FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Where do we go?

"Vernon?"

Dawn shrunk in her shoulders as the crestfallen looking wolf glanced her way. The ewe already felt bad enough having eavesdropped on the conversation between the wolf and his father for multiple reasons. Hearing what the old wolf had to say about her, while she had already heard as much the day before, was still just as hard to take the second time around. But also having to silently endure watching her Puppy Love trying desperately to plead with the wolf, to attempt to make Dorian see things from his perspective, only to be met time and time again with outright denial was agonizing to witness her mate suffer through. Especially knowing it was all for her sake.

Vernon had thrown away his name, tossed it aside as if it meant nothing to him, all because of his devotion to her. And based on what little Dawn knew of the tenets of native wolf beliefs, she knew it was more than just a simple, inconsequential gesture. If Vernon intended to honor it the way the wolves of old did, it would mean that he would never return to the ranch, or speak to his father again. Not to mention the wolf would be very limited when it came to seeing the rest of his family members in one place.

The Hunter Brothers seemed to have very busy and demanding lives, and Dawn could only imagine that big get-togethers such as this were almost impossible to make their schedules fit into, especially without a mammal like Audrey most likely being the organizer of events like this. The ewe imagined that when it came to the she-wolf, all she had to do was call and her boys would drop everything and answer.

But when it came to their situation, aside from stopping in and visiting Wade due to the fact that he lived in the same city, Dawn couldn't see any mini-"Hunter reunions" in Zootopia ever happening. After all, Dawn and Vernon were busy mammals too, and at this point, their shared apartment wasn't fit to hold more than one guest at a time. Dawn was certain the future for family get-togethers only held disappointing phone calls that would simply grow farther and farther apart until eventually Vernon simply gave up on the idea, all because of the choice he made.

Essentially the wolf had elected to cut himself out of the Hunter family tree, to fully disassociate with them just has his great grandmother had with her own pack. The only difference was that in Vernon's case the ewe knew it was self-imposed. Dawn was already well aware that the Hunter family did not take any pride or tradition from their native blood-line, and so it would be Vernon's job to truly enforce such a declaration.

It would be up to him to never visit his family, to never speak to his father again no matter the circumstance, all because he held his love for the ewe above everything and everyone else. Because he felt she deserved to be included, to experience all the rights and responsibilities allocated to those who enter into the Hunter pack. He felt they deserved the right to be joined in body and soul for eternity under the glow of the full harvest moon while surrounded by his own flesh and blood.

It should have made the ewe feel proud. To be filled with nothing more than pure love and adoration for her mate. But the circumstances had dampened any sort of real joy she could garner from witnessing how tirelessly her mate had defended her honor after seeing just how great the cost had turned out to be. She could see the pain in Vernon's eyes, she could hear it in the linger of his howl as it crept through the crisp autumn air. And while she knew she would probably be unable to get the wolf to admit it to her, the pain of the sacrifice he had chosen to make was something that would never really leave him. Much the same way her past actions haunted her.

Vernon let out a quiet whimper, his deep green eyes darting away from the ewe's own as the wolf scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

"W-what did you hear?" Vernon muttered.

Dawn wrung her hooves nervously, her eyes drifting down to the worn wooden boards of the porch flooring.

"I-I heard most of it...I think." Dawn murmured. "I mean, I was o-outside from around the part where your father b-brought up the fair..."

Vernon slumped backward into the porch swing, causing the loveseat to begin to sway back and forth slightly under the sudden shift in weight. The wolf drew an arm over his face, covering his eyes. For a moment the wolf let out a soft hiss, quickly pulling his arm away as Dawn surmised he skimmed another on of his cuts before gently placing his arm back over his eyes in a slightly different position.

"You were listenin' to that part too!?" Vernon whined. "I though y'all just heard the howl!"

Dawn cringed, biting down on a knuckle as Vernon's words hit her. For some reason, she assumed Vernon had been aware she had overheard the bulk of the argument. It was a foolish assumption for which the ewe had no real basis, as even among company the small ewe managed to disappear from the radar of other mammals larger than she was. The fact that the door Vernon previously closed to the office was slightly ajar when he left should have been enough to tip the wolf off. But also she had been sure the wolf had seen her before starting his trudge toward the porch. Still, Dawn figured that it was a lot to expect of Vernon considering what he had just experienced.

Vernon let out a tired groan before dragging his arm off of his eyes and allowing it to hang lazily off the side of the swaying seat. Placing his other paw on his chest, the wolf took in a deep breath before letting it out a long, drawn sigh.

"I'm sorry you had to hear any of that Floofs." Vernon shook his head. "I'm sorry fer all the fights, all this grief...everythin'..." The wolf muttered quietly. "Y'all deserve better than this."

"Oh hush now Puppy." Dawn cooed as she made her way over to the old wooden porch swing. Taking a moment to hold it steady with her hooves, the ewe managed to stop the gentle rocking the wolf had created by throwing himself against it. Thankfully the porch swing proved to be considerably lower to the ground by comparison to the dining room chairs, allowing the ewe pull herself onto the cushion with little difficulty.

The old swing was a bit of a relic upon closer inspection. With its out of date floral printing and the various scratches cut into the wood it was clear the old piece of furniture had seen a few decades sitting outside of the Hunter Ranch. Dawn couldn't help but think that perhaps the reason it was so low to the ground in the first place was that it was made with Audrey's newborn pups being able to reach it in mind. The image of the little Puppy she remembered trying to clamber up onto the same seat she was now sitting on would have been more than enough to warm her heart had the current circumstances been different.

