Porcupine Ridge thinner

He crawled closer at her invitation, and lay mesmerized by the tiny form. It was such perfection: tiny pink toes, a pink nose, pink ears that flapped close to its skull. Its coloring was vague at the moment, covered in blood and birth as it was, but Terich knew he would be handsome. He smiled to see the child, but it broke when she spoke. Her words were few and far between, and these tore a hole right through him. He nodded and watched her retreat further into the ridge, waiting until she was safely out of sight before grabbing the dead in an awkward bundle.

He buried them beneath his favorite willow, the one near the stream that ran through the hollows. He buried them deep beneath the dark soil beneath the bare willow branches, where they could hear the tinkling of the water nearby to soothe them into sleep. Then he laid a large rock over their grave, said one last goodbye, and turned to find Vuk. She and the cub were cuddled inside Vuk's old den, resting peacefully. This might be the last peaceful moment either of them would know for a while. Terich slid into the den and laid beside Vuk, lending his warmth and strength to her. What will you name him? he asked softly, curled in such a way as to watch every movement the child made. His blue gaze glanced at Vuk, waiting to hear what the mother would say.