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Chapter Twenty Three: Picnic Pep-Talk

"V-vernon?" Dawn uttered.

"Mhh?" The wolf replied.

Dawn let out a sigh followed by a lingering quiet that made the wolf nervous. There was a tone of concern in the ewe's voice when she had said his name, and now the silence added a ominous weight to what she was preparing to say.

"Are you okay?" Dawn asked timidly.

The wolf let out an exhausted sigh. He had known this was coming, not that it had ever truly left his mind since the debacle at the fair. Then again neither had the many confrontations and disastrous incidents the trip had seemed to carry with it. The fight with Ana, or the old goat at the Tunnel of Love, or Yuri's teasing at breakfast. All of it had been building up inside the wolf, layering on top of one another to form an unbearable emotional weight. For Dawn's sake, the wolf had been keeping all these emotions bottled up the best he could. Trying to hide all the negativity, sorrow and anger that was broiling below the surface. He was hoping that by now there would have been enough purely enjoyable moments to outstrip all the awful events that had plagued the trip. But each reprieve, every little happy moment he could glean was too few and far between when compared to the staggering amount of awful experiences. They were simply not enough to help the wolf relax, to ease the perpetual knot in his stomach that had dug in when Wade revealed his mate wouldn't be coming with them.

The wolf glanced down at his mate, her muzzle still scrunched up in a worried frown as she stared back at him. Vernon placed a paw on her cheek, gently caressing the side of her face. The ewe was quick to place a hoof on his paw, holding it in place as she offered the wolf a meek smile.

Even a quiet picnic alone with his Honey Lamb, as nice as it was, simply wasn't enough to fully ease the wolf of his woes. Of course, it would only make it worse to talk about how he was really feeling. But he could no longer evade the talk that had been a long time coming. He could only keep Dawn's suspicions off him for so long in the face of the constant series of unfortunate events before she would be able to see though his facade. At this point, trying to play it off would be almost as if the wolf was lying to his mate, and the last thing he wanted after everything was to hurt their relationship as well. It was a lovely evening, a lovely dinner, a lovely moment in time. But it was a thin veneer, a band-aid that barely held over the family reunion as a whole. He had made a promise to the ewe, and he was set on keeping it.

"Floofs...I..." The wolf scratched the back of his head, cringing as he mulled over exactly where to start. It seemed like there was just so much to unpack now that the wolf was staring down the barrel of it all. Vernon could feel a hard lump forming in his throat, and the next few words to come out his mouth turned into little more than quiet whines as his ears began to sag.

"Vernon." Dawn replied in a somewhat stern tone. The ewe clutched his paw tighter before pulling herself back into a sitting position across from him. Dawn then clasped her other hoof over it, effectively holding his paw captive in her grip. Dawn gave the wolf a serious, solemn stare.

"You promised." She added, causing the wolf to gulp inadvertently. Vernon let out another soft whine.

"I know, I know..." The wolf finally managed to mutter. " It's just that..." Vernon trailed off as he looked up at the sky. It was growing a muted violet now, with the number of faint stars increasing by the minute. The wolf shook his head briskly as he turned his attention back to the diminutive ewe.

"I just don't know how to start." Vernon said. "Where to start, y'know?"

Dawn smiled warmly, beginning to stroke the wolf's paw.

"Just start at the beginning Puppy." Dawn replied. " Just let it out."

Vernon sighed. He still wasn't ready for this. Telling Dawn his worries and doubts that he had felt since before they left was the last thing he wanted to do. He had tried so hard to remain optimistic for her sake. But all things considered, what did it matter anymore? To the wolf the trip had ultimately become a wash. And the fact that he was seriously considering packing up and going home made worrying the lamb less of a concern. The wolf had ultimately lost his nerve when it came to playing his most desperate hand, and simply wanted to run back to Zootopia and pretend much of the trip hadn't even happened.

The wolf's eyes darted around as the words continued to die just short of his muzzle, looking for anything to make the whole conversation just a little easier. It was only when his eyes fell back to the neatly packed picnic basket that he recalled a tactic his Mother used to use when he was a growing pup.

"Pie!" Vernon said abruptly.

"What?" Dawn eyed the wolf in confusion.

"Let's have some pie first." Vernon chirped awkwardly. Before the ewe could object, the wolf had pulled his paws free from her grip and began to dig through the baskets contents.

"Vernon..." Dawn huffed. He could tell by her tone she was irritated to say the least. The wolf held a paw toward her as he continued to rifle through the container.

"Now I ain't gettin' out of tellin' ya." Vernon assured, finally getting a paw around his prize. Carefully the wolf raised the covered dish out of the basket, moving it between the two of them. After Vernon placed the large container down, the wolf returned to digging through the basket.

"I just figure we can hash it out over dessert." The wolf continued, grabbing two small plates and a pawful of utensils.

"Vernon, do we really nee-"

The wolf was quick to cut the ewe off as he placed a small dish and fork in front of her. After placing his own dish, the wolf placed a paw over the pie lid.

"My Ma always had a habit of servin' dessert when there was something difficult to air out." Vernon sighed. "It seems silly I know, but..." The wolf trailed off as he raised the lid, revealing the deep orange colored pie to the open air. Placing the lid to the side, the wolf turned his attention back to the ewe. "She did it so often it sort of became a....well a comfortin' thing."

