Sick and Tired

It had only been recently brought to his attention just how sick his wife had been. Due to the busy nature of the pack, Gil had been busy taking care of the other situations brought to his attention. Apparently Sakana’s insistence that Modesty was okay and just wanted alone time while raising the new batch of pups had been enough to convince Gil he didn’t need to check on her that often. That was until he had finally caught on.

He could see it now as he stood in the doorway to the meeting room. The fire in the hearth flickered though it was nearly summer and as he saw Modesty lying beside, he wondered just how dire her sickness was. The sound of her wet coughs and the thinness of her sides worried him. How could he not have noticed? Worry filtered through him as he approached. Would she allow him to get near? He felt like the absolute worst husband in the world. He hadn’t even given her a real wedding after all so could he really call her his wife? Giving her a whole archipelago didn’t matter anymore. All he wanted was for her to be healthy again.

Before he got any closer, he turns toward the other side of the room. There a large bucket held fresh water with bowls enough for the entire pack. Picking one up between his teeth, he dips it into the bucket and then carefully brings it over to Modesty. Setting down near her muzzle so she didn’t have to move far to drink from it, he then moves to lay down along her spine so she could stretch out and use him as support if needed.

Resting his chin upon his paws, he lets out a sigh. He wants to say something. Chastise her for hiding it from him. Lull her to sleep with a story. Drone on about stupid pack bull shit. Something, anything, but as he stares at those flickering flames in the hearth, he can’t find any. Instead, he turns his nose and presses it gently to her forehead. “I’m sorry,” Gil whispers, perhaps the most sincere he’s ever been in his life.