The adult jackalope stood perfectly still, its dark eyes fixed on them through the glass. Its fur was a rich brown, darker than Jill's, but with the same distinctive markings. The antlers branched impressively, far more developed than Jill's baby spikes.
"Oh my god," Nathan breathed. "Is that..."
"Another jackalope," Harper confirmed, her voice barely above a whisper. "A full-grown one."
Jill's ears swiveled forward, and she took a tentative hop toward the patio door. The adult jackalope's nose twitched, its gaze now fixed on the baby.
"It's her mom," Nathan breathed. "At least, I guess."
Harper's heart ached as she watched Nathan's face, seeing the mix of joy and pain in his expression. "What are you going to do?" she asked softly, though she already knew the answer.
Nathan swallowed hard. "I have to let her go." His voice cracked on the last word. "She needs her mother."
Reyna stirred in Harper's mind.Good den-mother came back for kit.
Harper reached for Nathan's hand, squeezing it gently as he rose to his feet. He moved toward the patio door with careful, measured steps, as if each one cost him something precious. The adult jackalope took two hops backward but didn't flee, her dark eyes fixed steadily on Nathan's approaching form.
Jill remained where she was, her tiny nose working overtime as she processed the scent of her mother through the glass. Her ears swiveled back and forth between Nathan and the adult jackalope.
Nathan's hand trembled slightly as he reached for the door handle. The soft click of the latch seemed impossibly loud in thequiet room. He slid the door open, then backed away slowly until he reached the couch.
Harper shifted closer as Nathan sank down beside her, his shoulders tense. She could feel him trembling slightly as they watched the two jackalopes regard each other through the open doorway. The night air carried the scent of damp grass and early autumn leaves into the room.
Harper's heart ached as she watched the mother jackalope hop cautiously through the doorway. The adult's movements were graceful, deliberate, as she approached her baby. Jill remained perfectly still as her mother's nose twitched, taking in her scent.
Nathan's fingers tightened around Harper's hand until it almost hurt, but she didn't pull away. She understood his pain all too well - the bittersweet joy of seeing a loved one reunited with family, even knowing it meant letting go.
The mother jackalope began washing Jill's face and ears with swift, gentle strokes of her tongue. The tender gesture brought tears to Harper's eyes. Inside her mind, Reyna whimpered softly in sympathy.
Harper blinked back tears as Jill suddenly turned away from her mother and hopped onto the sofa beside Nathan. His breath caught on a sob as he gently lifted the baby jackalope into his arms, cradling her close one last time.
"You came to say goodbye, didn't you, sweet girl?" Nathan's voice cracked as he pressed a kiss to the top of Jill's head, between her tiny antlers. "I want you to remember that I love you, okay? And you can always, always come back to me if you need me."
Harper could hear the heartbreak in every word, see it in the way his shoulders shook as he held Jill. She wanted to comfort him but knew there was nothing she could say to ease this particular pain. Some goodbyes simply had to hurt.
Harper's heart ached as she watched Nathan gently lower Jill to the floor. His hands lingered for a moment on her soft fur before he pulled away, letting her go. The baby jackalope hopped toward her mother, their noses touching. Nathan's hand groped for Harper's, and he clutched her fingers tightly as they watched.
Jill turned away first, bouncing toward the dining room with the same enthusiastic energy Harper had come to associate with treat time. The mother jackalope followed, her movements more measured and graceful, antlers held high as she surveyed her baby's temporary home.
They paused at the corner where Nathan had placed Jill's bedding - a plush dog bed in muted earth tones that he'd carefully selected to match her coloring. Harper watched as Jill nosed at the fabric, showing her mother where she'd slept these past months.
A moment later, Jill led the way to her food station, where Nathan always kept fresh water and alfalfa pellets available. Harper exchanged a glance with Nathan as the distinct sound of crunching pellets reached their ears - the mother jackalope sampling her daughter's food supply.
Nathan's grip on her hand loosened slightly as they watched the two jackalopes hop toward the kitchen. The mother's antlers cast intricate shadows on the wall from the soft lighting, while Jill's smaller form bounced ahead eagerly.
Harper leaned closer to Nathan, her voice barely above a whisper. "Is Jill… giving her mother a tour?"
Showing den,Reyna observed in Harper's mind.Kit loves home.
Harper's chest tightened at her fox's insight. She'd never considered how much Jill might have come to view Nathan's house as her own territory during these past months. The little jackalope had certainly made herself at home here.
The kitchen visit was brief - just long enough for Jill to show her mother the spot where Nathan always prepared her fresh vegetables and fruits. Then they were off again, their paws making soft thumping sounds against the hardwood floor as they headed down the hallway.
Harper held her breath as the pair disappeared into the bathroom - the one where Nathan had set up Jill's litter box. She could hear the rustle of movement from within, picturing Jill proudly showing her mother all the accommodations Nathan had provided.
The jackalopes exited the bathroom, and hopped out of sight down the hallway. She glanced at Nathan, still holding his hand as they sat frozen on the couch, neither wanting to disturb this strange visitation.
"The music room?" she whispered, remembering how Jill often curled up in there while Nathan practiced piano.
