“I’m so happy you’re doing so well,” he whispered. “I’m happy I could give you a home, and I promise nothing bad will ever happen to you again.”
Sable squinted one eye open at the word “bad,” and Wren nodded.
“You keep an eye out, yeah? Watch over this place, and if you spot anything, let me know. I’ll fix it. I promise I’ll always fix it.”
Sable nudged Wren’s stomach with his head and sighed before relaxing and settling in for a nap. Wren kept stroking him, leaning back against the rock and closing his own eyes.
He’d stay there forever if allowed.
If only he’d been born without the damn mark on him he could have had the life he’d always dreamed of.
His sanctuary. His friends. His animals. His little home.
And maybe…Teddy.
Except Teddy had a mark too.
He shook his head to get the thoughts out. He didn’t want to dwell on Teddy now. He was calm for a change. Sable helped make the restless feeling settle, at least a bit, and he wanted to enjoy it as much as he could.
“Told you we’d find him here.” Black’s voice disturbed his peace the moment he sank into it, and Wren sighed, opening his eyes to see his menace of a brother skipping merrily toward him dressed in star-studded fuchsia overalls and a crop top, a glowering Cyrus dressed in drab gray jeans and a black shirt right on his heels.
“Yes, you did,” Cyrus said.
“And you doubted me,” Black said. “You questioned me. I hope you’re sorry now. I hope you never do that again.”
“I literally just double-checked the location.”
“Sounded like doubt to me.” Black huffed, pulling something out of his pocket and chucking it onto the ground.
“What are you doing?” Wren asked with a frown.
“Ignore him,” Cyrus said, bending down to pick up whatever Black had thrown.
“Hey!” Black said, turning around in circles and looking at the ground. “Did you pick all of those up?”
“All of what?” Wren asked.
“Yes, I did,” Cyrus said. “You can’t drop fucking glitter in an animal sanctuary.”
“How are we supposed to find our way back?” Black asked. “Those glitter stickers were our guide!”
“I can see my car from here,” Cyrus deadpanned, and Black gaped at him for a moment before snapping his mouth shut and huffing.
“Fine. If we get stranded here I’m eating you first.”
“You need therapy,” Cyrus informed him before turning to Wren. “I’d have come alone but I didn’t know where this place was.”
“It’s fine,” Wren said. “We’re used to him.”
“The disrespect,” Black screeched, startling Sable.
Wren shushed him sharply. Disturbing his peace was one thing; scaring his animals in their own home was another and he wouldn’t stand for it.
“Shut it or the ban will be reinstated,” Wren said.
“The ban?” Cyrus asked, and Black crossed his arms over his chest, bright pink crop top bunching under them.
“I wasn’t allowed here for, like, ages,” he grumbled.