Dawn went down on her knees, sliding herself up alongside the wolf before placing a gentle hoof atop the paw on his chest.

"I happen to think I don't deserve a mate nearly as wonderful as you are." The ewe cooed.

Vernon continued to look away from her, instead his eyes seemed to be fixed on the distant glowing orb in the sky.

"Pfft...wonderful." Vernon muttered sarcastically.

"Yes wonderful." Dawn reaffirmed, patting his paw to emphasize her point.

"A wonderful mate doesn't act like I did..." Vernon grumbled. "I'm purty sure if you were set up with a nice ram y'all wouldn't have to worry about him bitin' down on someone's throat."

Dawn rolled her eyes. "Oh Vernon, that again?" The ewe shook her head. "I already forgave you for that."

"Yeah, and I still can barely wrap my head around why." The wolf shook his head dismissively before pulling away from Dawn's grip as he edged himself into the corner of the swing. The wolf leaned up slightly, allowing the ewe to get a good look at the wolf's face now that she was closer to him. The pale moonlight against his fur revealed that the smattering painful lumps and flecks of dried blood all over his muzzle had only seemed to expand since she had last been able to check, and the bruise near his right eye had swelled up enough at this point to force it partially closed.

Dawn sucked in a sharp breath between parted teeth as she eyed the damage. The ewe could only imagine just how excruciating the pain must have felt to the wolf.

"I mean, I acted like I was nothin' more than a savage." Vernon grumbled. "I let Yuri get the better of me and...ugh..." Vernon cradled his head in his paws. "The look on yer face when I saw it...I just..."

"Vernon." Dawn scooted closer to him, placing a hoof gently on the wolf's knee. Vernon's response was to further tighten into a ball, his legs tucked tightly against him in what Dawn could only assume was an effort to edge her out.

"It felt like daggers." Vernon whined. "Like icicles jabbin' directly into my heart."

"I wasn't afraid of you." Dawn shook her head. "You know that."

Vernon ran a paw up his face, slowing down slightly as he passed near his bruised eye before dragging it through his hair.

"I know, it's just..." Vernon allowed his arms to drop listlessly to his side. " I never ever wanted you to see me like that...." The wolf looked down into his lap as he let out a quiet sigh. "I didn't even think I was capable of bein' like that anymore..."

The wolf glanced back toward the amber colored orb hanging in the sky. By now the chorus of crickets under the blanket of growing dark had swelled into a full symphony as the stars began to come out.

"I haven't felt like that since...since the factory. And before that...I-"

"Vernon." Dawn tried to interrupt, but the wolf continued.

"I just felt so damn powerless." Vernon whimpered softly. "I hate feelin' powerless...I've hated it ever since I lost you the first time Floofs."

Dawn moved in closer to the wolf, tryin to find an opening around his legs she could easily maneuver through to reach the vulnerable wolf as he continued.

"Bein' here...with everything going the way it has..." Vernon murmured. "I just feel like such a powerless damn pup again."

Finally, Dawn found her opening. With a quick push the ewe had managed to squirm past the wolf's legs, slipping into the small space between him and the back of the seat before laying her arm across his chest, drawing the wolf's attention back to the diminutive lamb. Vernon winced slightly as Dawn stared back up into his emerald eyes. It was only for a moment before his eyes darted away again, back to the moon hovering in the night sky.

"And that...I mean..." Vernon placed a paw to his head." It just broke me." The wolf whined. "I let it all get the better of me and I ju-"

"You don't think we all have those moments Vernon?" Dawn spoke softly, tugging at the wolf's shirt in an attempt to draw his attention back on her. "What did you think I meant when I told you that you were no more a monster than I was?"

Despite her efforts, Vernon kept his eyes on the skies.

"We've all had moments where we've broken down..." Dawn cooed. "Where we've been pressed to our limits to the point of snapping and done things we regret after the fact." The ewe tugged at Vernon's shirt again. "Lamb sakes, you know I have!"

"Mhh..." Vernon muttered quietly in a half-hearted agreement.

Dawn was growing tired of the wolf's evasive attitude, and quickly reached up to grab the wolf's chin with her hoof. She grasped it as gently as she could while still maintaining a grip to avoid causing the wolf any more undue pain, before tilting his face back in her direction. The lamb made sure his eyes were finally on hers again before continuing.

"Vernon, you want to talk about dealing with inner demons?" Dawn asked, furrowing her brow. "You are looking at the expert on the subject!"

The wolf, unable to move, merely quirked his eyebrows quizzically.

"I spent so long burying them, shoving them deep down inside. I was so afraid to even acknowledge I had those feelings that I didn't even realize how they had started to affect the way I was thinking until long after they completely consumed me!" Dawn raised her voice slightly as she adjusted her grip on the wolf's muzzle. "I had no one to help, not a single friend to share my pain with or even stand to my defense, and all those horrible feelings just welled deep down inside with no way to release them!"

Dawn frowned, breaking eye contact for a moment as she looked down at her lap.

"When that Pandaro's box finally burst open, it took the ZPD's best to put an end to it. To finally slam that case shut and drag the real Dawn back to the surface. To pull me back from the brink of insanity." Dawn whimpered softly.

"I had to take mandatory psychiatric therapy to deal with the dark pit I had let myself spiral into!" The ewe brought her gaze back to Vernon's. She could feel tears starting to form, but the lamb did her best to suppress them as she continued. "And I'm still seeing Dr. Gnu because I'm still recovering even now!"

Vernon just stared back at the ewe, his left eye open wide in shock with his right doing it's best to join it despite the swelling.

