Loss Never Gets Easier

She knew that Ikigai and her brother would still be in mourning and she knew that this was a terrible loss for not only them but their families, but she somehow still underestimated just how much it would rock the young woman. She had only ever seen Ikigai be poised and lady like–even during their unexpected meeting when Ikigai was still a pup. Right now though, she saw the cracks in Ikigai's expression as she settled in beside her and all at once Ikigai shifted from a woman far more mature than her years to a heartbroken girl that was crumbling under the weight of her own grief.

Tears welled up in Manea's own eyes as Ikigai sobbed and leaned her head into her to cry, her ears folding back against her head as she shifted to slip a foreleg around Ikigai's shoulders, pulling the younger woman into her chest as she nuzzled the top of her head. She may not have been Ikigai's mother, but she had been fond of her since the day they met and had easily come to love her as one of her own in the time that she had spent among their family. She held her for as long as she needed, letting her cry out this unimaginable pain. While it did truly seem like Deimos had turned over a new leaf with his mate and was surely doing what he could to comfort her, Manea also knew that there was no real replacement for a mother's comfort. She knew she wasn't going to really fill that role for Ikigai, but perhaps she could be a decent substitute for the time being.

Only when she felt Ikigai's sobs begin to settle did she lift her cheek from the top of the younger woman's head, pulling her foreleg from around her shoulders just so that she could gently wipe the tears from Ikigai's cheeks. "I wish I could tell you that loss gets easier," she told her quietly with a small, sad smile. "I know it hurts and I have no doubt that it will hurt for a very long time." Her paw cupped Ikigai's cheek gently as she looked at her with the same sort of love that she had often looked to her own children with. "No matter how much we were all looking forward to your pups, what's really important is that you're okay. I would much rather mourn your children that could have been than mourn losing you and I'm sure Deimos feels the same way. All of this will pass with time and someday soon we'll have another litter to look forward to. I'm sure of it."

"Manea Mendacium"