4/19/2016
Weather:
51° F, 11° C
Sunny
3:24 PM
She was thankful that the girl had at least asked to depart, and had not deserted or died. It still felt like desertion though. The mammoth female had been her closest friend; the last of their clan that had even met Minka. There was no plea that would seem to tether her to the pack even a moment longer. What were they to do? At least if she had permission, then maybe, maybe the girl would return? Raela felt it all weigh heavily on her shoulders. Where was the loyalty, the family ties they all needed to become a strong, unified force?
It took time to build, didn't it – but how could that ever come to pass if everyone kept leaving after mere months? She was holding together a pack of strangers. A sigh worked its way past her nose as she moved along; desperate to get this all-consuming dread out of her system. It couldn't be good for the pups, and it couldn't be good for anyone else either. A walk, that's what she needed. A walk to clear her head and loosen her muscles; perhaps it would even settle the wrigglings of the little ones, who seemed to be actively protesting all this doom and gloom around them.
Only recently had they begun to stir in noticeable ways; something miraculous enough to distract the new mother from these pack woes. It would be less wonderful in the coming days, when they'd decide to kick her out of her sleep, but that was later. For now she passed along the lakeside; enjoying the (finally) warm weather and the cool breeze. They would love it here, she knew it.