"So don't you start going on about being a monster, okay!?" Dawn replied. The ewe was slightly dragging his muzzle from side to side in a playful manner, doing her best to drag a smile out of the sullen wolf. It didn't take long before she could see the smirk Vernon was struggling to hide.

"You are an angel compared to me!" Dawn continued with a giggle. "A moment of weakness is not going to change my opinion on that!"

Vernon tried to look away, the wolf letting out a soft chuckle of his own in the face of Dawn's continued playful antics.

"Trying to suppress those feelings you hate only makes them more powerful. To lock them away without any form of an outlet is not going to help anyone." Dawn said, releasing her grip on the wolf's chin and patting him gingerly on the chest with a hoof. "It certainly didn't work very well for me now did it?"

"Floofs..." Vernon shook his head.

"We even talked about this just last night, remember?" Dawn continued. " About what Dr. Gnu told me about burying emotions and letting them fester?"

"I remember..." Vernon murmured softly.

"And do you remember what else I said last night?" Dawn asked.

Vernon rolled his eyes. "You mean about bein' honest with each other, and leanin' on one another and such?"

Dawn gave the wolf a brisk nod. "Exactly, an-"

"And..." Vernon interrupted. "I'd like to point out you didn't exactly keep to that rule either all things considered." The wolf playfully tapped the tip of the ewe's nose with a claw to accentuate his point. Dawn crinkled her muzzle in response, the ewe drawing away slightly before giving the wolf a playful swat and sticking her tongue out in a childish retort. The wolf simply squinted back at the ewe, a knowing smirk plastered on his muzzle until Dawn finally gave in and addressed the issue.

"Okay, okay...that's fair." Dawn giggled. "This trip has been extremely stressful for the both of us." Dawn continued, leaning her head back against the wolf's chest as she began to rub it with an affectionate hoof, drawing small circles with her finger. "And we were both so caught up worrying about expressing those feelings to each other and being open and honest about them that we both ended up keeping secrets and letting our emotions get the better of us."

"Mhh..." Vernon nodded softly in agreement. The wolf had leaned his head back onto the armrest, his muzzle tipped up toward the porch ceiling as he ran a paw through his messy mane of head fur while glancing back at the lamb out of the corner of his eyes. Well, at least the good one anyway, it was hard to make out the matching pupil that was partially obscured by a pulsing lump of fur. Seeing it so swollen still made the ewe's heartache for him despite how non-plussed the wolf seemed to be over it. It made it particularly hard for Dawn to look him directly in it.

"I was wrong not to tell you what happened with Dorian right after I went to talk to him." Dawn sighed, her attention drawing to the soft circular motions she drew on the wolf's chest. "I know that." Dawn slumped slightly before reluctantly turning her attention back to the wounded wolf. "I just...I was just so worried about making the relationship between everyone worse." Dawn murmured. "Not even just between you and Dorian, but between him and Audrey, or the rest of your brothers and sisters."

As the ewe rested against the wolf's side, she could feel his arm slip in around her back. The wolf gently placed his arm around her, drawing a gentle claw up her arm before bringing his paw to rest on her shoulder and pulling her slightly closer to his chest. Slowly, Dawn felt the weight of the swing shift, and soon it was swaying softly in the slight breeze that seeped through the mesh netting of the porch. The motion was consistent and continued without losing momentum long enough for Dawn to realize that the wolf was the one keeping the old, worn, wooden structure swaying in the rather relaxing manner.

"I mean, they've been so nice to me." Dawn sighed. " Almost everyone was willing to welcome me with open paws. To leave my history at the door and just embrace me as one of their own."

The ewe pulled away for a moment, sitting up slightly as glanced back up at her mate, her eyes catching his own as they shimmered in the moonlight.

"And I was going to repay my newfound family by driving a deeper wedge between Dorian and the rest of them?" The ewe asked, gesturing hoof toward the wolf to emphasize her point. Vernon simply watched her in silence as the ewe shook her head dismissively. "It was just that much more of a reason to keep from telling you until we got back home."

Dawn let out a shuddering sigh as she curled back against the wolf's side. The slight chill in the air was starting to creep down the back of her neck, and it made the wolf's pelt seem that much more inviting to snuggling up to as she nuzzled against his chest. As soon as her head returned to its place above the wolf's heart, Vernon's paw had taken it's place back on Dawn's shoulder, the wolf gently running it up and down her upper arm in an effort to provide some warmth.

"Well at least you were gonna tell me..." Vernon replied, the wolf chuckling softly as he spoke.

"I-I thought it would do less damage...somehow...I don't know." The ewe huffed, unceremoniously burying her face and muzzle in Vernon's shirt. "That having a phone line separating you and Dorian would prevent...well..." The ewe's voice was slightly muffled as she spoke through the fabric.

"This?" Vernon asked, raising the ewe a curious eyebrow as he gestured to the general area of the ranch.

Dawn pulled her head up slightly, allowing her to speak clearly once again. "Well, this wasn't exactly what I expected would happen." The ewe murmured. "Although I can't honestly say if what I was expecting was better or worse than what actually happened."

The ewe reached her arm around the wolf's chest, squeezing herself against him as tightly as she could muster in an effort to hug the wolf with her free arm. "But I should have told you anyway." Dawn murmured, her glance shifting back to the wolf above her "It was wrong of me to keep it from you."

Vernon's ears were sagging now, and he had returned his attention back to the looming orange moon hovering in the dusky sky.

