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Chapter Forty-One: Picking Up The Pieces

The air was frigid now. Of course, it didn't take the ewe that was burying herself deeper and deeper into Vernon's pelt with each increasingly chilly gust of wind to tell the wolf as much. Vernon could feel the frosty nip in the air, the start of the evening chill that told him the hour was growing late. The moon had disappeared over the porch awning some time ago. Long since the two had discussed their plans of when and how to leave the Hunter Ranch the following day. If the wolf had to guess, he wagered that at least three or so hours had passed since they had left the barbecue behind. Long enough for his family to have packed up the food and collapsed and stored most of the equipment back in the barn, and hopefully long enough that most of them had begun to gravitate toward the bedrooms now that it had gotten so late. It was part of the reason Vernon found himself lingering on the porch swing for so long after his fight with Yuri and Dorian. Reluctant to enter the home and run into one of the two, or Audrey, or any of the other mammals in the family, the wolf had elected to remain in the peaceful tranquility of his mate's embrace. His arms wrapped tightly around his little 'Honey Lamb' as she idly snoozed against his chest, and trying to pretend they were already home again. Safe in privacy and welcoming atmosphere of their shared apartment and nestled into their comfortable bed, away from all the madness that he was certain still awaited inside. Only adding to the desire to remain outside despite the cold was the soothing feel of the chilly air as it bristled across the wounds he had picked up during his previous scrap.

Vernon hadn't really been aware of just how badly he had managed to get himself hurt during the fight with his brother. The surge of adrenalin and the wrenching pain of the emotions swirling around inside dampening the physical pain significantly. But with his energy spent, and his heart poured empty to both his father and his Honey Lamb, the ache from his throbbing bruises and sores were quickly filling the newly vacated space. His head felt as though it was still ringing, and the swelling over his eye, while it had shrunk to some degree, felt as though it was on fire. He could feel a renewed ache with each thrum of his heartbeat. Every fresh pulse of blood aggravating the soreness and stiffness that was setting in that much further. The cold offered some degree of reprieve, the soothing air taking away from the sting and the heat just enough to make it tolerable.

But as he felt Dawn's tiny frame shudder in his arms once again, he knew the time had come to finally migrate indoors. The couple had delayed entering the home again for as long as they possibly could. But with no jacket or blanket to throw on top of the ewe, Vernon was certain that any further exposure to the growing chill would ensure that Dawn would catch some sort of cold or worse by the time they returned to Zootopia.

Vernon gave Dawn a ginger shake, careful not to startle the sleepy ewe as he attempted to rouse her from her slumber.

"Lamb fry..." Vernon whispered.

"Mhh..." Dawn muttered, nuzzling her face deeper into his shirt. "Five more minutes Puppy..." The drowsy ewe mumbled quietly.

Vernon chuckled softly before giving the lamb another gentle push.

"C'mon Darlin', we gotta head inside." Vernon whispered. "We gotta pack."

The ewe rubbed her head into the wolf's shirt again, in a sluggish but more aggressive manner before she finally managed to lift her head away from his chest. Dawn blearily pawed at one of her eyes with a hoof as she looked up to the wolf.

"Did I fall asleep?" Dawn muttered.

"Fer a bit." Vernon said, flashing the ewe a soft smile.

Dawn listlessly pawed around the wolf's chest for a moment, the ewe clearly looking for her glasses as her mind struggled to wake the rest of the way up.

"How late is it?" Dawn mumbled, her hoof still pawing at random places against the wolf's shirt as her fruitless search continued. Of course, Vernon remembered she had slipped them next to his side on the porch swing.

"Late enough..." Vernon replied, grabbing the lenses and carefully unfolding them before gingerly slipping them onto the ewe's snout. Dawn blinked at the wolf a few times as her eyes quickly adjusted to the sudden clarity, before taking a moment to adjust the wolf's handiwork with a hoof. Seemingly satisfied, the ewe pulled her phone from her pocket, quickly unlocking the device and scanning the face of it.

"It's nine o' two." Dawn said, the wolf could easily make out her shocked expression illuminated by the phones glow. "We've been out here for three hours?"

Vernon nodded softly. "Seems that way."

The ewe let out a tired sigh as she slipped her phone back into her pocket before lamely swabbing at her eye again beneath her lenses.

"Sorry I kinda nodded off...it's just..." Dawn murmured.

"I know Darlin'." Vernon chuckled. "Believe me I know."

Dawn let out a soft giggle as she reached up to caress the wolf's face. Dawn ran a ginger hoof along the side of his muzzle as she examined the wolf again. Her lime green orbs seemed to be intensely scanning the wolf now that she was fully awake.

"Oh Puppy..." Dawn frowned. "Your bruises don't seem to look much better."

"They certainly don't feel much better." Vernon said with a chuckle.

The ewe softly touched the swollen lump on the wolf's brow, only for Vernon to retract at the sudden contact. The wolf letting out a sharp hiss between his teeth as he withdrew from her caring hoof.

"We really need to get some ice on that." Dawn said, concern in her voice. "And some antibiotic spray wouldn't hurt either."

Vernon nodded softly.

"Well it is gettin' purty chilly out anyway." Vernon replied, glancing off into the meadow for a moment before returning his attention to the diminutive ewe. "It's about time we head in and try to get some actual sleep somewhere you ain't gonna catch cold."

Dawn giggled softly. "Puppy, I'm fine." The ewe replied. "Really."

The ewe's delivery was confident, certainly. But the next little gust of wind that rolled through the mesh of the porch screen forced the ewe's body to betray her word as the wolf felt another shudder travel through her.

Dawn offered the wolf a meek smirk knowing she had been caught.

"W-Well maybe a little chilly..." Dawn murmured quietly.

Vernon smirked.

"Believe me, I ain't keen on going back into that house either Honey Lamb." Vernon said. "But we got a little bit of business left in the Hunter home before we can finally be free of all this."

The ewe nodded softy despite the frown that had formed on her muzzle. Slowly the ewe edged herself off the wolf's chest, carefully appraising the drop off between the lip of the porch swing and the wooden floor before hopping off. Now on her feet, the ewe quickly dusted off her skirt before rubbing her upper arms with her hooves.

"I'm a little nervous..." Dawn muttered. " I mean if we run into your mother, brothers, or even Yuri...I mean, what do we do?"

Vernon let out a groan as he pulled himself into a seated position, taking a moment to allow the pain and stiffness in his muscles to abate before going any farther. The wolf put his paws on his knees, letting out a soft, tired sigh.

"We keep it short, curt, and formal." Vernon murmured. "Tell 'em we don't want to discuss anythin' and we don't have time."

"And then what?" Dawn asked.

Vernon eased himself off the swing, the old wooden structure swaying slightly as he rose from the seat before the wolf came to a standing position. Now up and about, the wolf stretched an arm above his head, bracing it with the other as he tried to loosen up his wound up muscles.

"Well, we don't give 'em a window to interject, we just keep movin'." Vernon replied with a grunt.

"Of course, ideally were just gonna try to avoid everyone as we make our way up the house." The wolf continued, stretching his other arm in the same fashion. Vernon heard a soft crackle as some of the tension managed to release.

Dawn tilted her head, raising an eyebrow curiously.

"Is that even possible?" Dawn asked. " I mean, they are probably all inside now."

Vernon scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

"I'm kinda hopin' most of 'em have started to bed down..." Vernon mumbled. "Hopefully some of 'em might even be asleep already. And those that ain't will probably be in the game room or den 'er somethin'." Vernon glanced back at the porch door. "That should leave us mostly in the clear from havin' to deal with anyone till we get to the gals room."

"I just hope Ada's there..." Dawn replied.

Vernon let out a somber sigh. "Me too."

It surprised Vernon how quickly the ewe scampered over to the screen door. It was an astonishingly bold step for Dawn to make so suddenly considering the tone their conversation had. The wolf could only assume she was spurred on to some degree by her desire to see Vernon make things right with his sister as he dutifully followed his tiny mate.

Dawn carefully pulled back the screen door, stretching it as far back as she could muster before passing it to Vernon for the wolf to hold open. As the wolf clasped the door frame, holding it further away from the pair, the ewe gingerly placed a hoof on the main door handle.

Dawn hesitated, taking a moment to seemingly slow her breath before twisting the handle and quietly pressing the door inward. Vernon watched as the door slowly drifted inside, Dawn holding onto it all the while as it moved. It slipped just far enough to make a sizeable opening before the ewe suddenly jerked her hoof, forcing the door to a sharp stop.

The wolf continued to watch has Dawn's head disappeared around the opening, leaving the wolf with little more than the quiet ambiance of the cool autumn night to comfort him. Vernon waited for the ewe, growing increasingly antsy the longer he awaited her appraisal of the area inside. He couldn't be sure if she was simply being thorough, or hesitating, but either way, his own growing discomfort caused his patience to completely buckle.

"Is the coast clear Floofs?" Vernon whispered.

Dawn pulled her head back out from behind the door, taking a moment to straighten her glasses as she turned back to him.

"The hall is clear." Dawn said, letting out a sigh of relief. "And I can't really hear anyone talking or moving around."

"That at least means we got a clear line to the bathroom." Vernon sighed.

"P-provided no one is in the bathroom..." Dawn muttered, wringing her hooves nervously.

Vernon offered the ewe a weak smile as he pressed the door behind her further inside.

"S'alright." The wolf spoke, glancing down the vacant hallway as the door opened the rest of the way. "I'll lead from here."

