It's never the same

She looked back once but he was already out of sight. That was when the tears started flowing without her consent. She couldn't stop them silently falling as she made her way into the den. She left a trail of wet drops that led to her bed, they would dry quickly behind her though. She never had a father figure before him, she didn't even realize what the idea of a father even felt like. He would never admit to what transpired though. Better forget the whole thing happened.

She was dozing off, sniffing some unwelcome tears back when she heard his heavy footfalls. She had started to recognize them and their direction now, she could almost figure out his mood before he even rapped on her doorway.

She tried to lift her heavy head as he came in but had to put it back down again from the weight. She watched with curiosity the rabbit and the partially charred charcoal sticks. Thos'll do in a pinch. Then he quickly spread a black bear fur over her form. Oh hey, she knew this one, it was from the back corner second to the left above the dear hides. Oh though that might be a mess still.

She tilted her head at him, using a paw to prop up her cheek at him as she silently looked him over while he was avoiding looking at her and made a comment about keeping her warm to help her get back to work sooner. That was more like it, sort of. He was spoiling her, but she didn't dare say anything about it. Alright, Spider, you win. Big old softie for those he cares about. And somehow, she didn't know how, he was starting to care for her, in his own way. She couldn't even try to fathom how that happened, she's screwed everything up from sun up to sun down, sideways and backward.
"Can't wait to fix those shelves. I'll make sure to put this back in the corner, above the deer hides." She replied, hopefully, that was enough of a thank you for him, he might take it all back if she got mushy and affectionate. It felt a lot like him. The rabbit was a welcome distraction as she gratefully dug in.

"Ignita"