"Can't imagine it could get much worse..." Vernon mumbled letting out a soft, tired sigh. "I mean even if y'all told me right after it happened I can't imagine things would have played out much better. Once I heard what he did I just sorta..." Vernon raised his free paw before allowing it to flop lazily off the side of the swing. It dangled limply as the seat swayed softly back and forth. "Shut down." The wolf ran a paw through his head fur. "And well...I mean...like I said, my emotions got the best of me."

Dawn reached out to grab the wolf's muzzle once more, directing his focus back on her.

"Nobody's perfect Vernon."

Vernon frowned, the wolf's ears dipping lower as he eyed the lamb quizzically.

"And that's okay." The ewe continued, patting Vernon reassuringly. "There isn't a mammal out there that is perfect."

"We all make mistakes, and have moments where we break down." Dawn caressed the side of his bruised muzzle, and the wolf leaned into the affectionate gesture, placing a paw atop her hoof as he watched her speak . "Moments that make us feel small, and weak, and insecure."

The ewe pulled free of the wolf's gentle grip, moving her hoof up to the wolf's ear and scratching just beneath the limp muscle. Almost as soon as she began the gentle scraping of the skin under his ear, the familiar soft thudding of her mate's tail began to sound out softly as it 'thumped' against the faded floral printed padding of the loveseat. Vernon closed his eyes, furrowing his brow as he leaned toward the ewe's hoof and making it that much easier to reach. Dawn couldn't help but smirk as the tip of the wolf's tongue poked out from his muzzle. It was a sure sign she was working one of the wolf's weak spots just the right way.

"Last night you brought up something else Dr. Gnu said." Dawn cooed as she continued her massage. "About how learning to stand up for myself and make myself heard was something I wasn't going to just suddenly become a master at overnight." Dawn retracted her hoof slightly, and the wolf's head followed. Vernon's trance-like state causing him to follow the source of overwhelming pleasure subconsciously. "It would take time and practice because the whole thing was still new to me."

Despite seeming to be lost in a haze of warm, pleasant thoughts, Vernon managed a soft, affirmative nod.

"T-true." Vernon moaned quietly.

"Well, it's the same thing with us." Dawn concluded, giving the wolf's cheek a gentle stroke as she pulled her hoof all the way back to its resting place on the wolf's chest. Vernon's eyes flew open almost as soon as the ewe pulled her hoof away, his expression briefly one of confusion and disappointment before the wolf seemed to shake off the lingering haze that had overtaken his mind. The wolf shook his head briskly for a moment before turning his attention back to the ewe at his side.

"Huh?" Vernon titled his head curiously. "How so?"

"This relationship stuff." Dawn added, gesturing at nothing in particular with her hoof before placing it back on Vernon's chest. "All of it."

The ewe sat up slightly, thrusting herself forward in short, terse movements until she was satisfied with her position. Dawn raised a hoof, holding one finger up with the others balled up as she grabbed at it with her other hand, eyeing the confused looking wolf.

"Communication." The ewe wiggled her extended digit slightly with her other hand before extending her second finger and moving to it.

"Teamwork." Dawn extended her thumb before pressing it down with her other hoof's index finger.

"Figuring out our strengths and weaknesses when it comes to working as a pair, and playing them the right way."

The ewe gave a simple shrug as she let her arms drop to her sides. "We're new at this, both of us. We're learning the ins and outs of being together. Of having a real relationship."

Vernon raised a curious brow, but despite appearing slightly confused the wolf was idly nodding along.

"It's going to take time to master it all." Dawn said with a chuckle as she gently pat the wolf's chest. "We're still getting used to the fact that we have someone who is invested in our lives. Someone who loves us unconditionally. Someone who is there to lean on, and who we need to be open and honest with so they can actually help." The ewe cooed. "And we are going to hit a few potholes along the way."

Dawn leaned up to the confused wolf, placing a gentle kiss on the tip of his bruised nose.

"But that's why we have each other Puppy Love." The ewe smiled softly. "So when we slip we have someone to lean on. To go to with our problems and look out for us." The ewe gently pet the wolf's chest. "And when it comes to serious decisions, we have each other to confer with on what is the best route to take."

The ewe laid her head against the wolf's chest, nuzzling him softly as she gripped against his side.

"Perhaps if we had been communicating properly from the beginning things would have been a little easier, but at the very least it has given us something to learn from." The ewe muttered. "And we can use these experiences to better our relationship, to make it stronger."

Dawn leaned her head up on the wolf's chest, allowing one eye to fall on his around the frame of her skewed lenses.

"To make each other stronger." The ewe cooed. "Because we are a team now. And everything we do, we do together from now on." Dawn gave the wolf's chest a quick pat.

"Alright?"

Vernon offered the ewe a warm smile, nodding softly in agreement.

"Alright..." The wolf replied.

"And from now on we'll try a little harder at 'being honest with each other'." Dawn offered Vernon a meek grin as she gingerly walked her fingers up the wolf's chest in a playful manner. "Sound fair?"

Vernon chuckled at that, the wolf bringing a paw to his muzzle in an effort to stifle the snickering.

"Sounds good to me Honey Lamb." The wolf said with a pleasant sigh, giving the ewe's poof a gentle but playful tousle with his paw. "After all, we got the rest of our lives to practice at it, don't we?"

Dawn giggled softly, shuffling her way up the wolf's chest until her head came to nestle just under his jaw. Dawn let out a contented sigh as she wrapped her free arm lazily around the wolf's neck.

"I'd like nothing better..." Dawn cooed as she nuzzled under the wolf's chin affectionately.

