Ocean's Breath Plateau Out on the mira

Little of what stood before her could light a candle to what the man had been in his prime. Tattered, ravaged by malnutrition, gaunt from exhaustion. And yet, at his breast, lay Katmai, preserved save for one ear, a grace she she would be grateful to receive for years to come. It broke her heart to see Dutch like this, and yet-

-and she hated herself for it-

-it was the only way she would have received him upon his return. War-torn and starving, having gone through god-knows-what to return, Dutch had suffered enough that he should rightfully be spared a glimpse of the agony she had endured in his absence...

She felt ashamed of herself for not forgiving him immediately- but she wouldn't show it. Not when he had come home, and brought their son back with him. She whimpered and moved forward to flutter about him, lapping with a featherlight touch at his cheek, wriggling her way gently against his side so she might once more feel him there. 

No questions tonight, she told herself. For now, she would only weep with joy that her husband and her son had come home to her.