wc: 400
The young man continued to keep a watchful eye on his son and daughter. Both ran up ahead happily, and he grinned in admiration. He couldn't remember the last time he had felt this content. Gemma and he might not be the normal sort of parents for Nate and Payne, but at least they got along well, and would raise the pups to have morals and responsibilities. He wanted to give them a childhood like he'd had - except for the bit where he'd been shunned from his family. Frodo actually wanted to go back and visit his family some time, but they were so far away, he'd doubt he'd even find them. In fact, it was probably impossible all together he'd find his family, as they were travellers. They'd probably moved location more than twenty times since the last time he'd seen them. That surely but a grim frown upon his face.
His thinking meant he had let the children out of his site for a couple of seconds, so suddenly, he lifted his head up, green eyes shining brightly. He saw that both of them stood stock-still, tails erect but wagging as they looked up at something that he couldn't see. Frodo spurred on to a light jog and skidded to a halt just behind the pups, to see a lady who was throwing a greeting at the group. Immediately, his thoughts went to how muddy he and his children was, and how wild they must have looked. This made him self concious, as he hadn't expected to see anybody new today, especially someone as pretty as this stranger. Allo. he grinned sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. Payne looked from Eclipse to Frodo, and then leapt at her father's legs, scrambling at the knees and the thighs but not getting much of a grip. Frodo bent over and scooped her up, holding her at his hip. His eyes went to the bow on the stranger's shoulder and eagerness came into his expression. That's a dandy lookin' bow, is that. he said, motioning with his free paw to the weapon. Drandy. echoed Nate-River, the curious pup taking a step forward to sniff at Eclipse's legs. He then began licking at her feet, his pink tongue thin and eager. Nate! scolded Frodo, a bit embarrased, and Nate hung his head low and slunk off between his father's legs.
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