Dawn gave the wolf a brisk nod as she slipped inside the house, coming to a stop just inside the corner of the hall as she waited patiently for the wolf to enter after her. Vernon carefully slipped inside, stretching to keep his paws on the screen door in order to prevent it from making a sound. With his body now all the way inside the ranch, the wolf awkwardly twisted his body around in an effort to face the screen without losing his grip. After all, one little slip would have the old faded wooden screen screaming like nails on a chalkboard as it slowly closed itself. Once again, the wolf had to brace himself for yet another quick, calculated jerk of the door to keep it from alerting the household. Vernon glanced down at his mate, flashing her a nervous smile.

"You ready?" The wolf murmured.

Dawn nodded briskly, balling her fist at her sides tightly in what the wolf could only assume was the ewe steeling herself should the wolf's 'little trick' go awry.

"Is this just a Hunter thing?" Dawn murmured quietly. "Always having to sneak into your own house?"

Vernon let out a quiet chuckle, flashing the ewe a stupid, albeit nervous grin. "It's a good ability to keep sharp."

Vernon let out one long, drawn-out exhale before jerking the door inward, pulling it within inches of being shut while just stopping short of the frame. To his overwhelming relief, the screen hadn't made a sound, and from there he was able to easily settle it into the closed position with barely so much as a click.

"Phew..." Vernon sighed. The wolf went to run a paw across his head to wipe away the sweat, only to draw it back as it touched the swelling above his eye, eliciting a quiet hiss from the wolf.

"Let's hurry and get that taken care of Puppy Love." Dawn cooed. The ewe reached out, taking one of the wolf's paws in her hoof and gesturing to the nearby bathroom door.

Vernon gave the lamb an affirmative nod before walking over to the nearby door. Much like Dawn's initial peek into the hall, the wolf was quick to use the same method to glance into the rather spacious bathroom. But unlike his diminutive mate, it only took a simple scan of the room to let him know it was completely empty.

Pushing the door aside, Vernon led the ewe into the room with him. Releasing his grip on her hoof, the wolf turned back to the door, closing it enough to more or less hide the pair from prying eyes. He wanted to avoid sealing it shut completely, to keep from making any noise upon opening it again and drawing any unwanted attention.

Turning back to the room, Vernon could see that the ewe had already pulled a washcloth down from a nearby shelf that had been low enough to reach. The petite lamb was now wringing it between her hooves as she made her way over to the bathtub.

"Vernon, can you get whatever supplies you have for treating cuts and stuff?" Dawn gestured to the cabinet high above the sink. "If they are in the cabinet I can't exactly reach them."

The wolf nodded before making his way over to the medicine cabinet. Reaching out a paw to pull it open, the wolf froze as he came face to face with himself for the first time since the fight in the cabinet's mirror.

It had been such a long time since the wolf had seen himself in such a sorry state. The tracks of dried blood spattered along his snout, and the vague hints of discoloration under his fur had told the wolf he had taken way more of a thrashing then he realized. Of course, the centerpiece of the train wreck that was his bruised and battered face had to be the shiner and welt combo currently marring his right eye. He knew the welt had been much worse early, purely due to the fact that it was no longer forcing his eye partially shut, but it was still a repulsive sight to behold. Even the mild beating the rams under Aster's employ had given him didn't look nearly as bad as Yuri's handiwork.

The sudden rush of a faucet caused the wolf to jump slightly. Turning to the direction of the sound, the wolf mentally scolded himself as he watched his mate testing the tub water from the tap. It made sense that she would use the tub after all. It was the easiest tap for her to reach. Dawn ran a hoof through the flowing water, rolling her fingers through the stream before glancing over her shoulder at the wolf.

"Did you find it?" Dawn asked.

"Oh, psh..." The wolf shook his head in an effort to clear away the lingering thoughts. Opening the cabinet, the wolf found the rather old but familiar medical kit that had been in his families possession since they were pups. Clasping it with a paw, the wolf pulled it out of the case and flashed the cover in the ewe's direction. "Yeah, sorry. Here it is."

Dawn flashed the wolf a small smile before turning back to the faucet and running the washcloth under the torrent of water. Sluggishly, Vernon approached the edge of the tub, placing the med kit on the lip of the old porcelain fixture before easing himself down to the floor by Dawn's side. The wolf tried his hardest to lean carefully into a seated position the whole way down, but as he closed in on the floor the awkwardness of the angle and the stress on his muscles caused him to slip. And the resulting stumble brought the wolf's rump to the floor much harder than he first intended.

Vernon let out a dull groan as the mild pain registered at the base of his spine. It really wasn't much, something the wolf would have been able to easily shrug off without a sound under normal circumstances. But the state of his body since the fight seemed to make every little jostle hurt that much more.

With a sigh, the wolf eased himself into a more comfortable lean, draping his arm over the lip of the bathtub as he turned his attention back to his mate. By now Dawn was wringing out the washcloth she was holding, twisting as much of the excess water out with her hooves as her strength could allow. Vernon watched the ewe's face flush as she gave the cloth another rending twist, flashing her tightly grit teeth before letting out a satisfied sigh. Turning off the tap, Dawn turned her attention back to the wolf seated on the floor.

"This might sting a little bit." She said, folding the damp cloth into a long rectangle as she closed the gap between them. Dawn carefully eased herself onto the wolf's lap, staring up at his muzzle expectantly as she raised the cloth toward it. Vernon obliged by tilting his muzzle toward her, making it that much easier for her small arms to reach.

At first touch, the sudden heat and warmth against the wounds on his face caused the wolf let out a soft hiss through parted teeth. Dawn was right of course, not that he was expecting that it wouldn't sting. But again, his tolerance for pain seemed to had suffered to some degree thanks to how weary his body now felt. But as the painful sensation began to dull, the comfort and warmth of the damp fabric began to take on a more comforting feeling.

"Phew..." Vernon sighed softly as Dawn continued to carefully move the cloth around to the various blood stains and scabs on his muzzle. The ewe let out a soft giggle as she gently scrubbed at some of the caked blood on the bridge of his snout.

"Puppy Love, you look so much better already." Dawn said, dabbing at yet another spot under his jaw as he leaned up to allow her an easier reach.

"Certainly startin' to feel better..." The wolf replied, his tone a dreamy, pleasurable sounding one. "O'course it helps to have such a cute little nursemaid taken' care of me."

That earned a giggling snort in reply as the ewe continued to wipe away at the various stains still caked into his fur. But the wolf wasn't quite done with his teasing.

"I bet you'd look awfully cute in one of them lil' old style nurses outfits." Vernon continued, flashing the ewe a mischievous grin. "With the lil' hat and pinstripes." The wolf bobbed his eyebrows suggestively. "And those stockings that ride all the way up to yer-."

"Vernon, Staaahp!" Dawn giggled again, giving the wolf's nose a playful squeeze as she brought the washcloth down over it. With that the ewe drew the cloth back, reaching out her free hoof and gently grabbing at the wolf's chin. Dawn turned it from side to side, inspecting it carefully before giving the wolf a satisfactory smirk.

Before Vernon could add yet another flirty retort to the pile, the ewe pitched the damp cloth at him. It hit him square in the forehead with a wet _'plap'_before slumping down onto his muzzle.

"Hold that over your eye for a bit while I look in the kit for antibiotic ointment." Dawn said, carefully slipping off of the wolf's torso and making her way back over to the kit. Vernon sat there simply blinking at her for a few moments in mute surprise before letting out a chuckle and grabbing the washcloth off his face.

Like before, dabbing the steamy, hot, moist cloth over his eye sent a sharp stinging sensation through his skull. For a moment he could hear the ringing in his ears return as the pain reverberated through him. It took a lot for the wolf to stifle the desire to let out another sharp hiss, going so far as to bite his lip with a fang as he endured the initial blaring sting. But it was short-lived, once again quickly fading away under the feeling of soothing relief. Vernon slumped even further down as his muscles began to relax, letting out a contented sigh as he held the heated cloth tightly against his swollen eye.

"Uh....Puppy?" Dawn murmured.

Vernon didn't even turn his head to face her, instead choosing to keep both his eyes closed as he lost himself to the blissful feeling of relief. "Hmm Darlin'?"

"Um..." The ewe's reply seemed uncertain and shaky. "Well I found the antibiotic ointment...but..."

Vernon chuckled softly.

"It's outta date right?" The wolf replied.

"Yes." Dawn replied, somewhat surprised. "It's about six months out of date...in fact.." The wolf could hear the ewe continuing to rummage through the case. The dull cluttering and rattling of various pill containers and plastic items being strewn about the kit as Dawn searched briefly filling the air before coming to a sudden stop.

"Everything in here is expired." Dawn concluded, her tone laced with concern.

Vernon lazily gestured his free paw at her dismissively.

"That's cause Pa always refills the home kit with what they are supposed to throw away at the station." The wolf said with a chuckle. "It's his way of recyclin'."

"Is that safe?" Dawn murmured.

The wolf opened his good eye, glancing over at the worried looking ewe with one emerald green orb.

"How risky could it be?." Vernon replied. "I mean stuff like bandages and cotton swabs ain't exactly things that go bad."

"But the ointment?" Dawn asked.

"Well, we been usin' that kit since me and my brothers were pups and we lived." Vernon chuckled.

With a sigh, the ewe made her way back over to the wolf, slipping back onto his waist and gesturing him to look toward her again. Vernon dutifully bowed his head, and the ewe smeared a dab of ointment on one of the gauze pads in her hoof.

