i need you now

Deathbelle was quick to respond, and Zee offered her a grateful smile and a gentle nuzzle in return. "Thanks." The queen breathed, as if the Empress' mere presence was enough to lift the weight from her shoulders. It was a hard discussion to begin, and Zee was unsure about how Deathbelle might react. Would she think that it was Zee's fault, that she was simply not a nurturing enough mother? Her eyes slid shut, and she focused on the feeling of warm sand below her paws.

"I'm really struggling." Her admittance came after a beat. "So much has happened with the pups, though the most recent was with Mort." The mere mention of his name sent a wave of pain through her chest, and she grimaced. "I caught him about to step off a cliff. He cried to me that he didn't want to be 'bad' or 'wrong' but didn't know how to fix himself." Slowly as she spoke, Zee sunk into the ground. Her head lowered onto her paws and she stared out over the ocean. "I don't know what I'm doing wrong, Belle."