ribbon cutting

"Oh Corvus," she said wistfully, finding her eyes becoming glassy with tears even as she tried to keep them at bay. "I still remember when Shaye assigned you to mentor me. Who would have thought we'd be here now, talking about children and standing before this... this thing we've all built." The years had marched on since then, as time always did, but she still felt the same companionable warmth to her distant cousin. She had been so young and nervous when they'd first met, terrified that he would be disappointed in her. Desperate to please him. "I think I'm ready... but how could you ever know? Children seem to just happen to some wolves, and here we are," she said softly, "dreaming, wishing, wanting." Theory took a long, slow breath. This far away from the Rapids, the world seemed so much quieter. No endless soundtrack of rushing water to ease her racing thoughts. "Maybe it will be something that just happens to us, too. When we least expect it."