kukutux and her sun man.

perhaps sensing the unsaid questions, towhee spoke. and this she did not understand; why had no one stayed behind to help the mother? this curiosity would be never-ending; kukutux quelled its demand and stepped back. "i welcome you, bushtit," she said formally to the little child.

"that way is the camp of the sun mote," she murmured, gesturing to the curve of moonspear's foothilled region. "if there are things you wish to see, towhee, there are many, many who help the moonglow healers. rest there; sleep and know there are many eyes to watch."

perhaps she could understand not wishing to be alone at such a time. their path would be slow and when they had come to this place, kukutux would call for juniper tea and soft meat to be brought.

Kukutux pointed out the camp where she would find her own comrades, though Towhee didn’t look that way just now. Her eyes remained attentive upon the other woman’s face, catching her every word. Little did she know how much unexpected comfort Towhee found in them.

I figured this was actually one of the safest places he could be, with an ally everywhere you look, she said. I plan to keep him close while we’re here, though maybe I’ll dump him on one of you to go sightseeing once or twice, Towhee added, eyes flicking between her grandson and her friend.

Killdeer’s question earned a slight raise of her eyebrow. She knew it was just natural curiosity, though she had always been weary of this question—not just with Bushtit but with every one of her litters. That made her think of something, a phlegmatic snort suddenly escaping her.

Phox, she deadpanned a beat later, just like all the others. Just in case Killdeer didn’t appreciate her sense of humor, she nudged him and added, I don’t know if the truth will make you feel any better: I don’t even know his name. Because it doesn’t matter. He’s not involved.

They hadn’t had very far to walk, which was good considering the little one pattering alongside her. Towhee bent down to lick the top of her son’s head, grateful that he was such a calm and easygoing child. As soon as Kukutux’s kith and kin brought snacks, Bushtit fell upon them with great interest.

Gigantic parties aside, how are things? Towhee asked, tearing her eyes from the pup to once again ping pong between Killdeer’s and Kukutux’s faces.

Kukutux, ever the gracious hostess. He smiled gently at the conversation between the moonwoman and the Redhawk matriarch, only to grin broadly as Towhee answered his question in the most Towhee way possible. 

-Sure, okay,- Killdeer replied with a feigned roll of his golden eyes, but dropped the subject. She was right; it didn't matter.

-Well, you're due to see MY kiddos again soon,- he pointed out. -Some are here, though some stayed behind—I think it was too much, too soon for them, and I get it. But bring Butt, uh, BUSH-tit along when you come. They'll love to meet him.-

Poor kid really was destined to be a "Buttshit," and not just in name. Potty-mouthed influences all around. Hopefully, he'd lean in with good humor rather than flinch from it.

"moonglow is quiet now. but i believe more grandchildren will come to fill the village with their laughter," and here her eyes grew soft with the thinking. "i will watch him one of those times," she offered, thinking how long it had been since such a little child was swaddled near.

killdeer spoke of his children and kukutux thought of sialuk. would she choose this man again?

towhee said it did not matter. moonwoman considered sun man and was grateful for all these years he had spent strong at her side.

Catching her grandson’s mispronunciation this time, Towhee quipped, You can call him Buttshit. I do it all the time. Both accidentally and deliberately. Cackling (not so) softly, she added, I would love for them to meet. The little goober hasn’t had many playmates in the copse.

It was only Otter. She was only a handful of months older, though a great chasm of time seemed to span between the two. She’d had to grow up so fast on account of her parents’ and brother’s departure and sometimes seemed too melancholy to deal with the baby. Towhee didn’t blame her. Often, she wished she’d gone with them.

Pulling her thoughts back to the present, Towhee blinked at Kukutux and realized aloud, I guess we’re as close to next spring as we are to this last one, aren’t we? This little guy coming so late—in the season, not to mention in life—has really thrown me off, she admitted. It’s wild to think I could have even more grandkids and great grandkids in the near future.

She made eye contact with Killdeer and raised her eyebrows, then wiggled them. It pleased her that the Redhawk genes had come though so strongly in two of his daughters. It would be fun to have even more copies running amok on the mountainside.

But how are the hunts going? And with all these wolves gathered together, surely there’s some good gossip and drama to share?

You hear that? She gave me permission, Buttshit, he told the youth, laughing as the name left his mouth. He gave the little nugget an affectionate nuzzle to the fuzzy crown of his head before lifting his own noggin again—just in time to catch Towhee's teasing expression.

We'll see, Killdeer told her, comically blank-faced. Up to the ladies on that front.

He'd let Kukutux take the lead on news and gossip; he was too busy wrangling kids and pining after the moonwoman's daughter to pay much attention to what was going on around him. Suffice it to say that all was well—or so he gathered, anyway.

"the hunts that have begun are blessed with meat. akashingo and muat-riya have been given much attention," kukutux added with a small smile toward the child. "i listen. it seems as though we share much peace between the villages, for now. there are many young hunters and women here. i am will have no surprise if marriages come from this hunt."

grandchildren. great-grandchildren. kukutux felt that her own time for such was not far, and it gave her thoughtful pause.

quietly she gathered elk meat for them both, glancing through the trees as if to look for aiolos.

Contrary to her beliefs, Kukutux reported only peaceful tidings. Towhee felt an incredulous look crawling over her face, though she quickly schooled her expression. It wasn’t that she didn’t believe the wise woman, she just wondered if she was omitting anything in the name of being a good hostess. Towhee was here for the tea!

But then the timing of a certain glance and comment distracted her. She was certain it was purely incidental, though Towhee too looked at her child and then back to Kukutux. A loud, sudden bray of laughter escaped her.

I think he’s a little young for an arranged marriage, she quipped, still chuckling about it as Kukutux moved to gather more refreshments.

Turning her attention to her grandson, Towhee wondered, But since we’re on the subject, what are your thoughts on marriage? Do you think you’ll settle down or do you plan to keep sowing your wild oats? she questioned without batting an eyelash.

Ugh, back to this subject again. Killdeer gave his grandmother a Look and shrugged his shoulders, fixing his countenance to something more bland as he looked upon the two women again.

From your lips to the gods' ears, he said—but the words came clipped enough to indicate that this topic of discussion was over. He'd rather interact with and coo over little Buttshit.

And speaking of which—

-Mind if I hang with y'all for a while?- he asked Towhee, with a slight sideways incline of his head. 

That said, if she were to continue badgering him about marriage, that idea was very much off the table.

last for me <3

towhee wished grandchildren!

kukutux saw killdeer's face and smiled inside herself.

"there is a fresh-killed deer in the forest. will we go and eat?" moonwoman offered, sensing a restlessness between mother and son that perhaps walking might dispel.

she would help to carry bushtit if it was towhee's wish, pointing out camps and answering what questions might be offered.

and her heart danced.

Same here; feel free to fade or simply archive, Mercury!

He seemed bothered by the question. Towhee studied his face as his expression closed off, wondering what tripwire she had accidentally kicked. She replayed her question in her head, then shook it lightly.

I don’t know what that means, she told him, but I think you answered my question anyway. Not a fan of the institution either, I take it, Towhee remarked, chuckling.

She didn’t anticipate an answer, especially when her grandson tried changing the subject. Towhee gave him a look like it was the silliest question she’d ever heard, then moved suddenly forward to nuzzle his cheek. She hoped to dispel any lingering negativity she’d provoked with her query.

Kukutux distracted them by mentioning a fresh kill. Towhee saw Bushtit’s drooping eyes suddenly light up at the mention of food, despite his snacking. She chuckled, exchanged a look with Killeer and then moved to join “moon woman.”