Vernon rubbed his paws together in appreciation as he eyed the freshly revealed pumpkin pie. Now open to the air, the intoxicating aroma of pumpkin spice and sugar danced into his nostrils. The warm orange filling browned slightly toward the edging where it met up against the golden graham cracker crust, which was the crust of choice when it came to Vernon's pies. And in the pies center lie a hefty dollop of whipped cream, which had managed to retain it's shape fairly well considering the packaging. Vernon licked his muzzle as he picked up the pie cutter he had unpacked.

"If you got a tough pill to swallow..." Vernon said as he began to cut a slice. "chasin' it down with some pie helps it go down a lot smoother." The wolf chuckled as he moved the first slice over to Dawn's plate. Setting it down gently, the wolf went back to cutting another slice. "At least that's what Ma used to say."

Despite the somber mood, that managed to get a chuckle out of the ewe.

"Alright, alright." Dawn replied, taking the plate in her hoof as she readied her fork. The ewe stopped just short of the pie, pointing the tines toward Vernon briefly.

"But after your first bite I expect you to start talking." Dawn added.

Vernon's own slice was more of a slab, taking up a least a quarter of the pie itself. The wolf lowered it neatly to his plate before placing the pie spade back in the dish.

Raising his plate and readying his fork, the wolf scooped a large chunk of the edge of his slice. He held it in front of his nose briefly, taking a moment to savor the sweet scent that he so sharply associated with the Autumn season before slowly sliding the food into his muzzle. The wolf closed his eyes as he bit into the filling, the flavors dancing on his tongue as he chewed. Despite the sickening knot that remained firmly set in his stomach, the wolf shivered in delight at the taste. And as it made it's way down, it felt as though it was slightly cooling the nervous burning he had been feeling in his gut. The wolf let out an appreciate and satisfied sigh.

"Lamb Sakes!" Dawn's sudden proclamation drew the wolf out of his momentary trance. The ewe was in the midst of skewering another chunk of pie with her fork. "This pie is amazing!"

Vernon chuckled as she watched the ewe pop a second and third bite quickly into her muzzle. Her eyes were practically shining as she chewed each morsel, letting out pleasant moans and sighs between each bite.

The wolf smiled widely. "Told ya, my Ma makes a mean pie."

Dawn nodded briskly as she took another bite of her rapidly shrinking slice of pie. As she chewed she pointed her empty fork toward the wolf again.

"Bub I drwrn't frgt." Dawn spoke through her food before finally swallowing it. "So spill it Puppy, tell me what's bothering you."

Vernon let out another sigh, dragging a paw across his scalp as his mind once again came to focus on his feelings. Vernon looked down at the pie plate he had placed on his lap, clearing his throat as he prepared to speak. He pondered whether he should simply be blunt, to admit how scared and worried he was about how everything had ended up. Or if he should work up to it carefully as to not send Dawn into a panic with how little hope he now held for the trip. With another heavy and exhausted sigh, the wolf settled on his choice of approach.

"Honey Lamb..." Vernon muttered, wiping his brow. "I...I'm an optimistic fella, at least that's how I try to see myself, y'know?"

Dawn nodded as she ate another bite of pie.

"If I see a glass filled halfway up, I usually see it as half full." Vernon sighed. "And that's how I was lookin' at this whole trip when I came up with the idea."

Dawn placed her plate down, leaving what little remained of her pie out of easy reach as she focused her attention on the wolf. He could see the immediate worry in her eyes.

"I know Puppy." She said sadly. "I know you we-"

"But that doesn't mean I wasn't givin' thought to what could go wrong." The wolf cut her off. "I knew there were...well risks." The wolf said, scratching the back of his head.

"But I pushed forward anyway, because I felt like...I don't know..." The wolf trailed off, rolling his eyes as he chose his next words. "that if I spent too much time dwelling on them I'd end up spookin' myself off the whole thing." The wolf placed a paw over his face. "Or spookin' you."

Dawn nodded, reaching a hoof out to place on Vernon's paw. The wolf then placed his other paw on top of her hoof, petting it affectionately.

"I wanted to trust that things would just work. That any issues would just sort of iron themselves out on the ride." Vernon's ears sagged sharply. "But I don't think I have to be the one to tell you that they haven't."

"We've definitely suffered a few missteps." Dawn replied.

Vernon chuckled. "A few?" Vernon shook his head. "We didn't just miss a step Darlin', I think we fell down the stairs."

That earned a giggled from the ewe, which itself drew a weak smile from the large wolf.

"Of course I knew Yuri was going to be a pain in my rump, but I'm used to that." Vernon grumbled. "But Pa really shocked me somethin' fierce." Vernon released his grip on the ewe's hoof, taking his pie plate back into his paws.

The wolf stabbed at his dessert aggressively. " I never would have thought in a million years I'd get that type of reception from the old 'Mam!" Vernon hissed, shoveling the bite of food into his maw. "Worst I thought we'd get was a little coldness towards us for a while, but this!?" The wolf snarled as he felt his anger starting to well up again. "I mean, this is the mammal that used to go on and on about justice, and judging mammals by who they are on the inside!"

Vernon put his plate down again, practically throwing the fork onto it with a loud clatter. The wolf crossed his arms as he sneered.

"And look at him lead by example! What a hero!" Vernon spat.

"Puppy..." Dawn cooed, placing a hoof on his leg.

"And then Ana, of course she had to show her ugly mug!" Vernon hissed. "And then that old billy goat! And...and..." Vernon let out a sharp sigh before falling backward onto the blanket.

