Stavanger Bay caught between heart and hemorrhage

It is comfort that she feels first, then familiarity, as her toes splay out when she stretches. Her mind briefly forgets the pain in a haze of sleep but when Szymon’s scent touches her nose instead of Rannoch, she slumps back down. Any other day and her father would bring her joy and happiness but her heart is too heavy to give to him. Qilaq does not shy away from the grooming, either, and begins to tuck herself beneath him as much as possible. It isn’t much as she has gotten bigger, but she uses one paw to level against the dirt and discards the shell in an effort to hide beneath him and works her way under one of his legs.

The mess of emotions coursing through her all at once croaks a sob out of her throat just before she buries her face. She mumbles something into his chest—he’s gone?—once she’s fallen still, and slumps in the dirt.