Posy

A Fall Afternoon - Bonus Vignette

Author's note #1: BIG NEWS! Kindle Countdown Deal coming soon! The e-books for the Posy series will go on sale for only 99 cents on Sept 1, 2023. That's an 81% discount! (Each day, the price will increase by $1 until it is the regular price.) Here's your chance to get all five books for $5!  

Author's note #2: The illustration accompanying this short story is from the webtoon, 'The Fox & Little Tanuki' by Mi Tagawa. It reminded me so much of the alphas' wolves in Posy that I was inspired to write this. All credit for the cartoon to the original artist.

"A Fall Afternoon"

One cool fall day, Quartz took advantage of a bit of quiet to nap in a patch of sunshine.

What are you doing, Q? Garnet asked as he came upon him.

Pretending to be dead, Quartz rumbled. I'm napping, of course! Nothing else to do while Lark is away.

Hmm. You look so comfortable, I'm going to join you.

Whatever. Quartz huffed as Garnet flopped on top of him.

Hey, guys, what's up? Topaz chirped as he ran up to them.

Hush or leave, Paz, Garnet yawned.

I want a nap, too! Topaz whined. Hey, Gran! Come on! We're napping!

Oh, my Goddess, Garnet and Quartz moaned in sync.

We doing what? Granite bounded over in little springs, tongue lolling. Oh, sleepy-sleepy! Yippee!

Pouncing on Garnet, Granite licked his ear and giggled.

For the love of the moon, Gran! It's nap time, not play time! Garnet snarled.

Sorry, Garnet. Chastised, Granite curled up on top of Garnet as Topaz snuggled into Quartz's back.

Quartz rolled his eyes, but resigned himself to the inevitable now.

At least the baby isn't here, he told himself, but he should have known not to tempt fate.

Sid gasped when he found them, his stuffy falling to the ground as his mouth dropped open in shock

You nap without Sid? he sniffed.

Come join us then, Garnet sighed.

Happily, Sid curled up against Granite and Garnet, making sure to tuck his stuffy into his belly as if it were a pup.

Twenty minutes later, Lark arrived home from her run with the betas. Thanking them for spending time with her, she sent them on their way and went looking for her wolves.

Aww! she squealed when she saw them all piled up like pups.

Just then, a cold breeze wafted through the yard, and she shivered despite her thick fur. Worried about her mates, she fetched a blanket and draped it over them with a loving smile.

So cute! Lying on the grass nearby, she watched over them until her eyes closed.

#

Quartz's nose quivered in his sleep as the delicious aroma of his mate filled the air. Slitting his eyes open, he spotted the blanket first, then all his brothers. Finally, he caught sight of Lark, and his brutal heart softened at the sight of her little face.

Brothers, mate is home, he whispered in the alpha link, and that was all it took.

Before a passing butterfly could blink its wings, they surrounded their sweetheart, their dearest, their little mate, their darling, their love, and cuddled her into the warmth of their dense fur, although Granite dragged the blanket with them.

It's completely unnecessary, you know. Quartz rolled his eyes. Our fur is more than sufficient.

What suff-cent mean, Q? Sid wondered, yawning around the stuffy in his mouth.

Blankie soft and fuzzy and smell like mate! Granite insisted.

Suss-if-fent means soft and fuzzy? Topaz asked with sleepy eyes.

Leave it, pups, Garnet sighed. It's not important.

All I wanted was a nap! Quartz growled as he laid his head on top of Lark's and closed his golden eyes.

The other wolves sorted themselves out, each one making sure at least a paw or tail touched their mate, and so they slept under the golden sun - the perfect way to spend an autumn afternoon.

The End