A Love Like War

Manea had spent a large portion of the day with Avacyn, finalizing some ideas and plans her daughter had for the celebration she had promised at the last pack meeting. The preparations had taken longer than she had originally thought, but she thought that it would turn out better in the long run for it. Her vacation with Alastor and her new pregnancy were also partially to blame for the delay, but if anything the new timing would put the celebration just after the brith of their newest addition so there would only be even more to celebrate. Once they had gone over everything she started making her way back toward their cave. The early days of this pregnancy felt harder than the last. The morning sickness was certainly worse and more often and it felt like even the smallest task made her tired, but she knew that would pass with time. She had only barely begun to show with a slight swell of her stomach to show for the pups that were beginning to grow and already she was eager for them to come into the world so she could see what she and Alastor created this time.

When she reached the cave she had intended to go to her and Alastor's sleeping chamber to lay down, but as she was passing through it was so oddly quiet. Everyone was out, even Irilyth, and she paused as she looked around the cave. It was starting to get later in the day, but she supposed it wasn't quite late enough for everyone to return for the evening. She knew Avacyn at the very least would be out for a while longer getting things in place and setting things up. Saracyn did his own thing for the most part. She hadn't seen Alastor for a while though and that was only mildly unusual since they were together so often. She hummed softly and turned back toward the cave's entrance, wondering if maybe she should go looking for him. Sleeping alone was never any fun. Searching the island for her husband sounded like such a chore when she was already ready to fall asleep though so she settled for laying down near the entrance of the cave in the plush pile of furs that created a seating area of sorts in the main chamber of the cave. At least then she could see out to the paths in front of the caves so if he came this way she would know.

Manea rested her head on her paws, willing her eyes to stay open while she waited. A small part of her longed for the days before the pack, before the band, when it had just been her, Alastor, and their children. She could think with fondness of the days before Avacyn and Saracyn were born, but she could never wish for them not to be. Their children were her greatest accomplishments. However, she did miss the days when things were simple and it was just the four of them with one another. She didn't regret creating the pack and she knew that its legacy was far bigger than anything else she would create, but there wasn't anything else fighting for their attention or pulling them away back then. The vacation she took with Alastor reminded her of those times and she only wished that their duties here would allow for those moments more often.

She did end up dosing off a couple of times while she waited, but did manage to be awake when she finally saw Alastor walking toward the cave. She lifted her head from her paws and blinked the sleep from her eyes, giving him a little smile when he reached her. "What have you been up to?" she asked curiously as she looked up at him, noticing that parts of his thick, flowing coat were still damp in places. "I didn't know you fancied yourself a swimmer," she joked with a chuckle, bringing her aqua gaze up to his obsidian eyes.

"Manea Mendacium"