Taisley and I are enjoying ourselves with each passing day. We love each other. That much is clear. We love to spend time together. Right now, we are heading to the river. It's a nice day to swim.
When we get there, though, I see some familiar faces. Shale, Raven, and Splash are sitting on a stone in the middle of the river. "Shale! Raven! Splash! It's me!" I call out to them.
They turn to face me, surprised. "Buck? Is that you?" Shale asks.
"Yes. It's me. 't 'as been a long time, 'asn't 't?" I mention.
"It has. Buck, where have you been all this time?" Raven asks.
"Yeah! We missed you!" Splash adds.
"Didn't mum an' dad tell ya? They told me that I was adopted. I got mad at 'em an' ran off. They lied ta me, so I felt betrayed," I explain.
"Oh. I'm sorry about that. Ummm…you should still see them, though. I mean, your foster parents," Shale suggests.
"Wot? Why?" I ask.
"Your foster mother is dying. Your foster dad hasn't left her side even once since she came down sick," Shale explains.
"Are…are they still livin'…where they were…before…?" I ask.
"Yes. Amy is also staying there. She's sad about her mum. She refuses to leave," Shale continues.
"I'll go. Taisley, could…could ya…come wi' me?" I ask, hope in my single eye. I don't want to do this alone.
"Course I'll come, Buck. You don't even have to ask. I'll stick with you through anything," Taisley places her paw on my shoulder. I smile. With that, we begin heading towards my former home.
When we get there, I pause. I'm afraid to enter. The last time I was here, things didn't exactly go well. Taisley is on to my nervousness. "Buck, it's alright. I'm here to help you. I'll be by your side," Taisley smiles softly to me.
I nod my head once. I lead the way inside. I see my foster father next to a nest of leaves. I see my foster mother laying there, looking frail. I open my mouth. "Dad?" I speak.
My foster father jumps at the sound of my voice. He turns around and stares, open-mouthed, at me. "Buck?" He asks tentatively.
"It's me. 'm…'m sorry 'bout wot I said ta ya back then…" I apologize, my ears folded against my skull.
My foster father gets up. He takes me into his arms. I stiffen at first, before I return the hug. "I…I thought you were dead. We looked for so long…" Dad trails off.
"Wot 'bout mum? Is she still…ya know…" I pause, looking up into dad's eyes.
"She is, for now. I'm not sure how long she has, though," dad answers.
I move over to where mom is sleeping. I place my paw on her shoulder. She stirs. She opens her eyes and looks up at me. "Buck? You came back…" Mom smiles.
"Yes, mom. 'm sorry. 'm so sorry I left and 'urt ya. I…I don't 'ate ya. I nevah 'ave. I…I was 'urt…I couldn't deal wi' 't…Please! Please don't die on me!" I whimper, tears flowing from my single eye.
Taisley comes up to me. She wraps her arms around me while I cry. Mom looks at us. "So, this is the girlfriend you mentioned before. I'm happy for you. You will be alright once…once I die…" Mom smiles.
"No! No, mom! Please!" I'm shaking now, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Buck, listen. I stayed alive so I could see you one more time. My time in this world is done. Don't be sad. Death is not a sad thing. It is a new beginning. Don't be afraid. I'm not," mom raises her paw to my cheek. Her eyes flutter and close. Her paw drops to her side. My mom is dead.
I throw myself onto mom's body. I'm sobbing and screaming for her. Taisley wraps her arms around me to try to offer some form of comfort. "Buck, it'll be alright. Just let it out…" Taisley strokes my back in soothing circles as I sob.
Slowly, my sobs turn into whimpers. My tears slow down. I look up at Taisley. "How will I go on? She's dead," a high-pitched whine forces itself past my lips.
Taisley places a paw on my shoulder. "You can go on, because you still have me. I won't leave you. I promise," Taisley nuzzles my face with hers. I bury my face into her shoulder as I let some more tears fall. Taisley strokes my back with a paw.
I sniffle and pull myself away from Taisley's shoulder. Taisley wipes my remaining tears away. "You will be okay. I told you. I won't ever leave you. Come on, Buck. Let's go back home. We'll tell the others what has happened. They'll want to come with to the funeral," Taisley suggests.
"'kay. Dad?" I start, turning to my adoptive father.
"Yes, Buck?" He asks. There're tears in his eyes as well.
"When will we bury 'er?" I ask.
"As soon as you come back," dad answers.
I nod my head. Taisley and I start heading back to the cave to share this dreadfully depressing news.