With that, Vernon gave the ewe a soft squeeze, pulling her into a hug with the arm that was still draped over her shoulder. The ewe did her best to return the gesture in kind with her free arm. The two remaining as tightly gripped to one another for as long as they possibly could, putting as much energy and emotion as they could into the short hug. It was Dawn who used up her the bulk of her energy first, her grip quickly slackening as she settled back into simply laying next to the wolf with her arm draped over him. Vernon was quick to follow, letting out a soft groan as he slipped back into a more relaxed pose.

They lie like that for a while in the quiet of the autumn night, the sound of crickets and the gentle creak of the porch swing growing to dominate the scene in the absence of their words. The whole time Dawn remained nestled up under Vernon's chin, listening to the gentle and soothing thrum of the wolf's heartbeat as she let herself slip into the mood of the moment. The ewe wasn't sure how much time went by as she lie there, enjoying the close company of her mate. After everything they had been through, over not just the course of the day, but the trip in general, the quiet relaxation the moment had offered proved far too enticing for the ewe to not at least indulge in to some degree. To keep her muzzle still on the matters yet to be discussed as she watched the wolf's free leg periodically push off the porch to keep the swing's rhythm even and steady.

Perhaps and hour had gone by, perhaps longer. The moon had certainly shifted in the amount of time Dawn had chosen to lose herself in the simple, much-needed warmth of her mates embrace. It was beyond the edge of the mesh frame of the porch by the time thoughts of what remained un-discussed began to filter back into the ewe's mind. Obscured by the porch overhang as it crawled upward into the darkening sky.

She didn't want to acknowledge those thoughts, to even bring them up now that she and Vernon had slipped into such a comfortable state. But the ewe had questions she needed to ask the wolf. To not only do her best to what she believed would help the wolf, but also to figure out exactly just what they were going to do now. It was time to start practicing being honest with each other, fully and completely. She could only hope the wolf was as ready to start practicing it as he said he was.

"Vernon?" Dawn muttered weakly.

"Mhh?" The wolf's reply was quiet and drowsy, almost as if he had been half asleep.

Dawn began to wring her hooves nervously, biting her lip as she mustered the courage to ask her question and effectively ruin the lovely moment.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" The ewe murmured quietly, idly walking her fingers around on the wolf's chest. Her muzzle remained downturned as she spoke, uncertain if she could actually ask the question while looking at the wolf.

" I mean I know you want to get married, to get the partnership license and everything but..." The ewe once again began to wring her hooves as she clarified the nature of her question. "I mean, are you sure you want to go through with leaving your pack?"

Vernon was quiet for a moment, the wolf drawing a long breath before letting it out in a slow exhale.

"In the interest of stayin' honest." Vernon murmured softy. "I can tell y'all that I'm absolutely certain I can go through with leavin' my pack." The wolf said with a sigh.

"Can go?" Dawn asked, glancing back up at her mate with a curious eyebrow. The wolf's head was still resting on the armrest of the seat, but Vernon had placed his paw over his eyes.

"I can do it. There ain't a doubt in my mind." Vernon added, running the paw through his head fur gently before glancing back down at the ewe. He was frowning softly, the wolf's ears sagging as he let out a soft whine. "But I'd be lyin' If I said I'm happy I have to go through with it."

The wolf pulled himself up, sliding the ewe more to his side as he leaned his back against the arm rest. Despite the move, the wolf managed to keep his arm around her. Dawn slid closer, allowing herself to remain leaning against the wolf while sitting alongside him. The ewe watched as Vernon glanced out at the dimly lit meadow beyond the porch, out toward the twinkling stars on the horizon.

"It was supposed to make the ol' mam blink." Vernon muttered.

"What?" Dawn asked.

The wolf glanced back down at his mate, pulling her into another soft side hug before continuing.

"It was a gambit." Vernon continued, letting out a mournful sigh. "Sorta of the big gun I was savin' if pa proved to be particularly stubborn. To show him just how serious I am about you." Vernon offered a weak smile. "About us."

"Oh Vernon..." Dawn whimpered softly. It wasn't surprising to hear, but it still was another thing the ewe felt she could add to the pile of 'things that were her fault' she had been building in her mind.

"It wasn't something I wanted to have to use." Vernon continued, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "But I knew what the risk was long before I decided to take it."

Vernon turned his attention back to the ewe, his features taking a more stern and serious look as he eyed her with suspicion. Dawn tried to look away, but the wolf placed a finger under her chin, steering her eyes back in the direction of his own.

"So don't you go blamin' yerself for it now." the wolf chuckled weakly. " I know how that mind of yers works. I knew the risks, and I made that call, not you."

Dawn was somewhat shocked. The wolf had practically read her mind.

"B-but..." Dawn murmured, but the wolf was quick to continue.

"I know, I know. We're a team." Vernon added, rolling his eyes slightly. "But that means at the very least we share the blame, it ain't just you. Okay?" The wolf slipped his finger free from her chin, tapping her nose softly before drawing his paw back. "So that means no convincin' yerself it was something you made me do, and lettin' it eat ya up inside."

Dawn wanted to protest, to find some way to object to the wolf's reasoning. But she knew anything she had to say would just end up being hypocritical of everything she had said before. Vernon was right, they were a team now. And Vernon's actions were on the behalf of both of them, even if the ewe found it more natural to put herself at the center of the blame.

"O-okay." Dawn muttered.

The wolf raised an eyebrow. "Promise me."

Dawn hesitated for a moment. Her throat felt rather dry as her mind struggled against itself to even allow her to utter such a promise. The inkling to blame herself, and the mountains of reasons had easily made a road block in her thoughts that being honest with her mate and accepting shared responsibility was trying desperately to force its way through. Dawn opened her muzzle for a moment, but when no words came she quickly snapped it shut again, looking down at her hooves nervously.

