Standing in a timeless dream

The cold water had a bite to it, warning of the winter to come, the temperature had plummeted with the falling of the sun, but the sand still radiated warmth this early in the evening. Frogs croaked and cicadas rattled like the dying rasps of the warmer seasons. She took it all in as paws gripped the slightly sloping bottom of the oasis, sandy yes, but more solid beneath, perhaps a sandstone spring? That would explain the biting cold...

And just like that the bottom fell away. Perhaps in the daylight there would be a visible darkening of the water where it gave way to its source, but under the moonlight it wasn't so obvious. She took a careful step back, keeping her paws on solid ground. It wasn't that she was... scared of open water with no visible bottom, but with everything that had happened in the lead up to now, better safe than sorry, no?

Turning back to Gilgamesh, she pressed her muzzle into his cheek, eyes softening with the realisation that this would be their last litter. Not that she'd ever wanted kids to start with, the melancholy was startling. But she shook it off with a laugh and a playful shove. She never liked to make to too easy on him.

"speech"