He was gone more than he was here. It was almost as if he wasn't here at all. The nights were long, even longer when he decided to go on patrol in the middle of the night. I would feel his warmth for a few hours, and he'd be gone, all night and day, again. The pups missed him, Maris did for sure. Stryker didn't show his emotions as much, reminding her of his father more and more lately. He looked more like him than anything. He was as striking as his father was, and it made me smile, knowing that he was his fathers spitting image. Maris, well, she was the proverbial black sheep of the family. She was so dark to their light, it was so stunning, yet, it made me curious as to where she got that from. From my knowledge, my parents didn't hold colors like that. It brought to mind maybe Maris took after Panz's family.

Maris had gone off already for the day, as had Stryker. He was never far, from what she saw, but Maris, she was the free spirit, wherever her adventures would take her for the day, she'd always check in, before going too far. But she'd mentioned the cliffs today. I however, stayed in the den more often than naught. I laid with my head across my paws, eyes closed as the sun beat down on my dirty white coat. I felt no urge to go clean off most days, and the dust and dirt that clung to the inside of the walls of the den usually got stuck to me, more than the boys. They were out and about so often that it didn't stay long. She knew she needed to go and stretch her legs. But the desire to? It was gone.

She needed him here more. She felt like all they had shared before was gone, and that killed her more than anything lately. She missed the joking, and the soft touches, the loving gazes. She was beginning to wonder if he'd lost it, if he didn't care for her the same way anymore. She wouldn't--couldn't. She'd always love him.

She heard steps, and the scents that clung with the steps were his-- a mixture of his woodsy smell, and that of the borders. She lifted her head, eyes squinting against the bright light that surrounded his form. He spoke of being home for the day, and wanting to go to the tide pools with the pups. I gave a soft smile. "I'm sure they'd love too. Maris said she'd be exploring the cliffs, I'm sure Stryker isn't far away."