Turtleback Lake princes of puddles

Cas didn't need much encouragement to stay close, remaining quite nearly underfoot of his mother and brother as they made their way to shelter from the storm. Not that their huddled, hurrying forms provided all that much protection from the pelting rain, but it was a great relief at least to be close together.

At last they reached a shadowy form, and his ma pulled the thick bough of the tree aside so the boys could scramble under. It was not until she joined them beneath too that he relaxed, crawling between her front legs and laying across them. He looked up, the daylight barely made it through all the tree's branches and barely a drop could be seen making it through. This was a lot better. It even smelled nice! Ma really knew what to do huh? He nuzzled closer into her fur gratefully, then glanced at Ry as Ma questioned them.

"Ya, now" he murmured in response to her concern, his energy fading along with the adrenaline now that they were safe again from the sky's onslaught.

Just like that, their mother led them to safety. The moment he was out of the rain, he felt a great sense of relief. It wasn't the same as an earthen den, but it was close enough to give him a sense of protective encapsulation. In moments the small family was piled together, Finley keeping them warm. Ryder started grooming the loose water from his little brother's fur instinctively.

Are you boys okay?

The boy's head bobbed up and down, mimicking his sibling's answer.

"Yah."

He leaned into the fluff of Fin's side and let out a big sigh, like he'd had the weight of the world upon his shoulders and was finally able to shed it.

Finley’s boys looked a little like a couple of drowned rats now that they were out of the rain. But, they were safe and they were all back together now, and that was what was important. She breathed a sigh of relief as they each settled down around her and stated that they were okay and no one had been hurt. She took time preening each one of them, helping them dry off the best that she could.

A soft smile crossed her features, ”Maybe we should all just take a nap, not a bad way to pass the storm by.” She settled her own cranium down upon her paws and closed her green eyes. The mother hummed quietly, the same songs she had been singing them since they were infants to help them sleep. It didn’t surprise her when Ryder and Caspian’s breathing slowed and became even. Then Finley was quick to follow, drifting off herself as the rain poured down outside of their safety den.

FADE

(This post was last modified: Feb 25, 2023, 05:05 AM by Finley.)