Dusk, outside

[scots_wolf]

Urquhart is outside, watching the early sunset.

He's not shooting anything right now. The black fur rug he was making is finished.

Instead, he stands, with a mug of mulled wine in his hands, feet planted deep in the snow, and watches the daylight fade into the odd brownish yellow typical for snow clouds, and then, darkness falling, along with more snow.

It settles on his shoulders and in his hair.

Comments

[young_womble]

"At the time, it was better than the burrow that had just collapsed. We were lucky nobody was hurt."

[scots_wolf]

"But you should find out why it was abandoned," Urquhart says. "Or whatever drove them away might try to get at you, too. I take it you didn't find bones?"

[young_womble]

"No. We thought we had a ghost, but it turned out to be a swan."

[scots_wolf]

"Find out what it is so you're sure you're safe," Urquhart says. "At least that is what I would do."

[young_womble]

Wellington just looks worried again now. Surely that sort of thing would be done by Great Uncle Bulgaria, and Tobermory, after all this time?

[scots_wolf]

"Don't you have contact with other womble colonies?" Urquhart asks.

[young_womble]

"Not personally." Wellington says. "I'm a very small fish in a big pond."

[scots_wolf]

"I mean your colony," Urquhart says. "I mean, there must be somewhere you can go and meet lady wombles."

[young_womble]

"I know Miss Adelaide and Madame Cholet." Wellington says.

[scots_wolf]

"But there must be more than two!" Urquhart says.

[young_womble]

"Oh yes." Wellington says.

[scots_wolf]

"When will you be considered old enough to meet more?" Urquhart asks.

[young_womble]

"I don't understand." Wellington says.

[scots_wolf]

"Well," Urquhart says, "don't the older wombles have girlfriends? Or wives?"

[young_womble]

"I don't think so." Wellington says.

"If this is leading to the Where Do Baby Wombles Come From question, I don't know the answer."

His mun's mum reckons that other Wombles build them from scrap.

[scots_wolf]

"Well, yes, that's what I was aiming for," Urquhart admits.

[young_womble]

"I asked once. Bungo put a fake egg in my bed and I thought I'd laid it."

[scots_wolf]

"That was a mean trick to play on you," Urquhart says, trying not to grin.

[young_womble]

"I think they'll tell me when I'm older."

[scots_wolf]

"Hopefully," Urquhart says, smiling.