Ouroboros Spine momentum

Valiant made a sound of protest, fretting over his wife as she tried to rise from her sickbed. "Just a minute," he cautioned, though he did not attempt to physically stop her. For better or for worse, he didn't have to.

"Right back," he assured her when asked. His tail swept the dirt behind him. "You won't even have time to miss me."

Privately, he wondered if she would still be awake when he returned. The thought made him want to stay near her, but it was more important to see her hydrated. The more she drank, he thought, the quicker she would be able to stand. That was in everyone's interest, as far as he was concerned.

He looked back to Kukutux, silently asking her to stay close. He knew he didn't need to direct her on the care of her own daughter, but sometimes, love did not leave any room for such logic. He just wanted to know that she wouldn't be alone, that someone would stand here and keep her safe and happy for the scant few minutes he was gone.

"Sit tight, okay?" he murmured, as if she could do anything else. He kissed her cheek and rose on creaky legs. "Don't move an inch!" he commanded with another whirl of his tail, anticipating that she might try again just to defy him. He plucked up a turtle shell and hurried off toward the creek. He'd been exhausted when he'd arrived at the borders, but now? He supposed it was true what they said.

Love gave you wings.