Greatwater Lake dripping in solid gold

Kaertok stared at her blankly for a moment, wondering if this was some kind of trick, but he figured it wasn't a very good one if it was. And what would be the benefit? Besides, the timing lined up, as Meerkat looked like... well, a young adult. Several moments passed like this, with Kaertok's mental gears turning, wondering why she had come looking for him.

Huh, he said at last.

I have been looking for Towhee as well. Your mother may know something about the boy I'm looking for.

He still wasn't quite sure what to do with the information that Meerkat was (suspected to be) his. He certainly wasn't ready to step in and be a father figure to her, and he had gotten the impression that Towhee did not want that anyway.

Are you... do you have brothers or sisters? he asked, wondering if there was more than just Meerkat. Oh boy, what kind of situation was he going to walk into if he did go visit Towhee and ask her for help?