Even the best laid plans

With her pergnatcy progressing, Iki and Deimos decided together that it was time to tell her mother. The woman insisted on doing it in person as she would be the first of Venom's children to have children of their own. Aside from that, it would be nice to travel with Deimos. They had grown rather close since surprising him with the good news and she felt that she trusted him now. Things had come together between them an Ikigai could admit that there was a true bond.

With her new cloak wrapped about her shoulders to shield her from the winter chill, Ikigai fell into step beside Deimos. The dire brute was her protector and navigator. She trusted that he would get them to their destination unscathed. It would be the first time traveling to Ashen's newly claimed lands. Iki had supported the move whole-heartedly. There was no need to hold true to the shrine or the supposed god that it paid tribute to.

The pair of wolves gingerly picked their way across the mountainous terrain. Iki used Deimos' larger paw prints when necessary. Her long legs made it easier to navigate than she had imagined and it wasn't terribly difficult to keep pace with him, not that he was walking fast. Ikigai's stamina wasn't close to Deimos' however and soon she began to get tired. As soon as he offered to find a place to settle down for the night, Iki nodded. "Soon," she admitted. Not only was she getting tired, but her dainty digits were freezing. The pale woman grimaced and looked at her mate a little sheepishly. "Now, please."

"Ikigai"