The Blue Eyes of Sparrow

Chapter 5: Fate or Choices?

Fleck felt bone tired as Finch nudged her wake. "It's time to eat." He twitched a tawny-gold ear, his green eyes the colored of leaves when touched by the summer sun.

Fleck suddenly felt hunger bite at her belly, as if she had swallowed a live fish and it was wriggling and slapping her. "How will we find something to eat?"

Finch licked his lips, then he smiled at her. "Kiloa promised to bring some food when I checked her shoulder. She should be here any minute," he added in amusement. "if she's on time."

Fleck thought back with the same amusement when she first met Kiloa, claimed to be always on time.

A rustle sounded from the entrance, the sound of fur brushing against ferns. "She's here!" she yelped as the red-furred wolf entered, with a young plump rabbit.

Kiloa looked smug, her sky colored eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "I caught off guard." She mumbled though the mouthful of fur, stretching out her paw in greeting.

Finch nodded. "How about I check your shoulder, then dig in?" he suggested. "Getting it out of the way." Observed Kiloa. ''Smart."

Finch when to the hollow tree stump where he stored his medicines. Stretching a paw in, he scooped out a couple leaves and berries, tearing them into a paste. Carrying them quickly, he brought them to Kiloa, who had settled on the warm rocks near the pool. Fleck stood, stretched, and padded over to join them.

Finch was looking at the wound closely. "This is your last treatment needed!" he announced after a moment. Kiloa's eyes shone. "Really?" she gasped. Finch nodded, giving her a smile quite unusual for him.

Fleck froze in place. A sudden nagging feeling other than hunger that bit at her belly.

It was the painful bite of jealousy.

Finch suddenly dropped his gaze; dipped his paw in the herb paste and rubbed it gently on Kiloa's shoulder.

Unable to see anymore, Fleck studied her paws. A part in her was asking why she was jealous, she didn't own Finch, he makes his own choice.

But the nagging still feel tugged at her belly.

Why? Why her? Why can't it be me? She shrieked in her head. Fleck miserably lay her head on paws, looking up at Finch.

He was completely focused on the mostly healed gash on her shoulder, green eyes fixed on the parting of red fur, which was flecked with green paste.

A moment later he dragged the rabbit toward him and Kiloa, splitting it into three parts, but the part he pushed toward Fleck was smaller than Kiloa's.

Outrage sparked in her belly, and her fur fluffed up in anger, her lip nearly curling in a snarl. How could you?

Finch gulped his share down with relish, then he lowered his head and drank from the clear, reflecting water. Kiloa bent down and did the same, dipping her muzzle to wash it.

Fleck felt disgusted, she pushed away her meager share. They could have it. She growled in her head, and nearly out loud.

Fleck turned her back on the fern covering where Finch slept and padded toward the tree stump where she had woken up the first time. Curing her lip with distaste, she settled on the damp mossy ground, her eyes fixed on Finch and Kiloa.

Finch was washing Kiloa's ear while she was sunning on the sun warmed rock. Kiloa sniffed at the rabbit meat Fleck had left and ate it hungrily. Finch had looked at Kiloa, then glanced at Fleck's direction.

Fleck turned her head with a snort, feeling anger, sadness, and regret fill her heart. She and Finch could have a good life together, but by turn her back on him, she was shutting out that life forever.