"So your Dad recycles this stuff huh?" Dawn asked, raising a curious brow as she began to dab at his wounds.

"It ain't him bein' cheap, if that's what yer thinkin'." Vernon replied. "It's just they legally have to dump everything in the kit at the expiration date." Vernon scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Sort of a state mandated thing."

"Oh I see." Dawn replied, squeezing another dollop of cream on a fresh pad of gauze. "We had something similar in City Hall, it was a legal liability thing."

Vernon nodded softly before the ewe began to swab at another one of his cuts.

"Yeah, like that." The wolf sighed. "Then y'all know that you have to throw all that stuff out the date it 'goes bad'." Vernon continued, running a paw through his scalp. "My Pa saw that as a waste of perfectly good medical supplies, so he'd take it all home fer the house to use."

The ewe managed to bump a particularly tender bruise as she continued to dab the various cuts on his face, eliciting another quiet hiss from the wolf as he drew back slightly from the ewe's reach.

"Sorry Puppy." Dawn replied with a soft wince. The wolf took a moment to rub his snout before offering the ewe a weak shrug.

"Nah, I'm sorry..." Vernon chuckled. "My own fault anyway..."

Dawn looked like she was about to speak, her mouth parting open wordlessly for a moment before shutting it again. With a soft chuckle, Vernon leaned his head back into place, gesturing to the ewe with a nod to continue.

As he felt another soothing dab of ointment glide onto his fur, the wolf continued with his former train of thought.

"Anyway, whenever Ma would get on him for it, he'd always defend himself by sayin' 'bandages and gauze don't expire' and stuff like that." Vernon said with a smirk.

Dawn chuckled. "I suppose that's where you picked it up?"

Vernon chuckled in response.

"To be fair, I can't really argue that point. "Vernon sighed. "And neither could Ma." The wolf grinned. "I always thought it was funny..." The wolf muttered, his words trailing as he started to reminisce about happier times in the Hunter Ranch.

"That he couldn't argue the point?" Dawn asked, gently smearing a fresh dab of ointment against his muzzle fur with the gauze swab.

"Moreover the fact that Pa left Ma with nothin' to come back with. And whenever that happened he'd make a little show of it, revelin' in his victory, 'specially if we were around." Vernon continued. "Not in a spiteful way, or over anythin' serious. " The wolf chuckled softly. "He'd stick his tongue out at Ma, or pump a fist to get a giggle out of us only to get a playful swat from Ma." Vernon let out a tired sigh "It was one of the ol' mam's little quirks."

The ewe stopped her dabbing, causing the wolf to throw a curious eyebrow her way. Dawn tilted her head quizzically, her expression one of mild confusion and disbelief.

"Dorian...was quirky?" Dawn asked.

Vernon laughed, running a paw over his scalp as he leaned his head backward.

"I guess that might be the wrong word..." Vernon replied as he brought his gaze back to the diminutive ewe sitting on his lap. " I suppose charm...er somethin'." Vernon shrugged. "At least that's what Ma would have called it."

The ewe's puzzled expression remained unwavering as she eyed the wolf dubiously.

"I mean, my Pa was firm and strict when he had to be...but that wasn't all there was to him." Vernon said, letting out a sad sigh as the memories of his father came flooding back to him.

"He could be fun, gettin' down to our level and playin' games with us, or findin' some way to make a mundane chore seem excitin'." The wolf shifted the cloth on his eye, finding a warmer spot to press into his wound. "He tried to make us laugh when we were down and out, and if that didn't work he'd sit and listen to us talk about what was wrong. Lettin' us vent, or cry it out on his shoulder." Vernon leaned his head back again, letting out a wistful sigh as he stared up at the ceiling. "He was always real good at listenin'."

Vernon leaned forward again, raising an eyebrow at the confused ewe seated on his lap.

"I know that's hard to believe now..." Vernon chuckled.

Dawn offered a meek smile as she prepared a fresh pad of gauze.

"Maybe a little..." The ewe murmured.

Vernon shook his head dismissively. "I suppose time changes all mammals." The wolf sighed. "Or maybe I'm just rememberin' him through the lens of a starry-eyed pup who saw him as infallible." The wolf chuckled. "Even so, my only memories of any real bad disagreements with the ol' mam' was on what I wanted to do with my life...and now who I want to spend it with."

Dawn frowned slightly as she reached up to apply another dab of ointment on the wolf's cheek, trying to press it firmly enough to pass through the fur.

"I remember..." The wolf said, letting out a heavy sigh as he found himself drifting further and further down the thorny road of his childhood memories. "Back when I....when I lost you the first time..."

The ewe seemed to freeze in place as the words left his lips, drawing the gauze pad back slowly as her eyes fixed intently on Vernon's own. It was clear the ewe felt that the mere mention of anything from that particularly troubled time deserved her complete attention.

"Well...you remember how I told you that old bedroom closet was sorta my 'hidin' spot' before I started hidin' in the basement instead?" Vernon asked the attentive ewe looking back up at him.

Dawn nodded softly, her eyes never leaving his own.

"You told me that was your 'secret place'." Dawn frowned. "Where you used to go to cry without your brothers seeing it."

Vernon donned a frown of his own, letting out a wistful sigh.

"Well, Ma and Pa bein' purty attentive parents, knew that was where I used to go when I was feelin' down and out." Vernon chuckled softly. " Nothin' ever really slipped by either one of 'em fer too long. Even Yuri's bullyin', although gettin' scolded never stopped him." Vernon sighed. "Still, when they knew I was in there....well they had their own, unique ways of tryin' to help me."

Vernon shook his head dismissively as the ewe kept her sorrowful eyes trained on him.

"Now Ma, once she knew what happened with you and yer family...well..." The wolf ran a paw through his scalp fur. "She was always the one tryin' to cheer me up, to get me outta that closet and back to playin' and havin' fun." Vernon frowned.

"Only this time, y'all can imagine that didn't do much of anythin'." The wolf let out a tired sigh. "What happened to you was...well...it was too big to get over fer me as y'all already know."

Vernon felt the ewe take his paw, intertwining her fingers within his own as she continued to stare up at him with glimmering, sympathetic eyes.

"Oh Puppy...I-"

Vernon held up his other paw to stop the ewe, offering her a small smile.

"I know Darlin', I know..." The wolf cooed. The wolf brought his paw to Dawn's face, caressing it gently as the ewe leaned into it.

"Now Ma, she never quits." Vernon continued, wiping a stray tear from Dawn's cheek with his thumb. "So after tryin' every conceivable way to pull me out of the dumps and failin' she finally brought Pa in to try and cheer me up."

Dawn's muzzle scrunched up in confusion.

"She brought in Dorian to cheer you up?" Dawn asked.

Vernon let out a soft chuckle.

"Again, I know it's hard to believe." Vernon sighed. "And even so, he didn't cheer me up."

"What?" Dawn spat, the ewe looking even more confused than before. "Then what was even the point?"

Vernon chuckled. " One day my Pa came in the closet while I was just layin' there, curled up in my blanket and cryin' quietly." Vernon shook his head dismissively. "I can't even remember how long I'd been in there at that point...I might have even slept in there the night before, cryin' till my eyes were sore."

"Vernon..." Dawn frowned, squeezing the wolf's paw gently.

"I was a sorry sight." The wolf chuckled softly. "Might have looked a little worse then than I do now."

Despite his attempt at making a joke, the ewe's frown remained fixed on her muzzle, her eyes shimmering again with a fresh wave of quiet tears. The wolf let out a tired sigh.

"Anyway...I remember Pa kneelin' down next to me and placin' a gentle paw on my shoulder." Vernon continued. "Made me jump cause I didn't even hear him come in." Vernon scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Of course, bein' the kinda pup I was I quickly tried to wipe away my tears, just like with Ma. O'course with how red and swollen my eyes were, there was really no hidin' it."

Vernon took in a long draw of air, letting it out in a slow, soft sigh as he closed his eyes. For a moment he was back in the old closet, the smell of dust with just a hint of new paint still fresh in his mind as he revisited the memory. It was such a low point in his young life, and it would only serve to get lower after that. But despite how terrible that period was in his past, how his father treated him that day was one of the few bittersweet memories that he held on to.

"My Pa just looked at me and smiled." Vernon said, offering the ewe a slight smile of his own. "And he said -."

"Son, I ain't gonna try to rush you out of here. Or tell you to smile and try to move on or anythin' like that." Vernon did his best to imitate his father's voice. Despite having the same rural drawl, it was rather hard for the wolf to pull off. Still he pressed onward. "I know whatever yer goin' through is hard, and y'all need time to mend."

Vernon closed his eyes again. He could almost see the wolf towering over him with a concerned but caring smile.

"So you take all the time you need in here alright?" He could still remember the way his father spoke as the words left his muzzle in his mind. "And if you need anythin' from me, or if you want me to stay fer a while I'll do it, okay Vern?"

Dawn was sniffling softly as Vernon opened his eyes again, dabbing at her tears with a fresh piece of gauze before looking back up at the wolf.

"What did you do?" Dawn asked, doing her best to stifle her sniffling.

Vernon chuckled. "I asked fer a cup of water, and then I asked him to stay."

"And did he?" Dawn replied, leaning in slightly.

Vernon nodded softly. "After he got my water, he stayed there all afternoon." Vernon sighed. "Even went so far as to call into work and asked a ram co-worker of his to cover fer him the whole day, just so he could stay with me." The wolf sniffled softly. "He just stayed there. Lettin' me cry it out as much as I needed to, rubbin' my back and tryin' to comfort me."

