Mother Like No Other

He wasn’t sure what was wrong with his mother, but he was going to find out, one way or another. Regulus had had enough time to watch his parents after he’d gotten back from exploring, and for the last few days, he’d been aware that his mother smelled funny, acted grouchy and inconsistent in her moods; one moment, she seemed fine...ish, and the next, she seemed downright testy, and would go for a hard run. And she was avoiding Father. The last time that had happened, it had been after Father had come back from his disappearance. Regulus and Zuriel, once they were old enough to understand, had been told why their Father had vanished, and why he could no longer see. It was the fault of the now gone pack, Arcanum. But what had happened this time? Sure, father had gone out, and come pack; not having gone far at all. But after that day, Mother’s behavior had changed. She seemed confused, upset, and she didn’t come in to sleep in the alcove.

He frowned as he trotted toward the boulder his mother used to call the big family get together they’d had a while back. That had been fun. He doubted this talk would be as fun. He gathered himself as he reached the boulder, leaping up onto it and settling his haunches on the flat, worn smooth surface. Now it was a matter of getting up the guts to talk to Mother about whatever it was that had upset her. Cinder scampered up after him, settling between his front legs, hunkering down in a comfortable cat ball, tail twitching as she waited for him to make his next move.

Finally, he lifted his head, parting his jaws and let out a call for his mother. He wanted to help, if he even could with this problem. That was what family was for.