The boy had thought his plans were foolproof, but just as he thought to start taking bolder steps toward the waters and break into a run he felt himself being scruffed. Disappointment filled him as he was turned away from the view of the water and carried back to the rest of his family. He was placed between his aunt’s forelegs and he looked up at her, tops of his ears twitching as he frowned. If both his papa and auntie said that he needed to listen, then he would have to. But he didn’t understand why it was their job… nor could he possibly fathom the weight of importance it had at this point in his life.
“Okay auntie Asla…” Despite his hunger to experience the world around him, he wouldn’t fight being told that it was important twice, even if it was confusing. When his papa and Outou-chan spoke of things that were important, their tones shifted and their body language was different. Maybe this was like that? But… his brow furrowed with confusion as he looked at Kotori. He didn’t get it. His Papa and Auntie were acting like he should listen to Kotori like he was supposed to listen to them, and they would listen too… but Kotori wasn’t their papa… right? He didn’t look like their papa. The more he tried to figure it out the more his head hurt. He’d lay down and put his head on his paws, keeping his gaze on the man on the rock as he did his best to keep focused on him now.
