Stone Circle Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?

He regales her with his escapades abroad, recounting glittering landscapes and beautiful creatures and amusing strangers. She envisions the blue sierras with their white-flushed peaks and feels the prickle of pine needles and cold earth between her toes. Smells the butterfly woodland and hears the calm willowside brook. It’s not the first time she’s imagined what lies east of the valley but it comes to life now with Louis’ imagery.

So casually he will speak of intimate encounters and she will feign indifference before shooting him with a mock-contemptuous turn of nose.

“Well, it’s a wonder you didn’t forget about me, with all the fun you’ve had,” she pouts and crosses her paws.

“Someday, I’m gonna see that- all of it! And more,” she thumps her tail and curls her lips- but suppose a mother wouldn’t do that. She quiets.

“Where will you go next, fearless wanderer?”