A Happy Place...

Loud barking greeted Krenen as he approached the little settlement site of his brother. A juvenile dog darted through the forest to receive him, jumping to lick his face. Krenen dropped the things he was carrying to grab the dog by its scruff and hold him down. The dog wriggled, trying to break free, and whined.

The man Krenen saved from having his hands cut off hurried to apologize. A pregnant woman cooking something in a pot over an outdoors fire chuckled and shook her head happily.

"I know you're lying," said Krenen with his face close to the dog's. "Now be still."

The man slowed his jog and came to a stop close to Krenen. The dog threw him a sad look, but the man crossed his arms and shook his head.

"You have to learn," he said.