Reunion (Tala and Kavron)

Walking out of the nursery Tala stretched her long thin limbs, yawning. It had only been recent that she had changed her job to Fur Mother, and it was an easier life, with less to stress about. And she only had to care for the pups, and protect them if need be, which posed no issue. She'd never let a single one of the little angels get hurt, and would protect them from the world they lived in.Though she  had began to miss seeing her friend Kavron, who she hadn't heard from in a while. "He's just on convoys or something..." She kept telling her, trying not to let herself fear the worst, though it slow kept crawling up on her in her mind. but she pushed it away, she wouldn't let herself be downed by this. She couldn't act like a sick puppy dog who is loss. No she had to stay strong...it's what she always wanted to be. And Kavron wasn't dead, no, someone would have told her! He had to be busy... or was he avoiding her. She sighed letting the thought slip away not wanting to get mad over something that could be nothing but a scheduled mix up that didn't match well.

Kavron padded through the dim hallways of Eden, heading to the nursery. He had just returned from a convoy and heard that Tala had switched jobs from physician to fur mother. Kavron was quite pleased to hear this, knowing that she often was not happy as a physician. The convoy had taken many days, so Kavron was happy to be home and safe finally so he could return to the job he enjoyed more, keeping peace in the city that he loved.

Kavron’s tail wagged as he saw his old friend padding out of the nursery with a yawn. He was right on time. ”Tala.” he barked, his deep voice echoing off the walls of the corridor. There was a broad smile on his muzzle as he approached the German Shepherd.

Her ears went up from the sound of the voice she had just been thinking about, making her blink. She wasn't sure it was really him until she lifted her head up and look to see where the voice came from. She smiled seeing her friend's broad shoulders and figure materialized. Her tail wagging behind her she walked closer to him not wanting to wake up anyone around. "Kavron! Long time no see you big lug! Where have you bee?" She said a bit more relaxed then she used to bit. She didn't feel as if she was a string tightly wound up to where if one thing went wrong she would snap. Though the feeling wasn't gone fully, hell, it was a lot better than it had been.

"I guess you heard about my job switch? I was going to try and surprise you, but oh well." She said laughing a bit a smile on her maw. Her voice was light, though a bit of a tease could be heard in it. She wasn't used to the feeling all to much, but she was just happy to know her friend was safe, and wasn't in danger.

Kavron smiled as he approached, his eyes narrowed fondly as he looked at his friend and she greeted him cheerfully. She looked much different than the Tala he once knew. Her eyes were not wide and haunted, just waiting for something else to go wrong. She was relaxed and confident and overall looked content. Kavron was very pleased to see her this way.

Kavron chuckled, ”Oh! I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was supposed to be a surprise.” he said, ”So how have you been? Are you enjoying your new job?” Kavron thought he already knew the answer, but he wanted to hear how she was doing from her.

She shook her head. "N-no it's fine, I thought you'd find out, I just wasn't sure ya' know." She said laughing nervously, though it faded leaving her face straight. A smile ebbing it way on her muzzle though not a lot. "Everything is great with work, it's a lot easier to relax...but now I can't really go into the waste to look for Chepi...but at least it's good for you. You don't have to worry about me getting into trouble." She said a smile, and her dark brown eyes bright with joy of seeing her best friend and crush. "So how have you been?" She asked trying to not focus on herself and everything in her life. It was something that though she could trust with him and he knew, she just didn't find joy in it. Because her past haunted her still, though she learned to hide it, she had to for the pups sake.

Kavron listened to her with her tail wagging slowly. He nodded as she said at least he would not have to worry about her. That was certainly true. ”Yes, I have to say I like you better here.” he said. Kavron was an overprotective dog to his friends, sometimes even to a fault. He went on, ”But I have been keeping a look out for any signs of her whenever I have gone into the wastes. I will report to you immediately if I find anything.” Kavron promised.

Kavron nodded at her question, thinking back to the past little while. It was rather stressful, he supposed. They had gotten into quite a few scraps out in the wastes. He had been lucky to fend off the intruders without anyone getting hurt, but each wastelander encounter was a difficult situation since so much was at stake. But he was very relieved to finally be back. ”I’m great.” he said, ”Especially since my return. It feels good to be back in Eden.” the Anatolian Shepherd said. He was in a better mood than usual, and it was most likely noticeable, since he usually was not so optimistic about anything.

