In truth I didn't really know much about the relationship of Grayson and Natu. I had gleaned a few important facts over the years. Natu had apparently stolen him as a pup (that was shocking) and then settled on raising him. Gray had never seemed too thrilled about it but I guess he hadn't been too mad about it either, at least not when I talked to him. He seemed conflicted. That was the word and surprisingly I had not pushed for more information. Then again I didn't WANT him to go back to her because he was mine now and he needed to stay with me. That was how it had been since day one on the shore of that river when I dragged his ass out of the water and proceeded to bully him into life. Clearly something had driven him to that terrible time and there was no way I'd let him go back to it.

He had chosen the den we were in and I had not really thought to question why he had chosen this one or even how he had known about it. It was set up a slope and I had argued it wasn't a good idea what with him having three legs and all, but he was resolute so I caved. Funny how often Grayson could make me cave. Bet no one else could!

Right now I was more concerned about how my own parents had died, the sadness coiling within me so deep I wondered if it would fester. Maybe I should take some sort of herb to sleep tonight so I didn't wake up biting Grayson in fits. I'm here, he says, and I pull my head from the den to glance at him. I couldn't really see how sad he was because I was on auto pilot at the moment, torn between anger, resentment, and sadness. I know, he says, and my mind sharpens. I lift my head slightly, brows furrowing, then I think Oh, he heard us howling. But wait, we didn't howl that loud? I know that she was your family too. "What?!" It comes out more snappish than it should but I think he is fucking with me at this point. Or just deliberately trying to be an ass. "Of course she was my family too, but I don't know how she was YOUR family. She was MY mom. He was MY dad. You barely even met them." Okay, so maybe my anger ruled the best. I plop my haunches to the ground and glare at him, eyes sheening with tears but I refuse to blink. Refuse to let them go. "Someone killed him and she went and died with him. How did YOU hear? I don't even remember us howling." Did we? I can't remember now, my mind so muddled.