"Look..." Vernon sighed. " I didn't even discuss it with you before I made that decision Darlin'. I never asked if you thought it was a good idea, I just went and did it." The wolf added.

"Mhh..." Dawn mumbled softly, still struggling with her answer.

"And you would have told me not to do it. We both know that." The wolf chuckled softly. "So how are you gonna go about blamin' yerself for that?"

Dawn squirmed uncomfortably against the wolf as she stewed in her own thoughts. The wolf's line of reasoning was certainly true, but still the ewe could easily see her presence alone as the catalyst for the whole situation. It was a hard notion to shake, to agree to put out of her mind or accept less blame than she thought she deserved. But somehow, the ewe finally managed to squeak out some form of a response.

"I-I'll try." It was a weaker response than she had wanted to make, but it was the only way the ewe could comfortably muster to agree to the wolf's terms, even if it was fairly non-committal.

"That's all I'm askin'..." Vernon said, bringing the ewe into another soft hug. "And if you can't, then at least you can talk to me about it?"

Dawn offered a meek smile, nodding briskly. "Of course." The ewe stated confidently. It was a promise the ewe was certain she'd have an easier time keeping to. The lamb hugged the wolf back, letting out a pleasant sigh as she squeezed tightly. Dawn nuzzled into his shirt, taking in a whiff of the wolf's earthy scent she had grown to love so much.

Unlike their hot and heavy time together under the stars the night before, it was a relief to be able to take in the wolf's musk without it driving her completely crazy. Still, the ewe didn't linger. Her remnant estrus was only dulled, not gone. And the ewe didn't wish to risk sparking up those slumbering embers before they returned to Zootopia. As Dawn reluctantly ended the hug, she slipped back to simply resting her head against the wolf's chest to one side, turning her attention to the darkness that lie beyond the porch. There were so many stars out now, shimmering like diamonds scattered across a black satin shroud. The sheer number the ewe could make out by the naked eye would be enough to make Gazelle's most sequined studded gown look as though it were little more than a pauper's rags. There were so many more to see without Zootopia's city lights there to obscure most of them.

"I'll admit, I am gonna miss this place." Vernon said with a wistful sigh. "I mean I love Zootopia in a way, but I've always loved this place more."

Dawn glanced up to catch the wolf glancing out onto the moonlit meadow, backed by the dark silhouette of the nearby looming mountains that separated 'The North Meadowlands' from the Canidean Border. "As much trouble as they went through to integrate nature into the very foundation of the city, it's still nothin' like bein' in a place like this."

Dawn felt the wolf's chest swell as he took in a deep breath of air. "The crisp, clean air." Vernon exhaled slowly. "The night sky filled to the brim with stars." The wolf continued. "The seasons changing naturally, and how it changes the landscape."

The wolf slipped his free arm behind his head, leaning on it as he continued to stare off and away into the dark of the Meadowlands night.

"It was a great place to grow up." Vernon continued. "And it was always nice to be able to come back to it whenever I wanted."

Dawn frowned softly, her grip on the wolf's shirt tightening a bit as another gust of wind danced across her exposed skin.

"And I'll miss Ma..." The wolf lamented. "And even Pa despite the way he's been actin' through this whole mess of a trip." Vernon turned his attention back to the ewe at his side, rubbing her upper arm as he offered her a soft, genuine smile. "But as long as I have you Dawn, I'm fine with leavin' it behind."

The wolf placed a ginger kiss atop the ewe's head, pressing through the wooly poof in order to get to her scalp.

"Y'all are the most important mammal in my life..."The wolf cooed. "And you come before anybody else."

"B-But Vernon..." Dawn protested. But the wolf was quick to place a finger to her lips to silence her.

"I want to give you the best of everything I've got to give. You deserve it." Vernon continued. "Caprid wedding, tithing ceremony, all of it."

Dawn grasped the wolf's finger, pulling it away from her lips slowly as she looked up into Vernon's shimmering eyes. Slowly she maneuvered her hoof around the finger and down the back of his palm before allowing her hoof to intertwine with his fingers. The lamb flashed the wolf a warm smile as she thumbed the side of his paw affectionately, squeezing the rest it softly.

"You don't need to give me anything Vernon." Dawn said, wrapping her other hoof around the wolf's already clasped paw. The ewe gave the cobbling of hands a gentle shake. "I already have all I could possibly want just by having you with me."

Dawn leaned up, pressing her lips against Vernon's own. The ewe was careful not to be too forceful, afraid that even the slightest pressure accidentally skimming one of the wolf's wounds would cause him discomfort. But as the wolf leaned into the kiss, placing his paw on the back of her head in a clear effort to pull her just a little closer, the ewe's worries instantly fell away, allowing Dawn to fully give in and wrap her arms around the wolf's neck in turn. It was somewhat reserved, gentle kiss, yet the ewe could easily feel the overwhelming force of the emotions that it carried along with it. It was as if they were connected in that instant, not just physically, but mentally. Their emotions melding into one as they both took comfort in each other's love. The pair filled with the overwhelming feeling that no matter what happened, they would survive together, and that pact was sealed in their shared solidarity by the pressing together of their lips.

They lingered like that for what seemed like a blissful eternity to the ewe, simply locked together in silence, savoring the lovely feeling as the crickets sang above the air of the crisp autumn evening. It was yet another moment Dawn would have loved to simply live in forever, but eventually, albeit reluctantly, the tender kiss came to a slow end. The ewe's heart was fluttering as she stared back up into her mates glimmering eyes.

