Sanguine Cove Blowing rings around my heart

Sometimes darkness can show you the light

For @Nash<3

Last summer the lake had shrunk with the unrelenting drought. This summer the very air they need to survive threatened to choke them if they remained outside the den for too long. Would she ever see another clam peaceful summer? She hoped so...

These bleak thoughts swirled within her mind as all she could do was lay within the communal den. Her head rested atop her forelimbs as her hazy gaze watched the equally hazy outside world. She was being a good patient and remaining in the den as she had been told to. Her silver dusted ears perked up from the found of footfalls outside. Everyone was supposed to be taking breaks from the smoke. Who would be visiting her now?

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Unbeknownst to him, Nash's thoughts mirrored his mother's. He worried for her health, and the health of his youngest daughter, and everyone else on the mountain. When things were clear enough to see the valley he knew they were suffering below as well, but there wasn't much he could do to help. He had his own family to worry about.

Eclypse seemed willing enough to obey orders to stay within or near the den, and Moon was usually there to watch her. Nash was glad his daughter was getting this time with her grandmother; it was crucial, and Nash couldn't help but feel her twin would be the last grandchild Moonshadow would know.

Aquene had insisted they all take breaks, and Nash was trying to be obedient. He was still recovering from whatever illness of the lungs he'd had and the smoke was not helping. Today he returned to the den with gifts for their most vulnerable pack members. A fresh fish from for his mother and an un-gnawed bone for his daughter. When he ducked inside, the girl was nowhere to be seen so Nash set the pair of gifts before his mother and nudged the bone aside for later. "I brought you something to eat," he said, dropping beside her and beginning to groom her shoulders.

Sometimes darkness can show you the light

A dark form entered the den and though his scent was intermingled with smoke it was unmistakable to the mother. "Hello love." she greeted with a warm smile and thump of her tail against the den floor as she lifted her head from her forelimbs. He placed a fresh fish at her feet before settling down next to her. Her heart swelled at the gesture before the pang of guilt made itself known. She was the mother, she was supposed to be taking care of them. Not the other way around. She knew it was nothing she could control, but that didnt help her to process it.

She ate a few bites of the fish before speaking. "How are ya doin' love?" she asked still wanting to help in anyway she could...even if it was small.

Word Count: 136

They sat in companionable silence for a moment while Moon ate and Nash groomed her. He would have been content to simply share in her valuable company, but Moon started a conversation. This was acceptable to her boy as well; he was always happy to talk with her. "I'm sick of the smoke," he admitted with a small laugh, which turned into a light cough. "How are you?" she was certainly struggling more than he was. "Is Eclypse behaving herself?" He was so grateful for her help watching the pup.

He really knew the answer, given how lethargic his daughter had been, but it was good to ask. Keep a little levity to the conversation. He mostly just wanted to see his mother smile.

Sometimes the darkness can show you the light

It was no surprise that her youngest son expressed his lack of desire for the smoke. They all were sick of it, and the eldest cove member hoped with all her heart that it would pass quickly. Her ears fell against her skull in response to his cough. He had fought so hard to beat that illness, just for the smoke to come in and bring it back. Moon gave her boy a gentle lick to his forehead in hopes to provide a sense of comfort, just like she had when he was a whelp. Nash followed her question up with his own. "I'm also sick of the smoke." she offered with a small chuckle that threatened to turn into a cough. The salt and pepper woman was able to stifle it this time. "She is being the best girl under the circumstances. Being cooped up in is hard at her age. Despite her having less energy she still wants to explore. So I try to entertain her with stories 'n games." She explained with a warm smile. Surely she knew that he was aware of how hard it was for his youngest, but she wanted him to know that she was doing her best to give the girl a world that was safe in the den but beyond it in a metaphorical sense.

Word Count: 224

The kiss to the top of his head was much appreciated and Nash bumped against his mother's shoulder before resuming his care. Her fur was ashy, but that was to be expected with how much of the shit was in the air. He wanted to clean as much of it off her as he could. He hummed as she explained her attempts to keep their pack's youngest member entertained. He remembered sitting and listening to her stories once, when he was little. He hoped Eclypse appreciated them as much as he did.

"Thank you for looking after her while Aquene and I are out," he said. He tried to check in as much as he could, but there was only so much he could do when he also had a pack to lead. He just wished he could lead them into and through good times and not just through tragedy after tragedy. He gave a heavy sigh.