Don't forget about me.

Oath’s heart clenched as he took in her trembling frame and the way her voice barely carried his name, a whisper that sounded as fragile as her spirit. The soft flick of her tail, usually so full of life, was weak, her body weighed down by an invisible burden. He could feel the sorrow emanating from her like a shadow. Crouching beside her, he nuzzled her cheek, his warmth a silent promise of his protection.

He listened carefully as she struggled to piece together her story, her words fractured and thin. “Cold… strange things… caribou, missing antler, blood.” Each word brought him closer to understanding her ordeal, but they left him unsettled, piecing together an image of her isolated in some foreign, icy land, facing dangers he could barely fathom. When she mentioned a ship covered in ice, his eyes narrowed, his worry deepening. “You’ve been through so much, my love,” he murmured, pressing closer, letting his body warm hers against the biting cold of the prairie night.

Her trembling only subsided slightly as she leaned into him, finding some measure of peace in his embrace. He wrapped himself around her as best he could, his own breath ragged from the worry twisting in his chest. “You’re safe now, Fairy,” he whispered, his voice filled with a fierce, quiet love. “Nothing will harm you as long as I’m here.”

When she softly uttered, “I love you,” it was like a healing balm, steadying him even as he felt her sag, exhausted, against his side. He buried his muzzle into her fur, his voice low but filled with conviction. “And I love you. Always. No matter what you went through out there, I’m here now. I’ll keep you safe.” He stayed by her side, his presence a steady reassurance as she closed her eyes, letting herself be cradled in the warmth and comfort he offered. He lowered himself, encouraging her to rest and recuperate while he embraced her. She was safe with him.