Redsand Canyon Hangman is comin’ down from the gallows, and I don’t have very long.

Behind her, Aquene debriefed Kallik on the situation. Towhee remained deaf to that conversation, of course, her eyes drifting to her forepaws as a single teardrop escaped and plopped into the dust between them.

Maxim arrived shortly thereafter. Although her anxiety tied her stomach into knots, she glanced over at the medicus and saw the plain instructions. She nodded, then sighed and began to pick at the meal.

-Thank you,- she signed to her mate, then added, -You should go inside and stay close to them. I’ll join you when I can…-

Taking a deep breath, she resigned herself to the simple if not easy task of filling her stomach with nourishing food, so she could one day soon return to nourishing her children.

NO APOLOGIES, TASHA!!! Anyway, I think this will be my last. Thanks for playing.