Word Count → 571 :: Sorry about the wait on this!
The tall stalks had not yet bloomed, but Tola knew well what they were. Running her hands over the green bulbs on top of most of the stalks, Tola felt herself coming back from whatever edge she'd been teetering on. For the past few days, it had been hard to concentrate, her eyes always on the sky, but now she could see clearly, and the day was beautiful. Slightly too chilly for her thin fur, she mused, and pulled her father's flannel tighter over her chest, buttoning it with careful fingers. Aleksei had gone off somewhere, and taken the horse with him, but Aljan remained, balancing precariously on her shoulders and eyeing the birds' nests that were only just being built. Tola minded her steps, and reached up to stroke his head, smiling a bit when he shook her off and went back to staring. He'd grown fat and lazy along their journey, hunting only for himself and sharing none of the wealth. She remembered a time when they would chase vermin together, running through the house and snapping at the heels of rats and birds alike.
Those days were over now; Aljan preferred to hunt alone, and Tola...well, she preferred not to hunt at all. Tomorrow would be her turn to catch dinner, though, and she couldn't help but grimace a bit at that. It wasn't that she didn't enjoy chasing down and catching food; she did. It was just the taste of fresh blood in her mouth that often put her off the meal she'd caught, for no real reason. Perhaps because she wasn't as savage as she'd liked to be; or possibly because Aleksei was savage enough for the both of them.
Lost in thoughts that circled each other rather like a pair of stand-offish cats, Tola didn't notice when Aleksei approached through the fields, perhaps a bit foolishly, considering he was large enough to show clearly over the tall stalks. He noticed the dazed expression on her face, and came forward, taking the flask from a back pocket. She'd barely heard him coming and lifted her head when he was upon her, and Aljan fled as he up-ended the water in his flask over her head. Tola spluttered, water dripping down her face as Aleksei's booming laugh echoed over the fields. Tola brushed her hair and ears back from her face, and shot the older male a dark look. "I. Will. Kill you." She snarled, and he dodged back as she lunged for him, wet hair flying behind her. She did a somersault back to her feet, and spun around, looking for him in the stalks. She saw nothing for a moment, and then had to yelp as she was lifted and thrown over his shoulder. "Put me down, you oaf!" She yelled, and then had to collapse into laughter, as Aleksei swung her around and around, making her dizzy and slightly sick.
"S'good to hear you laughin' again." He rumbled, and then threw her off him before making a run for it. Tola landed a ways away, and had to collect her head before she jumped up and chased after him. It was good to be laughing again; the last few weeks had been hell on them both. And it was good to open up to Aleksei, despite his tendency toward masculinity.
If only he'd been a woman. She might have loved him.
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