Ugh, labor pains...

Kichi couldn’t think straight.  Half formed thoughts, overpowered emotions, and a body warning of exhaustion.  Kichi’s mouth was open wide to get in air, tongue lolling as his legs shoved himself onward and a moment later movement became a lot easier.  His feet paddled but touched nothing.  Lurid had him.  Kichi’s tense body went limp in her grasp. The little grey white wolf pup knew he wasn’t supposed to run off but it had hurt and still hurt.  Kichi listened to Lurid but for several seconds just remained silent, listening to his hammering heart and waiting until he had caught his breath.  

“I’m sorry,” came the mournful response eventually, “I shouldn’t have run.” Kichi felt the moist salty tears building up under his eyes and fading into the fur below it.  “I don’t feel like sleeping.” The last part was both truth and lie in a confusing sort of way to the young wolf pup.  His body was worn out and even his mind had all it could take but the emotions were still running strong and fast. “Lurid? I don’t wanna go home.  Can we go somewhere else?” Of course he had been running towards the den, but only because he didn’t know where else to go.

The not-sleepy lump in Lurid’s mouth felt his energy seeping out with breath puffed out.  His head twisted trying to look back in the direction his parents graves would be.  Kichi would remember this place, someday when he was bigger and stronger he would return.  He would visit mom and dad and he would; the thought faded away.  The thought fell away even as a whine creeped out of his throat, the tears started up again.