Once Doesn't Mean Always (Straight Furry Story)

47: What Happened to You?

Cloudy

Along the drive, Smoke dozes off as he usually does with long trips, however, this time, his sleep comes accompanied with shaking, shivering, quiet wimpering and even crying in his sleep. I try to imagine what's going through his head, the things he possibly saw and what he had to do, all the thoughts sadden me, making me realise that this is something I probably can't help him with. A mere few streets away from home, Smoke awakes and rubs his eyes, examining his sleeve and noticing the wet patches, he shows some confusion and surprise before quickly looking to me then out his window, probably hoping that I didn't notice the tears he wiped away.

I pull up in our driveway a good hour and a half or so after leaving the airport. I look to Smoke as we approach the house and come to a halt, noticing a subtle smile and glint in his eyes, I can definitely tell that he's happy to be home. As I put down the parking break, we look to the still asleep pups in the back, not wanting to wake them, I notion for Smoke to remain quiet and subtly take his bag and make his way inside as I hand him his old house key.

After Smoke is in, I give him a few minutes before getting out, getting the pups out the back and waking them before carrying them into the house. As the three of us enter, I put them down and let them walk around to the loungeroom to see their farther, sitting on the floor and holding out his arms as the pair run and jump into him, causing both him and me to laugh.

"Dadda, dadda!" the twins repeatedly yelled as they crawl all over their father, playing with him while I stand with my arms crossed, leaning on my side against a near by wall, watching my family become whole again.

Alex chases and hugs Smokes tail while Alisa keeps trying to nibble on Smoke's ear

"easy you 2, I'm getting old" Smoke laughs as he's being playfully tormented by small children. I continue to watch and laugh until Alisa stops and looks to me with slight confusion

"mumma, play?" she askes. I walk over and calmly sit next to the trio, before suddenly lunging myself into Smoke's stomach, wrapping him in a massive hug as the twins immediately continue to play.

After about a good half hour, the twins tire themselves out and litter the floor with themselves as they sleep once again. Smoke and I both get up and pick up the tired pups, carrying them to bed. I lay Alex and leave the room before Smoke des the same with Alisa. As Smoke leaves the room and gently closes the door, I grab one of his paws and drag him to our room,

"come on, I want to talk to you for a bit" I instruct as I gently pull him away.

I set Smoke down on the bed and close our door before joining him, sitting by his side and holding both paws.

"I really can't tell you how happy I am to be back" he begins with a sincere smile before suddenly finding himself getting wrapped in tight hug

"it's ok" I whisper to him "it's ok, you're home now, I'm here, it's ok" I continue. I feel Smoke soften up a bit before hugging me and holding me as tight as he can, releasing soft sobs as he rests his bottom jaw on my shoulder.
"shhhhhhh, it's ok, it's ok, you're home now, it's ok" I repeat as I start to cry as I continue to hold him.

After a while, be finally break our lock and look at eachother

"I ... I don't" Smoke tries to form a sentence, clearly chocking on his words "I don't want to leave again ... I was ... so scared ... even more then ever before" he explains as he wipes his face.
"Smoke, I know, I ... I saw you in the car, I really can't imagine the things you have gone through, the things you have seen, but it's over now ... if you want, I can try to help you fight this" I say, looking to him as he breaks down. The wolf stands and begins to remove his shirts, as he removes the singlet he wears under is shirt, I'm petrified to see his body, the clean fur that I had once loves so much, scars and burns showing through, even small patches of his bare skin layed open as evident of his fur being ripped or scorched off those areas show.

I sit in horror as I analyse the damage, each and every scar, every burn, all of it.

"Smoke ..." I say, completely speechless

"Cloudy, this isn't really something we can fight, not this time, we need to just let time take it's course now" he explains before taking off his pants and walking over to a set of drawers. As the grizzled wolf digs through his old clothes, I see even more damage on his back, more evidence of traumatizing events scaring him in more ways then just mentally. The grey canine pulls out a pair of tracksuit light grey pants and slips them on before walking around the bed to the opposite side

"let's try to get some sleep ... please" he says as he raises and slips under the duna, I do the same and push myself against him and hold one of his paws under the covers and keep my grip before closing my eyes.

Just because time is the only cure to this doesn't mean that I'm not going to try and do what I can to help, we will make it through this together.