Sun Mote Copse Along the skyline

Oh, man, Towhee thought, there's a lot to unpack here. She didn't speak right away after Niamh finished, mulling everything she'd said as well as reading between the lines. A frown slowly took over her face, her eyes thoughtful.

-"Who grew up to resent you?"- the Sovereign queried, trying to figure out who Niamh meant. Both Bronco and Nellie had gone their own ways, though so had Meerkat. Plenty of kids dispersed, that was normal if not easy. But she couldn't help but think of their conversation back in midsummer. -"I know you were struggling before."- And then the rains had come, along with drama, and losing Alyx temporarily...

-"Is everything okay? Are you okay?"- Towhee pressed, orange gaze boring into her friend's face. She suddenly wondered what role Phox played in all of this, what he thought of Rasalas and the apparent row between their daughter and his mate.