Don't Get Cold Feet Now

It had been a quiet morning so far. She had insisted that Daelos go out into the pack to do something productive which had left her to lay in the den on her own. She was grateful that the home that Elias had chosen for the two of them was deep enough that it kept out most of the cold breeze and that she had gathered enough bedding for herself that it prevented her from laying directly on the ground. For the most part she was at least comfortable if not warm. For a while she laid there with her own thoughts, glancing at her side from time to time when one of the pups would shift or kick. She couldn't even say that Elias had been absent. Whenever she didn't see him at night she would at least find the prey that he left or smelled his scent in the den around her from where he visited at night. His work around the pack was noticeable so she knew that he hadn't just disappeared completely. His avoidance was obvious... she just couldn't figure out why.

Maybe she had just set her hopes too high. She tried to keep doubt from creeping into her mind. Her whole pregnancy she had focused solely on her excitement and the hopes she had for this litter and the lives that she and Elias could build for them here. Her older children had grown up with her as their only parent and she had struggled to keep the three of them together in one place. When she figured out that she was pregnant she had hoped that this time around would be different... that being created from her love for Elias would make this different. Something about the echoing silence around her made the whispers of doubt seem so much louder. She had already accepted that there was no turning back now. But was it too late to readjust what she should expect from him?

A noise outside the den caught her attention and she lifted her head from her paws. The scent of prey hit her first, but then she noticed the dark silhouette just outside the then. Part of her just wanted to let him go and let their silence continue simply out of spite, but she also didn't want to perpetuate a problem that was bothering her. She pulled herself to her feet with a good bit of effort and padded over to the entrance of the cave, trying to ignore the waddle in her step as she went. Elias' features became more clear as she got closer and the sunlight behind him didn't obscure her vision quite so badly. Despite herself she still couldn't help the way that her heart fluttered when her blue-hued gaze landed on his face. She didn't really know what to say, but she felt like she had to say something to keep him from walking away. "They should be here any day now you know," she said quietly as she settled down onto her haunches. "Would you like for me to call for you when the labor starts or once it's all done?" Perhaps she was being a bit short with him, but if this was going to be the only exchange they had before their children were born then she at least needed to know this much from him.

"Talk"