Be More Like Me

Cerberus was his usual quiet self while Aliana made small talk with him. Just having the boy's presence was proving to be a gentle comfort, if not also a painful reminder of what she'd almost had and had lost. It was such a bittersweet moment, but Ali took some small joys in knowing that Chimera had his other children to love where she had failed to give him any. She did feel a little bad for the boy; being raised by Viper had to be a difficult upbringing. The woman could scarcely speak a full sentence, she couldn't imagine her being very traditionally "motherly". But maybe she was wrong. Maybe having a son had been exactly what Viper needed to give her a new direction in life. She hadn't seen the scruffy woman in some time, so she couldn't say for sure, but she could hope.

As they lay there, Ali noticed Cerberus looking her over and a curious look overtook the boy's face. Then he asked when the babies were going to be here. The heartbreak and pain was visible in Aliana's expression, and her aquamarine eyes lost some of the light that had started to return to them. She didn't blame Cerb for asking, of course; he was a young pup and didn't understand the nature of these things. There had been no malice in his innocent question. Swallowing back the knot forming in her throat, Ali put on her bravest smile and reached a paw over to try and gently stroke over the boy's head.

"...They won't be, Cerberus." Aliana took a slow, shaky breath to try and explain. "They got very sick. Sometimes when things get sick, they don't always get better." She didn't want to leave the subject on such a negative note for the boy though, so Ali tried to pivot to a more hopeful outlook. "But it'll be okay. Your father will get you more brothers and sisters sometime very soon. Would you like that?" It was hard for Ali to remain strong and composed as the emotions threatened to overtake her, but somehow she stayed collected, even managing to hold back the tears starting to mist in her teal-green eyes. She didn't want Cerberus to see her cry like this.

"Aliana"