Little House, Little Kids

Duchess stays with him as he lays down, one of her dark paws coming to rest over his own. Ricin feels a kinship in the losses they have suffered and he regrets the fact that she does not have pups of her own. Sadly, he speaks of his parents, how his mother never wanted him and, as he speaks of the wolf that gave birth to him, the boy avoids looking into the purple woman’s eyes. He feels her dark paw curl around his and his heart constricts, guilt beginning to form at the thought of causing her more pain. She has so much that is dealing with, surely, she doesn’t need his sad story too. However, when he feels her other paw slip under his chin, Ricin does not fight her. Lifting his head, the boy’s ruby gaze locks with her own mismatched eyes and he gives a small start as he sees the tears that brim in them.

Her words are simple and he blinks in an effort to rid his hazy gaze of its tears. Duchess leans forward and wraps her short arms around his neck and Ricin buries the side of his face into her fur. Long legs snake around her shoulders and he hugs her while allowing the tears to fall unhindered. How doesn’t know how long he holds onto her or how many tears fall but, in the end, Ricin’s heart heals a little more. Giving a small sniffle, still holding onto Duchess, the boy asks softly, “Duchess, can I be your son?” The words leave his mouth before the boy even realizes what he has said. Ever since the boys had met Manea and her family, Ricin had wished she was his mother. But Manea has her own family and her own children. Duchess… well she doesn’t have anyone. He thinks they could both use the love and Ricin hopes against hope that she will be his mother.

"Ricin Dauner"