Redsand Canyon Silver screen (shower scene).

Her lips pursed as he entertained her hypothesizing. She tried to picture Maxim attempting to lead a pack and protect children on his own. Towhee frowned. Abruptly, the picture changed. She saw Phox’s face in that role instead. Of course, she would never let her brother knock her up (ugh!) but he’d always been her father figure of choice. And a handy co-leader too, when life wasn’t throwing up all over him.

The Redhawk shook her head, letting out a breath and removing her paw from the squashed pheasant. She was getting ahead of herself, or at the very least, letting her imagination run away with her. Yes, she could theoretically see all of this through, but what about Ruenna?

Hmm, Towhee said vaguely, shaking her head again. We should get this back to your wife. And, she thought aloud, I don’t want to bother her with any of this stuff we’ve talked about, if that’s okay. I don’t want her stressing or thinking I might leave, especially since it’s all totally hypothetical. She looked at his face as if to ask, Right?

Not that she had control over when her season might strike, but Towhee thought maybe they could put a pin in this conversation and revisit it after Rue delivered. Maybe when those little ones arrived, it would really help the Praefectus make up her mind about what was more important to her, at least this time around: having more children or contenting herself to be the kick-ass aunt to Rue’s.