Vernon placed his arms on his chest as he looked up into the darkening sky. There were even more stars now, twinkling and shining in the dusk. The moon now hung low on the horizon, replacing the sun as it slipped below the edge of the world. It was a deep orange, looking as though someone had taken one of his Mother's pies and hung it up in the space above them. To the naked eye it seemed as if it was full, but closer inspection showed that there remained a hairs breadth of shadow on its edge.

It wasn't long before the wolf felt someone sideling up next to him. The small, familiar woolly form of his mate squeezing up against his side and placing a hoof over the wolf's heart. Vernon slid an arm beneath her, pulling her in close as he continued to stare up at the sky above. The wolf let out another, tired sigh.

"I...I just." The wolf whimpered, doing his damndest to keep the tears from leaking out. " All I wanted to do was show you a good time Honey Lamb."

"Oh Puppy..." Dawn cooed, gingerly rubbing her hoof on the spot it had come to rest upon. "I know you did, really I do."

"I just kept burying it all deep down. Trying to just ignore all the bad and just believing it would turn back around." Vernon raised his free paw before allowing it to flop back to his side. "But all it's done is just wound me up to the point where I'm ready to sock someone."

"You should have just talked to me about it Puppy." Dawn tutted, giving his chest a few gentle pats. "Dr. Gnu told me that letting emotions like that just fester inside of you can only lead to catastrophe. It just builds and builds until you break under the pressure." Vernon could feel the sheep shake her head against his side. "The Gods know I learned that lesson the hard way." Dawn gave a weak chuckle.

"I just didn't want to put that all on you." Vernon sighed. "I wanted this to just be fun for you." The wolf placed a paw over his face. "You'd meet my family, and get a taste of some of the nicest stuff Meadowlands living had to offer. Last thing I wanted to was make you more nervous about the trip, or saddle you with my own worries."

Vernon felt the lamb wriggle out of his grip, and soon she was clambering onto his chest. Once she was settled, the ewe grabbed at the wolf's muzzle with a hoof, bringing his eyes to meet her own. There was a seriousness behind her gaze, a stern and solemn look that made it clear that whatever she was about to say was to be taken with the upmost importance.

"Vernon." Dawn spoke, her gaze still firmly fixed on the wolf. "I am your mate." Dawn paused. "We are mates."

Vernon gave a slight nod in affirmation, although it wasn't enough to elude Dawn's grip.

"That means that we are in this together." Dawn continued. "Every fight or struggle is not just yours or mine, it's ours. That's what being mated is about."

The ewe finally released her grip, bringing her hoof under the wolf's jaw line and giving it a soft scratching. Vernon bit his tongue slightly in an effort to keep it from lolling to the side of his muzzle as the sensation sent a tickle of pleasure down his spine. He could already hear the dull sound of his own tail slapping against the fabric below as he tried to maintain his composure. Dawn's features softened in response, a small smile crawling across her muzzle. It was both a blessing and a curse for the wolf when she finally stopped, bringing her hoof to rest on Vernon's chest as she let out a contented sigh.

"But that also means we aren't alone anymore Puppy." The ewe said, placing a small, tender kiss on the wolf's chin. "We have each other. To rely on, to depend on, and in situations like this, to be able to talk about our feelings, good or bad, as well as work through them together."

The ewe snuggled her head up beneath the wolf. Her bushy, woolly, poof now nestled under the wolf's jaw. The wolf could hear the lamb let out a quiet, satisfied sigh and she squeezed a little tighter against his midsection.

"I know if I was sad, or angry, or anything like that, you would be right there with an ear to listen." Dawn continued. "And I want you to know that you should expect the same of me. I will always be there."

Vernon let out a whine as he listened to the ewe's impassioned declaration. The tears were nearly at the surface now, and he let out a hard sniffle in order to try to keep them back just a little longer. Vernon brought his free paw over his face again.

"I-I know Darlin'..." Vernon sighed. "But t-there was...there is just so much." Vernon let out a sharp huff of air as the knot in his stomach began to unravel. The ewe simply gave the wolf another gentle pat in response.

"This whole trip has just been one big shit-show." Vernon lamented. "It's just been one case of Murfur's Law after another."

"Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong." He heard the ewe mumble, letting out a soft chuckle at the end of it.

"Wade's mate, our first dinner, you suddenly coming into season, Yuri's attitude..." The wolf extended his paws above them, starting to count on his fingers each terrible situation that had played out. "Bringing up the fact that you were in season to everyone, Pa basically banning us from the fair, Ana, the old goat, actually being banned from the fair..." The wolf let his paws flop back down to his sides. "And it's barely been two days out."

By now the crickets had begun chirping. The placid sleepy chirps blending into the soft white noise created by the whispering fall winds. The wolf could feel his muscles relax more and more as the evening moved in to surround them. It was as if the rest of the world was simply drifting away, leaving just the two of them to bask in the Autumn evening.

"Vernon?" Dawn asked, gently tugging at the wolf's shirt. Vernon did his best to crane his head to look down at the ewe to find her staring up at him with curious eyes. "You said 'banned from the fair' twice."

Vernon simply let his head fall back, letting out an exasperated sigh as he stared back up at the clouds.

"That's why I got mad at Zach this mornin' Floofs." Vernon placed a paw over his eyes. "Pa sent him to tell us that we shouldn't go to the fair."

