The Wounds We Heal

Chapter forty: Getting Started

Snowflake yawned before she stretched and woke up. She slowly went to get a drink of water and some food, before looking around The Lookout.

Was anybody else awake?

After noticing nobody around, Snowflake quietly walked over to Chase's pup house. The German Shepherd lay asleep in front of her blissfully.

'I think we should start bonding. Early is better than late. I know I shouldn't do this, but Chase HAS been a sloth; both sleeping, and behavior. Plus I've always wanted to do this!' Snowflake thought to herself. The husky pup reached out and gently touched Chase's nose. After noticing no reply, she did it again but slightly harder.

"Boop!" Snowflake said. Suddenly, she was in a playful mood. She kept bonking Chase's nose gently.

"Boop boop. Beep beep. Honk honk!" Snowflake said quietly as she enjoyed the moment.

The smaller series of taps was enough to stir him and he softly groaned, shifting over on his left side a little more.

"Beeeeeeeep. Boooooooooop," Snowflake said as she pawed his nose, pressing it like a button.

Chase groaned louder and shifted even more. He shifted back then forward on his side and shifted to the other. But with how he lay on his left side, shifting onto his right was restricted. And as he leaned over to that side, his shoulder contacted the edge of his pup house in just the right way. And as a result Snowflake saw him noticeably flinch as though suddenly startled by something. And watched him roll back over onto his left side again to keep sleeping with a paw now draping over his eyes.

"Shoulder bothering you again?" Snowflake whispered softly.

Chase didn't answer, nor did he seem to hear her. As he just kept right on snoozing, with his soft vocal breathes sounding slightly strained by his paws around his face.

Snowflake moved closer so her face was next to Chase's ear.

"Ryder's making coconut, pineapple and pickle smoothies for breakfast. You want one?" Snowflake whispered.

Chase's ears just twitched, but he otherwise remained as he was.

Snowflake groaned before getting closer. She lifted his paw to check his pulse.

"Still alive, just sleeping." Snowflake said to herself. Then, a smile grew as she licked his paw.

Chase stirred, letting his top paw slide off his face and he tucked it under his head with the other one.

"Chase? Chase?!" Snowflake cried, beginning to shake him, but when he shifted onto his stomach she found there was only one thing left for her to do.

This'll get him up. She thought.

Then leaning down, she imagined herself waking her friends or owner, and began licking Chase's face.

The pup's face tensed and he stirred. Groaning and grunting louder, he finally stretched and released a deep yawn. And Snowflake kept licking him a couple more times.

Chase's yawn and stretch turned out to be enough for him to slowly blink his eyes open. And upon lifting them, they found some big, observing eyes.

"Ummm.. hi?" he greeted awkwardly.

"Hi Chase, ready to get started?" Snowflake said, after she stopped licking him and smiled.

"Started?" Chase yawned. "*yawn* started with what?"

"Our bonding time." Snowflake said calmly.

"Our what time?" Chase yawned again, letting his head plop back down onto his paws again, a dazed looked in his eyes.