Dawn opened her muzzle to speak, but again seemed to be speechless. The only thing escaping her muzzle being a few whimpering sobs before she managed to close it again, dabbing at her eyes softly with the gauze.

"I wish I could say it helped me more than it did." Vernon sighed, leaning his head back slightly as the memory began to sink away under the blurred images of his more troubled adolescence. Flickers that acted as a painful reminder of how far down the wrong path he had gone in his war against Animalian society at large. "That I appreciated it as much then as I do in hindsight...but I squandered it."

The wolf lolled his head back further, his eyes listlessly staring up at the ceiling as he let out another sigh.

"I still wish y'all could have met him Dawn..." Vernon said "I mean the mammal he was. Not..."The wolf trailed off, unable to bring himself to describe the new cold, unfeeling mammal that had taken his father's place. The thought alone made him feel as though there was a brick buried in his chest. As much as he hated to admit it, he would miss the old wolf. Even if he wasn't exactly the same as he once knew.

The feeling of tiny arms wrapping around his torso pulled the wolf away from his troubled thoughts, bringing his attention down to the ewe still seated in his lap. Dawn was leaning up against him now, squeezing the wolf in as tight a hug as she could muster, burying her face into his shirt.

"I'm sorry Puppy..." Dawn cooed.

The brick in his chest evaporated in that instant, replaced quickly with the warmth and love for his mate. It was a different kind of ointment for a different kind of wound, and it felt even better than his mate's efforts to patch up his face. Vernon carefully wrapped his free arm around the diminutive lamb, squeezing her back tightly in a hug of his own.

"S'okay Honey Lamb." Vernon cooed, kissing the top of her head gently. "I'm okay."

They stayed like that for a while, taking solace in one another's embrace. Drawing strength from each other as the washcloth over the wolf's eye continued to cool. It was almost frigid by the time his mate broke the embrace, looking down awkwardly at the gauze still in her hoof for a moment.

"We should finish up..." Dawn murmured.

Vernon nodded. "Yeah, we still got a bit left to take care of."

With a sigh, the ewe smeared some more ointment on the cloth in her palm before glancing up at the wolf and offering a meek smile

"Can you take the washcloth off Puppy?" Dawn asked idly. "I need to get your eye."

Vernon nodded, reluctantly pulling the damp cloth away from his sore eye.

"It was startin' to get cold anyway." Vernon chuckled.

The ewe let out a giggle of her own in response as she carefully spread a thin veneer of ointment along the lower lid of his blackened eye as the wolf looked up, dabbing gently at the edges to try to keep from getting any of the ointment in his eye.

Once he was sure she was done with the lower lid, he closed his eye, waiting for the follow-up sweep along the upper lid. With a final, gentle swab underneath the lump still pulsing above his eye, the ewe let out a satisfied sigh.

"That's so much better..." Dawn said, flashing the wolf a warm smile. "All we need now is to get some ice on that lump and you'll look good as new."

Vernon chuckled softly as Dawn crumpled the used gauze in her hooves before sliding off the wolf's hips. Bracing an arm on the edge of the tub, the wolf began to push his body off the floor and clumsily staggered to his feet.

"I just hope the kitchen is still empty." Vernon muttered. "Last mammal I want to run into right now is Ma..."

Dawn threw the used gauze into a waste bin, wiping her hooves together as if she were dusting them off. Turning her attention back to the now towering wolf, the ewe was wearing a very visible frown.

"I didn't see her when I last looked." Dawn said sadly. "Then again I wasn't exactly staring straight into the kitchen."

Vernon took a moment to dust off his jeans as if it was going to help. They were thoroughly stained with grass and dirt from his previous scuffle, so it wasn't exactly as though a simple wipe down with his paws stood to do him much good.

"Well, the faster we move, the better." Vernon grumbled.

Walking back up to Vernon's side, the ewe extended a hoof up to the wolf, beckoning for his paw once more. But as Vernon went to place his paw in hers, she withdrew it.

Dawn giggled.

"As much as I appreciate the gesture, I was actually asking for the washcloth back." Dawn smirked.

Vernon had almost entirely forgotten he was still holding the damp rag in his paw. With an awkward chuckle, the wolf presented it to his mate.

"Sorry Floofs." Vernon chuckled, passing the cloth in his other hand back to the diminutive lamb. The ewe took a moment to give the cloth another brief twist before reaching out to clasp the wolf's paw with her other hoof. Vernon could feel the ewe's fingers wiggling their way between his own, intertwining with them as she began to gingerly pull him toward the door.

"I'll lead the way again." Dawn said as she pulled the wolf along with her, making their way back to the entryway. Like before, Dawn took a quick peek around the door before to check for other members of the Hunter pack before opening it the rest of the way.

Quietly the pair tip-toed across the hall to the edge of the kitchen's considerably larger entrance. From what Vernon could see, the place looked just as vacant as the hall and bathroom from his angle. But he again waited for the ewe to take a peek ahead of him, and to give him the all clear. Dawn seemed to be growing increasingly confident in her abilities to scout ahead for signs of the other Hunters, with each of her sweeping scans taking less time than her initial one.

"All clear." Dawn glanced over her shoulder at the wolf behind her, keeping the volume of her voice below that of a whisper as she spoke.

Vernon gave a nod of confirmation, gesturing for the ewe to lead the way into the kitchen.

Once the pair entered, the ewe released her grip around his paw, making her way to the fridge and leaving the wolf to take in the whole scene.

Seeing the kitchen devoid of any activity even at this hour was strangely off-putting to the wolf. The fact that all the lights were on just made the whole room feel that much more unusual. Surely his mother should be somewhere around here, or at the very least Malcolm considering he had done most of the cooking today.

Glancing over at the breakfast bar, the wolf could see that the leftover barbeque food had been left lying about. No one had taken the time to put it away, to place it all in resealable bins and stash it away in the fridge. From salmon burgers to hot wings, all of it laid out in the open. Even what Vernon could only assume was the surprise caprid dish for Dawn.

It looked similar to a pita wrap, although the bread was a deep green color, the interior stuffed to bursting with a variety of greens and other assorted vegetables that almost gave the food the appearance of a bouquet.

If Vernon hadn't been aware of the fact that the barbeque had been taking place outside, he would have simply assumed his mother had set up a food bar in the kitchen for the other Hunters to pick at. But still, not a single one of them was present. Even leaning back to peek into the door frame of the dining room across the way revealed nothing more than yet another startlingly empty chamber.

What amplified the alien-like atmosphere was the lack of any noise. Vernon had excellent hearing, and while granted it wasn't as good as his sniffer, he knew he should have been hearing something by now. The quiet murmur of distant conversation, footfalls on the floors above or distant horseplay between members of the family that should have been too old to participate in such things but unable to help themselves. It was dead silent, save for the soft noises of Dawn making her way around the kitchen.

Glancing to the massive panes of glass that made up the windows, the wolf attempted to peer out toward the barbeque ground. Vernon squinted, raising a paw over his eyes in an attempt to cut through the glare of the interior lights. From what he could make out, it seemed that some of the barbeque stalls remained standing. In fact, if the wolf didn't know better it looked like a few awnings had popped up since the couple had left. And if he squinted hard enough, he swore he could make out some vague form of movement going on just outside of the reach of the outdoor lights. But maybe it was just the mixture of lights playing tricks on him.

"There." Dawn said, letting out a satisfied sigh.

Vernon's attention snapped back to the little ewe standing in front of the fridge as she stood wrapping up a deep blue plastic block in the washcloth she had been holding. Closing the small door at the base of the fridge, the ewe turned her attention back to the large wolf.

"Glad your freezer is on the bottom, or I might have had to ask for a boost." Dawn said with a chuckle as she walked up to her mate, presenting him with the wrapped pack.

Vernon let out a chuckle of his own, but the unnerving feeling left by his earlier realization caused it to come off more shaky and awkward as he took the ice pack in his paw.

Vernon brought the pack close to his head, stopping just short of his eye as he attempted to brace himself for the contrasting sting he was sure to come. The wolf hesitated slightly, bringing the pack just shy of making contact a few times before suddenly drawing it back out of fear. Taking another slow, deliberate breath, the wolf mustered all of his courage and finally manage to force the frigid cold cloth to his face. It stung considerably less than the first time around, but the jolt of cold sent a shudder through the wolf's frame before relief finally started to settle in.

"What's wrong?" Dawn asked. It was clear the ewe had picked up on the rather strangled nature of his chuckling.

Vernon looked away from the ewe for a moment, running a paw through his head fur as his eyes ran over the food again.

"It's so....quiet." Vernon murmured as he turned back to Dawn.

Vernon watched as the ewe began to slowly glance around, her head swiveling from left to right once or twice before the ewe rose onto the tips of her toes and held a hoof to her ear, angling it upward to listen. Dawn held that way for several moments, occasional glancing Vernon's way as she seemed to be trying to process the distinct lack of noise.

"B-but that's good...?" Dawn finally muttered as she slipped back into a more casual stance. "Right?" The ewe's words were laced with uncertainty, and her muzzle was scrunched up in a mixture of confusion and worry.

"It's weird is what it is..." Vernon replied, scratching his head as he puzzled over the scene again. " I mean, this house is always active, 'specially when the whole family is visiting."

Dawn tilted her head curiously.

