The town was quiet. The last of the drunkards were on their way home, sleepily stumbling down the rocky streets. She was thankful for the few moments that she had while the Sect was busy chasing her shadow. Turning down an alley, she looked up at an open window, which bore the illumination of a torch still lit. She paused, cradling Nimh closer to her as she listened and watched their shadows. A man and a woman, speaking in hushed, loving tones. Her throat burned and tightened as she remembered those voices that she'd shared with her husband before he'd been taken. From this couple above, in the warm light, she could sense the love that they felt for each other, the deep loyalty and admiration, the respect. This was the love that she wanted her daughter to grow up around. Examining the building that they lived in further, she realized that these people owned the tavern and inn. It was a generous dwelling, with a stable for travelers around the back. It was towards this stable that she headed.
She had a start as the wooden gate squeaked mercilessly. There was a possibility that the owners had heard it through the open window and would come to investigate. All the better, she thought. The sooner that they found Nimh, the sooner that she would be in out of the cold. She padded down between the stalls, heading for the stack of hay near the back. A few horses snorted as she passed, another giving a loud whinny and stomping nervously at his floor. When she reached the back corner, she was greeted by a whimper and a growl. Where the hay sloped into mayhem to meet the dirt floor, a large dog was surrounded by a litter of pups, a few weeks old, judging by their fur and their open eyes. She knelt down on the floor, offering out her hand for inspection. The pups, excited by the visitors and unaware of any danger, bounded over happily, their entire bodies wiggling with their tails. Nimh yawned and opened her eyes, smiling unabashedly at the new friends. She let out a cheerful giggle as the largest of the pups, the only pure white one, launched himself into her arms and laid a giant lick on her cheek. Within a few seconds Nimh had waddled over to where the pups slept in the hay and began to doze in with them. The mother of the pups, realizing that the danger was gone, let her. Nimh's mother crawled close, stroking a hand over her daughters soft black strands of hair, so much like her own. She cupped the small cheek, planting a kiss on her forehead. Then, taking a
She had a start as the wooden gate squeaked mercilessly. There was a possibility that the owners had heard it through the open window and would come to investigate. All the better, she thought. The sooner that they found Nimh, the sooner that she would be in out of the cold. She padded down between the stalls, heading for the stack of hay near the back. A few horses snorted as she passed, another giving a loud whinny and stomping nervously at his floor. When she reached the back corner, she was greeted by a whimper and a growl. Where the hay sloped into mayhem to meet the dirt floor, a large dog was surrounded by a litter of pups, a few weeks old, judging by their fur and their open eyes. She knelt down on the floor, offering out her hand for inspection. The pups, excited by the visitors and unaware of any danger, bounded over happily, their entire bodies wiggling with their tails. Nimh yawned and opened her eyes, smiling unabashedly at the new friends. She let out a cheerful giggle as the largest of the pups, the only pure white one, launched himself into her arms and laid a giant lick on her cheek. Within a few seconds Nimh had waddled over to where the pups slept in the hay and began to doze in with them. The mother of the pups, realizing that the danger was gone, let her. Nimh's mother crawled close, stroking a hand over her daughters soft black strands of hair, so much like her own. She cupped the small cheek, planting a kiss on her forehead. Then, taking a
