Swiftcurrent Creek I guess I'm all you have, and I swear you'll see the dawn again.

When at last he saw her, he felt like he could breathe again. Viinturuth exhaled heavily as his mother champagne eyes fell upon him and, pushing away from the tree he'd used to lean on, he strode forth on careful paws toward her. The russet Alphess quickened her own stride, and mother and son fit themselves snugly against one another.

His tail twitched, relief flooding young Viinturuth as he leaned into the wolfess' embrace, and he peppered her face in loving nudges and kisses. He tasted the salt of her cheeks that heightened his concern once more and, withdrawing, he lifted his dark eyes to seek her gaze. Silence hung over them then, awkward and uncomfortable, as he waited for some sort of explanation for her departure.