Big Sisters and Big Secrets

Briar grinned and chuckled at Kite's reaction to one of her nieces' or nephews' kicking against her paw, agreeing with a little nod that they were very active today. The closer she got to the end of her pregnancy and the bigger these pups got the more active they became. She loved when they moved to give her some kind of sign that they were doing well and growing strong in there, but she was certainly going to be thrilled when they were born and she didn't have to feel them kicking against her ribs any longer. Briar leaned back a bit and lifted one of her paws out of the way, letting Kite get closer to press her ear to her belly. She nodded to Kite's question over whether she spoke to them or not, replying, "I do. Art talks to them a lot–more than I do I think." She chuckled as she thought about all of the times throughout both of her pregnancies that Art would lay with her for hours, especially when she wasn't feeling well enough to be up and about, just talking to their unborn pups and telling them all about the world and the family they were about to join.

Briar laughed again at Kite's joke about Art having to carry her if she got any fatter, her long, braided tail sweeping against the stone floor behind her. "I don't think even Art could carry me at this point! He's very strong, but I think he'll need a cart to carry me with!" She loved these moments of being able to just giggle and joke with her sister. The first time her younger siblings came to stay the whole visit had been filled with heartache and mourning on top of having to navigate being a first time mother so it was such a relief and a joy to just relax and actually get to know her siblings that lived so far away. "I'm really glad you came to visit, Kite," she said genuinely after a moment, giving her sister a loving smile as she leaned in to nuzzle her cheek. "I really miss having our family around sometimes so it always makes me so happy when any of you come to visit."

"Briar Carpathius"