backdated to umm july 10 <3
caracal had said he would abide by what she wanted, and heda wanted to bring
@Hviske back among their fold. midmorning she found the landbridge and trotted across it, fording the last several feet or so for the luxuriance of the foam held by the lapping waves.
thus pearled with salt as she dried, heda looked around and began to search for any sign of the young boy she had told to come here.
The young boy had taken up temporary shelter under starlight, singing mournful songs to the heavens above in the hope his parents would give him guidance. Such was he doing now, though albeit he wasn't in the mood for it.
Words he'd had with the wolves of Sweetharbor weighed heavily on his heart. It tugged at his paws and clawed at his belly. Stupid, childish, he wanted to run his own fangs down his throat at how he'd gone about the whole situation. Why couldn't he just grow up like that man said?
Yet the yearling's ears twitched, and he turned around.
Hello, ma'am?
it was not long before the boy was discovered. heda swallowed and smiled. "we — got off to a bad start. i'm glad you're still around."
a gentle look. "i'm heda. my husband is caracal. i don't think i got your name, but i wanted to say, i want you back with us. at sweetharbor. we can teach you the things you don't know, and quite frankly, it's what god would want us to do."
Hviske did not know of this God of which the woman spoke. My name is Hviske, miss Heda. I apologize deeply for my behavior. My parents died when I was a very young pup, and... I found myself... alone. Seeing such love for a pup no older than I at that time... hurt,
he couldn't help the words, they fell off his tongue as rain cascaded down cliffs with reckless abandon. A lump formed in his throat. They were good wolves, so... he was a good wolf. Right?
I promise that I will do my best to be of service to you and your family. Whatever you have in store for me, please teach me and I will do it.
"apology accepted, hviske. please join us there, as a disciple of sweetharbor. as well as god." her eyes shone and if he allowed, she would move to brush his shoulder with her muzzle, meaning to reassure as well as bestow the scent of their island. "an i am sorry for your loss."
"if you're fond of pups, we have eight altogether and they could use constant minding," she told him, urging them both back along the path she had taken to find him. "simeon, malakai, judah, and dinah. ava, abel, ana, and tzedeq." a sigh. "we also have some adults. everett, john, vesper, and manea." a blink. "is there anything you like to do most?"
He let her touch him with her muzzle, his body shivering slightly. It had been so long since he'd felt the warmth of another, having departed from his traveling companion some time ago. The yearling still didn't know how to feel about this, but he supposed this was part of whatever plan lay beyond his means to lay out.
Hviske followed after her, his voice always barely higher than the whispers he was named after. I like... hunting rabbits.
"then we'll do that. and i'll teach you how to fish."
a bond, a word. heda looked encouragingly at hviske and then proceeded to lead their way back to the island, along the bar of sand which cut through the clear water.
another for her flock. for god's flock.