Thread:Riftgard Princess/@comment-1719793-20120301062907/@comment-4482397-20120316215749

Juni opened her eyes slowly, her eyelids heavy with sleep. her body felt sore all over and she felt a burning sensation in her throat. But… she felt, lighter, somehow.

“Good morning.”

Juni turned her head against her right shoulder to see Findo smiling down at her.

“Have a good sleep?” the mahogany furred weasel gently ran a paw through the young vixens’ headfur.

“Y-yeah.” Juni hoisted herself into a sitting position. “How long have I been out?”

“A day.” Findo grinned and sat back, letting his paw slide down his friends cheek and then fall to the ground. Juni gazed at him in surprise. Findo was limp and heavy, like a wet bit of sailcloth. He was only like this if he hadn’t slept.

“Have you been awake and watching me all night?” Juni cocked her head.

“Aye.” Findo gave her one of his wolfish grins.

“Stalker.” Juni said with mock severity.

“yeah well, I felt bad for not being by your side. I did promise, when I first came to Marshank that I’d look out for you when Skalrag couldn’t…” Findo ran a paw up the back of his neck, not making eye contact. “Seems I’m not good at keeping my promises.” He looked into Juni’s pale golden eyes. “But, your babies are just fine, don’t worry.”

“My… babies?” Juni stared at her friend in confusion, then her eyes snapped wide open and she shoved the blanket that had been wrapped around her off her lap and started to shoot to her feet but Findo grabbed her.

“Hey! Easy, you don’t want to wake them up!”

“But I have to make sure they’re alright!” Juni choked. “I can’t lose them! I-

“Calm down…” Findo pushed her back into a laying position, kneading her shoulders soothingly. “Look.” He pointed to three little cubs, wrapped in blankets sleeping in one of Elonwyn’s baskets. “You two did well. Look how cute they are.”

Juni’s face broke out into a small smile at the sight. One of the cubs, the female as snuggling her face against the biggest male cub, and the smaller male cub had his thumb in his mouth. The biggest one yawned and twitched.

“Triplets…” Juni murmured, letting her head sag against’ Findo’s shoulder and she curled into a tight ball. “Skalrag… would have been so surprised.”

“Yeah.” Findo hugged her close.

“Well this is an interesting scene.” The two jumped and looked up to see Malwyze smiling at the two of them with one eyebrow raised in amusement. “My Findo, aren’t you the ladies man!”

“don’t be stupid.” Findo curled up closer to Juni and glowered at Malwyze in defiance. “Can’t a guy congratulate his own best friend?”

Juni turned scarlet and looked away. “Please get off of me Findo…”

“Alright, alright.” Findo laughed softly and pulled himself to his feet. “I need to say goodbye to Ralken and the others.” He disappeared through the tree line.

“Say goodbye?” Juni glanced up at him in bewilderment.

“Stumptooth remembered the poem.” Malwyze pressed a paw on Juni’s shoulder. “Ralken, Tara and Stumptooth are leaving us now. As am I. it would be best for me to guide them, as they will come on troubling times I’m sure.”

“But, I won’t get to say goodbye to them.” Juni murmured sadly.

“Don’t worry; they know your love goes with them.” Malwyze sat down and hugged his knees to his chest. “There’s something I’d like to talk to you about, Miss Juni, if you don’t mind.”

“What is it?” Juni stared into the earnest older stoat’s eyes.

“You’re a widow now Juni, and I’m sure it’s very hard for you.” Malwyze gazed at her seriously. “I’ve always been a bachelor, so I cannot really begin to understand what it is like to lose a spouse.”

“Skalrag and I were always like brother and sister.” Juni murmured, hugging herself and staring at the ground. “I loved him, as closely as though we’d been born from the same womb. We were… made for each other…” the vixen’s eyes burned and she closed them tightly.

Malwyze took her paw and squeezed it. “I wish I had words that could make you happy again dear one… I have a proposition for you.”

“I’m not sure what you mean.” Juni looked up, feeling suddenly nervous.

“Your children, need a father, and raising children as a single parent is very difficult. I know I could never be another Skalrag, but, if it helps you, the two of us could marry, and you would have someone to help you raise your babies.” Malwyze sighed. “I find it hard to explain, but I want to help you… you’ve been through so much.”

“NO!” Juni pulled away, and malwyze started in surprise.

“I… I’m sorry.” Juni stared at him in wide eyes horror. “But that wouldn’t be fair for either of us. You and I… I know you mean well, but… you don’t exactly love me, and I don’t love you… it, doesn’t seem… what I’m trying to say is-

“No, it’s fine!” Malwyze raised his paws in submission, smiling. “I didn’t mean to alarm you. I hadn’t expected you to say yes in the first place… perhaps marriage is a bit extreme… perhaps… godfather then?”

“I believe… that would work a lot better for the both of us.” Juni rlaxed, glancing at her cubs. “But you’ll be going away.”

“Aye. But we will meet up as soon as everyone is fit to travel.” Malwyze got to his feet. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to say goodbye to my nieces.”

“Of course.” Juni nodded timidly.



“I wish I didn’t have to leave you all.” Ralken sighed, gazing around at the group. “I just can see every bad thing that will happen…”

“We’ll be fine.” Alya hugged her mate tightly. “There are lots of us to take care of each other here; it’s you we should worry about.”

Findo could see Lonny trembling slightly as she looked away from the couple, and he felt a yank in his chest. Feeling a bit stupid he stuck his paw out as though to shake hands, knocking a startled Ralken away from alya. “Well, don’t get Tara and Stumpy into trouble old man!” Findo grinned, feeling like a world class idiot.

“I’ll make sure to keep them safe.” Ralken clasped his friends paw tightly, smiling slightly. “Watch over Lon and Aqua for me alright?”

“Tail’s already got Aqua covered, haven’t ya tail?” Findo winked at Tailwart and Aqua.

“You remembered all those herbs I told you about?” alya grumpily turned to Tara.

“Oh yeah, I can remember everything.” Tara tapped her skull, smiling. “and Malwyze knows his herbs too, so we should do fine!”

“Did I hear someone say my name?” Malwyze pushed a bush out of his way as he padded towards the group standing on the hilltop.

“Aye, we did.” Stumptooth grinned.

“You ready then?” Ralken gazed solemnly at the older stoat.

“Probably more ready than any of you youngsters!” Malwyze winked. “And Juni sends her love.”

Tara smiled sadly. “Tell her bye from us then.”

“We need to get going.” Stumptooth glanced up at the sky. “It’s already noon time.”

“We’ll miss you all.” Sia sighed. “Be careful.”

“We will.” Ralken gave Aqua and Elonwyn a half hug, and then turned to Risk with a murderous look. “Keep yourself a good distance from Lonny. Got it?”

“Don’t order me about!” risk snarled.

“Come on.” Stumptooth was already halfway down the hill as he called over his shoulder.

“Goodbye!” Malwyze, Tara, and Ralken called as they raced down the hill after the tall ferret.

Ralken glanced over his shoulder, his eyes locked on Alya. “I hope I’m doing the right thing, leaving them behind.”

“They’ll be fine.” Tara grinned. “I see a lot of good things coming their way. And we have the ribbons so they’ll be able to catch up to us in no time.”