Larksong Grotto the sun dog

when terich drew near, vuk took in the sight of him, his drawn eyes and thin body, but his eyes shone with love for her, care for seff, a boy who was not his son but whom he adored all the same. tears welled in her eyes and she leant against him, the fish forgotten in her need to be close to terich.

though the memory of her time with reek still thrummed in her veins, vuk found she was able to focus on her mate, her mate, whom had asked nothing of her in return for his devotion and his love, and her gratefulness for his very existence discovered love within itself.

shyly, vuk reached to kiss terich once, briefly, and then with a lingering firmness.