It's never the same

He rocked gently and held her for a time. Caught in emotions as he did so. He was a little disgusted with how soft he was. When he had brought himself home a slave, it hadn’t been so he could get attached. But, holding the little wolf, he reflected that it was also far, far too late. She was clever, easily distracted, and the intricate workings of her mind puzzled and awed him. She was defiant, but almost by accident more than anything else. She was… she was his friend. His responsibility. That he left her as a slave was more a product of his stubborn nature than anything else. Refusing to see what he already knew was right in front of him.

He held still when he felt her neck nuzzle against his shoulder, refusing to react until she had slid from his grip and was on solid ground again. “Have you had a panic attack before?” he asked softly, regretting that Halo wasn’t still around. He had no one he could go to for advice except for a baby, and a new, angry slave. “Yeah, go ahead.” he said, indicating back to his den with a paw. He’d catch her a rabbit. Food had always fixed his woes growing up.

"Speech"