The air seemed to become still as the words left his muzzle, even the crickets seeming to stop leaving the weight of his admission hanging in the ether. Dawn remained quiet for a few moments, the wolf could feel her squirm slightly as if what he had said made the ewe wince. As if he had hurt her merely by admitting that. Finally after what seemed to the wolf like ages, Dawn broke the silence.

"O-oh..." Dawn muttered, wiping her face into the wolf's shirt. Vernon couldn't feel the moisture yet, but he was sure she was wiping tears into the fabric.

"I-I'm sorry Honey Lamb, I really am..." Vernon whined. "I-I should have told you sooner but I j..." Vernon shook his head, trying to force the words out. "I just couldn't do that to you."

"D-did he say why?" Dawn added.

Vernon let out another terse sigh, bringing his paw over his face.

"Ironically, because he was afraid of exactly what happened." Vernon grumbled. "Said we'd end up causing a stir."

"I-I see..." Dawn mumbled into the wolf's chest.

"Bastard's probably feelin' purty smug right now." The wolf growled. "I bet if he was here, he'd be more than happy to tell me 'I told you so.'" The wolf hissed. "Or maybe he'd just send Zach to do it."

"I don't really think that's your Father's main concern right now..." Dawn said, wrapping her hooves around the wolf's broad frame as she lay on top of him. "If anything I imagine he's just concerned for your Mother more than anything."

"Well whatever concerns he had just made sure he'd be spending the rest of the weekend sleepin' in his office I imagine." Vernon smirked at the thought. It was little consolation, but it was at least something. Still it wasn't necessarily helping to make anything easier for the pair.

"Just another shit-heap situation to throw on the trash can fire of a family reunion." Vernon pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance. "I just wanted everyone to love you as much as I do, but everything I've done has just blown up in my face. And worst of all I got you hurt you."

Another silence hung in the air, but only briefly as soon the wolf felt the ewe shift a bit farther up his chest, until he could feel the top of her muzzle under his jaw line.

"It hasn't all been bad Vernon. " Dawn said, giving the wolf's chin an affectionate nuzzle. "What about all the good things that have happened while we've been here?"

Vernon simply let out a tired groan in response.

"Don't be like that." Dawn said, giving his chest another firm pat. "Really think about it."

Vernon felt the ewe roll over onto her back, leaving them both now staring up at the darkening sky. The purple grew darker and darker as the moon began to climb.

"I get along with your Mom really well." Dawn said, now mimicking Vernon's previous finger count with one of her own. " Vanna, Ada, and Qali all call me their sister. Most of your brothers and Malcolm seem to like me. And considering how many you have, that's fantastic odds." Dawn said with a chuckle.

"They even stood up for me along with you at the fair. They went to bat for me against the whole town!" Dawn sighed. "That's got to count for something!"

Vernon wrapped his arms around the ewe, squeezing her tightly against his chest. Despite Dawn's surprisingly emphatic list of everything positive that had happened The wolf still couldn't fully offset the staggering amount of bad things that had taken place.

"Granted I haven't really gotten to know Ulric..." Dawn added. "Or Yuri for that matter." Vernon could feel Dawn hooves on his paws. "And things could be better with your Father."

"That's puttin' it lightly." Vernon said with a sigh.

"But honestly we were lucky so many members of your family were so accepting of me so quickly." Dawn said, giving the wolf's paws a squeeze. " Most families need time to warm up to someone new joining the family. And considering my circumstances, well, it's that much more shocking really."

Vernon let out an affirmative grunt.

"I can imagine your Father is probably going through a lot right now, considering the holiday and the reunion and everything." The ewe continued. " With all that, having to deal with the two of us, and-"

"Don't defend the Old Mam'!" Vernon huffed. "He still should ha-"

Vernon felt a hoof grab at his muzzle, effectively silencing him.

"I'm not defending him." Dawn was quick to assert. "I'm merely pointing out that it may have been a bad time to lay this all on him." Dawn sighed, slowly releasing her grip on Vernon's muzzle. "So it's going to take time." The ewe shrugged. "We may not win him over this visit, but we can always come back. Maybe in the future during a more quiet weekend we can really get to know each other. Without all the distractions I'm sure your Father would come around."

Vernon chuckled. "All the more reason to consider leavin'."

Vernon felt the poof below his chin pull away. Leaning up, the wolf could see Dawn staring at him in surprise.

"Really?" Dawn asked.

Vernon gave a slight nod before laying his head back down.

"It's barely been two days, and everything's gone so wrong." Vernon sighed. "At this point, part of me is just ready to pack up and head back home."

Vernon glanced back down at the ewe. Dawn's face was now scrunched up in concern.

"I just figured we'd give it another try some other time. Like you said." The wolf winced.

"Oh Puppy, we can't do that!" Dawn protested.

Vernon raised and eyebrow in surprise.

"We're already out here, and we've made it through half the trip. What's the point in leaving now?" Dawn asked. "If anything, I think your Father would see that as more of a sign that he had been...well...right."

Vernon laid his head back down as he mulled over the ewe's shocking objection. Dawn technically had a point, despite it completely catching the wolf off guard. His Father had always been the type to see strength in a mammal's resolve. To simply turn tail and leave would leave his Father to make all sorts of assumptions about exactly how strong their relationship truly was. Further more, it would undermine any future attempts to take them seriously as a couple. Under such circumstances, the wolf would never be able to put the possibility of tithing on the table.

