"Hey Khampa…" Fleetwood looked down at the content mastiff currently nestled on his chest. Over the last few weeks the normally stoic and gruff former guardian of Snow Valley had become a cuddly puppy. With the threat of wolf attack gone and their relationship made public Khampa had enjoyed the light hearted feeling throughout the mountains and new softness from the mastiff.
With a grunt the old guard dog attempted to bury his face in the short, tan fur of his boyfriend. "Mmm…" Fleetwood smiled and gave Khampa a soft poke with his hoof. "What is it? I was almost asleep…" The mastiff open his dark brown eyes and smiled at the yak.
"Why don't you ever talk about Bodi's Mother?" Fleetwood felt his partner flinch. The tan yak had been hesitant to bring up the subject but he felt that with the recent change in their relationship it was about time for the pair to have a heart to heart, to really expose themselves. If they really wanted to change from a secret relationship to something with a future they needed to be fully honest with each other. Khampa broke eye contact with the yak and squeezed his boyfriends chest harder.
"It's… not something I like to talk about…" Khampa sighed. He lifted his musculare form and moved away from the yak. With a sigh he sat on the edge of the bed they shared. "Our bed…" He muttered.
Fleetwood propped himself up and leaned forward. A heavy silence filled the room. The yak was worried about this, Khampa had spent about 20 years not only guarding Snow Valley but his , heart as well. Years of walls don't come crashing down that quickly. Defeated Fleetwood sighed. "Look Khampa if your not ready we can just drop it-"
"Gloria."
The yak paused. "What?"
"Her name was Gloria." Khampa turned and smiled at the mammal he loves. "She would smile and it was bright; like looking at a sunrise. Gloria could always find the positive in any situation. Bodi is just like her…"
The mastiff got up and made his way to his worn dresser. After a moment of shifting through his belongings he handed Fleetwood a worn photograph. Khampa planted a soft kiss on Fleetwood's head before laying down next to the yak and curling close to his partner. Gingerly the yak looked at the worn photograph. In it an obviously pregnant female mastiff could be seen resting on a railing. Her face was blocked out from wear but a soft smile could be seen as she looked out over the mountains, The edges of the photo were brittle with wear throughout the surface. Fleetwood was afraid that the photograph would crumble in his hoofs with too much pressure.
"We took this shortly before coming to Snow Mountain. Gloria hated getting her photograph taken… She always said she wasn't pretty enough." Khampa smiled. "This is all I have to remember her by…"
"That's not true, love." Fleetwood wrapped an arm around his boyfriend and pulled him close. "You have Bodi… And all the memories you've been holding onto for years."
Khampa wiped his eyes and let out a soft laugh. "You're right… She would be so proud of Bodi. That boy is something else." The mastiff took the old photograph from Fleetwood and gave it a soft kiss before placing it down on a nearby nightstand. "Not a day go by that I don't miss her…"
"I'm sure, Khampa…" Fleetwood smiled. "Hey, do you think Gloria and I would have gotten along?"
The old mastiff laughed. "Not sure, but I do know she would be happy to know I have you now…" Khampa lasily rubbed his paw over the yak's chest. "Hey Fleetwood…"
"Mmm?"
"Thank you." Khamp whispered.
"I love you, you old mutt."
The mastiff chuckled. "I love you too, you old goat."