Lights in the Wastes (Hellhound bonding)

For the fifth time in as many minutes Niles cursed his own curiosity. Jessera hadn’t heard the drums announcing a bonding. If he hadn’t opened his big, fat, traitorous mouth she would never have known to come to this particular stretch of deserted wasteland at this particular time. Their lives would’ve carried on in relative peace, undisturbed by Sealgair or her thrice-damned pups.

But he’d spilled the beans, and they’d come to the wastes, and now there was an angry ball of fluff and razor blades chewing on what had previously been Niles’ ball.

Today just kept getting better and better.

Sulking, Niles flopped to the ground at Jess’ heels. The arrival of a certain protective papa just made him grumble, one lip half-lifted to show one razor fang. In any other circumstance the movement might’ve been a threat. Here and now, with Niles sprawled like a puppet with its strings cut? The overall effect was rather more pathetic than it was aggressive.

“But he does have a bonded,” Jess reminded Sealgair’s mate, shifting to place herself between adult and hybrid. “So buck up and deal with it. We aren’t leaving.”

Kneeling, Jess ran a soothing hand over the pup’s shoulders, smoothing his rumpled fur back into place. The pup in question flinched, jaws clamping down on the ball in his mouth, and growled a most ferocious puppy-growl.

“Isn’t that right, Cynbel?”