Blacktail Deer Plateau iii. time flies

Sleep did not come easy that night. She didn't know if it was the ache in her chest or the throbbing in her paw, or something simply was not sitting right with her at that moment. She rose as silently as she could, hobbling towards where she thought the form of her father ought to lay, quiet as to avoid an encounter with Pema ("You know you should be resting") or waking anyone else. She hardly disliked the girl, rather, she was growing fond of the wheat-coloured female, but she didn't want to feel the guilt that came with her warnings. 

She approached carefully, lest he be sleeping, but to her satisfaction he was awake. His sigh and breath gave that away, and she plopped onto the earth beside him, chuffing softly and peering at him curiously.