Lost Creek Hollow not crawling; not falling down

He nodded quietly—allowing the words between them to fall through the cracks and silence to envelop. Reluctant to wake the children, but also that he knew nothing more to say. A debt was owed to her—his mind unwilling to entertain any thoughts of the creek and the figurative fires he imagined Arric had to be putting out in that very moment.

His eyes spread over the heap of puppies—Nicodem, in that moment, the most that was away from the cuddle pile and Akavir scooped the boy closer, pulling him to his warmth.

The poorest substitute, it felt, from the loving mother who had doted upon the boy only a week before.