Making Things Right

Mommy had left the den again in search of more plants. His brother was still not feeling well, and since the healer lady knew how to take care of him she had been making periodic trips outside of the den to bring back whatever was needed in order to break his fever. The child had watched her come and go, always with the order that he should remain there with his brother. She said it was to keep an eye on him, since he was sick and all, but he felt useless sitting around watching his twin be sickly. It was no fun, and he really did nothing but sit around staring, or moving so much he created a nuisance of himself. I've seen the plants, he thought, I could get some myself. Mommy would never approve of his idea...but she did not need to know everything.

He had no plans to travel far, not the way she did, but the healer's child at least wanted to check the immediate vicinity. With a cautious look behind him to make sure his brother was still resting, asleep and fighting off the fever that had yet to break, the month old pup tread carefully for the den's entrance. He peeked out first with his nose, scenting the air, identifying Mommy's scent and the natural scents of the Fjord. Eyes of two different shades of blue stared wide with wonder, the child's intent momentarily forgotten as he became distracted by the grandeur of the world outside of his den. Wow... Why does Mommy go so far away? There's lots of plants here!

Encouraged by what he saw, and his fevered brother behind him in the den, the pitch colored child stepped tentatively out of the den and into the open, cautious at first but becoming bolder the further out he went. There was no one about, and the healer lady was likely not to return any time in the immediate future. Which meant he could have a peaceful moment here for himself. He smiled as he strolled, his tail waving as it curved out and up over his haunches. This was his home; why should he be afraid? As he walked, he spotted green, a tiny weed with numerous leaves and a long stem. He grinned. A plant for brother! He bounded toward it and grabbed the center of its stem between his teeth, growling in his effort to finally snap the plant in half. With a partially demolished, leafy weed stem victoriously between his teeth, the healer's boy spotted another weed and raced toward it, further away from the den, to gather it up too.