you is kind, you is smart, you is important

Hazel was seated beside a small fire with a small bowl pressed between her two front paws. Leaning over her was Barnabas, who was hard at work grinding the contents of the bowl. The little capuchin had to lean all of her weight into the pestle and every press elicited a solid crunch from the contents. It was tedious work but the fire was warm and Hazel was at peace. Her and Barnabas worked in silence. They were a team; two parts of the same whole; they had no need to check in with one another and give direction.

When a chill returned to her fur Hazel could tell the fire was dying down. At last the silence was broken as she made a simple request of her sighted companion. "Stoke the fire, please Barnabas?" Her ears flicked as a sharp wind rustles the branches over her head. She raised her head to listen and fell quiet while she took stock of the whispers above. After a beat she canted her head to the side and smiled. "We are to have company."