Raising his head back up, he flashed the ewe a curious glance.

"You sure you want to stay?" The wolf asked dubiously.

The ewe gave a firm and decisive nod. "We've already ended up breaking up your wonderful family. If we left, Audrey would be even more upset with your Father if we just up and left now, and it would just make things worse. At the very least we can try to help mend-"

"My Pa did that to himself!" Vernon replied with a snort,

"Regardless, we just have to see this through as best as we can, and then after it's all said and done we can plan for next time." Dawn said, laying her head back against the wolf's chest. Vernon brought his paws back around her, squeezing her into a gentle hug.

"Alright...we'll stay." Vernon muttered. "We'll see it through."

Dawn let out a satisfied sigh, burying herself deeper into the wolf's shirt as she turned her attention back to the sky above.

A loud cackle drew Vernon's attention back toward the house. While it was dark, the wolf could still see the faint lights illuminating the Ranch, and the front porch. In the dim glow Vernon could just make out what appeared to be Ada and Yuri walking up to the house, followed closely by who he assumed to be Dorian.

"Sounds like Ada's back from the pound." Vernon said with a chuckle.

He felt Dawn pull away slightly, and looking up he could see the ewe was now craning her head in an effort to make out the ghostly forms in the distance.

"Oh thank goodness!" The ewe let out an exasperated sigh. "I was so worried."

Vernon chuckled, raising a paw to Dawn's face and gently turning it back toward his own.

"Silly Floofs, pretty much everyone was tellin' you she'd be fine. Yet here you were still frettin' over it." Dawn blushed slightly, looking away from the wolf's gaze.

"A-after everything she did for me...my sisters did for me, how could I not?"

Vernon let out a satisfied sigh.

"I am glad you girls managed to get so close, so fast. "Vernon smiled. " Maybe a little bit worried, but mostly happy."

Dawn arched an eyebrow. "Worried, about what?"

"About ya'll getting cozy and talking about my bedroom habits." The wolf grinned widely.

Dawn let out a snorting giggle, giving the wolf a playful swat.

"D-don't worry Puppy, I haven't said anything...yet." Dawn flashed a mischievous grin, fueling a different kind of fear in the wolf's mind. Vernon gulped unconsciously, earning another giggle from the playful ewe.

"Still...." Dawn laugh faded into a somber sigh. "I wish I had done more..." Dawn leaned back against his chest.

"Fer Ada?" Vernon asked inquisitively.

"No, no..." Dawn groaned. "I mean overall..."

Vernon flashed the ewe a confused gaze. "What do you mean Darlin'?"

"I should have stood up for myself, for us." Dawn lamented.

"You did just fine Lamb Fry." Vernon replied, placing a paw on the ewe's back. "You stood up to Ana when I wasn't gonna even say anything. And you did it again when she was trying to trash my family name. You d-"

"I faltered Puppy Love." Dawn sighed, he could feel the ewe push her glasses out of her eyes as she buried her face into his chest again. The wolf reached out a paw, gingerly taking the oversized spectacles and placing them aside as he rubbed the shuddering ewe's back. "I blinked in the line of fire, and everyone else paid for that."

"Dawn." Vernon said softly, but the ewe seemed to ignore him.

"I still feel like I should have stood my ground. I could have used my political strengths to take charge of the situation, to shut everything down before it escalated, before Dorian-"

"Hey, hey..." Vernon leaned up, tilting Dawn's head back up so he could meet her gaze properly. "Shh, shh now." He cooed, placing a finger to her lips. Her eyes were shimmering now, on the cusp of tears as she stared sorrowfully back at the wolf.

"You were the one who brought up one of the ol' Doc's sayings before." Vernon mused. "Well, what about the other stuff he said. About how you ain't gonna just win every fight you set yer heart on. You're still learning how to stand yer ground, and you aren't going to succeed every time. It's not something you're going to master overnight." Vernon offered the ewe a meek smile. "I know I still don't win 'em all, and I spent a good chunk of my life fightin' everything that looked at me cross."

Dawn pawed her few stray tears, doing her best to wipe them away.

"Y-you remembered that?' Dawn sniffled.

"I remember everything you tell me about yer little therapy sessions." Vernon grinned. "After all, you're the one who said ol' Doc Gnu needed both of us to listen to him in order to help support you. And with somethin' that important I ain't gonna just wave it off."

Dawn giggled, giving the wolf a halfhearted swat.

"You'll get there Honey Lamb, just give it time." Vernon said as he leaned his head back against the ground, his paw still gently rubbing at the ewe's back. "And you know I'll be here every step of the way. I'm afraid yer stuck with me."

"Oh really now?" Dawn chuckled, nuzzling her head back into his chest.

" 'Fraid so Lamb Fry." Vernon chuckled. "Wolves mate for life."

Dawn giggled, and Vernon could feel her hoof touch his cheek, giving it a perky pinch. "I bet you say that to all the ewes." She chided playfully.

"Just the one's I'm fixin' to marry." Vernon replied. The wolf squeezed the ewe into another hug, burying his muzzle into her woolly poof and planting a kiss on her scalp.

