Halfkin loved walking beside his father. The quick grace of both his father
and Mockplay was so fun to watch. And then Father made a grab for him, but
he was much too fast for that!
"Can't catch me!" Halfkin stated triumphantly. His father turned his head away as though now going to ignore him. Thinking he'd lost interest, Halfkin went to Freshtwig's side only to be drawn in a one-arm embrace. And while he squirmed his father kept walking. The firm squeeze comforted him, feeling the strength of those arms. Nothing could defeat this bigger then life elf.
"You win! You win! Put me down," he exclaimed laughing. Moments passed with him hauled under Freshtwig's arm. The ground was so close yet so far. Facing backward, Halfkin only felt and heard his mother join in. Her arm slicked around from the other side as his parents walked leisurely to their den.
"She's sure?" Bitter Root asked softly. Curious, Halfkin strained his ears but all his father did was lean his head next to hers. Struggling harder to twist out of his father's grip he finally got out and onto the ground. Quickly he hurried to Freshtwig's free side where he'd just escaped and looked up at both their faces.
Mother looked like she was far away despite her eyes on him. He wondered what she was talking about. Looking to Father to find a clue he saw only the usual. Nothing different. Impatiently curious he tugged at his father's vest and asked in a cajoling tone, "Who's she is sure?"
Mother disengaged from Father to pick him up. He didn't understand Father's quick sigh or the exchanged glances between the parents as he settled in his mother's embrace but they still hadn't answered his question.
"Would you like to stay with Sparrow tomorrow?" His father asked with a wide grin instantly matched by Halfkin. Knowing his father well, the cub simply leapt out of mother's arms to hug Father.
"Could I?"
"Only if you ask her and Elkpacer first."
"Okay!" And with that young Halfkin twisted and squirmed his way to the ground. His parents could have sworn under sending that the cub hadn't touched the ground before he was already racing off, swift as a running branch horn. And to the sudden direction change of one of the wolves, who took an interest in Halfkin's activity, and loped after him.
HALF A MOON LATER
An arm slipping around his chest as his lifemate snuggled closer broke Freshtwig's thoughts. He twisted his neck to look behind him. Bitter Root lay with closed eyes, her body moulded against his. Only her breathing told him she was awake as she thrummed a growl in her throat. He didn't think she could ever get more beautiful.
"Gone all day again?" she asked in a murmur.
Freshtwig gently turned to face her, his head propped up on his hand. Bitter Root frowned slightly before she found another place and curled against him.
"Stop your thinking already," Bitter Root complained. Her eyes opened to lock with his own and then as Freshtwig simply gazed contently, she grinned and lifted her head up enough to nuzzle under the chin. As natural as parting water he slide his chin along her cheek as he lowered his upper body. They lay against each other, not thinking beyond the NOW, and gaining comfort from the other's scent and feel. The Hunt wouldn't start for awhile anyway.
It seemed only moments had passed before Halfkin curled across their feet. Freshtwig felt as though nothing existed outside the den as his lifemate's hand gently played with their cub's hair. Nimble fingers removed bits of bark, a few threads from bird feathers along with a wolf fur strand. His own hand gently traced on the skin of the slight outreaching arm. Halfkin was getting a tan from spending all his time with Sparrow.
"Can't catch me!" Halfkin stated triumphantly. His father turned his head away as though now going to ignore him. Thinking he'd lost interest, Halfkin went to Freshtwig's side only to be drawn in a one-arm embrace. And while he squirmed his father kept walking. The firm squeeze comforted him, feeling the strength of those arms. Nothing could defeat this bigger then life elf.
"You win! You win! Put me down," he exclaimed laughing. Moments passed with him hauled under Freshtwig's arm. The ground was so close yet so far. Facing backward, Halfkin only felt and heard his mother join in. Her arm slicked around from the other side as his parents walked leisurely to their den.
"She's sure?" Bitter Root asked softly. Curious, Halfkin strained his ears but all his father did was lean his head next to hers. Struggling harder to twist out of his father's grip he finally got out and onto the ground. Quickly he hurried to Freshtwig's free side where he'd just escaped and looked up at both their faces.
Mother looked like she was far away despite her eyes on him. He wondered what she was talking about. Looking to Father to find a clue he saw only the usual. Nothing different. Impatiently curious he tugged at his father's vest and asked in a cajoling tone, "Who's she is sure?"
Mother disengaged from Father to pick him up. He didn't understand Father's quick sigh or the exchanged glances between the parents as he settled in his mother's embrace but they still hadn't answered his question.
"Would you like to stay with Sparrow tomorrow?" His father asked with a wide grin instantly matched by Halfkin. Knowing his father well, the cub simply leapt out of mother's arms to hug Father.
"Could I?"
"Only if you ask her and Elkpacer first."
"Okay!" And with that young Halfkin twisted and squirmed his way to the ground. His parents could have sworn under sending that the cub hadn't touched the ground before he was already racing off, swift as a running branch horn. And to the sudden direction change of one of the wolves, who took an interest in Halfkin's activity, and loped after him.
HALF A MOON LATER
An arm slipping around his chest as his lifemate snuggled closer broke Freshtwig's thoughts. He twisted his neck to look behind him. Bitter Root lay with closed eyes, her body moulded against his. Only her breathing told him she was awake as she thrummed a growl in her throat. He didn't think she could ever get more beautiful.
"Gone all day again?" she asked in a murmur.
Freshtwig gently turned to face her, his head propped up on his hand. Bitter Root frowned slightly before she found another place and curled against him.
"Stop your thinking already," Bitter Root complained. Her eyes opened to lock with his own and then as Freshtwig simply gazed contently, she grinned and lifted her head up enough to nuzzle under the chin. As natural as parting water he slide his chin along her cheek as he lowered his upper body. They lay against each other, not thinking beyond the NOW, and gaining comfort from the other's scent and feel. The Hunt wouldn't start for awhile anyway.
It seemed only moments had passed before Halfkin curled across their feet. Freshtwig felt as though nothing existed outside the den as his lifemate's hand gently played with their cub's hair. Nimble fingers removed bits of bark, a few threads from bird feathers along with a wolf fur strand. His own hand gently traced on the skin of the slight outreaching arm. Halfkin was getting a tan from spending all his time with Sparrow.