The dark before the dawn

Walk | Talk | Think

The happy little hunter buried her face into the thick fur of her mate, tears continuing to spill from her eyes no matter that she held them tightly shut. She had thought her life perfect that morning - at least before her puzzling, and unwanted, early wake up call. She had a sweet, wonderful mate that always went out of his way to shower her in affection. She had two strong daughters that were growing more and more into beautiful young women by the day. She had a family that loved her enough to let her seek her own fortune someplace without them, and she had gained a new one that cherished her because of how happy she made their brother. There was so much joy in her heart, she never would have expected to feel anymore.

But she did. Somehow he made her feel more, made her realize how much more her life with him could be, and she was grateful to him for it, that he cared enough to do this with her. She laughed through her tears, unable to stop smiling, and hastily lifted a foreleg to wipe at her face as Glacier released her from his embrace. Goodness, she needed to stop crying or she was going to cry forever. And what would the kids think! Her golden eyes blinked in her attempt to still the tears, and as her vision cleared she realized her mate was looking her way again, smiling with something dangling from his jaws.

Her attention was immediately brought to the shimmering stone as it turned at the end of the string, catching the rays of sunlight and reflecting back different shades of pale white-gold and darker golden tones. "Oh, Glacier," she whispered, unable to do anything but stare at the precious gem that he held up for her inspection. It was beautiful, so bright and full of energy, just as she saw them. She smiled, chuckled as he mentioned his brother's assistance in finding it, and in the same awestruck tone she murmured while reaching out to nose at the gem and make it shine again in the sunlight, "It's beautiful."