Redsand Canyon Footloose

The Plebian apologized and departed, Towhee’s hard eyes following her until she disappeared. She stood there a moment longer, exhaling through her nose, then turned and ducked inside the den.

She spotted little Leo tucked up against the back wall. Was she cowering? Towhee paused, then lowered herself to the floor. She splayed out her forelegs and thumped her tail a few times.

-“Lil’ Leo,”- she said slowly, lowering her head nearly to the dirt floor, expression affectionate, -“I didn’t scare you, did I?”-