Dawn of Hope - Folician Chronicles 7

Chapter 4 - Singer will you be my mate?

The next morning Nose made sure she looked her best before arriving at the Johnson's pack house with her camera tech. When they arrived, she found Hands, Savory, and Nuzzle waiting for her, "Good morning to all of you."

Hands smiled at her, "Ray asked me to greet you and show you into the house. Since we have some history he figured it would be best." He looked at the camera person, "Please don't record until told you can. It is mostly due to us, both of our packs, starting to settle down after all the fun. If you would like to record something, ask." He turned back to nose, "Please follow me."

Nose gave Hands a good hug, "We understand. When you say we can record we will. Not before then. I really hope things are getting better for all of you." She had been really moved by his story when he had talked with her previously.

He sighed, "Better but still dealing with many things for both packs. Being back is so wonderful but I'm still dealing with some things." Hands was doing better but was still mentally healing from what had happened.

The five of them walked into the central house and Hands showed them to Ray's office. When they walked in Hands introduced Nose, "Hey bro, this is Inquisitive Nose and she is the lady who did my interview. Tell her what you want and she will set up the background." Hands settled down in a chair and pulled Nuzzle into his lap and curled an arm around Savory.

Ray looked up and smiled, "Greetings Nose and this is my mate Gentle. I wanted to thank you for coming over for the interview. Please have a seat. After looking at what my brother did with you, I am thinking something similar. In this case, more than anything else I want to simply let the world know I have a new mate." His expression saddened, "I loved Flitter a great deal but she would want me to keep going. I love Gentle as much as I loved Flitter."

Nose gave him a quick hug, "I am the one who should be thanking you for allowing me to do the interview." She glanced at Gentle and Zantha not to mention the other three, "What questions do you want me to avoid? I know that this is a very emotions time for you." She was doing her best to keep this as above board as possible. This could be her break into the mainstream reporting.

Inquisitive Nose talked to both Ray and Gentle for several minutes before she came to a decision, "Pack Father I think it would be best if we simply left the background as is. This is a lovely office and with the various pictures of your family and pack on the walls shows what is important." She lowered her ears briefly, "I think this will mean more to the viewers than some contrived background. With Pack Father Strong Hangs the fireside chat worked since we do have a great deal of snow. Here it isn't as much and so it wouldn't come across quite the same way."

Ray glanced at Gentle and then back at Nose, "Actually I rather like that idea. We have pictures of Flitter, Gentle, myself, and our pack. Some are serious such as when they delivered and holding our pups. Others are simply amusing scenes and shows our short pack time." He was forced to look down and sigh, "It has been a hard year but for all the agony there has been some wonderful things." One hand found one of Gentles and grasped it, "I loved my former mate deeply but I also love my new mate as much. She is not a replacement since she is her own person. I love Gentle Resolute Song and can't wait for our next set of pups. It might be a few years down the road but we will have more. I love all of my pups deeply and all are going to be raised by the pack and temple." He glanced up at Gentle and his eyes showed his emotions.

Gentle had an arm around him and as he spoke her ears lowered as he expressed how he cared for her. She returned the hold on her hand and leaned over and gave him a soft kiss, "I love Ray as well and though he still has some healing to deal with his loss I am here for him." She kissed him again as well and spoke again, "I love Ray as my mate as well. It was hard for me to step into Flitter's paw prints but she chose this for me. Rayfuso is my mate and... How I do love him. We have a damn fine pack and nothing will change that. We have been stressed and tested yet we came out stronger for it."