You Take What Is Yours And I'll Take Mine

In the fallout of her fight with Alastor, the insistence from both him and Irilyth that she slow down and take it easy intensified to the point that she thought they might force her to stay in the cave until the pups arrived if she didn't. Irilyth couldn't pinpoint anything in particular wrong with the pregnancy, but she continued to constantly be worn out and strained by even the most simple of tasks. Today Avacyn had caught wind of what was going on and refused to even let her discuss the plans for the upcoming celebration when Manea went to have her usual meeting with her, her daughter instead sending her away and telling her to rest. Of all the times to be sequestered to the den with her own thoughts now was certainly not when she wanted that to be. Her emotions over Alastor's tryst with Relm were still tangled and messy, sometimes making her angry and other times dragging up her insecurities from the depths.

She tried to at least appease her worrying family by finding other places to rest on the island, picking a sunny spot by the lake to lay down rather than having to be cooped up inside all day. The pups she was carrying clearly still had some growing to do before they were born, but her round belly was slowly beginning to be more noticeable. The warmth of the sun was soothing and as she laid with her head on her paws she was able to chase away her own thoughts in the steady sound of the small waves from the lake hitting the rocky shore. That peace was interrupted as the voice of the one woman she had no desire to see called her name, making her ear flick and a slow sigh pass through her nose.

Manea didn't respond immediately, but did eventually lift her head to look at Relm with a carefully neutral expression. She couldn't even say that she hated the woman now. Not any more, at least. Now she just wasn't sure how to label the way she felt about her and that was almost worse. It put her somewhere between dislike and neutrality, distrust and intrigue. She wanted to know what Alastor saw in her besides a similar background and a need to protect her or maybe that was really all it was and that was enough for her husband to want her. The fact that he and Relm had slept together still irked her, but she was at least attempting to give Relm another chance for Alastor's sake while he worked his way off of the thin ice he had put himself on.

She was surprised by the offer Relm made, so much so it almost made her suspicious of Relm's intentions, but she tried to just appreciate the fact that Relm was willing to contribute toward the celebration Avacyn was working so hard to plan and not search for anything deeper than that. After considering Relm for a moment she sighed softly and replied, "I genuinely wish I could. Nothing would make me happier than chasing down and ripping into some prey." Laying around for someone so accustomed to always being busy felt like it was worse than death and it had been far too long since she had gotten to enjoy a good hunt. She shifted a little to lay more comfortably and not put as much pressure on her stomach. "Unfortunately, Irilyth and Alastor have put me on strict orders to not do any strenuous activity. This pregnancy has been far more draining than the last."

"Manea Mendacium"