québécois

[her_imperial_radiance]

The Golden Coven stays in Québec for one year.

When Harley is eight and a half, they start packing.

Zeus is inconsolable.

Comments

[alicornucopia]

They're approaching forest; Zeus doesn't slow down, although a few times he pushes a paw off a tree instead of the ground to maneuver. [That's meeee!]

[pythbox]

[This is so awesome, I love you,] says Harley, clinging to Zeus's back.

[alicornucopia]

[I love you too! And running! And being a grown-up wolf!]

[pythbox]

Harley giggles happily.

[alicornucopia]

[It's weird being able to hear what everybody else is thinking. It's not anything too interesting all by itself, just it's strange.]

[pythbox]

[I bet!] he agrees.

[alicornucopia]

[My dad's coming,] he adds. [I wanna see if I can outrun him!] And he puts on a burst of speed, runningrunningrunning.

[pythbox]

Harley giggles and clings.

[alicornucopia]

Bartholomew does catch up to them eventually and falls into step beside them. [Dad says I have to be careful not to drop you, but, duh, of course I don't wanna drop you,] says Zeus.

[pythbox]

[Duh!] agrees Harley.

[alicornucopia]

Running running running running it's the best thing Zeus could run all day long!

[pythbox]

Running is awesome! Zeus is awesome. Harley loves those things.

[alicornucopia]

Eventually Bartholomew seems satisfied that his son isn't going to drop Harley and turns back.

Zeus goes on and on and on.

[pythbox]

Harley clings to him and giggles intermittently.

[alicornucopia]

Soon they come upon a river.

[I dunno if I can jump that,] muses Zeus, skidding into a turn and running alongside it. [D'you think I can jump it?]

[pythbox]

[I bet you can jump it! Try!] he says gleefully.

[alicornucopia]

Zeus turns again, leaps.

He clears the river.

[pythbox]

But the impact of landing on the other side overwhelms Harley's grip on Zeus, and he goes flying over the wolf's shoulder, directly into a tree. Several things break, and only one of them is a branch.

Harley yells.

[alicornucopia]

[Harley! Harley Harley Harley are you okay call the princess tell her to fix you Harley Harley,] whines Zeus, digging his claws into the earth to arrest his movement and doubling back. [Or I can, I'll do it, PRINCESS - did that do it - how does it work -]

[pythbox]

Harley yells some more.

He's a bit beyond coherent requests for wishes, but he does manage, [Elsiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiie!]

[her_imperial_radiance]

[What's the matter?]

[alicornucopia]

Zeus sits hard on the ground, tail between his legs, and howls.

[pythbox]

[I hit a tree and Zeus is sad!]

[her_imperial_radiance]

Elspeth tries a healing pentagon. [Did that do it?] she asks.

[pythbox]

Harley stops yelling.

[Kinda sorta,] he says, and aloud (somewhat shakily), "I'm fine! Elsie fixed me!"