for Ray and William
Horatio walked, aimless and slow, down the forest path. He had fought down the sick feeling of fear in his gut all day, busying himself with the thousand tasks that needed seeing to in Fraser's absence. Fraser's absence. The words sank like a stone into his gut, and Horatio had to put a hand out to brace against a nearby tree to steady himself.
In the next moment Dief was bursting out of the bushes across from him, looking nearly as agitated as Horatio felt. Horatio dropped to his knees, burying his fingers in the wolf's fur for a moment before looking him in the eyes.
"Benton."
Diefenbaker did nothing, just as Horatio had known he would, but still the lack of action incensed him. Hadn't Horatio walked the island paths a hundred times behind the wolf, sure he would find himself at Fraser's side in no time at all? All he needed to do was speak Fraser's name and the wolf would be off, and now, Diefenbaker did nothing.
Frustrated, Horatio tried again. "Benton. Benton! Benton, you horrid animal!" Diefenbaker yelped, and Horatio realised he was holding onto his fur far too tightly. "I'm sorry," he whispered, but Diefenbaker took off back into the trees, and Horatio could not blame him.
"I'm sorry," he whispered again, closing his eyes against the world, the weight of which kept him on his knees as he struggled to master himself once more.
In the next moment Dief was bursting out of the bushes across from him, looking nearly as agitated as Horatio felt. Horatio dropped to his knees, burying his fingers in the wolf's fur for a moment before looking him in the eyes.
"Benton."
Diefenbaker did nothing, just as Horatio had known he would, but still the lack of action incensed him. Hadn't Horatio walked the island paths a hundred times behind the wolf, sure he would find himself at Fraser's side in no time at all? All he needed to do was speak Fraser's name and the wolf would be off, and now, Diefenbaker did nothing.
Frustrated, Horatio tried again. "Benton. Benton! Benton, you horrid animal!" Diefenbaker yelped, and Horatio realised he was holding onto his fur far too tightly. "I'm sorry," he whispered, but Diefenbaker took off back into the trees, and Horatio could not blame him.
"I'm sorry," he whispered again, closing his eyes against the world, the weight of which kept him on his knees as he struggled to master himself once more.