Sun Mote Copse seems every castle is made of sand

Towhee froze at Wraen's parting words. What? she thought sharply, though she did not speak aloud. The fur along her spine prickled warily, nonetheless demonstrating her disapproval, though she still said nothing. Instead, she turned and, forgetting all about Pippin and his delicious pheasant, she prowled back to the log where Meerkat slept. She climbed inside and curled protectively around her daughter, her teeth bared at nothing as any concerns about Arcturus were quickly subsumed again by her fresh grief.