"I'll go in the morning, then." He said with a nod, then watched with intrigue at the interaction between Dacia and Constance. A very tender smile wove onto his face and he sidled over, Clarity still in his lap. He put an arm around Dacia's waist, and held her. He knew the goodbye was going to be difficult, and he wanted her to know, that he would be there. In his mind's eye, saw the four of them, snuggled together on the floor. Whether they wanted to acknowledge it or not, they were a family. And they were about to be torn apart.
+++
The next morning, Dorian left very early. He untangled himself from Dacia, dropping a kiss on her head as he did so. Sleeping with her without actually sleeping with her was becoming a bit of a problem, he thought, scratching the back of his neck. Of course it was nice, and he enjoyed the feeling of her so close, but honestly, he wasn't sure how much more he could take. Once the bear's were with a new caregiver, he'd suggest they got back on the road. That was they'd have their own beds - or blankets, in any case. And he could finally relax. It wasn't that he didn't like it ... just .... he liked it a little too much.
Dorian picked up the sleeping bears from the bottom of the bed, their new favourite sleeping place, and tucked one under each arm, not unkindly. The market was still quiet, but after making a few enquires he gathered the information that he needed. There was an animal keeper passing through. He was something of an entertainer, and had a good reputation. His name was Rasputin.
He found the man's camp just on the outskirts of town. There were five wagons, several horses, but no other animals that he could see. Dorian stood outside one of the wagons, and called out "Hello?"
From his left there was movement, and he turned to see a man stepping out of the wagon, tucking his shirt into his trousers. He looked like was once a very strong man - tall and broad chested, but he three scars running parallel down his face across his eye. An eye covered by a patch. Dorian frowned. If he didn't know any better, he would have thought this man was dangerous.
"Hello there!" The man boomed, giving Dorian a great smile, and casting his eyes down to the cubs. "Well ... what have we here?"
"These cubs, " Dorian said, eyeing the man suspiciously. "Their mother was killed. They have been travelling with me for a few days, but I'm heading back on the road, and I don't know if I'll have what I need to feed them. I heard that you are taking animals to care for?
The man nodded, "yes, that's right. I'm Rasputin. Let me have the little critters..." His hands reached out for the bears, and Dorian hesitated. Surely it couldn't be this easy. "Please, " said Rasputin, a smile on his face that seemed genuine. "They'll be in good hands. I promise."
Dorian was still wary, but put it down to the fact that he was just going to miss the little cubs. He looked down at them, and sighed. "Bye bye, little ones." The cubs stared up at him, their eyes wide. For a moment... no... but for a moment Dorian could have sworn he saw a kind of intelligence in them. Dorian closed his eyes. You are way too involved, buddy. He finally handed them over into the circus-man's hands. He turned on his heel, and tried not to hear the baby bear's squeals.
The whole way back to their room, Dorian questioned whether he'd done the right thing. There was just something about the way they'd looked at him. It was if they were asking how he could abandon them so easily. Could he do the same to Dacia. No! He shook his head vigorously. She was in an entirely different league to animals.
However, as he closed the door behind him and leaned back into it, he couldn't shake the feeling he'd made a terrible, terrible mistake.