He lingered for a moment, his lips pressed against Dawn's head as he ruminated over the strange excess warmth he could feel on them. His Mother's perfume had long since faded, leaving the lingering scent of Dawn's pheromones pure and undiluted. It was just as pleasant and enticing as it had been hours earlier, and Vernon could feel the familiar pull of his animal urges begin to gnaw at him. However, they were quickly buried under the more pressing and urgent concern for his mate. Vernon shifted his lips closer to the front of Dawn's head, planting another kiss on her scalp only to find the temperature even warmer than it had felt before.

In that moment, he felt the ewe shudder in his embrace. It was as if a quick burst of energy had shot through her tiny frame, and with it came another blast of that strong and familiar scent the wolf found so hopelessly addicting. The enticing aroma knocked the wolf for a loop, his mind going almost instantaneously blank save for the intense feeling of lust as he reeled his head back in an almost drunken sway. It was only when he felt the ewe pull sharply out of his grasp did his senses return to him, and with them concern took the priority. Dawn was now sitting on his lap, her back remaining turned to him as he leaned back into a sitting position.

"S-sorry, sorry..." Dawn muttered.

Vernon was quick to bring his paw around the diminutive ewe, placing it firmly against her forehead. Against the wolf's sensitive paw pads the heat felt scalding as it radiated from her sweat soaked brow.

"Dawn, you feelin' alright?" Vernon arched his eyebrow in concern. The wolf quickly moved his paw to her neck, something he had seen his own Mother do numerous times when diagnosing him and his brothers when they were young, only to find it just that much more heated then her hairline. He felt another shiver pulse through the lamb as she placed her hoof on his paw. "Yer, burnin' up Honey Lamb."

"It's just this dagging 'remnant estrus'!" Dawn let out a exasperated sigh, and the wolf could feel her form slacken as she slumped back into the wolf's chest. He couldn't help but feel terrible for the ewe. On top of everything else that the both of them had to endure this weekend, Dawn also had to deal with her own body more or less betraying her.

"It's been so long since I've had it this bad." The ewe lamented, running a hoof across her neck and up to her head before flicking moisture away. "I'm sweating up a storm."

"Dawn, it's fifty degrees and breezy." Vernon replied, placing another kiss atop her head. "If anything you should be needin' a jacket by now."

Dawn let out an irritated groan. "No thank you, my wool is stifling enough as it is!" The ewe leaned her head back against the wolf's chest, rolling it from side to side as she nestled against him. "If I had known this was going to happen I would have asked you to shear me a week ago."

A lump formed in Vernon's throat as he thought back to the last time he had the 'privilege' of shearing the ewe, back before they had become so intimate. The memory alone was enough to draw heat to the wolf's muzzle. He had made such a prize fool of himself, made even worse by accidently catching the ewe in the bathroom just moments later. Grooming your mate was seen as a form of affection among most mammals, and the wolf wasn't entirely sure if the same went for sheep. But even so, the whole incident while embarrassing, also proved intensely erotic for the wolf.

"M-me huh?" The wolf chirped awkwardly, his voice nearly cracking like a wiry teen pup. "Don't want to do it yerself?" Vernon cleared his throat in a desperate attempt to regain his composure.

"You did such a good job last time though." Dawn replied. "Even with the best shearing kit out there you can't get a closer sheer than having someone else do it for you." The ewe replied, letting out an uncomfortable grumbling bleat.

"I guess that uh... makes sense..." The wolf replied, drawing a paw across his scalp. The wolf knew it was time to change the conversation as the smell of pheromones coming off the ewe was growing stronger by the minute. Dawn was suffering, sure. But now he was starting to suffer too, and if he didn't do something to ease the growing sexual tension in the air, he wasn't sure how long he could endure.

"Check out that moon." Vernon pointed a claw, attempting to draw their attention to something other than their gnawing urges. "Nearly full."

"O-Oh!" Dawn stammered. The ewe sat up again, seeming to regain her composure. The ewe quickly grabbed her glasses, putting them on and adjusting them as she stared up at the orange orb. "It's not full?"

"N-Nah." Vernon replied. "If ya look close you can kinda see the edging is still covered on the side there." Vernon traced the edge of the moon with finger in an effort to point it out clearly to the ewe.

"Oh." Dawn giggled. "I couldn't even see that." The ewe shook her head in dismissal.

"Yep." Vernon sighed, feeling relief as he had seemingly managed to steer the couple clear of troubled waters.

"I feel like such an idiot." Dawn laughed.

"Why?" Vernon replied.

"For a moment I was going to ask if that was a wolf thing." The lamb let out a sigh. "Like wolves could tell if the moon was full intuitively." Dawn turned to look back at the wolf, eyes slightly saddened. "You probably think I'm terrible for that."

Vernon laughed. "Nonsense Lamb Fry." The wolf gave the ewe a playful ruffle of her hair before pulling her into another hug. " Nothin' you could ever say would make me think you were terrible, ya'll should know that by now."

The ewe let out a pleasant sigh as she rested against the wolf's frame once more, staring up at the sky along with him.

"To be fair, I also checked the calendar this mornin' to see exactly when the full moon was." Vernon chuckled. "Come Monday it'll be full and bright orange, and every mammal in the county will be-"

"Besides, you loved it." Dawn cut the wolf off .

The lump in Vernon's throat swiftly returned as the ewe caught him off guard. Vernon's ears were standing on end as the shocked wolf mustered a response.

"W-what?" Vernon stammered.

"The shearing." Dawn nestled back against the wolf's chest, this time turning inward in order to nuzzle up under his chin. The ewe squirmed against his body once more, however this time it was concentrated lower down. Her hips now shifting against his lap as she let out an amorous sigh. "I know I wasn't the only one getting a bit hot under the pelt during that."