She nodded, a smile on her maw. "Thank you Kavron, you're really sweet, but you don't have to..it's fine...for all I know she might not even be alive...I she and I made a stupid promise that I wish I could take back, because it's going to get her killed. She always keep to what she says even if it's to die for someone she'll do it." She said shaking her head worriedly, the sorrow coming back slowly, no matter how hard she pushed it away from her mind.

She smiled. "It's good to see you in a happy mood, I wish I had a camera on me, I'd take a picture of it. It's a rare sight to see, a Kavron happy. I'll have to write it down~" She said laughing a bit, a smile wide on her maw. The shallow, sadness backing off once again. It was like a war inside her mind, but neither side was winning...or at least that's how it felt.

Kavron’s ears lowered back, ”Well, it doesn’t hurt to keep an eye out. You never know.” he said with a small smile, sensing the sadness that began to come over her. Kavron also kept his promises, and so he would do what he can for Tala and her sister.

Kavron laughed, ”Yes… I suppose I am just happy to be back. I am always in a good mood after a successful convoy. Another bullet dodged.” He said lightly with another chuckle, but his words were weighted. Convoys were dangerous for everyone on them, as Kavron knew well since his mate had died on one. And Tala knew it too. A successful convoy returning to Eden was always good news.

She nodded. "I know, but she swore that she wouldn't attack anyone as long as she was sane...I just...you can only run from so much....I'm just worried...she's the only family I have left now." She said with a sigh, though shook her head to throw the thought away, not wanting to think about it any longer then she had to.

"Yes, and thankfully nothing bad happened. We can also hang out more maybe, that is if I don’t get to busy with the pups. Though there are none really...but I guess that's good for some." She said smiling thinking of how a lot of pups could be too much to handle, but there were so little it was scary. Though she couldn't let that get to her. She could think about it later. Right now she had to be with Kavron and make up the time they lost, even if it was just because of a convoy, it was still something to celebrate a good convoy with no one hurt. "We can go out and get something to eat, you know to celebrate. But I'm paying this time, no if, and's, or but's. You paid all the other times, now it's my turn." She said with a smirk.

Kavron nodded in understanding. Chepi’s situation in the waste was dire. But she was a smart dog. All they could hope for was that she was taking care of herself out there.

Kavron chuckled, ”Yes, getting something to eat sounds like a very good idea.” he said. ”But I’m afraid I still cannot let you pay. When will you learn that it is a males place to pay for a female? It is only proper” he said with a playful smile. He knew how much it bugged her, but it was not within his morals to allow her to pay without resistance.

She smiled shaking her head. "You know that it bugs me to no end right. So what about this, you pick the place and I pay...and no I pay, just this once okay, then if you want you can pay the next time we can switch in turns. Is that okay?" She said, she wasn't going to let him pay when she was still willing to put up a fight. No, after the last two times it left her embarrassed and she owed Kavron for those times, though she had no idea how to pay him back for it.

Kavron considered her for a moment and then nodded once in defeat, accepting the agreement. He had to admit, ever since he had assisted his friend Aria in building her house, he was a bit short on skelts. And he could tell that it would make her happy to finally relent. ”Alright, Tala. You win this time.” Kavron said with a small smile. ”Why don’t we pay a visit to your friend Moki?”

She smiled, her tail wagging. "Finally! She thought to herself. Though her tail stopped when he said Moki's name. Her smile faded a bit as she looked down at her paws. "Well, this isn't going to be easy to explain softly..." She thought to herself in defeat. Looking at him she shook her head. "Moki...um...well..." She began only to sigh and take a deep breath. "Moki isn't here anymore, a few dogs kind of...well, broke into his store, and stole his money, and just killed him...It happened when you were out on a convoy. I wasn't going to tell you, but at least he's in a better place." She said. "For those who believe that at least." She thought to herself.

Kavron sensed something was wrong the moment he said Moki’s name. His tail fell and his soft brown eyes rested on the German Shepherd attentively. The story made the fur stick up on the back of his neck. ”What?” He barked, his voice booming angrily through the halls, ”Where are they? These criminals?” Kavron snarled, his eyes blazing as they searched Tala’s. He could not believe it. How could he have let this happen? If only they had not called him out on a Convoy. He could have helped… he could have saved him! He only hoped those dogs were long gone now… they had better be, fore their own good.

