Fatigue had settled into her mind before it overtook her body, yet when it had it was relentless, dragging her paws and belly to the earth near instantaneously. She hadn’t eaten since her return as her mind had been preoccupied with what to make of the Vale now that she had returned. Too fixed on avoiding the others and her mate, she had allowed herself to dwindle however subtly… shamefully.
As the brunt of exhaustion pulled her to the earth, she crawled into her den for seclusion, yet her eyes had not yet close before a call most familiar drew her ears to its entrance. She had yet not slipped far into the darkness of the den. A glimmer of fading light would have caught the dulling sheen of beige folds as she turned, enlightening the seeking eye that indeed she as present and had heard his voice. Yet her body was tired and her mind distant. She returned his summon with a permitting beckon of her own; soft in its tone yet played on tired chords. The wolf but turned her muzzle from the darkness to the entrance of the den. Her eyes downcast as she stared blankly at the dark paws of her mate. Her tail pat the ground in subdued greeting, but no word was uttered on her behalf. |