Meadow's tiny paws dug into the hot summer dirt. She flexed her left foreleg, the bone and tendon gliding smoothly under her fur and skin. She let out a sigh of relief, something she has not felt in weeks.
"Is it healing?" the almost silent voice gave a rise to the fur on her back.
She whipped her head around, only to find Domino standing behind her.
Another sigh escaped her, "You startled me," she let out a light chuckle as he approached her, a gleam in his dark brown eyes.
He did not say anything, but licked her cheek, a feeling that was most welcome.
"I think it's completely healed," she lifted her left paw. She stretched her foreleg out into the air, then placed it firmly back onto the ground. "See?"
Domino nodded. His eyes focused on her once broken leg, and then he nudged her toward the horizon.
A small smile escaped from Meadow. She nibbled at his ear before he nodded toward the sky, where Meadow suddenly stopped in her tracks.
The heavens shown honey and milk, where the land was graced with a quilt made of firs and pines. The golden orb was kissing the white swatches goodnight, and all was warm and lush.
Domino instructed his mate to sit down. She slowly relaxed onto her haunches, the summer grass caressing her fur. Her eyes, much like her body, relaxed as it watched the sky settle into nights embrace.
She turned to Domino, his eyes never having left her. Her eyes swelled, the images of their hardships suddenly flooding to the front of her mind. He pressed his nose to her cheek, and she relaxed into him.
"It's beautiful," she muttered. He did not say anything.
"One day we'll bring the pups here. They must see the beauty in our world, despite all its horrors," she hid her face into his neck. Domino gave her another light kiss, and she melted into his warmth.