Her ears fell back instinctively as her tail went between her legs as he barked. Even though they were friends him yelling wasn't a nice sight, and much less present to hear at that. Tears started at her eyes though she shook her head. "I'm not sure where they are, all I know is that Moki died. They don't even know how they look, they just found bite marks on him and he was dead, and the place a mess. Why I haven't gone out much...I'm sorry." She said letting her voice fall low, a few tears running down her cheek fur. "But it must have been more then one, Moki did know how to fight a bit. But I'm not sure, he was getting up there in age." She said remembering the dog who was like a father to her. "I really am alone aren't I. I only have my friends left..what a dreaded life I got." She thought to herself in defeat, letting the sadness swallow her again, and her depression show as her eyes dulled, losing what shine it had.

Kavron snorted in disgust, ”They haven’t caught them? They have noses don’t they?” he looked to the side with a dark glare, ”I can’t believe this dreaded place… how useless those other Scrappers are.” his tail tip was twitching furiously.

The sniffling of his friend caused Kavron to look back. She was crying. He felt his anger melt. ”I’m sorry, Tala. I didn’t mean to shout at you.” he said, stepping forward and pushing his muzzle into her cheek. ”I’m sorry about Moki… let’s just find somewhere else to go. How about just the rabbit pens? I haven’t had a fresh rabbit in a while.” he suggested.

She fell back a little. "I don't know, I just know they haven't found them!" She said yelling a bit in pure fear. It was something she didn't think she'd feel again since her job change. "I mean I'm sure they are busy with other things too. I mean Eden isn't a perfect place sadly."

She shook her head, but her body was stiff. Though the fear melted away a bit when his voice softened. "I-it's fine...I k-knew he wasn't going to be around forever...b-but it was a nice thought." She said stuttering a bit as she tried to calm herself down from her almost break down. "Only if you want to, I don't mind going somewhere else...and if you want we can go see the shop. Maybe we can find them or at least a clue." She said trying to be helpful. And she didn't want to see Moki's killers running around with the pride of killing someone she loved. She never even understood why you'd want to kill someone.

Kavron nodded, ”Yes, let us go eat now. After I will swing by the shop and see if there is any leads. Come, Tala.” He turned and lead the way toward the rabbit pens. He had purposely said “I”, indicating that he did not want Tala involved. This was a potentially dangerous task, and he did not want the fur mother in danger.

She nodded and got to her paws following him. "You know I'm still going with you right? Moki was like my father, and plus I have to make sure you are okay, I might be a fur mother now, but I do know how to fight a little, and you said you'd teach me how to fight. Plus I doubt you remember where Moki's shop is." She said her voice low and serious. She didn't sound mean, but just worried for his sake. "Your the closest person I have left in this world right now Kavron, if something happens to you after I lost Moki, and Chepi, I'd might as well run out of Eden and take my mask off and die. I'd never forgive myself if I could help protect you if you were to die or get hurt." She said, her tone graver then normal. Though it was true, without his, she had nothing to hold her back from staying in the place, she'd might as well die and make room for others who could take her place and do well.

Kavron let out a defeated sigh, ”Well, alright. And you’re right. I’d like to teach you a few things to keep you safe. Especially with these mongrels on the loose.” Kavron murmured darkly. He nodded at her words. ”Yes… alright, Tala.” he said, understanding. He would just have to keep her close and protect her. She was his closest friend as well. ”We will stick together from now on, then. I won’t let anything happen to you, alright? I promise.” he said, glancing at her with gentle and serious brown eyes. He would have extra patrols, especially near her home. If she was going to be involved he could not let it endanger her.

She nodded even though the thought scared her a bit, the thought of fighting brought back the hope she had as a pup. She had wanted to fight, and be a scrapper, to protect everyone, though it was something she had given up on to stay with her sister. She had to, family stuck together. "Thank you Kavron...and I'm sorry if I'm a burden to you...I just...I just worry about you, that's all." She said with a sigh. She was unsure what to say really. She just wanted to protect him, hoping she could keep the last person she held close to her safe. She'd failed to do so, and now she'd not let herself slip up again if she could prevent it. She let her mind wander a bit, her gaze wandering around from dog to dog, home to home. Anything trying to keep the sadness at bay, and it worked, it always did, she had taught herself to act that way.

Kavron shook his head, ”No, of course not. You are my friend, Tala, not a burden. It’s okay.” he gave her a small smile. He knew that she must worry about him as he worried about her, but it was his job to protect everyone. With him as a friend, she was doomed to be forever worried. But for now he wanted to get her mind off it. He tapped her flank with his pale golden tale tip. ”Now come on, let’s get some rabbits.”