Shifts in priorities and perspectives

"Thank you, Gwyn. Yes, I'll come back in a couple of days," she promised with a smile as she started to walk through the door of the infirmary to go back out into the hall. She had been under close supervision and had probably overly frequent visits and exams with Gwynevere ever since her pregnancy was confirmed, mostly for Artorias' benefit. The more his talented sister could assure him that she was fine and their children were growing well the less she had to try and assure him herself. He was already protective and concerned as it was before she got pregnant and this new nervous, anxious energy the worried first time father took on only made that exponentially more true. She chuckled softly at the thought of him and she couldn't help but smile. While his worry was a bit overbearing at times, she knew it came from his pure excitement and love so she couldn't fault him for it.

There was the slightest waddle and sway to her steps as she followed the castle corridors past the staircase to the great hall. She was about half way through her pregnancy from what Gwynevere told her and she was really beginning to show the progress of it. Over the last several weeks it was like the pups were going through a growth spurt, revealing just how big of a litter this was going to be and potentially how much of their father's height they were going to inherit. She could still do most of her usual tasks around the castle and get around fine, but she didn't know how much longer that was going to be the case so she was trying to get all of her projects to a good stopping point as soon as she could. That's what she was on the way to do now, going to the cellar to check on a few wines that still needed to be bottled, when she walked into the great hall and found Bowen already there.

She paused when her turquoise gaze fell on her sister-in-law. She had of course heard from Artorias that she had returned, but the pack proved that it was large enough for them to continue to miss each other. Whether that was intentional or not she didn't know, but this was the first time since Bowen's return that she had actually been in the same room as the cream and copper woman. A soft smile pulled at her lips as she put aside what she was planning to do in favor of turning toward her, saying, "Hello, Bowen. I'm happy to see you back with us." She wasn't really sure what to expect given how the last time she had seen her had gone, but Briar knew how much Artorias cared for her so regardless she was happy to have her sister-in-law back in the pack where he would no longer need to worry about her. She was sure that had to be a weight off of his mind, though they hadn't really discussed it in the business of preparing for their pups.

"Briar Carpathius"