Dawn would feel bad for whatever came about among the rest of the Hunter pack in regards to Dorian, she was certain of that. And she pledged herself right then and there to do whatever she could to help ease the damage she might end up doing to those relationships, even if it failed to raise her standing any in Dorian's eyes. Even if she was to be limited to phone conversations at most thanks to the fact that they were leaving the pack. But the most important thing was that her and Vernon's relationship was okay. That they were together, a united front whose wellbeing was paramount. And while she loved Audrey, and her sisters, her love for Vernon came first.

Dawn let out a shuddering sigh as she curled back up against Vernon's side, allowing the wolf to drape his arm over her shoulder once more. The ewe nuzzled up softly against the wolf's chest, permitting herself to easily return to listening to the comforting beating of the wolf's heart as she drew her hooves up and down his chest idly. She was content, for the most part. But there was still the issue of exactly what they were supposed to do for the rest of the trip intruding on the edges of her mind. Their choice to leave the pack, and Dorian's subsequent threat made it clear they were leaving the ranch tomorrow. But Dawn was uncertain of what to do between then and now.

"So...where do we go?" Dawn asked, letting out a comfortable sigh as she took her place back under the wolf's chin. "From here I mean."

Vernon gently pat her head, stroking the wool against the back of it softly.

"You mean how are we handlin' the rest of this trip?" The wolf asked.

Dawn nodded softly against his chest, not even pulling away from her comfortable spot above his thrumming heart to make the gesture clear. But despite it, the wolf seemed to easily recognize the gesture.

"Welp..." Vernon sighed. "I figured we'll spend the night in one of the guest rooms instead of bunking with the others fer obvious reasons."

"Are you sure Audrey will approve of that?" Dawn asked quietly.

"She ain't getting' a say this time around." Vernon muttered. "After what Pa did anyway she ain't really got any grounds to object to us doin' what we want."

"But Vernon...I mean..." Dawn stopped herself, taking a moment to figure out how she was going phrase what she wanted to say. "I mean, Audrey..."The ewe trailed off for a moment as she wrung her hooves. "Leaving the pack is going to crush her Puppy."

The wolf was silent for a few moments, allowing the steady thrum of the cricket song to once again dominate the air surrounding them. But as Dawn waited for an answer, she slowly came to realize one of the crickets sounded slightly off. The strange noise was closer than it should have been, and sounded softer and pleading. It was only then that the lamb figured out that Vernon had been letting out soft, low whines as he was mulling over her words. They were so low and strained they had simply blended in with the chirping around them.

"Well..." The wolf finally broke the quiet stillness, albeit fairly weakly." I can't help that...it's on Pa, not me."

The wolf let out a tired sigh, running his paw through his scalp fur as he did. "If she thinks she can change his tune on the whole affair, she's welcome to try." The wolf continued. "But we can't wait around and hope that happens, it'll make our resolve look weak in the ol' mam's eyes. So we have to just keep movin' forward with the plan to leave."

Dawn let out a disappointed sigh. Audrey was a tough wolfess, and by her own admission had butted heads with Dorian before and came out on top. But after seeing first hoof not once, but twice, just how strongly and vehemently Dorian remained against her acceptance into the pack, the ewe found herself questioning if even the wolfess had the slightest chance of breaking through to the mammal. If this situation were anything like the battle Dorian had with Vernon over being an architect than there was no true victory to be had. The old wolf had ultimately refused to support Vernon's frivolous endeavor, and Audrey seemed unable to bring him around on that particular issue, going so far as to aide Vernon in secret when she could.

"Okay...so what then?" Dawn asked.

"Well, then we collect our belongings from our rooms and move it to the guest room." Vernon continued.

"Perhaps we could take a detour to the kitchen?" Dawn asked, glancing up at the wolf. Vernon raised a curious eyebrow as the ewe reached out to him. Dawn gently traced the swelling above his eye with a hoof.

"I still want to get some ice on that Puppy." Dawn sucked in another harsh breath of air as the wolf pulled back slightly.

Vernon shook his head, letting out a soft moan as he placed a ginger paw to the swollen lump.

"Fine by me..." Vernon mumbled. " 'Sides I need to take a few moments at the gals room to talk to Ada and apologize again."

Dawn smiled, the wolf was seemingly able to read the next thought right off the top of her head. "I was gonna suggest..."

Vernon squeezed the ewe into a small hug.

"What, you think I wasn't gonna?" Vernon asked, letting out a chuckle. "I don't really regret knockin' Yuri around too much, just how I went about it. But when it comes to my sister, I ain't lettin' that go without making amends."

"Good." Dawn replied, patting the wolf's chest softly. "Because if you weren't I was going to drag you to her myself and force you to apologize for that comment!"

Vernon feigned an offended expression, drawing a paw to his chest. "What? I thought we were a team now? What about my say in this!?" The wolf chuckled.

"You already made one call on behalf of both of us already, it's only fair I get to make one too." The ewe giggled softly.

"Alright, alright..." Vernon said with a pleasant sigh. "We'll hit the ladies bunk fer your stuff second and I'll talk to Ada...provided Vanna even lets me."

Dawn rubbed the wolf's chest affectionately.

"Don't worry. I think I can handle Vanna." The ewe replied. "I mean she can't be as difficult to persuade to see reason as Dorian, can she?" The ewe glanced back up at her mate with a look of concern.

The wolf was clearly doing his best to stifle his snickering as he nodded softly. Dawn quirked a curious eyebrow.

"What?" Dawn asked.

"Sorry, I just was picturin' you tryin' to 'handle' Vanna." The wolf said, still trying to stifle his chuckling.