Vernon gulped hard as the ewe's pheromones continued to play at his primal urges. The inviting scent along with the teasing, impromptu massage was causing a familiar heat to stir in his loins.

"Honey L-Lamb." Vernon wheezed, his eyes darting in all directions as he attempted to keep from looking at the ewe. "I-I really-" the wolf swallowed hard, attempting to keep it together as the lamb had unexpectedly pulled them back into the thick of their previous, lurid conversation. "I-I was just helpin' out a-"

"Sheared.com?" Dawn said with a mischievous grin, walking her fingers up the wolf's chest.

For a moment, Vernon could swear he had felt his soul jump out of his body, fleeing to parts unknown to escape the sheer mortifying horror he felt by what Dawn had just said. 'How could she know, how could she possibly have known!?' The wolf's mind screamed as the seedy memory flashed before his eyes. He could clearly remember the lurid purple webpage covered in variously scantly wooled ewe's, all of which were in various stages of shearing. At the time they had reminded him so much of his Honey Lamb, the wolf's curious and hungry mind placing Dawn's head on the exposed ewe's bodies as he tried to imagine what treasures lie beneath her pelt. He had only done it once, and was so ashamed by merely glancing and allowing his mind to wander that he had run out of the apartment in a panic. Of course that was just after...

"H-How did you?" Vernon's mouth hung open, the rest of his question failing to form. Dawn however, had managed to pick up the gist of what he was asking.

"Well, it w-wasn't on purpose...buuUUUuuut..." Dawn playfully stretched out the word as she kissed the wolf's chin. "When I was shopping for that new laptop, the auto complete kind of lead me into your search history a bit."

Vernon slapped a paw over his eyes so hard it stung. Of course he had forgotten to clear the history. In his frenzied panic to escape the apartment the last thing he had even thought about was to cover his tracks, or that the ewe would even need to use his computer. Vernon sucked in air sharply as his mortified face twisted into a sharp cringe.

"Poor little Puppy." Dawn murmured sweetly. " Did I get you so heated up you had to peek at some other ewes to..." Dawn ground her hips against the wolf's lap again. Now the wolf was the one shuddering in response. "Ease the tension?"

"N-No!" Vernon protested. "I was imaginin' you!"

Vernon's mind scolded him once more as the words slipped out. Torn between diffusing the situation and being honest, his need to justify his actions had foolishly overtaken his efforts to calm himself and the ewe down. The wolf absolutely hated for his actions to be misinterpreted, especially by those he cared about. And so rather than finding a way to smoothly change the subject the wolf had only managed to dig himself in deeper. Vernon bit down hard on his tongue as he cursed his own idiocy, but Dawn seemed only more pleased by the response. Her grin was practically ear to ear as she regarded the wolf. The ewe reached up, placing a hoof to his cheek and gently caressing his face.

"Awww...Puppy." She uttered softly, her muzzle edging closer to his own. " Is that why you-"

"NO!" Vernon yelped, pulling out of Dawn's grip as he yanked his head backward. "I swear it was an accident! I didn't mean to catch ya in the bathroom!"

Dawn looked shocked, if only for a moment. But her smile quickly returned as she placed a hoof over her mouth in a poor attempt to cover it.

"Oh my little Wolfy..." The lamb tried to stifle her giggles. " I know, I know."

Dawn tried to reach out to the wolf's face, but Vernon was trying to keep it out of her grasp now. His last great defense against his little Honey Lamb's charms. Eventually though, her hoof found purchase against his muzzle, and before he knew it he found himself pulled back into her eye line. Her smile was warm and inviting as she eyed him in adoration, and the aroma around her was irresistible.

"I'd like to think I know you well enough to know that you would never do something like that on purpose." Dawn cooed, patting the wolf's cheek a few times. Vernon let out a soft whine with each pat. "You know I forgive you, right?"

Vernon gave a meek nod, his muzzle never leaving the ewe's grip as he stared into her shimmering green orbs.

"Although to be honest..." Dawn uttered, her muzzle drawing just a bit closer to his own. "When you walked in on me like that...I just..."

Vernon let out another almost pleading whine as he felt Dawn grind against his lap once more. His mind was repeating the house rule over and over again, but it was growing more and more muffled by the sound of his own heartbeat.

"I wanted you to just ravage me right there, to just take me and rut me into a quivering puddle." The ewe drew slightly closer, licking her lips as neared Vernon's own.

"Vernon?" Dawn asked, her voice low and sultry.

"Mhh-hmm?" The wolf sighed dreamily, their muzzles nearly touching now.

"I'm thinking since you enjoy shearing me so much, the next time you shear me..." Dawn placed a finger directly on the wolf's nose, giving it a playful poke. "I'll let you rub me down with my soothing aloe wool cream afterward." The ewe licked her lips as their muzzles practically touched. "All over me."

Vernon felt a quiet woof escape his muzzle as his brain nearly melted. His Mother's warning fell deaf in his mind, completely muted by the desire to rut. He was nearly ready to pounce on the lamb when he found her slowly pulling away. Her previously lusty face now looked uncomfortable and nervous. Once again, concern took precedent over the screaming of his lower brain.

"H-Honey Lamb?" Vernon asked as his senses returned.