"I mean, we should hear somebody putterin' around, even if they ain't in the kitchen." The wolf sighed. "Talkin', laughin'..."

"Well, I mean after what happened-."

"Still though." The wolf cut her off, gesturing a paw toward the leftovers sitting on the breakfast bar. "I mean, nobody even put the food away, and the barbeque was hours ago now."

Dawn did her best to peer over the edge of the breakfast bar, standing on the tips of her toes and craning her head in order to see. But her stature made it hard for the ewe to see the better bulk of the inadvertent buffet that had been laid out. He watched her nostrils flare slightly as she tried to take in the lingering scent of the food, her eyes closing and lids fluttering dreamily as she seemed to catch a whiff of the meal that was most likely meant for her. It was only then that Vernon realized that neither of them had gotten the opportunity to really eat since working the stall. That with everything that happened at the barbeque the thought of eating had completely left his mind, and Vernon could only assume it was more or less the same for Dawn.

Taking a moment to scan the forgotten food spread, Vernon spotted a leftover stack of disposable plates and utensils off to its side. As the wolf reached out for a vacant plate, the ewe seemed to snap out of her brief, food-induced stupor.

"Vernon?" Dawn asked. "What are you-?"

"I think these were made with you in mind." Vernon chuckled as he scooped two of the grilled vegetable wraps onto a plate before passing it down to the little ewe below the table. Dawn reluctantly took the plate, taking a moment to sniff the food with an apprehensive look before her eyes returned to Vernon.

"I kind of forgot how hungry I was." Dawn murmured softly.

Vernon chuckled as he took another paper plate into his paw.

"Can't have that can we?" Vernon flashed the ewe a smirk. "Start starvin' yerself and you might just blow away."

Dawn giggled, giving the wolf a playful swat as he quickly scooped two salmon burgers onto his plate. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the ewe take another tentative sniff of one of the wraps as she brought it closer to her nose. Her muzzle crinkling slightly as she let out a warm sigh. Closing her eyes, the ewe took a timid bite.

"Mhh..." Dawn murmured softly, closing her eyes as she chewed.

Vernon smirked at the ewe's adorable reaction before taking a bite of his own food. He was already quite used to the powerful flavor of Malcolm's cooking, especially when it came to his mouth-watering salmon dishes. So the wolf had an easier time regaining his composure as he bit into the well grilled and seasoned patty. The food had long since cooled, but it did little to take away from the delectable flavor.

"Malcolm is amazing..." Dawn uttered, her tone quivering with pleasure as she took a much larger bite of her wrap.

Vernon quirked an eyebrow at his mate, a playful smirk crossing his muzzle.

"Oh, so y'all thinkin' about leavin' me fer old Malc?" Vernon said with a chuckle.

Dawn furrowed her brow, giving the wolf a look that seemed to be a mixture of offense and disbelief before the wolf's joking tone seemed to register.

"Well...maybe if he was straight..." Dawn smirked. "And into mutton."

The pair shared a laugh, the ewe letting out a giggling snort as Vernon tapped the breakfast nook with a paw. But the shared laugh that echoed through the kitchen only managed to bring the wolf's thoughts back to just how off-putting the empty house still felt, and Vernon's laughter trailed off awkwardly as he scanned the room again. As Dawn's own giggling trailed into a pleasant sigh, she seemed to notice the change in the wolf's behavior.

"Vernon..." That drew the wolf's attention back to the concerned looking ewe holding a partially eaten salad wrap. The ewe took a moment to scan her own surroundings, glancing over her shoulder and around the counter for a moment before turning back to her mate.

"I'll admit it all feels strange." The ewe said nervously. She clearly hadn't forgotten the wolf's question. "I mean, granted I haven't lived here like you have Puppy..." Dawn murmured. "But everything kind of feels...vacant."

Vernon let out a tired sigh before taking another bite of one of his salmon burgers. Dawn's confirmation made the fresh bite seem a little less appetizing than before. But Dawn was right when it came to her initial point. As strange as the air around the Hunter home seemed to be, he supposed it was preferable to having the place buzzing with activity. The less awkward conversations the pair had to endure just to get to the privacy of the guest bedroom, the better.

"Welp..." Vernon said with a sigh. "Whatever's goin' on, we might as well take advantage of it."

Vernon turned around, taking a few steps toward the kitchen entrance with his paper plate in paw before looking back over his shoulder at his mate.

"Let's see if I can get my stuff without runnin' into anyone."

The ewe gave a brisk nod as she finished chewing another bite of her wrap.

"Do you want me to peek ahead?" Dawn asked as she walked up to meet Vernon, taking a place at the wolf's side.

Vernon shook his head. "Unless someone's hidin', that hallway is still clear."

With that, the wolf made his way out of the kitchen, Dawn following dutifully behind as he strode up the hall. The boy's bedroom wasn't far of course, just a few steps up and across from the kitchen, but with the wolf's slower stride it took way longer than it should have. The assurance that the area was empty should have if anything, emboldened him. But the alien strangeness the air of the house now carried only served to make him more nervous as he came up to the closed door. An uneasy feeling that grew deeper due to the fact that there was no light coming from under the bedroom door.

Vernon glanced back at Dawn for a moment, flashing the ewe a brief look of uncertainty before pushing the door ajar with his free paw. As the light from the hall slowly spilled into the darkened room, Vernon could already tell it was empty. But still, the wolf couldn't help letting out a tentative call as he popped his head through the slit.

"Hello?" Vernon whispered quietly, craning his head around to see as much of the room as he could in the dim lighting. He didn't want the attention should anyone had been in there, but the unnerving feeling inside had forced him to speak. Even so, it proved to be all for moot, the room was just as empty as his initial assessment had guessed. Everything appeared to look as if it hadn't been touched since morning.

"Empty?" Dawn's nervous tone drew Vernon's head back out of the door frame. Turning to face the ewe, the wolf crouched down to her level.

"Yep." Vernon muttered, trying to stifle the palpable unease in his voice. "Not a soul inside."

"Oh..." Dawn frowned, her eyes trailing back to the floor, the ewe seemingly studying her feet as she fidgeted uncomfortably. With a sigh, Vernon pulled the ice pack away from his eye, using it to give the ewe an impromptu pat on the shoulder.

"Can ya hold this for me?" Vernon asked, handing the half-eaten plate of salmon burgers to the lamb. Dawn carefully placed it below her own plate as she nodded to the wolf, doing her best to steady them as Vernon rose to his feet.

"I'll only be a minute." Vernon added, turning back to the door. Placing his paw on the partially open door, the wolf took a long, deep breath before pushing it the rest of the way open.

As expected, the room hadn't changed. It was still as vacant as before. And as the wolf flipped up the light switch any lingering thoughts of mammals hiding in the shadows were instantly extinguished. It was bare of any hide or hair of the Hunter boys.

Vernon slowly crossed between the beds, treading lightly as he made his way to his own. His pace was still affected by the terribly unnerving feeling the atmosphere of the house was giving him. He should have been working quickly, deftly rushing to stuff his suitcase back up with his clothes before tearin' tail out of the room. But the stillness in the air almost made the usually lively room feel as though he was trespassing deep within a sacred tomb.

Kneeling at his bedside, Vernon pulled his suitcase out from under the bed, taking a moment to place his ice pack on the mattress to free up his paws. The wolf idly flipped open the cover, taking a moment to assess how much of his clothing was un-accounted for before pulling the drawer by his bedside open and tossing the missing clothing into it. There wasn't much left in regards to clean clothes sitting in the drawer, as the wolf usually filed away his dirty clothes into the suitcase as he used them to be washed when he got back to the apartment. And with one day left in the trip, there was little left out in preparation to wear.

As the wolf grabbed up his toothbrush and the other smaller toiletries he had left in the drawer, his ears perked up at the sound of slight scuffling in the room above him. He could barely make out the sound of footfalls, and what sounded like a quiet argument taking place in the girl's bedroom. It was only when he heard the muffled telltale cackle of Ada's hyena laugh was he able to finally confirm that life still existed in the Hunter Ranch.

Vernon threw the last of his belongings into the bag carelessly before zipping it up as fast as he could. It was a relief in some ways, now that the deadened silence had finally been broken by someone other than the pair. But where the unease from the quiet stillness had once been housed inside Vernon's chest, it was now rapidly filling with the uneasy pang of guilt for what he had said to Ada. And the nervous tension of knowing that she was here, and he would have to face her.

With a sigh, Vernon scooped the ice pack back into his paw and gingerly placed it against his blackened eye. His other paw clasped to the handle of his suitcase, the wolf began his return trip to the hall. As Vernon made his way back to the door, Dawn handed his plate of food back up to him.

"Was that-?"

Vernon gave the ewe a brisk, affirming nod as he attempted to balance the plate on the few of his fingers he could spare from holding the suitcase handle. It wasn't exactly easy to keep level, but somehow the wolf seemed to be able to manage. "Who else could it be?"

Despite Vernon's nerves, the trip up the spiral staircase had gone a lot quicker than traversing the kitchen and hall of the Hunter house. Much as his paradoxical reluctance to move quickly through the oddly empty house despite not wanting to run into any other members of the family had taken hold of him earlier, he was now rushing to confront a mammal with a conversation he really didn't want to have.

He loved his sister dearly, but the prospect of looking her in the eyes again after what he had said left him feeling mortified. He could feel a deep well forming in his stomach, twisting it in knots as he grew closer and closer to the girl's bedroom door. The wolf could already tell he wasn't going to be capable of finishing those salmon burgers now.

