Sun Mote Copse Everybody hates Monday mornings.

"Meer," he reported and the furrow in Towhee's brow disappeared, a look of delight smoothing out her features as her orange eyes resettled on the pup. -"That's right,"- the Regent murmured, -"my Meer."- She bent to nuzzle Meerkat's forehead, then finally did what she'd intended to do some moments ago and scruffed her, placing her gently inside the log before hopping in behind her.

She permitted the pup to shuffle forward but restrained her from dropping outside again. Caging Meerkat with her forelegs, she began to groom her, starting with the grass stains on her face. Towhee's eyes flicked to Arcturus but she said nothing more to him as she tried to coax the baby down for a nap.