Cut my losses

It was hard the shake the sudden guilt that threatened to overtake him. Was it his fault somehow? Maybe he hadn't been paying enough attention to Twig and any possible pregnancy signs; maybe he should've spent more time with her, caring for her, making himself available to her. Somehow. Some way. But another part of him knew they had done nothing wrong, but with all the recent life being brought forth within Abven - both past and future - he couldn't help but feel like they'd somehow failed. Their pack, each other, and themselves. The feeling was overwhelming and suffocating but the desire to care for Twig and support her allowed him to power through it, just barely.

"It will get better. I promise," he assured her softly, but his voice quivered with the sound of tears he was trying to contain, to little avail. It might not get better today, or next week. but... someday. Things always got worse before they got better; pain helped them grow stronger, but that was a mantra easier to be reminded of after the fact. It felt hopeless right now. It was a pain sudden and swift, one that felt like it wouldn't loosen its vice grip around him anytime soon. All he knew now was that he wanted to hold Twig and keep her safe, to somehow help ease her pain as best as he could.