Post by Pongo on Apr 30, 2016 14:34:09 GMT -5
"Easy, son."
For long moments, Pongo could only look between Wizzer and Perdita. Both so distraught; and though he knew that Wizzer probably needed it more, his gut instinct was to comfort Perdy first. She was his darling mate, the love of his life, and seeing her so upset just broke his heart. Pongo pressed himself up against her in as much comfort as he could offer when they were talking about their own dead kids, his tongue snaking out to catch her tears as he did--
But when he spoke, it was Wizzer who Pongo addressed. He was the one hearing this news for the first time, after all; and this was his best friend. Pongo couldn't remember his own puppyhood best friend, but he could well imagine just how awful Wizzer had to feel. There wasn't a lot of reassurance to be offered, other than the tired 'there was nothing you could have done' - and that one helped not at all, Pongo knew.
But this was his son, and he had to do what he could.
"I'm sorry, son. I was there, and I did everything I could to draw the monster away, but by the time I did... it was too late for him."
How his heart ached at that. That he'd even been present, but hadn't been able to save another of the pups who was as good as his son... it was almost worse than the times he simply hadn't been there. And in the absence of anything else constructive to add, Pongo's own paw slipped out to wrap around Wizzer as well, drawing the adolescent in closer to himself and Perdy.
The moment was rudely shattered by another voice cutting in. For a moment, Pongo could only observe dumbly as Wizzer twisted in his parents embrace to try and answer the sheepdog. The adult dal well remembered Mooch, of course; but for the immediate moment he wasn't sure what to do with that fact. Though at one point Mooch had been added to the already-large family, Pongo still didn't feel like he had much authority over him... and while the grey-furred canine certainly seemed to have a right to be angry, Pongo would balk at turning Wizzer over to his mercy right now.
He wasn't exactly the best at playing peacemaker; but he wasn't going to thrust that on Perdy right now when she was already suffering from reliving Patches' murder.
"Mooch, I understand your anger."
Only reluctantly leaving Perdita's side, he padded a couple of steps closer to the sheepdog. Pongo had no idea if Mooch saw himself as part of the family or not; it had been many months ago that Pongo had willingly accepted him, and he well knew how much had changed since then. But all the same, the dalmatian wanted to make sure that Mooch realised he wasn't just being shoved aside. Whatever the sheepdog felt mattered, too; but even so, Pongo didn't want him to start tearing Wizzer apart right there.
"And I'm sure you've got a right to be angry. But Wizzer's just had a big shock" - massive understatement, much? - "so right now isn't the best time."
He frowned back at where Perdy was still holding their son, quickly reached a decision. "I'm willing to listen if you want to privately tell me what happened between the two of you, though; and I'll do whatever I can to resolve it."
For long moments, Pongo could only look between Wizzer and Perdita. Both so distraught; and though he knew that Wizzer probably needed it more, his gut instinct was to comfort Perdy first. She was his darling mate, the love of his life, and seeing her so upset just broke his heart. Pongo pressed himself up against her in as much comfort as he could offer when they were talking about their own dead kids, his tongue snaking out to catch her tears as he did--
But when he spoke, it was Wizzer who Pongo addressed. He was the one hearing this news for the first time, after all; and this was his best friend. Pongo couldn't remember his own puppyhood best friend, but he could well imagine just how awful Wizzer had to feel. There wasn't a lot of reassurance to be offered, other than the tired 'there was nothing you could have done' - and that one helped not at all, Pongo knew.
But this was his son, and he had to do what he could.
"I'm sorry, son. I was there, and I did everything I could to draw the monster away, but by the time I did... it was too late for him."
How his heart ached at that. That he'd even been present, but hadn't been able to save another of the pups who was as good as his son... it was almost worse than the times he simply hadn't been there. And in the absence of anything else constructive to add, Pongo's own paw slipped out to wrap around Wizzer as well, drawing the adolescent in closer to himself and Perdy.
The moment was rudely shattered by another voice cutting in. For a moment, Pongo could only observe dumbly as Wizzer twisted in his parents embrace to try and answer the sheepdog. The adult dal well remembered Mooch, of course; but for the immediate moment he wasn't sure what to do with that fact. Though at one point Mooch had been added to the already-large family, Pongo still didn't feel like he had much authority over him... and while the grey-furred canine certainly seemed to have a right to be angry, Pongo would balk at turning Wizzer over to his mercy right now.
He wasn't exactly the best at playing peacemaker; but he wasn't going to thrust that on Perdy right now when she was already suffering from reliving Patches' murder.
"Mooch, I understand your anger."
Only reluctantly leaving Perdita's side, he padded a couple of steps closer to the sheepdog. Pongo had no idea if Mooch saw himself as part of the family or not; it had been many months ago that Pongo had willingly accepted him, and he well knew how much had changed since then. But all the same, the dalmatian wanted to make sure that Mooch realised he wasn't just being shoved aside. Whatever the sheepdog felt mattered, too; but even so, Pongo didn't want him to start tearing Wizzer apart right there.
"And I'm sure you've got a right to be angry. But Wizzer's just had a big shock" - massive understatement, much? - "so right now isn't the best time."
He frowned back at where Perdy was still holding their son, quickly reached a decision. "I'm willing to listen if you want to privately tell me what happened between the two of you, though; and I'll do whatever I can to resolve it."
