We settled into our new home comfortably. I even convinced Elias to learn to sail with me after I found a willing instructor. It took some coaxing to get training in the late evening and night time hours, but I managed.
Years moved along as I realized through time and circumstance, I found I had grown enchanted by the ocean. The magnificent ships that plowed the waterways had also enthralled me. Some nights I would sit upon the balcony of our home, just watching the ships come and go through the harbor.
Galvanized with my love for the sea, I studied and trained hard to learn the ways of the modern ships. I even dressed as a male a few times and spent a couple of weeks a year working as one of the night hands on the ship of my instructor.
Nearly five years passed before Lorelai received a request from the council. She summoned me into her study once the messenger left.
"How can I serve you, my lady?" I spoke the words politely, knowing this was a formal summons.
"I have been summoned by Ra's to witness the evaluation of a new court member. I must leave on the morrow." Lorelai spoke the words in a matter of fact tone to me from her large desk.
I lifted my ears curiously. "Where will you be off to, my lady?"
"Seville, the capital of Spain. It is not far but I will be away for a minimum of a week," She sighed the words and shook her head. "I will not be placing any of you in charge officially, but please work in tandem with your brothers to maintain the home in my absence."
She saw the look in my eyes and watched me fidget on my feet before raising her hand. "What is it, sister?"
My large black tail wagged as I set her with a childish look. "May I accompany you? I wish to travel the ocean and see the city. Will it not be safer to go with a second to watch your back?"
Lorelai gave me an amused giggle and waved a hand. "Well... normally I would tell you I do not need protection. However, I do not wish to hear you yowl like a child and I could use the company... yes, you may join me."
My cheeks darkened and I folded my arms. "My lady! I am not some sulking child, I would have accepted your orders with grace and respect." I bit my lower lip and looked away awkwardly. "However, Thank you. I am thrilled you will allow me to accompany you."
"I'm happy to have you. Go tell your mate and spend a final night with him." Lorelai hummed the words and waved me off. "We leave upon the dusk of the following evening."
I wagged my tail furiously and gave her a respectful bow. "Of course!" I quickly exited the study to go tell Elias of the news.
#
"Take care of yourself, my love." The white fox gripped my hands in his own while we stood before the carrack in the harbor.
"I will, know I will miss you and I will bring you a fetching bauble from Seville." I gave him a loving smile before we embraced and kissed.
"Okay love birds, let's go. I swear you two dogs act like you're newly wedded. How many years has it been now?" Lorelai pushed between us, then gripped my wrist, pulling me along to the boarding plank.
"See you in a week or so, my fox." I called out with a grin as I waved at the white fox while being pulled along.
"But seriously..." Lorelai called out to me as we stood at the stern of the ship, watching Ceuta slowly slip out of sight. "You two have been together for decades now, why not just start calling yourselves wed?"
I pursed my lips while leaning on the railing, my tail wagging slowly. "It hasn't come up, neither of us pines for another mate. It seems fine how it is."
"If it isn't broken, don't fix it?" The sheep asked me curiously.
"Something like that..." I frowned and watched the city dip out of sight and lowered my ears. "The dreams, they have been bad lately..."
"I wish there was something I could do, Sarnai... does it weigh upon you so?" Lorelai placed a hand gently to my arm while speaking.
"It does... it feels like the only way I would ever be free of them is to hunt down the monster that did that to my kind..." I showed my teeth and thrashed my tail in anger.
"That is so long in the past now, my sister... you must not let that consume you. You have a good life now, with a family, and a good fox." The sheep stood on her toes and moved to gently stroke at my ears and hair.
"I wish I could... but when it comes to me fresh almost every night... it is not something I can easily shake away." I sighed the words, my ears flicking at her petting. I lowered my stance to allow her to more easily reach my ears.
"The world is vast, my sister. Perhaps someday we can find a means to quell that blight upon your soul. I will strive to find a means as well." The sheep rubbed my ears lovingly while speaking to me as a mother would a child.
My cheeks darkened, the earplay starting to get to me before I gently pulled my head from her grip and smiled. "I truly do not deserve you, my lady. I pray we are always together." Lorelai smiled at my words but I saw a distant look in her eyes. I could only imagine how many times she may have been told such things in her life, or perhaps even how many of our now lost siblings had possibly said the same.
The sheep shifted her gaze to the horizon, looking upon the dark waters before us. "So, how has your sailing and seamanship been going?"
