Redhawk Caldera Little Eden

Watching Bronco stride toward her young made her think back on all the times he'd looked after or played with a baby Meerkat. The recollection put a soft smile on her face, though it quickly fell. Compared to the present, raising Meerkat had been a breeze. She kind of ached for the ease and simplicity of having one, then immediately felt her insides clench with guilt. She'd always wanted kids, but four at once was just so many...

Following him just inside the doorway, Towhee was a little surprised to find all four of them sound asleep. "The brownish boy is Marten," she said, pointing a toe at the pup who twitched gently in his sleep, "and the reddish one is Caracal. The girls are called Sapsucker and Sphyrapicus, which is the sort of bird they resemble. Don't ask me which is which."

She gave Bronco a moment, then backpedaled to slip out of the Hobbit Hole. She knew she could count on him to keep quiet and let the youngsters sleep. Towhee could use a few moments of peace. And a conversation with another adult would be welcome, though she would be totally fine with it if Bronco simply stood there and marveled for as long as he liked.