burn in the afterthought

can't smell the roses

Theory laughed softly as Shaye reassured her. She supposed that the alpha was right - she usually was. With the winter biting at their heels now, Theo reflected on her whirlwind of a year. It would be a nice way to ring in the cold season, with new warm little bodies. "Abaven really is a wonderful place to have a family," she murmured in wonder as Shaye listed just a few of the resources they had at their disposal for new mothers. "Do you know who's expecting?" Theo added in a conspiratorial tone. Perhaps Shaye would indulge her curiosity.

She thought for a moment on the grand machine of the pack that was Abaven. All the resources that Shaye listed were available, and even more aside. They had been tested by the fire, and while it had certainly sown its fair share of tragedy, they had come out stronger for it. "The other packs... do they value family the same way?" Theory asked, her tail twitching inquisitively. It was hard to imagine a different environment, but she knew that Boreas was filled with wolves from all walks of life. Shaye had already told her about some of the other packs, but they hadn't quite discussed the minutia of their values.

when they wilt in my hands