Chapter 4: Sable's Story

The time ticked by at a snails pace as Sasha patiently waited for Sable's arrival. The rain finally moved out just before the sun started setting, though it stayed heavily overcast so Sasha couldn't even enjoy the sunset. The temperature dropped drastically to the point that the fireplace was not even keeping the house warm and Sasha thought to the space heater she had ordered. It couldn't come in fast enough. She wondered if they were about to start having snow. It was still a little early in the year for it, but you never know. Sasha turned her small coffee maker on and savored the smell of the dark hot liquid as it brewed slowly. When it was done she poured herself a cup and slowly sipped at it trying to stay warm.

It didn't take Sasha long to drink her way through the entire pot of coffee and start contemplating making another one. To pass the time she decided to pick through her small supply of books and see if anything caught her eye enough to reread.

It was a little after 9 PM when Sasha heard a soft knock at the door. Her heart started racing as she knew that Sable had arrived. She couldn't figure out why she felt so nervous though. Everything had gone great at the boutique and Sasha had been looking forward to this all day, so none of it made any sense. She got up and made it to the door in just a couple of steps. Sable's tired but smiling face greeted her when Sasha opened the door and she smiled back just as wide.

Sasha stepped back and motioned for Sable to enter. "Welcome to my well stocked humble abode," she said laughing.

Sable stepped across the threshold and laughed as she looked around. "Traveled light I see." She handed Sasha a piping hot to-go cup of coffee. "We didn't have Brewsters here when you left, but you have to try it. Best coffee ever."

It only took one sip for Sasha to know that Sable's statement about the coffee was an accurate one. The hot liquid slipped down here throat and it was paradise. Nothing that she had in the city compared. She let out a soft moan and Sable just smiled. "You're so right," she said. "Best coffee ever."

Sable took another look around the house. "It feels good to be back in here," she said. "No one has been here since you left. Must feel good for you too."

"It is, and it'll be even better when I get this place stocked. This place is like a dungeon right now."

"At least it a semi warm dungeon," Sable responded smiling and taking a sip of coffee.

"Warm might be pushing it a little. Feel like taking a walk?" Sasha asked

Sable nodded and took a step towards the door. "A walk could be nice. Maybe down to the beach for a little bit?"

Sasha grabbed her coat and offered Sable a spare that she had to which Sable took gratefully. The two of the walked out the house and into the cold night. The temperature was starting to drop more as it got later and looking up Sasha wondered if it would snow. She had missed the snow growing up. After her parents took her away to the city she had not seen it. Being in the south it had stayed warm pretty much year around.

It was a pleasant walk despite the wet chill in the air. Neither Sasha nor Sable were saying anything. The two just seemed to be enjoying each other company. Sasha kept noticing that Sable seemed to be inching her paw closer to her hand as they walked and it both made her nervous and excited for some reason. When they got to the edge of the beach Sasha slipped out of her boots and socks letting the cool wet sand slip between her toes. It felt oddly good despite the coldness.

Halfway down to the water Sasha stopped and flopped down on the ground and looked up at Sable smiling. Sable sat down next to her and placed her hand just inches away from Sasha's. Turning to face her she said softly, "So how was the big city?"

Sasha inched closer to Sable and tried to think of a way to describe her life away from Airithan. It took her several minutes to just come up with one word. "Busy," she finally said unable to come up with anything better. "Once I finally pulled myself out of the depression of leaving everything behind here it was just so busy. Everything just moved so fast and not in a good way. It was like nobody could sit still or slow down. I actually hated most everything about it for the most part. The shopping was nice, but it was mostly high end designer stuff and as you can tell not my style at all."

Sable just sat there and listened to everything that Sasha was saying, soaking in every word and just simply enjoying the sound of her voice. She had missed Sasha more than she could even say and the way she was feeling right now was beyond description. She felt completely and utterly at peace, but at the same time dreaded having to tell some things to Sasha. Sable knew that Sasha had been close to Sable's parents and was sure that she did not know yet. She inched her paw closer to Sasha's hand to the point that they were just mere centimeters away from each other. Sable wanted so badly to just grab her hand and hold it, but was scared of how Sasha would react. Would she pull away, did she even feel the same way? Sable had felt this way since before Sasha had moved, but had never said anything out of fear. Tears started spilling from her eyes as all of the emotions that Sable was feeling boiled over.

