October

[Onus]

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s'all good      Off to the side he heard some muffled shuffling, but didn't pay it any attention. Chances were it was just an opossum or raccoon trying to get out of the rain and up a tree. Hopefully water wasn't running into the den, it would be a great shame if the new books he had just found to read to the twins got soaked and ruined. Onus understood what a precious commodity books were and how fragile they were. They could easily tear and water was probably the worst thing for them. The pages would disintegrate if they became too moist. He had come across many books ruined that way. He was dependent on the childrens books, he knew no stories for pups of his own. No fanciful tales to relay to his children. When he read them the stories it was the one time that the man knew he was doing something right, something they liked and he didn't feel like a complete failure at. There were plenty more books in the store where he had found the current ones, but he didn't want to lose any of them.      The coyote's pace slowed as he heard rushed movements now. Those were not some small woodland creature, that was a canine. The hair on the back of his neck rose, ready to defend himself if it came to it. He should have known this time would come, that a member of the pack would finally see him and some kind of aggressive discourse would ensue. Cercelee had warned him to be civil and show respect, and he would, as long as the Dahlian didn't attack first and ask questions later. Onus was a hardened fighter and if someone came after him he wasn't going to lay down and take it.      The sounds became louder and soon he was able to detect movement in the dark as a lanky youth came and stopped before him, blocking the path to the den. It was only a boy though. One coming into adulthood, but a boy nonetheless. The vigilante could see the nerves in his eyes. He was no fighter, just a frightened youth trying to protect his home. Onus' posture remained the same, calm and neutral. "Easy." As always his voice was rough, but it was not harsh. "I have permission from Cercelee to be here. I'm only returning to Cwmfen's den. Don't want to bother anybody." Hopefully the scared youth wouldn't do something stupid like call more of the pack. Especially not Haku. The Soul man would surely just love that.

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