Our greatest fear realized

Walk | Talk | Think

For a moment, Anais floundered. Which way was the better way to begin swimming, to the right or left? She was not sure how the waters had climbed upward along the beach, nor did she want to choose poorly and place herself and, more importantly, her child into further danger. Her golden-yellow eyes panned to either side and her head turned slightly, trying not to jostle poor Aurora too much, but as she continued to paddle in place a familiar, yellow-marked shape appeared out of the dark water, speaking to her in a voice that was full of comfort as much as it was authority.

Anais's eyes pricked with sudden thankful tears, and wordlessly she let her daughter be taken from her grasp as her mate's brother took her child's scruff between his teeth. "Thank you, Voltage," she murmured to him with breathless relief as she began to strike out and follow at Glacier's side. Knowing Aurora was safely being carried along by Voltage, she finally had a chance to assess Glacier's progress with Seraphiel and noted he had an easier time of it. There seemed to be no end to her thankfulness that this whole disastrous ordeal had turned out in this way, especially when things could have turned out so much worse.

When finally they reached what had now become dry land and moved onto the Prairie portion of their territory, the worried mother quickly shook herself free of as much water as she could, wishing her golden brown coat would dry faster. She barely needed to glance at Glacier and he was already passing her the daughter that he carried, and Anais promptly sat and curled around the pup, soothing her with soft licks as she looked over the child. Seraphiel looked no worse for wear, and with a sigh the new mother softly nuzzled the pup. "It's okay, we're all safe now," Anais whispered, and lifted her head to look up and about for Voltage with Aurora, only partly aware of the other forms of her family that had arrived safely on the Prairie before her.