Project Dream Preview, Chapter 4

“Alo…rise.”

Faint nudges stirred him; his eyes steadily widened to the cavorted flames against the deep night.

“…Hinto…?” awince, Alo meekly snarled; his stomach immensely ached, “I…warned you…”

“I met the Chief, too, the butcher, Bono? He asked I deliver your note and ration: ‘you earned it’, he says. Also,” a bowl was wafted at Alo’s nose, “he offered this and desperately wants your opinion.”

“Is that…stew…? Bono’s stew…? No,” Alo’s gags were hardly stifled, “he can’t—he knows we can’t.” 

“Eat, we’ve been ordered to hunt tomorrow, but you still seem unwell—ah!” Hinto avoided the runt’s sudden retch, “ah, careful,” the aromatic gift was rested aside (impressively, without an absent drop) afore Hinto rushed to the kitchen, returning with a worn, damp cloth, “at ease, I’ll help–”

“Don’t touch me; leave it be, you’ve won! Why…why must you further debase me?” 

“Alo, when’s the last you ate?” he collected the soiled furs, “why was the pyre unlit? Weren’t you cold—?”

“Don’t patronize me, for I’m no youngling!…Regardless, to remember them, I’ve no right…for I’ve utterly failed again…”

“Failed whom?”

“…It matters not…”

…To the upper level, Hinto briefly ventured, “…tonight,” a flaxen-trimmed, turquoise quilt was draped across Alo’s shoulders, “make use of mine…”  

“…Pardon…?”

“Worry not, I’ve another. Here, have a sip.”

“No, I…I…shouldn’t,” though he licked his lips, “damn…you swear…?”

“Swear what—?”

“Swear,” Hinto’s collar was yanked, “swear you’ll not tell the Chief!”

“I’ll not…why would I…?”

The dish was finally, albeit cautiously accepted: thoroughly, Alo savored the long-lost flavor, “…perfect…” Once finished, the familiar heat swiftly lulled him back to sleep…

“…How odd,” Hinto hovered, “for Etu,” his hand was drawn by the meager snores, “I felt not this…is he…my ‘one-?’” he reeled from the minorest touch, “impossible, no…I’m surely mistaken…”

~

“…Little one, why wander the night alone? Where is your forebear?”

“Th-…they’ve gone…I…I can’t return…not to him—not alone…”

“Hush, hush…weep not, little one…reside with us, if you choose.” 

“…Truly?” the Ursine knelt: within his hand, the cub entrusted theirs.

“This way, Alo, we’ll have you warmed and fed…”

~