When we get to the cave, the herd is sitting outside together. I clear my throat. "Ummm…I…today, I saw some old friends of mine. They…they told me that my foster mothah was dyin'. I…I returned ta my former home. 't was true. When I got over there, she was on 'er deathbed. She stayed alive so she could see me again. She…she died not long after. Dad said she'll be buried as soon as I return. Could…could all of ya come? I…I want everyone there. I…" I trail off. I can no longer speak through the tears that have begun to fall.
The herd moves closer to me. "We're sorry to hear that, Buck. Of course we'll come," Ellie speaks for them. The whole herd agrees. Taisley and I begin to lead them to my former home.
We get there just as father is bringing mom's body out. I flinch against Taisley. I look into her eyes. "I…I don't think I can do this…" I whimper.
"I won't leave you, Buck. I'm here for you," Taisley brings me closer, while gently stroking my head fur.
I look up as father begins the funeral. I hardly notice the words being said out of my sorrow. I feel tears well up behind my left eye. I don't try to hold them back. I bury my face against Taisley as I start sobbing again. Taisley does her best to comfort me. The herd surrounds me, also trying to comfort me.
When father finishes the words, I step forward. I grab a pawful of dirt and sprinkle it over mom's body. After that, I basically run back to Taisley. I need her comfort most of all.
Father finishes burying mom. I look around for the first real time since I came here. I see Shale, Raven, and Splash. They come up to me to give their sympathies. Then, I see Amy for the first time. She comes up to me. "Buck, I'm so glad you are back. I missed you. Now that mom is…gone…I need you more than ever," Amy hugs me. I see tears in her eyes. Amy pulls away from me. She goes back to father.
I turn to look at Taisley. "Let's go home. I…I don't wanna be 'ere anymore…" I whimper.
Taisley nods her head. "Yeah. Let's go home," she agrees. We, and the rest of the herd, start heading back to the cave.
By the time we get there, it is already late. Taisley pulls me towards my nest. "Come on, Buck. You should get some sleep," Taisley suggests.
"I…I don't think I can. 't…'t hurts…so much…" I start whimpering. I look down to hide my tears.
Taisley places a paw on my shoulder. "I told you before. You won't be alone. I'll move my nest to be next to you," Taisley smiles. She moves the moss and leaves that is her nest and remakes it next to mine. She lies down. "Come on, Buck. It's okay, now."
I lie down next to her. I curl up and bury my face into Taisley's fur. I whimper. I feel Taisley stroke my head fur. I start to calm down, soothed by her touch. I close my eye. I fall asleep, comforted by Taisley's gentle presence.
As I sleep, though, nightmares start to torment my mind:
I am walking through the forest that I have called home for most of my life. The trees sway in the gentle nighttime breeze. The land is dark. The only light available is that from the moon and stars. Despite the dark, the world is peaceful.
Suddenly, a shape approaches from out of the dark. The figure is that of a weasel. I recognize the face immedietly as it draws closer. "Mom?" I whisper in a hushed voice.
Mom glares maliciously at me. "Shut up, Buck! You're no son of mine!" Mom growls.
"Mom, please! I…I love ya!" I whimper.
"Really? If you loved me, then why did you leave and let me die? My death is all your fault!" Mom snarls.
"No, mom! I…I wanted ya ta live! I wanted ta save ya! Please…please forgive me!" I plead tearfully.
"Never! You should've thought of that before you left! Now, get lost you worthless runt!" Mom growls before turning around and disappearing into the surrounding shadows. I am left there, alone, with tears streaming down my left cheek…
"Buck! Wake up! You're having a nightmare!" A nearby voice calls. I wake with a start and bolt upright in my nest. I'm breathing heavily as my body tries to recover from that nightmare. Taisley startles me by resting her paw on my left shoulder. "Are you alright?" She asks, concern etched on her features.
"'t…'t was just a nightmare…" I whisper.
"It looked like a bad one. Was it about your mother?" Taisley asks.
I nod my head. "Y…yes…she blames me fer 'er death…" I whimper.
"Oh, Buck, no she doesn't. What you were dreaming was just that. A dream, and nothing more. Now, I know you probably don't want to go back to sleep, but you really should. I promise I'll sleep next to you, alright?" Taisley suggests.
I hesitantly nod my head. "Alright," I answer hoarsely. Taisley and I lay back down next to each other. Taisley strokes my headfur in an effort to soothe me back to sleep. It works as I am finally able to get to sleep.