"I..." Dawn's voice quavered slightly. "I-I wasn't suppose to t-take this so far." Dawn pulled back slightly, causing the wolf to raise his eyebrow in confusion.

"What?" Vernon asked.

Dawn looked down, twiddling her hooves nervously.

"I w-was supposed to tell you I was getting you back five minutes ago..." Dawn sighed, wiping a hoof across her brow. "F-for before."

For a moment Vernon simply stared at the ewe blankly before recalling what he had done to her at the fair. The wolf gave a brisk shake of the head as he tried to chase away the lustful haze that had built up around his brain.

"O-oh!" Vernon gulped hard, offering a meek smile. "Y-you were just trying to t-tease me!" Vernon said, relief in his voice.

The ewe nodded slightly.

"B-but all I d-did was get myself worked up." The ewe squirmed uncomfortably as her eyes began to brim with tears. "And now I f-feel even worse!"

The ewe leaned her head into the wolf's chest, letting out a shaky sigh as Vernon placed a paw on her back. The wolf was still half dazed as he mechanically rubbed her back in an effort to console her. He could feel the ewe grip his shirt, twisting it in her balled hooves as she groaned loudly into his chest.

"GaaaaAAAH!" Dawn moaned. "It's just so unbearable! I can't take this anymore!"

"I-I'm sorry Honey Lamb..." Vernon cooed, leaning his head on top of hers. "But what can I do? If I try to take care of ya I'm just gonna howl. Then we'll have another lil' black mark on our trip out here."

"ARRGGGHHH!" Came another loud and irritated shout from Vernon's shirt. He could feel the heat of the ewe's breath against his fur as her anguished cries penetrated the fabric. "RUT ME!"

The tone of her delivery told the wolf that her declaration was more akin to the sentiment of giving up rather than instruction. Vernon whined as he continued to try to console his mate, his mind trying to come up with something, anything that could ease her suffering.

Then suddenly, somewhere in his partially pheromone hazed brain came a solution to the problem. It was something so simple, he was amazed he hadn't come up with it sooner. The wolf grasped the ewe by the shoulders, abruptly pulling her out of his chest. Dawn stared up him with wide and confused eyes.

"Honey Lamb, I think I got somethin'!" Vernon said excitedly.

Dawn blinked at the wolf a few times before managing to speak. "Wh-what?'

"I think I know a way I can fix this!" Vernon said confidently.

"But you'll howl if we-"

"I think I got a way around it." Vernon said, flashing the ewe a confident smile. "Provided we do this right..." Vernon's smile grew a bit more lurid as his eyelids drooped, and the wolf ran his tongue from one side of his muzzle to the other.

It took a moment before Dawn seemed to catch on to exactly what the wolf was implying, but the second she had her face flushed almost instantaneously.

"L-Lamb Sakes..." She stammered, another shudder shimmering through her form as she sat on Vernon's lap. "B-but I mean how...I mean we ca-"

The wolf placed a finger to the ewe's lips. Vernon had heard enough, he was already set on his plan. It was going to work, it had to. It may prove agonizing for him, but at the very least it would give his Honey Lamb the relief she so desperately needed. Sliding Dawn off his lap, the wolf quickly scrambled to pack the remnants of their picnic back into the basket he had stored them in before setting it off of the blanket. Before Dawn could even question what the wolf was doing, he scooped her into his arms, slinging her over his shoulder as she flailed slightly before yanking the picnic blanket off the floor.

"Vernon!?" Dawn yelped.

"Relax Floofs." Vernon cooed. "Yer Sheepdog has you covered."

With that the wolf began to make a confident stride toward the nearby corn field, his mind fixed on his brilliant plan as well as the perfect hiding spot to enact it. The wolf gingerly shifted some stalks to the side before disappearing into the field along with the ewe in tow.

It was about ten minutes later in the quiet dark of the evening that a sudden, uproarious howl ripped across the corn field, scrambling terrified ravens in every direction to escape the thunderous noise. It echoed sharply through the night sky. The cold crisp clarity of the Autumn evening easily carrying the call toward the quiet and warmly lit Hunter Ranch. While the insulation was noted by the family as being of excellent quality, able to suppress some of the loudest sounds one could imagine. The same could not be said of the Hunter window panes, many of which were open to allow the cool, clean air of the dawning fall to flow easily into the home. Unfortunately for the wolf from whom the howl had come, it too had flowed into the house just as smoothly.

In the Den sat Xavier, Wade, Yuri and Ada. The well dressed wolf sat quietly humming to himself as he skimmed over the latest news on his iCarrot pad while Wade and Yuri were locked in a spirited argument about the events that had taken place just hours before. As Vernon's howl suddenly flooded the room, every set of ears immediately stood on end in response to the very clear message it had sent, as well as killing the argument that had been going on between the brothers almost instantly. Now the two previously bickering brothers were wracked with uncontrollable howls of their own.

Xavier remained unaffected. He, like Vernon had spent years training himself out of the terrible habit of howling in response to every random call one could hear. But that didn't mean he had forgotten the nuances and tones that told a wolf exactly why the other was howling in the first place. Xavier let out a sigh, removing his glasses and placing them on the coffee table next to him before placing his paw to his forehead. He knew that sound only spelled more trouble for the couple.

As one of his howls died away, the dreamlike look on Wade's face twisted into that of mild revulsion. "Sweet Sawgrass Vern." Wade lamented. "Gross..." Was all the wolf managed to say before growing locked into another howl.