A Drizzle of Home

23 | A Drizzle of Almost

Cloud trotted ahead of me, laughing as she bounced back and forth on her paws. They only stayed on the ground long enough to build up the spring in her step, before leaping upward in a whirl of excitement.

"Wait for me," I called after her, hastening my steps to keep up with her bounds through the trees. "Slow down, Cloud. You're going to hurt yourself."

A sly grin was her response, but she slowed her jog to walk at my side. Tail swinging back and forth with an uncontainable energy, Cloud nudged my shoulder and laughed. "Fine, Mom," she said with a groan, rolling her eyes.

Mischief sparkled in her silvery eyes, and she was back to wiggling. She nipped at my ear as she passed, running in front again just to stop in the middle of the path. Cloud spun around and lowered her front to the ground, tail perked and rump raised in the air. A pink tongue lolled from her pale muzzle, tempting me to return the playful gesture.

I wasn't taking the bait. This needed to be a calm outing, not one where she hurt herself. Being pent up in the den for a week had given her more energy than I could handle. "Haha, you're so funny." With an exaggerated smile, I stepped past her bowing form. "You're almost healed. Soon enough, you'll be back to full capacity. But you won't be laughing if you reopen your wounds and can't run around like a silly pup for even longer."

A sigh came from behind me. "You're right, Drizzle."

Furrowing my brows, I stopped and faced her. Cloud agreeing with me? Not likely.

She cocked her head innocently. "I am just like a pup."

Her body collided with my chest, sending both of us tumbling. Cloud scrambled over my toppled body to stand on my side and took my ear between her teeth. After a couple painful tugs, her heavy paws digging into my pelt, she released me. I rolled onto my belly, readying myself to stand, when her wet tongue appeared at my muzzle. She licked my snout gently in an act of peace and beamed me a grin that claimed she was done.

More so, it boasted her victory. Not likely.

I stood slowly, huffing in defeat. As she started to stride pompously past, I shoved her shoulder with my head. Caught unawares, her balance was easy enough to throw off. With a swift bite at her leg, I pulled it forward and her other paws slipped out from under her. She landed on the ground belly-up, and I threw my body on top of her. Cloud wallowed in the dirt beneath me, but I let my muscles go slack, draped over her like a pelt of lifeless flesh. It took her a minute to dislodge my weight, and before she could throw me off, I pressed my cold, damp nose into the fur of her face.

It was Cloud's only weakness. Tickling worked wonders at rendering her immobilized and keeping her muzzle occupied with high-pitched giggles. After a moment of torture, I stepped back to admire my work while Cloud still squirmed on the ground in a fit of laughter. Finally, her breathing slowed, and heavy pants took the place of her cackling joy.

Her smile curled into a frown. With heaving breaths, she tried to stand, wincing with each motion. I raced to her side, using my head to support her and take some of the weight off her legs. Cloud stifled a whine. The pain had reawakened in her scarred side. She didn't want me to hear it, to know that she'd pushed herself too hard.

Or to blame myself for letting her—for encouraging it. I was a horrible caretaker. Why did Mist ever trust me?

Growling internally, I busied myself with leading Cloud somewhere to rest. I leaned down to help her settle on a soft patch of grass at the base of a tree then tread a circle around her to inspect her wounds. Thankfully, there was no blood or visible damage beneath her thick, curly fur. I swallowed the lump in my throat, and my heart's racing thud slowed to a steady thump.