The journey from Glaciem to Inu Island didn't take as long as she thought it would. As they left the snowy climate of the North, all Maija could think about was curling up in the warmth of her den with Taurig. She was able to stand on her own four legs for the majority of the journey, but occasionally, she would rest against Taurig's large frame to regain some of her energy. Maija didn't want to impose for Sibelle. She wasn't sure if the young female would be able to handle her pregnancy weight. Sibelle didn't mind her not asking, though, which soothed Maija's already paranoid mind. Why was she paranoid, you ask? The simple fact that Isardis seemed sneaky and malicious enough to try and take her back slipped through her mind. Having his grandchildren inside her womb was another factor that she was afraid to be out and about in the open, but Taurig's touch and Sibelle's continuous words of being closer to home reassured her that she was not alone on this journey. Her icy green eyes continued to look out for any unusual signs of life as they walked through unfamiliar territory. Once they reached the shore, Maija didn't waste any time getting in the water to begin the swim back to the island. The swim was relieving, even though it was freezing at first. The constant current and the physical strength it took to push her through the water caused a burning through her body that made the experience better. She knew her body was working its hardest to get her home and the physical work was worth it. Her mind became clear and she concentrated on the island speck that was coming ever closer. Pretty soon, her paws touched the sandy bottom of the shore and she propelled herself to the wide and open beach. Maija immediately shook all over and waited for Taurig and Sibelle to get out of the water. She looked around, wondering if her pack members had been okay in their absence. Her gaze rested on the trail that led to their den and she proceeded at a brisk trot to it. Upon greeting the entrance with her presence, she inwardly sighed and relief swept over her body. She was home. Maija looked at Sibelle as she met her at her side and softly nuzzled the russet-furred female's wet cheek. "Thank you for being there for him...and me," she said softly, eyes betraying a sliver of gratitude for her new sister-in-law. Time wasn't to be wasted as she waited for Taurig to approach her other side and she proceeded to walk into their den with him. The scent of a freshly caught rabbit met her sensitive nose and she scented a trace of Byakuro. A smile appeared and she scooped up the delicate meat in her jowls along the way. When Taurig lowered himself in the den, she did the same and placed the meat in front of him. "Byakuro brought us a welcome home present," she said gently, tail thumping the ground around her hind paws. The idea of having a pack family who cared about her made her heart rate increase slightly. Such a reaction caused the little rugrats inside of her to squirm. Her eyes widened and she looked at Taurig after a small intake of breath. "Taurig...they are moving. Would you want to feel?" It was a harmless question and she silently wondered what he would say. Speech,

The journey was nothing to the now seasoned warrior, but on the other hand, for his wife, it seemed like a different story. Her body was becoming heavy with the growing pups in her womb and the move back to the island was taking its toll on her. On more than one occasion he would feel Maija press against him, putting a good amount of her weight on him, trying to keep herself from tiring out. Taurig would accept her weight without question, hold her up with his seemingly like rock solid body, keeping the trio moving along at a moderate pace as they neared the shore. He was rather hesitant to allow his wife to enter the frigid water in her condition, but the sound of her body crashing through the water reached his ears only moments after having reached the shore. He would feel the absence of her warmth and with a gentle nudge from Sibelle the Re would dip into the chilled waters, powerful limbs striking out as he swam up to Maija, jaws clamping gently over her tail as he had done on their first cross. It wouldn't be much longer until his paws touched down on the solid soil of their island, jaws releasing his wife's tail as he pulled himself up onto the shore behind her, putting a good distance from her in order to properly shake himself free of as much as he could. Once sufficiently dry, he would move back towards where Maija was, following the sound of her paw steps and wet scent as she led them back to their den. He would listen with a gentle smile as his wife thanked his sister, waiting for the telltale sound of fading pawsteps that would tell him Sibelle had headed off before he would turn to follow Maija back into their new den, mindful to duck his skull so he wouldn't bump his face. A tantalizing scent tickled his nostrils as they walked in; rabbit. As well of his pack members, Byakuro as his wife so easily recognized. Nape bristled slightly, part of him not liking that another male had been so close to his and his wife's sleeping quarters, but he would let go of his unease. Byakuro meant them no harm after all. He was simply trying to look after Maija as everyone was. Limbs would fold beneath the titan once he reached the back of the den, spine pressing against the back of the den, feeling the brush of the dead rabbit against his forepaws as his wife nudged the meal towards him. He would smile, muzzle shifting the morsel back towards her. You need it more than I do my treasure. He would murmur, surprise lighting up his dark features when she asked him if he wanted to feel his children squirming in her womb. He would nod quietly, scooting closer to her as he allowed his skull to incline towards her belly, pressing his right against her warm flesh, waiting for his babies to kick for him. OOC: such a lame post ;-; "Speech"

