THE MORNING AFTER

Henry awoke to see the foggy mist of the morning. The pups where all huddled together in a ball. He arched his head to take a mental count of his young charges. He rejuvenated in the calm, thankful to be alive after the events of the evening that hung heavy in his mind like the mist that surrounded them. The stream they had been floating down had vanished and the clear box now rested on the flattened prairie grass. He turned to check on Simon as his mind filled with thoughts of Simons demise. Praying Simon had survived his injuries through the night; he couldn’t tell from his position if Simon was breathing. He moved over to Simon and laid his head down on his crest just to be sure.Terrified by the thoughts of having to tell the pups that big brother Simon was no more.

He trembled as he leaned his ear closer to Simon to hear his heart beat.

“Why, Henry, I didn’t know you cared so much”. Simon faintly exclaimed startling Henry and causing him to straighten up into a sitting position.

“I don’t you big fur ball. You lost a lot of blood and I was worried”. Stopping short in his reply and hoping his whiskers didn’t do that drooping thing they do when he is truly overwhelmed with fear.

“You were worried; I had died and left you with all these little pups’. Simon moaned as he tried to sit up and met Henrys gaze.

“Let me check that wound; you big fur ball.” Henry motioned with his arms not wanting to get into one of Simons deep conversations about how he always avoids the truth regarding his true feelings. His thoughts now on how to get them home.

He leaned down to look at the wound on Simon’s leg. It was swollen and the fur around it was matted with dried blood. Henry hoped that was a good sign. Simon squealed as Henry touched the wound locating the point of the fracture. Henry knew there was no way Simon would be able to walk to Oaks Hollow. He wasn’t sure where Oaks Hollow was at this point. He had planned on scoping out their surroundings after he checked on Simons condition. Henry was about to tell Simon what he thought they should do next when Simon past out.