A Drizzle of Home

31.2 | A Drizzle of Mist

Trigger Warning: This chapter got a little more intense than I originally planned, and depicts the recollection of former trials with what is along the same lines as domestic abuse. Nothing is too graphic, too outside the realm of children's literature, but still there and may cause some discomfort.

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Several attempts to speak ended in fruitless sputters. Mist closed her eyes tightly instead, where tears threatened to form. Her voice scratchy, she explained, "There were complications to my first litter... and none of them made it."

Even through shut eyelids, despair crept through. It streamed down her face and she took deep breaths, while Cloud wrapped her neck under her muzzle. After a moment, letting the words settle, she lifted her head, accepting Cloud's warmth. She stood at her side while she finished.

"Hemlock lost it. He lashed out at me, blamed me for the lifeless pups and blood pooled in the den. If it hadn't been for the other wolves watching, I'm not sure he wouldn't have hurt me." A shiver traveled down her spine, and her fur raised at the unpleasant memories. "I should've known to end it there, because as a matter of fact, his parents had always been right. I didn't belong there.

"He wasn't the wolf I thought he was, not when pain came and shattered his spirit. He wouldn't let anyone help him be strong, too reliant on himself than the strength of the pack." She shook her head gently. "I just shrugged it off, gave him the benefit of the doubt and forgave his words without any pushback.

"But shortly after that I found something else to take my mind off of it." Her muzzle turned, and now, she took the initiative in nuzzling Cloud, a new kind of tears in her eyes. "There were two young pups abandoned and alone in the woods. Thankfully they took to nursing quickly before my milk had all dried, still too young to be away from their mother. I took them, and I hoped that Hemlock would be happy as well. To raise them as our own.

She took another, chest-filling and brave breath. "All it led to was another fight. He was angry at me for taking in the weak, unwanted offspring of another pack." She gazed at Cloud apologetically, but we knew they were his words, not hers. "They were small and weak, only from malnutrition, but he was convinced they would never amount to anything worthwhile to the pack.

"It was the first time I took a stand against him. I chose to keep the pups no matter what he said..." Her voice trailed off. "There were consequences." And she swallowed. "I kept it secret from the pack like an idiot."

The pain on her face nearly moved me to tears, and it was my turn to stand beside her. To share warmth and comfort through the presence of touch. I never imagined Mist could have gone through so much.

"I should've taken the pups and left, but I was worried about how I would provide for them on my own. And I was scared to go to the pack, to ask them for help, knowing that Hemlock would probably hurt them for being subordinate."

"I pretty much lost any sense of leadership after that, resigning to be the silent caretaker of Sky and Cloud. Hemlock no longer needed my help to lead––didn't want it, as our methods of leadership grew different in every way. Hemlock was cold and rigid, sticking to the rules no matter the cost," she explained. "I only wanted everyone to be happy and well-cared for. He didn't."

"There was less and less respect for him as the days passed by, and in turn, me. I was supposed to be the other half of their leader, and yet, I said nothing to him about the way he acted. I told myself it was to protect the pups, not knowing how he'd react, but truthfully, I was more afraid for myself."

"Something had to give." A look of disappointment washed over her face. It had been a long time since she'd met our eyes. "Then it did, when a wolf cost the pack an entire hunt. It was a younger member in the pack, and with coming of age, as a sort of pack-rite, he and another were tasked with taking down the elk. Instead, he was kicked in the chest, injured and bloodied. All the other wolves abandoned the hunt and ran to the injured wolf's side.