"I should probably take the lead." Dawn murmured, drawing Vernon's attention to her as the couple came up to the door. It was clear she had noticed just how consternated the wolf's expression had grown as they approached the door. Vernon wanted to object, but as soon as he opened his mouth, his throat seemed to dry up completely. With nothing more to say, and the inability to properly say it, Vernon could only offer a meek nod in reply. Behind the door, he could hear the conversation growing louder. A decidedly masculine voice was present, quietly arguing with Ada about something the wolf couldn't make out.

Dawn carefully handed off her dish to the worried wolf before standing in front of the doorway, pausing briefly to take a deep breath of her own. The ewe closed her eyes, inhaling deeply before letting it out in a slow, drawn-out exhale. Vernon could only assume she was steeling herself for whatever awkward discussions might lay inside the occupied bedroom.

Seemingly satisfied, the ewe raised a hoof to the door. But seconds before it made contact with the hardwood, the panel suddenly swung backward into the room, bathing the dim hall with a flush of light from within.

At the side of the door, Vernon could see the towering Vanna. Her paws wrapped around the edges as she continued to draw back the pane. But what made Vernon's stomach drop completely was the jet black wolf now standing in the open frame.

Vernon was like a deer in headlights. Of all of the brothers he could have the misfortune of running into so soon, it had to be Yuri. The snide, brutish black wolf didn't see them at first. The wolf was speaking to who Vernon could only assume was Ada, looking over his shoulder as he was apparently concluding his conversation.

"-Downstairs with-" Was all Vernon heard before the wolf finally turned to notice them, stopping dead in his tracks as his piercing golden eyes fell on the pair.

Dawn didn't make a sound, but Vernon could feel her clutched tightly to his pant leg. Whether it was to keep Vernon from getting into another fight, or out of simple fear of the dark-furred wolf, Vernon couldn't be sure. But his own mind was struggling with much of the same conflicting fears.

Yuri was oddly silent, taking a moment to appraise Vernon as he scanned the wolf from head to toe before crossing his arms. In the light of the bedroom, Vernon could easily see his own handwork strewn about the black wolf's face and muzzle. It was immediately evident that Yuri had come out the brawl in considerably worse shape than Vernon. Aside from the general scabs and bruising, the wolf could make out several raised drag marks under Yuri's fur, not deep enough to scar, but certainly more than enough to draw blood. And to top it all off, the wolf had matching shiners that almost created a raccoon mask like tint below his fur. But the clean-up job looked almost surgical. In fact, Vernon could see a few stray stitches holding together some of the more deep cuts. It was easy to see thanks to the level of skill involved it had been Ada's handiwork.

An uncomfortably long silence passed between the mammals, staring at one another as if locked in an old western showdown, waiting for the first mammal to reach for his sidearm. It felt like an eternity had passed before suddenly, Yuri's hardened expression seemed to falter. It probably wouldn't have been noticeable to anyone aside from Vernon, his brothers, and Ada, but he could see the sharp glimmer behind the wolf's eyes fade as he furrowed his brow slightly.

"Vernon..." Yuri said, his tone unfeeling but not cold. If anything it was neutral, seemingly disinterested.

With a nod, Yuri pivoted around the pair, making his way down the hall and out of sight without so much as another word. It was only once the wolf was gone, did Vernon realize he had been holding his breath.

"Dawn?"

That had come from Vanna, the tigress now leaning casually around the door as she looked down at the pair. Vernon glanced down at his mate to find she was still clutched tightly to his leg, her eyes closed tightly as she grappled against it. It took a moment before Vanna's words seemed to register, and the ewe opened a wary eye.

She glanced at Vernon, then Vanna, then at his leg and back again a few times before releasing her releasing her death grip, blushing intensely as she walked back up to the door.

"Hi Vanna." Dawn murmured softly, offering the tigress a meek wave.

Vanna chuckled softly.

"Coming to bed?" The tigress asked.

The ewe looked down at her feet, nervously rubbing one against the other as she seemed to struggle with her words.

"I-um..." Dawn muttered. "I just came to get my things..."

Vanna quirked an eyebrow curiously, not that Dawn would have noticed. The ewe's line of sight was glued to the floor.

"Vernon and I are sleeping in the guest bedroom tonight."

Vanna fell silent for a moment, her muzzle curling into a frown as she joined the ewe's own despondent stare at the wood beneath her paws.

"I see..." The tigress said somberly. The disappointment in her voice was palpable. But rather than argue, or press the ewe for details, Vanna simply opened the door the rest of the way, gesturing the little ewe inside.

As the bulk of the room came into view, Vernon could see Ada sitting a few beds down from the door, the hyena cleaning up the remains of what appeared to be her own medical kit. As well as what appeared to be a massive set of legs poking up from along the borders of the beds. The yellow and orange patchwork fur was distinctly that of a giraffe, but Vernon found himself at a loss as to why there was a giraffe in the house until Dawn had crossed the threshold into the bedroom.

"Giselle!?" Dawn exclaimed. "How did you even get in here?"

Of course, it was Giselle, it certainly was the more sensible deduction. But still, the wolf found himself in somewhat stunned silence as he tried to process the information. When had Giselle arrived? How did she manage to fit inside the ranch? And where the hell was Wade now that she had shown up? The wolf found himself moving forward absentmindedly as he pondered the sudden flurry of questions, eager to ask the giraffe inside as many as he could. But the sudden, harsh impact of wood against his muzzle quickly snapped him out of the sea of idle thoughts that had suddenly taken hold of him. The startling shock and sudden sting of pain causing the wolf to drop the plates of food as he drew away from the nearly closed door in confusion and surprise.

Aggressively rubbing his sore snout, Vernon focused his attention back on the door to find that Vanna was peering out from behind the remaining sliver of space between the door and the frame.

She was glaring at him through the thin opening, her terrifyingly cold, yellow eyes narrowing on the wolf in what he could only describe as a 'deathly gaze'. It sent a frigid shiver down his spine as he stared back at her, mouth agape in confusion.

"Vanna...what?" The wolf squeezed his nose slightly in an effort to take away from the fresh stinging as he tried to make sense of the situation.

The feline's muzzle twisted into a deep sneer. "You think I'm going to just let you in here?" Vanna said coldly. "After what you said about Ada? After how you hurt her?"

Vernon's ears sagged sharply at the sudden realization. With Yuri's little scare and Giselle's apparent arrival, the wolf had momentarily forgotten why he had accompanied Dawn to the girl's room in the first place. A renewed wave of guilt washed over him as his thoughts returned to his wounded sister-in-law.

Vernon straightened his stance slightly, trying his best to appear composed in the face of Vanna's intimidating glare.

"That's why I need to see her." Vernon replied, easing closer to the door "I need to apologize, I wanted to-"

Vanna snarled at the wolf, causing him to jump back from the massive tigress. It was startling, to say the least. Vanna was always a very composed mammal, never snarling or hissing unless she was truly angry. And the wolf had been so taken aback that he had briefly raised his arm in defense before his brain fully managed to process Vanna's actions.

"You've been an emotional mammal for long as I've known you. " Vanna spoke in a low growl, her tightly grit teeth only briefly parting to allow the words to come out clearly. " But no matter how upset I've seen you get, you've never dragged any innocent mammals into your problems just to get back at someone."

Vernon looked down at the floor, scratching the back of his head with his free paw uncomfortably.

"Vanna, hold o-" He could hear Dawn's voice from behind the door, the ewe clearly trying to help plead his case. But the tigress seemed to ignore her words.

"I know Yuri can get under anyone's pelt." Vanna continued, her voice remaining cold and unfeeling. "But I never would have expected you to stoop to his level, I couldn't even fathom it before today!" Vanna snarled.

"Vanna, pleas-" Dawn tried to interject once more, but again was ignored.

At that moment, Vanna's hardened, cold features softened. Her muzzle slipping into a soft frown as her eyes shimmered in the limited flicker of light escaping the bedroom behind her.

"I thought you were better than that Vernon." Vanna murmured softly. "I expected better of you."

The wolf felt two inches tall as he slunk deeper into his shoulders. The look of sorrow and disappointment on Vanna's face was doing far more to crush Vernon than any amount of rage she could muster.

"How could you?" Vanna whimpered. "To embarrass Ada like that...to make her cry...I just..." Vanna's voice trembled slightly, the tigress taking a moment to look over her shoulder at what Vernon could only assume was Ada before turning back to face him with a renewed look of ire flashing behind her eyes.

"That was low Vernon..." Vanna hissed. "That was YURI low."

The words felt like daggers etching into the wolf's heart as the full scope of what he had done came into view. Vernon couldn't believe just how foolish he had been. Not only had he hurt Ada, but by hurting one sister he had inadvertently hurt them all. The Hunter Sisters were practically one unit, in a similar way to the bond Vernon shared with his brothers. They had been the ones to see Ada crumble under his thoughtless words, to console her through the painful tears and enduring the agony of the loss of trust. They had all suffered to some degree because of him.

"Vanna please." Vernon whimpered, his composure starting to crumble as he pressed himself back up against the door. "I was wrong." The wolf whined. "From the moment I said it, all I've wanted to do is take it back."

"You can't take it back." Vanna hissed softly. "It's out there, it happened." The tigress narrowed her sharp yellow eyes at the wolf. "Everyone in the pack heard you!"

