Spring Uncertainties
Dec 1, 2018 8:50:07 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2018 8:50:07 GMT -5
Fade looked at Dusty - she refused to call him by his nickname - and smiled. The sand-coloured wolf was busy, trying to see if the official start of spring would net them some prey. He jerked his head up suddenly, a fish in his jaws.
"I know we don't like it, but we need some meat on our bones."
Fade relished the slightly-warmer breeze before replying.
"I know that, Dusts, and you'll get no complaint from me." With that said, she crouched down, gulping the watery flesh down in hunger.
Her mate soon followed, lying at the opposite end of the fish and chewing. Fade's thoughts wandered as she gazed at her mate through a mouthful of fish. She thought about the pups that were soon to come, and her thoughts wandered to another litter, of the springs and summers and autumns and winters spent as family.
She wanted that again so much it hurt.
"Dusts?"
"Yeah?" He replied, words garbled by fish-flesh.
"I was thinking - I was thinking we'd maybe have another litter?"
Angry tears started to worm their way down his face. "After my failure? They'd get eaten by a predator before they opened their eyes, Fade."
"You did not fail!" She yelled. "Besides," Fade composed herself. "The past litter lived to adulthood. It was their choices. Lils chose to go out to wander. Stone chose to fight that battle. And Poppy is with us still."
Dusty deflated. "I guess you're right."
She smiled weakly. "Aren't I always?"
Dusty looked at her, a glimmer of seriousness returning.
"If we have that litter - which, believe me, I want - we need to make sure that we won't superimpose our past litter onto them. They'll be their own wolves."
"I can agree."
"Are-are we ready?"
"I'm sure we will be."
They settled down, after moving a few stones across the entryway.
[Fade to Black]
[Exit Fade and Dusty]
"I know we don't like it, but we need some meat on our bones."
Fade relished the slightly-warmer breeze before replying.
"I know that, Dusts, and you'll get no complaint from me." With that said, she crouched down, gulping the watery flesh down in hunger.
Her mate soon followed, lying at the opposite end of the fish and chewing. Fade's thoughts wandered as she gazed at her mate through a mouthful of fish. She thought about the pups that were soon to come, and her thoughts wandered to another litter, of the springs and summers and autumns and winters spent as family.
She wanted that again so much it hurt.
"Dusts?"
"Yeah?" He replied, words garbled by fish-flesh.
"I was thinking - I was thinking we'd maybe have another litter?"
Angry tears started to worm their way down his face. "After my failure? They'd get eaten by a predator before they opened their eyes, Fade."
"You did not fail!" She yelled. "Besides," Fade composed herself. "The past litter lived to adulthood. It was their choices. Lils chose to go out to wander. Stone chose to fight that battle. And Poppy is with us still."
Dusty deflated. "I guess you're right."
She smiled weakly. "Aren't I always?"
Dusty looked at her, a glimmer of seriousness returning.
"If we have that litter - which, believe me, I want - we need to make sure that we won't superimpose our past litter onto them. They'll be their own wolves."
"I can agree."
"Are-are we ready?"
"I'm sure we will be."
They settled down, after moving a few stones across the entryway.
[Fade to Black]
[Exit Fade and Dusty]
