Just the little things

Pulling herself together for the day, preparing herself to get going. Going through the motions. Stretch, chase the sleep from her bones and from her head. There was something exciting about the onset of winter, like there was excitement in the air. Maybe she’d confused it for the chill, but whatever. Good enough. Anyway, cool weather was good for exploring… or getting into trouble, whichever came first.

She’d been ready to tumble out the door when Seer (sir) stopped her. A moment, and she stopped, padding quietly across the worn floor of their den. Something sat beneath his paws, she noticed, as she came closer. It was pushed towards her, and the girl’s green eyes flickered with curiosity. Her tail wiggled at her haunches, using one of her crystalline teeth to carefully remove the trappings of the package. As her gaze settled on the bracelet, Hazel couldn’t chase the awe from her gaze.

Each of the carms seemed to tug at her heart, one after the next. Family– it caught in her chest. The red and pale yearling couldn’t help herself, moving to press her face into the Warlord’s neck. “Thank you, dad.” The words are spoken against the man’s dense coat, the embrace one of warmth, of comfort. Family. This was her family. Fate had been cruel, but fate had been kind too. Hazel was better for it.

“Help me put it on before I go?” The words came when she finally withdrew from the hug. She couldn’t help but wag her tail, and really, her entire body in the process. Her gaze danced, and she really couldn’t hold herself back from it. The typical words and reminders from the Warlord, reminding her not to be late for meals… there’s comfort in the typical. With her head held high, Hazel bounded in the direction of the door, and then the beach. “I won’t be late, and if I am, it’s Lis’s fault!” A little bit of feral, a little bit of wild in her gaze as she called over her shoulder. “Love you,” and with that, she was out to find her best friend.

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