Buck Up, Buttercup.

His raspy voice uttered a cut off sentence. “You thought what? That I’d just taken the eldest born child and left the rest of you? You should know me better than that, Falk.” She leaned into the male gently, taking the weight from her sore shoulder. It was good to be back, but it felt hollow. Her mother was gone. And the cryptic words she’d left Surreal and Regulus with hadn’t made much sense. I’ll see you in your dreams. What had it even meant?

His weight brushed against hers; what was left of his weight, anyways. She pressed her muzzle into his in response to the affection, breathing him in. Even with his need for a bath, it was good to smell him again. She listened to him speak, a faint chuckle leaving her throat at his ending. “The women in our family tend to be that way. Don’t forget who her grandmother i-- was.” The stumble of getting used to using past tense where her mother was involved hurt. It was a relief when he asked to be helped to the stream.

“First lesson in getting around blind. Mother made me do this for hours when I was young.. Use your nose, and put it to the wind. Sniff out the water. I’ll help you with obstacles for now, until you know the area by memory and touch.” She pulled away, stepping out of the direct wind, allowing his nose clear access to fresh air. Slowly and patiently, she went with him, notifying him of when he needed to step over, or duck under, an obstacle.

When they reached the stream, she dropped her head, drinking her fill. It was cold, clear, sweet. It refreshed her energy enough that she began to slowly feel herself again. So she settled to watch over her mate while he attended to his ablutions.

Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think