I may tell you to run

TABLE & CODE © SKELLE 2022

"Kore Regni"
The galaxy-clad pup listens to the song, sorrow settling in his heart for some unknown reason. It seems that song carries a longing for something that will again happen. That someone this singer cares about will never be seen again. For Kore, who has no concept of what death truly is, the boy cannot fathom why they are not coming home. In his young mind, when he heard that his mother wasn’t ever coming home, the pup had taken that to mean his mother is out in the world alone. Perhaps, she is scared or maybe he did something to make her angry but, in the purple boy’s mind, she is still alive. For the first time, Kore feels that someone outside his siblings understands the unspoken pain he feels. Everything that rests inside the pup seems to be woven into each note and the galaxy-hued boy cannot help but be transfixed by the late-night song.

The voice wavers once he asks who sings and Kore suddenly feels like an intruder, realization striking him that he may have stumbled onto someone’s private moment. Guilt almost has the galaxy- hued boy turning to leave but the song keeps him rooted. When the lullaby is complete, the last night fading away, Kore find himself wishing that it would continue on forever. Ivy gives his name and the purple pup nods to himself, linking the name with the ice-kissed form he has seen. Then, the pup asks for his name and the galaxy hued pup moves forward in the grass, allowing his nebula pelt come into view and says, “It’s Kore.” He has met the other pups several times but the purple boy has not gotten the opportunity to get to know them each individually.

Bright blue eyes meet Ivy’s icy gaze and Kore offers the boy a small smile and Kore whispers softly so that the pup can hear him but his voice will not disturb the others in the den, “I was out watching the moon. The night is full of beautiful things. Want to come and see?” Sure, the pups are supposed to be asleep and yeah, they aren’t supposed to leave their dens but the world is so different once the sun goes to bed.