As soon as Sasha saw Sable crying she stopped talking about the city. "What's wrong?" She asked concerned. "I haven't upset you I hope."

"No, nothing like that," Sable said, her soft voice breaking. "It's just that so much has happened in the years that you've been gone and it hurts so much. I'm just an emotional wreck right now."

Sasha touched her hand and Sable's heart seemed to skip a beat. "What is it?" she asked Sable.

Sable looked down at Sasha's hand on hers and spoke, her voice breaking and somewhat hard to understand. "After you left I fell into a deep funk. I didn't want to even leave the house." Sasha nodded knowing exactly what she meant. "I had just missed you so much that I didn't know what to do with myself. Not long after that something terrible happened." Sable finally looked up and back into Sasha's eyes. "My parent's died," she said and buried her face in Sasha's shoulder.

"No," Sasha said shaking her head, unable to believe it. How had she never found out? The tears started flowing freely as the two girls just hung on to one another.

"I felt like I had lost everything," Sable went on. "First you had to leave and then my parents. Label and I were left all alone to raise poor Mable. We had nothing. Very little money to even get by. We of course kept the clothing boutique going, and eventually changed the name of it to what it is now, but even with us running the shop we barely managed to get by. And then one day Label came to me and said that she was leaving. I guess it all became too much for her, but she had told me that she was leaving for a big city. She had said that she wanted to make a name for herself and be known for something outside of our small town."

She took Sasha's hand in her own, blushing slightly and her pulse quickened even more. Sasha squeezed her hand gently and urged her to continue on. "I was completely alone except for Mable. And I felt like I was neglecting the poor girl because I spent all of my time working just to try to keep us fed. Mable acted like she understood, but I knew she was lonely and miserable. I tried to get her to go play with the others around town, but she just didn't seem interested. She eventually came to work in the boutique with me which was a huge help. She would work on helping everyone who came in and I mostly did the designing and making. I wanted more for her." Sable looked up at the cloudy sky and out across the ocean. "I guess I still want more for her," she went on, "but Mable says she loves where she is at. Label eventually came back of course, but had started going by the name of Labelle. Told me that was what she had been called by some high end fashion designer and decided to use it as her brand. She works with us now and wants the Labelle brand to be known all throughout the world and I want that for her."

Sasha looked at her friend, who had been through so much, more than anyone at their age should have ever had to go through. She looked at Sable and felt envious of the pure strength that she had to overcome everything. She was in awe, full of love and adoration for Sable. For sure, Sasha had never been really happy where her parents had taken her, but she eventually started making the best of it. But Sable, she had lost everything. Her childhood had been torn away from her. That, by comparison, made Sasha's childhood seem like paradise. Sasha vowed silently to herself that Sable would never have to go through anything alone again. Yes, Mable was now grown and Label had returned, but Sasha would always be there for her as well. She clutched Sable's hand tightly and looked out over the ocean, finally understanding why she had been so nervous and why her heart started racing the moment that Sable touched her hand. She could feel Sable's eyes on her, felt her hand in her own and it made her happier than she could ever remember being. Sasha turned once more to look at Sable and opened her mouth to speak, but Sable simply smiled and shook her head. She knew that no words needed to be said. They were together once again and nothing would break them apart. Sasha wrapped her arms gently around her and pulled her close, still staring into Sable's eyes. Unable to form any words to convey what she was feeling, Sasha just closed her eyes and pressed her lips against Sable's. Her heart exploded with happiness. It was a feeling of pure bliss and ecstasy. Sasha never wanted that moment to end, but of course it did.

Sable pulled back after a moment and just looked at her. "You've no idea how I longed for that," she said and Sasha could only nod in agreement as words were lost on her. Sable smiled and still holding her hand stood up. For the longest time they just stood there, hand in hand, staring out across the ocean thinking about how much had changed and what they future would hold. The only thing that either of them knew for certain is that whatever happened, they would be in it together always.

Author's final notes:

I want to thank all of you that have read this story and hope that you enjoyed it. It didn't come out as I had originally planned as I somehow managed to lost every single note and outline that I had for it so I pretty much winged this from the beginning. It also took longer to write as I injured my hand and have not been able to type like I normally do. I will say that I am not completely happy with how this one turned out, but still hope that you enjoyed this short journey and thank you again for reading along. I do have a sequel planned, but that will be down the road after I finish another project or two. Thanks once more time for reading

~WitchyWolf~