As the cobalt King moved to get close to her expanding belly, Maija's eyes brimmed with excitement. She remained still so he would be able to have more exposure to her abdomen, but inside, she wanted to leap and race around the den with joy. Maija didn't believe she would ever have a normal life when she was with Dragomir. Of course, she had loved the man the whole time they were together and even after he disappeared. It was just that the idea of having a family with him was almost out of the question. How would she be able to handle minions that were exact replicas of her first husband? It would have been too much. Now, as she laid in the den on her left side to give the puppies more room to move, she silently thanked her lucky stars. A man who got past her defenses and was able to get through his own trusting issues had caught her as she fell and love was what surrounded them. She didn't know if she had ever been this happy and as she thought of their children being born in less than two weeks, they began to move. Unknown to both of them, five little critters were living inside of Maija. They had different personalities and were able to distinguish the voices of their parents. When they felt the gentle touch of Taurig's paws and face against the wall of skin, blood, and fat, it only made them more crazy. Eon wanted to break through the barrier, his little paws pressing against the inner walls of Maija's uterus with no avail. He moved back and his sisters swam forward, eager to let their papa know that they knew he was there. Pandora, in particular, didn't attempt to leap through the barriers, but waited for Taurig's nose to grace her little form. She squirmed beneath his touch and returned his nuzzle with her own nose. It was a bonding moment that both were unaware happened, but it laid down the groundwork for her future relationship with him. The other siblings wanted to have chances to let their daddy know they were there. Maija softly smiled at the movements underneath her golden pelt and she couldn't help but giggle at their excitement. Her eyes moved from her babies to Taurig, wondering what he thought of it all. The love she had for the amazing man next to her grew as she softly said, "They're not even here yet and they love you unconditionally...just like me." Warm pools of light radiated from her eyes as she lazily moved her tail to brush against his own night sky colored banner. What else could the female say? Speech,

His children seemed to recognize him and who he was to them because the moment his ear pressed against Maija's belly it seemed to explode! There was a flurry of movement; kicks and scratches and nudges. It was so crazy and Taurig loved every minute of it. He would laugh quietly at the antics of his unborn children, even when a few of their kicks landed right against his face. He didn't care, they could kick him, scratch him, bite him and do everything to him as much as they wanted because he loved them that much. The pups would all begin to settle down and Taurig would pull away from his wife's belly, inclining his skull in her direction, his features full of awe. She was the most magnificent creature in the world, being able to carry his babies inside of him like that. The fact that she was willing to be the mother of his children, as well as his wife made her that much more special. She was really a one in a million type of woman and he was lucky that he had been able to snag her before her ex husband had come back. I love you Maija, my treasure, my beautiful wife. Muzzle would lean forward, brushing against her own, salmon tongue swiping against her lips in a gentle kiss. There was no one he loved on his planet more than his darling wife. "Speech"

She leaned into his touch and closed her eyes. An outward sigh escaped her golden kissers and she felt relaxed all over. The woes of the world were gone when she was with him and she knew that if she ever needed a place to get away, it would be with Taurig. Her tail started to tap against the den floor and she lightly chuckled before she licked his cheek and nuzzled his neck fur. His words of love for her made her heart skip a few beats, which definitely outranked the one beat that usually took place. Maija raised her head so her lips graced the outside of his ear and she gently whispered, "And I love you, my handsome husband. I am glad that our paths crossed because I don't know where I would be without you now.." It was the biggest confession the golden female had ever given to him and she hoped he was open to hearing more from her. "Whatever life throws us, the world will know we won't be taken down without a fight." Her eyes sparkled and her tail rose to rest against her enlarged stomach. She loved her husband so much, words didn't compare to how she felt. Speech,