CHANGE COMES LIKE THE TIDE

Melody woke with a start beside her father as Roman's call reached her ears. She turned and looked to the man she bad come to love so much, and sighed when she realized he was in the same position as when she fell asleep. His eyes were blank slates and tears had left stains in the silver fur beneath his eyes. She would inch closer and draw her tongue across this spot, flinching when he blinked in response.

"Father? Are you in there?" She asked him, feeling foolish for expecting a verbal response. The most she had gotten out of him was a growl at the last meeting on sight of Isardis. The reaction had her excited and hopeful, only to be crushed again when he returned to his vegetated state.

With a sigh the girl rose to her paws. She bent down to pick him up again using her jaws ad she usually did. This time though, the man growled and rolled to his side, lifting himself up and exiting the den, much to her surprise.

Hazel eyes widened as she watched him take off in the direction of the call at a brisk pace. The girl quickly caught up to him and walked beside him until they reached the clearing. He sat down with a huff in the middle of the clearing, staring up at the alphess with blazing eyes. Melody joined him in his seating and leaned a shoulder heavily against him.