Dawn gave the wolf a playful swat on his muzzle, only for the wolf to recoil in a clear expression of mock pain. Vernon clutched a paw to his face, rolling his eyes as he leaned his other paw against his head.

"Ow! My mate is abusin' me!" Vernon lamented. "I'm a battered hound! Oh!"

Dawn simply crossed her arms, sticking her tongue out at the wolf's hammy performance. This only drew another chuckle from the wolf as he settled back down into his seat, curling back up to the ewe's side.

"But honestly, she ain't really the type to hold a grudge." Vernon picked up where he left off, shaking his head dismissively. "Unlike my Pa she actually lives up to the whole 'mammal's who are tryin to do better' idea."

Dawn let out a relieved sigh, after all she was certain she had an apology of her own to give the large tigress considering she had kept her talk with Dorian a secret from her as well.

"After that's all squared away, we'll head to bed early and be out of here before breakfast." The wolf concluded.

"Before breakfast?" The ewe lamented. "I was kind of hoping for one more helping of Audrey's cooking before we had to leave."

Vernon shook his head dismissively.

"As much as I love Ma's cookin', do you really want to be sittin' at that awkward breakfast table full of mammals after what happened tonight?" The wolf asked, raising an eyebrow.

Dawn could feel herself cringe as she drew back slightly, her muzzle crinkling as she bit her own tongue. No matter how sweet the taste of Audrey's pastry delights, it would be impossible to enjoy them under the uncomfortable limited exchanges and awkward silences she was sure would come.

"Oh...yeah..." Dawn groaned softly.

"I mean, knowin' Pa, he wouldn't show like the last few days." Vernon muttered scratching the back of his head. "But I ain't keen on sitting across from Yuri anytime in the next century if I can help it."

"I think that's more than fair." Dawn replied.

"But..." Vernon added, flashing the ewe a sly glance. "That ain't to say we can't sneak a few pies out with us before takin' a zoober back to the train station." The wolf flashed Dawn a wink and a smirk as he gave her a playful nudge.

Dawn giggled, giving the wolf a teasing swat with her hooves. Vernon was quick to return the volley, adding playful soft swats of his own as the two play fought on lazily drifting porch swing. The ewe was having a good time, until she accidentally managed to swipe and one of the wolf's sore spots. Unlike before she could tell the pain was real as the wolf drew back suddenly, letting out a slight whine.

"Ooh! Easy Floof's." The wolf whimpered. "I'm still all bruised up here."

"Oh Puppy, I'm sorry!" Dawn pleaded, wrapping her hooves around the wolf's midsection once more and giving it a tight squeeze.

She felt the wolves paw come to rest on her hair, before giving it a playful tussle.

"I'm just playin' Darlin', it wasn't that bad." Vernon said with a snicker.

Dawn drew back, her muzzle scrunching annoyance as she puffed her cheeks at the wolf.

"Don't tease me like that!" The ewe tried to stifle her giggling, but the wolf's own chuckling was infectious. "I don't want to actually hurt you!"

The wolf simply rolled his eyes. "Alright, alright...I'm sorry Mutton Chop." The wolf relented, opening his arms and gesturing for the ewe to return to his arms. "Fergive me?"

Dawn let out a slight huff, but it was purely for show as a smirk quickly returned to her muzzle. Slowly the ewe pulled herself back into the wolf's arms, allowing him to wrap her up in his embrace. The wolf proceeded to bury his muzzle in her wool as he held the ewe against him.

"Always..." Dawn replied, hugging the wolf with as much strength as she could muster. "But can you promise me something?" Dawn asked as she drew back from the hug. The ewe glanced up at the wolf with a look of concern, causing the wolf to raise a concerned eyebrow.

"What is it Floofs?" Vernon replied.

Dawn released her grip around the wolf, allowing her to wring her hooves as she nervously broached the subject.

"W-when we get back to Zootopia..." Dawn murmured softly, her eye's darting away from the wolf's as she tried to find her words. "C-can you promise me we'll talk about all this?"

"About Pa?" Vernon asked.

The ewe nodded briskly.

"I know we might not be able to fix this..." Dawn murmured softly. "B-but for the sake of everyone else...we could at least try?"

Vernon smiled softly back at the ewe, the wolf reaching out a paw to gently caress the side of her face. Dawn was quick to lean into the gesture, placing her hoof atop his paw as she let out an affectionate sigh.

"I promise." Vernon replied as he gently thumbed the ewe's cheek.

With that the wolf leaned back down against the arm rest of the chair, and with his paw guiding her, drew the ewe back to her place against his breast as he pushed the porch swing into another lazy sway with his leg. As Dawn nestled snuggly up against the wolf, doing her best to soak up the comfort and warmth it offered the ewe found herself feeling oddly optimistic about what lie ahead of them. Despite all that had happened. The fighting, the arguments, Dorian's actions, at the very least the ewe had the faintest glimmer of hope to cling to that maybe, somewhere down the line things could be mended.

Perhaps relations with the Hunter family would never be perfect, but they may improve with time. And while it was still a less than desirable situation that Dorian had seen fit to go along with Vernon's choice, perhaps once everything cooled down, and with Vernon open to trying to fix things the older wolf could eventually be talked into a state of general acceptance of the two being a couple. He didn't have to truly be happy with it, nor did Dawn crave his acceptance, but at the very least the couple could try bring the family as a whole back together.

As long as Vernon was open to her, and they worked together no matter how sensitive the subject was, there was a chance that this wouldn't be the last Hunter reunion they would ever get to attend. If not for her sake, than for her Puppy Love.