'I'm very proud of you, you know boy.'

'Yes Uncle.'

'And I'm sure you'll be a very good Magi Protectorate when the full title passes to you. But when I die... take good care of your mother for me.'

'Yes Uncle.' Dave obediently replied. Even in his most lucid moment Rollo had never come to terms with the death of his cousin, Dave's mother and his brother's wife. He paused and drew a painful breath.

'I'm not... unhappy.' Rollo answered his unspoken question and tipped the pup's chin up so their tired eyes met. 'I won't try anything... drastic if you won't.' A warped smile tugged his mouth into a lopsided expression. 'Neither of us could cope with another loss at the moment.'

Dave gasped and stared at his uncle's back as his mentor returned to the spare room. Then he shook his head, casting away the painful confused feelings the conversation had roused within him and headed back to his bed.

I just wanted to draw and write something slightly angsty and to try out a layering effect with the greys.