Silvertip Mountain Your face-saving promises, whispered like prayers

Promises were ejected from the Man's mouth. Mason had never been particularly good at subterfuge and deceit - as was readily apparent from this exchange, he currently wore his heart on his sleeves, like many six month olds. Not June though, she was more guarded than he.

He shook his head sadly as he received a nuzzle that broke his resolve, and he only just managed to choke out the words against Steady's swarthy fur. "No -  I  - I - It's not a g-gone-away t-thing. N-no baddy. Jus'..." Mason slumped to the floor and wailed the last bit directly at Steady's large paws: "D-dad t-t-took Z-z-z--zaaaaaari! An' n-now they won't w-w-ant m-meeeeee!"

He could see his future wife and his future leadership slipping through his paws and he was wallowing in self-pity. Luckily he hadn't even considered they might have a future litter. He wiped his snotty nose on the nearest material to hand - Steady's leg - and hiccoughed loudly between a few more sobs, waiting to hear some comforting words.