"I know, but-"

"I know Yuri did the same to Dawn, and it was just as bad!" Vanna continued. "But you aren't him!" Vanna frowned again, her eyes drifting back to the floor. "At least, I thought you weren't."

"I'm not!" Vernon protested, trying to peer over Vanna in an effort to see the hyena in the far end of the room. It was of little use, the tigress had at least another two feet on him. But that wasn't going to stop him from talking to her if this was the only way he was going to be allowed to.

"Ada!" Vernon yelped. "Please give me a chance to apologize, I-!"

Vanna straightened her stance, trying to further obstruct the wolf's view despite it being wholly unnecessary. It was simply a gesture of solidarity, of acting as a defensive wall for her wounded sister.

"I'll let Dawn out when she's done collecting her things." Vanna's tone returned to it's previous cold, unfeeling cadence as she regarded the wolf with disgust. "But I'm not letting you hurt Ada any worse tha-"

"I want to make it better!" Vernon whined, dragging a trembling paw through his scalp in frustration. "Teeth to tails Vanna just let me ta-!"

"It's up to Ada to decide whether or not she wants to talk to you." Vanna replied with a sneer. "Until I know it won't hurt her to even look at you, I'm making sure she doesn't have to."

"Ada, please." Vernon could hear his mate pleading once again, this time to the scorned hyeness. "You know Vernon doesn't have a mean bone in his body, please just hear him out."

"Tell Vanna to-" Was the last Vernon could make out before Vanna abruptly slammed the door shut, leaving him alone in the now drearily silent hall. The lack of noise made the hallway feel all the more stifling, and it only served to compound the gnawing guilt and remorse burning in the pit of his stomach. He had to make it right, to make amends if it was the last thing he did Before walking out of this place forever.

Vernon began to assault the hardwood door, knocking aggressively with his paw as he pressed himself up against it as tightly as he physically could.

"Vanna PLEASE!" Vernon whined. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry to you, and Qali, and Mal, and everyone fer what I've done!" The wolf pounded on the door again, the wood rattling against his face as he remained fixed against it. "But I have to talk to Ada! I have to apologize, please!"

Despite his desperate pleas, the door remained unmoving. The barrier held firm, keeping him and the hyeness he had so wronged apart. Vernon pounded again and again, the knocking growing more frantic and distressed as he pleaded with his sisters.

"Ada, I know you hate me right now!" Vernon continued. His paw was starting to throb from the incessant banging. "But please, just hear me out!"

"I can't leave it like this!" Vernon whimpered. "I was wrong, I made a mistake and I hate myself for it!" Vernon could feel tears starting to well as he began to slide down the door. Slowly but surely the wolf crumpled into a pile against the hardwood. His knocking growing weaker and weaker as the growing fear took hold that they were never going to let him in. That his one chance at making sure him and Ada could be back on good terms was to be lost forever.

"Please..." Vernon cried. "Just let me talk to her."

Vernon lay there for a few minutes in silence before the door suddenly swung inward, causing the wolf to slump partially inside the room. His muzzle hit the floor with a dull thud, another mild pang of pain pulsing through his already aching jaw as his eyes fell on a pair of black furred paws.

"Alright Vernon." The familiar Barx accent drew Vernon's attention upward to find Ada staring down at him. The hyeness was still dressed in her day clothes, peering down at the wolf with her arms crossed and a dubious eyebrow raised. But despite her rather defensive stance, the wolf could make out the slight puffiness around her eyes. It was clear she had been crying quite a bit more since the barbeque, and that only served to add to the gnarled, twisted knot that sat in his stomach.

Vernon wasn't sure if it had been Dawn that had managed to convince Ada to hear him out, or Vanna, or if it had been his own pathetic pleading that had finally convinced her to listen, but either way the wolf didn't care. He was simply happy to be given the chance to make things right.

"Ada.." Vernon whimpered softly, pawing a stray tear from his eye as he looked back up at her. "I-I-."

Ada shook her head dismissively. "Stand up will ya?" The hyena tried to hide a smirk. "I can't talk to youse like dis. It's weird."

Vernon tried to nod, but with his muzzle against the floor the movement was negligible. Still, Ada seemed to get the message, and as she eased her way into the hallway, closing the door behind her the wolf scrambled to his feet.

Now standing face to face with the hyena, it was clear she was pretty uncomfortable being around him. She was trying to her best to keep up her usual non-plussed, amused demeanor, but he could tell it was strained. The hyena ran a paw through her hair, keeping her gaze away from meeting Vernon's own.

"So...youse wanted to talk..." Ada muttered, gesturing a paw at the wolf. "So talk." The hyena cocked her hip. "I ain't got all night."

Vernon took a deep breath, holding it for a moment as he tried to prepare himself. But as he stood the, he found himself struggling to figure out just how to start. Every sentence he started to form in his head seemed awkward and stilted. No matter how he approached it in his mind, nothing he could say seemed like the right way to enter into apologizing to his rather rough and tumble sister. He could feel himself growing more and more oxygen-starved as he wracked his brain desperately for a proper plan of action, but nothing came.

"Well...?" Ada finally broke the silence, the hyena's expression had grown increasingly annoyed while Vernon had been focused inward. But Ada's sudden interjection seemed to shatter the mental block that had formed in his mind, revealing the perfect way to show her just how sorry he was.

"I'm I supposta-?"

Ada was cut off as the wolf suddenly wrapped his arms around the large mammal, pulling her into a tight hug and burying his muzzle into her shoulder. Out of the corner of his eye, he could make out Ada's stunned expression, her face frozen as he was sure her mind was struggling to figure out exactly how to respond. But he knew he had better start talking before she decided the best course of action was to push him away.

"I love you Ada." Vernon began to sob softly, putting as much love as he could muster into the strength of his grip around her. "I have seen you as my big sister from the moment you came into this family. Just like Vanna, I took to you as if y'all we're my own flesh and blood right away."

The hyena remained frozen, her pupils darting around as though she were looking for someone to help her. Although whether that was for someone to get Vernon off of her, or the struggle to process what was happening was anyone's guess.

"Unlike Yuri, y'all have always been good to me." Vernon struggled to keep his quiet sobs from spilling him over into a slobbering mess, to keep it together long enough to say what he needed to say. "And gettin' to see you was one of the few highlights of bein' forced to have to deal with my brother."

Vernon wiped his eyes with a paw, grazing the swollen lump on his brow as tried to swab the moisture away. But the wolf could barely feel the painful sting of the welt over the weight of the guilt and sadness that was now pouring out of him.

"I let Yuri get to me." Vernon whimpered. "I just wanted to say somethin' to him I knew would get under his pelt after everythin' he said about Dawn." The wolf shuddered as another sob slipped out of his muzzle. "I wasn't even thinkin', it just spilled out!"

Vernon pulled his head back, leveling his gaze at his sister-in-law. Ada was quick to avert her eyes from making contact with Vernon's own, but for a brief moment, Vernon could swear he caught the glimmer of fresh tears forming in her eyes as she looked away.

"But it ain't no excuse!" Vernon shook his head tersely." It ain't no excuse to drag my favorite sister-in-law's name through the mud just to get revenge, just to try to have the last word!"

The wolf buried his face back into the hyeness' shoulder, letting out another sob.

"I just want things to be okay between us again." Vernon whined, rubbing his eyes into her shirt. "I'm sorry, I'm so damn sorry..." Vernon whimpered.

The wolf continued to sob quietly into the hyena's shoulder, the large mammal still apparently frozen as the wolf bared his emotions to her. The wolf wasn't sure how much time had passed, the two of them standing in the hall with him blubbering like a pup. Vernon had been so caught up in his crying fit that he had lost sense of time to some degree. But eventually, he felt Ada's arms begin to wrap around him, pulling the wolf into a tight hug of her own.

"Aw...Vern..." He could hear the hyena sniffle slightly, but by the time he looked up, she had already reverted to her usual, bemused expression.

"Geeze, stop wit da water woiks already..." Ada shook her head. "I knew you was sorry five minutes after you said it." Ada chuckled.

Vernon wiped a stray tear from his eye as he tried to suck back the remaining sobs still trying to bubble to the surface. Ada released the hug, but kept an arm around the wolf, pulling him tightly against her side in a playful manner.

"Youse are my bruddah too." Ada said with a smile. "And aside from Mal's cookin'...well....youse are up dere with my reasons for convincin' old sour-puss to come out." Ada rolled her eyes. "Even when I know just bein' here winds him up."

Vernon offered a meek smile.

"R-Really?" Vernon sniffled softly.

"Are you kiddin'!?" Ada chuckled. "I love youse guys. Hell, I love dis whole place!" The hyeness lowered her eyelids, leaning in close to Vernon as she flashed the wolf a smirk. "And what kinda big sista would I be if I didn't come out to see how my favorite little bruddah is doin?"

"S-So you don't hate me?" Vernon asked quietly.

Ada let out her trademark laugh, the hyena practically howling as she gave Vernon's head fur a playful tousle.

"O'course I don't hate yas!' Ada said with a wide grin. "I could neva hates youse Vern."

The wolf pulled Ada into another tight hug, although Ada seemed more prepared for this one as she leaned into it, gripping Vernon into a tight bear hug and letting out a pleasant sigh.

"I know youse didn't mean it." Ada replied, her tone slipping into something a little softer. "It ain't like you to even tink of tings like dat." Ada continued. "Dats why it sorta...took me by surprise."

