(no subject)

"Could you please give us a moment?" Snowball asks the guard as he stands in front of his mate, and litter. The dog considers for a moment.

"Don't try anything."

"I won't, do you think I'd take such risks with my litter here?" Snowball replies. The dog shrugs a little and trots over to the door, where it sits patiently. Snowball moves over to the sow and nuzzles her gently.

"They're beautiful Poinsettia." he says softly, nuzzling each piglet in turn to count them. "And so many. You must be exhausted."

"I am." his mate replies, looking up at him. "You try pushing out seventeen little wrigglers in one evening, let alone carting them around for sixteen and a half weeks."

"It's a good size litter." Snowball agrees, looking down at them adoringly. "The most I've ever seen is twenty two, so you have really done very well. Have you thought of names?"

They talk for a while, trying to discuss names for each one. Then Snowball looks over at the sleeping dog, and comes closer to Poinsettia.

"I want to get us out of here as soon as possible. Once the little ones can walk and run. There is a safe place I know of."

"Wellington, I don't want to leave here. I'm happy here. I was born here."

"What about me? I can never be free with you."

"I love you Wellington, but that's your own fault. I didn't get you arrested for treason. You did that yourself. Why are you so bothered about watching them grow up? Most boars don't take much interest."

"You do realise they will kill me when I'm too old to be useful don't you?"

"Again, that's not my fault love. And you've got a good few years of being sharp yet."

"Please, will you just think about it?"

"Maybe, now hush before the dog wakes and hears you."