Redsand Canyon Boot Straps

“Yeah, leaning hard into it,” he said with conviction, prompting Towhee to lean into him, butting their heads gently together. It caused her to miss his remark about speaking to the Imperator, though as soon as she felt his mouth moving, she leaned back to catch the rest. Confusion flickered over her face when he mentioned separation, wondering what she’d missed. The context was impossible to guess.

Do what separately? she asked, feeling a twinge of relief when he quickly clarified. Oh, we can talk to him together if you want. And then I was thinking you should probably go to the vale and see if, y’know, we’re actually welcome there, Towhee said with a laugh.

Perhaps it was a foregone conclusion—she couldn’t imagine any reason they would turn them away—but of course Towhee wanted to give Arsenio and Tamar the heads up beforehand. She thought about the last time they’d seen them, during their little field trip with the kids. A sense of rightness curled in her belly at the recollection.

Yes, I’m ready to speak to the kids if you are, she remembered to answer.