"I shouldn't have...I can't believe I even..." Vernon trailed off, unable to finish his thought as he broke the hug to look his big sister in the eyes. " I'm sorry Ada." The wolf wiped his eyes again, trying to sweep away the last of his lingering tears as he could feel his composure returning.

"Look..." Ada shook her head. "I know Yuri can get unda mammals pelts." Ada continued, a hint of annoyance in her voice as she spoke. "He can sometimes drag da woist outta mammals, and make dem say tings dey don't mean." Ada returned to crossing her arms, her teeth exposed slightly as the grimace on her muzzle widened.

"Hell, he's got it down to a scoince." Ada shook her head dismissively.

Vernon gave a simple nod of agreement, not entirely sure where Ada was going with this line of conversation. Seemingly sensing the wolf's confusion, Ada let out a sigh.

"Da ting is, because I know dat about him, it means I know not to take anyting he says wit any seriousness, you know?" Ada asked, quirking an eyebrow. "Any snide remark he makes is just him tryin' to upset ya, not necessarily dat he means what he's sayin', and I'm used to dat."

Ada shook her head softly, her usual grin slipping into another frown. "It's sometin I spent most of my life learnin' how to do." Ada shrugged. "Letting crap roll off my back because eder I know da mammal sayin' it doesn't really mean it, or doesn't know anyting about me."

Ada placed a paw on Vernon's shoulder, her green eyes taking on a faint shimmer of moisture.

"But when sometin like dat comes from someone I tink I know." Ada murmured. "Someone I trust, someone I care about and taught I undastood..." Ada sighed, glancing down at the floor for a moment. "It's like a punch in da gut."

As the hyena's eyes rose to meet his own, he could see that tears had finally managed to form in the corner of her eyes, dripping silently down her cheeks as she pressed onward with what she had to say.

"It just took me off guard." Ada whimpered softly. "Hit me in a spot I wasn't braced to protect because I....I wasn't expectin' it from you."

Vernon could feel tears returning to his eyes as Ada continued to open up to the wolf.

"Spotted yeens..." Ada sighed. "We get dat all da time because of dat fossil record. Because of how tings used to be." The hyena shook her head. "I'm used to hearin' it."

Ada wiped her eyes with a paw, letting out a sharp sniffle in an attempt to stem the flow of tears.

"But from you..." Ada whimpered. "It just really hoit Vern."

Vernon pulled the large hyena into another hug, squeezing her as tightly as he could muster.

"I'm sorry Sis." Vernon said softly. "I shouldn't have even went there. I didn't mean what I said."

Ada wiped her eyes into a sleeve before hugging the wolf back.

"I know, I know." Ada mumbled into Vernon's shoulder. "But it took me a while to kinda accept dat." Ada wiped her nose against Vernon's coat. "To reassure myself dat you really didn't mean it."

Vernon broke the hug, keeping his paws on the hyena's shoulders in an attempt to continue to comfort her.

"Yuri said some really nasty shit about Dawn." Ada grimaced, her teary eyes returning to the floor in shame. "Wedder he was jokin' or not, he was in da wrong." Ada rubbed her upper arm uncomfortably. "And youse bedda believe I gave him an earful for dat."

After the way the fight had panned out, Vernon would have assumed Ada had thought Yuri had suffered enough for his actions all things considered. Having to be scolded by Ada probably was just adding insult to injury. But it made a part of Vernon feel better to know that despite how badly he had hurt Ada, she still stood up to her mate in defense of Dawn.

"And da way you was lookin' at Dawn, I knew he was hoitin' you bad...hoitin' you both bad." Ada wiped her eyes again, letting out another quiet sniffle. "I tried to stop him...but.."

"Ada..." Vernon muttered, but the hyena's head remained downturned.

"He had youse up against da wall, and you just pulled out whateva you could..." She continued. "Anyting to make him pay for hoitin' Dawn..."

Ada raised her head, meeting Vernon's gaze once more as she placed a paw on top of his. "Youse couldn't know dat out of all da tings you could say, dat was da one dat would strike a real noive with me because of my own insecurities."

"It was still wrong though." Vernon replied with a frown. "There's no excuse for dragging you into that mess just because I wanted to get back at Yuri for shaming Dawn." The wolf sighed mournfully.

"Hey, you was thinkin' of Plush, right?" Ada chirped, offering the wolf a slight smirk. "I can't blame youse for wantin' to do right by her after how Yuri was actin', even if..."

"I'm sure there were better ways to do right by Dawn than how I acted." Vernon sighed, shaking his head dismissively.

"Hey it ain't exactly easy to keep a cool head when a fights brewin'." Ada chuckled softly. "Believe me, I know from experience."

"Yeah..." Vernon muttered lamely as his muzzle traced back to the floor below. The response seemed to bother Ada to some degree as Vernon felt her paw clasp under his chin, pulling him up to meet her slightly annoyed gaze.

"Hey, you tink I ain't made mistakes?" Ada laughed. "I got a track rekad a mile long!" The hyena shrugged. "At least you owned up to it and did everyting youse could ta fix it. And like you said, youse didin't mean it." The hyena quirked an eyebrow. "Right?"

"Never!" Vernon objected, pulling free of the hyena's grip. The wolf's serious expression an attempt to emphasize the weight of what he was saying.

"So den let's just try to fogget it eva happened!" Ada' said, giving the wolf a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "We'll just start fresh from here, alright Vern?"

The wolf smiled softly. Somewhere along the way it seemed as though the conversation had shifted from him reassuring Ada, to the other way around. Vernon would have laughed at just how cavalier his sister had become after being so uncharacteristically somber, but the slight feeling of unease still hanging in his gut made him unable to do so. He needed a little more clarification to let him know that their relationship would slip back into the way it always was.

"S-so, were cool?" Vernon murmured softly.

Ada let out an amused cackle.

"C'mere!" The hyena said, opening her arms and gesturing the wolf in for another hug. Vernon didn't hesitate, wrapping his arms around the large hyeness as tightly as he could. Ada did the same, squeezing the wolf in a tight bear hug while patting his back reassuringly. The hug was almost stifling, as the hyena was most definitely stronger than Vernon was, but the wolf was far too relieved to care.

"Of course we're cool ya joik!" Ada snickered, emphasizing her words with another firm squeeze before finally releasing the wolf. Vernon stumbled back slightly, taking a moment to stabilize himself after the particularly forceful hug. It felt good to know that even if he would never get the chance to see her again, he had at least managed to set things right between them.

"But..." Ada smirked, raising an eyebrow at the wolf.

"But what?' Vernon asked.

With a jerk, Ada cold-cocked the wolf in his arm, causing the wolf to let out a yelp.

"OW!" Vernon hissed. "What the-?"

"If youse eva do dat to me again, I'll punch ya lights out, got it?" Ada said, giving the wolf a serious glare.

Vernon gave a terse and fearful nod.

"Please, I'd punch my own lights out first." Vernon murmured softly, scratching the back of his head. Ada let out an amused cackle.

"Now dat'd be a sight to see." The hyeness shook her head.

"Alright." Ada smirked, turning her attention back to the bedroom door. "Hey Van, it's settled."

With that, the door slowly opened to reveal that Dawn had been patiently waiting behind it, her luggage neatly in tow behind her. Her eyes were wet and puffy, revealing the ewe had probably been crying along with them as she had listened in on their conversation.

"Hope you wasn't standin' dere too long Plush." Ada said with a chuckle.

The ewe stepped into the hall, carefully edging herself and her suitcase around the spill from their unfinished meals before taking her place alongside Vernon. Dawn took a moment to adjust her frames before flashing Ada a warm smile.

"No, it was fine." Dawn replied, trying her best to stifle her lingering sniffles. "I didn't want to intrude or make you two feel like you needed to speed through the conversation just because of me."

"Heh, danks Plush." Ada flashed the couple a grin before making her way back into the bedroom. She had almost disappeared behind the door frame before glancing over her shoulder at the pair.

"I'll catch yas tomorrow alright?" Ada said.

Dawn and Vernon exchanged an uneasy glance, the shared knowledge that they would not be around to see anyone for the last day of the trip filling them with momentary unease. But Ada didn't seem to notice, and with a final cackle she disappeared into the bedroom.

"Thank you Vanna." Dawn said, the sudden statement bringing Vernon's attention back to the door. He hadn't even noticed that Vanna was still acting as the doormam' for the girls room with Ada and Dawn acting as distractions.

"Goodnight." Dawn added.

"Y-yeah, goodnight Vanna..." Vernon jumped in, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "And er...sorry again."

Vanna looked down at her paws, a distinct look of disappointment on her muzzle as she began to close the door.

"I thought I was your favorite sister..." The feline muttered.

Before the wolf could object, the door clicked shut, leaving the couple alone in the darkened hallway.

Vernon let out a tired sigh as he ran a paw through his messy head fur.

"Well great...fixed things with Ada and now Vanna feels left out..." Vernon muttered.

"You should have known better Vernon, you never admit to having a favorite when it comes to family." Dawn said with a giggle. "Goodness, what are you going to do if we adopt more than one lamb?"

"Yeah I kn-" The wolf paused as just what the ewe had said fully registered. There was a brief flicker of confusion on his face before it shifted into wide-eyed shock.

"Wait? Adoptin'?" Vernon sputtered. "We ain't even married yet!"

Dawn let out another giggle as she began to make her way to the guest bedroom. Coming to a stop at the door, the ewe threw the wolf a sly glance over her shoulder.

"You are too cute when you get flustered." Dawn said with a smirk, before slipping into the guest bedroom and out of sight.