I'll be your girl for all seasons

So this would be their new home. Perhaps even until they passed on -- and Bronze was okay with that. Here they would be taken care of, Song had assured them, and they would given given a comfortable place to rest and to enjoy whatever remained of their lives. Even Bronze did not know how much longer they had left, but he no longer cared; he and his wife were happy, and he would be content to die whenever it happened. Of course, he wanted so badly to reunite with all of his children, but he knew that would not be possible.

He drifted in and out of sleep as he heard Silent and Mercury talking in hushed tones. The scent of food was fresh in the air, but he did not yet awaken fully. He was content to rest there, listening to his wife and son talk, to lay with closed eyes and a peaceful heart. Soon he drifted back to sleep, overtaken by sweet dreams of days gone by, when he awoke with a start, realizing that his den was silent once again.

Slowly he rose, stretching his limbs slowly and deliberately. He longed for easier days, when his joints were not so stiff, when he was not overcome with fatigue and exhaustion so often, but he knew that he had no choice. A yawn escaped from his lips as he parted his jaws widely, slowly letting sleep slip away from him.

Slowly he trailed after his wife's scent, eager to spend today with her, just as eager as he was every day. After being away from her for so long, he knew
that life was a treasure and he no longer took his time with her for granted. She quickly came into view as he loped forward -- it seemed she had found a spring, and judging by the way the steam rolled easily off the water, he judged it was quite warm. A smile spread over his rugged features, a bark escaping his throat at the sight of her. "My love," he called out happy, his eyes still hazy from sleep, his voice deep and husky. "What have you found?" Carefully he walked toward the pool of water, gingerly placing a paw in the warm water. The water was warm -- almost hot -- and it soothed his aching paws. A smile formed on his lips, and he paddled toward her, eager to greet her with a gentle nuzzle and a lick on her cheek.