Redhawk Caldera I'm a phoenix in the water

It was only by chance that the pacing Towhee turned in time to glance in Fen's direction and see her daughter's lips moving. She spoke so haltingly, it was easy to capture what she said, although the sight of her clearly struggling to speak made that burning, itching sensation under Towhee's skin grow worse.

Despite how little she felt like joking, the Sovereign found herself saying, "That's what my peons are for," with a weak and entirely hollow laugh as she moved closer and settled down right beside Fennec, her warm (and probably stinky) breath washing over her pale face. "I thought you were asleep," she said dumbly.