Banking on a dream

Saracyn saw the shock and pain in Avacyn's expression when she pulled back as if reeling from the blow of his words. He never wanted to hurt Ava, nor did he intend to with his remarks, but he could not pretend that her doubts and concerns did not feel like a second guessing of all they had done together, all the faith they had put in their love and their destiny. When he finished, Avacyn was quick to interject and insist that this wasn't about her doubting their relationship. Her voice was trembling, she looked so, so afraid as she turned her gaze away from his. Sara saw the crystalline drops falling from her eyes as she moved a shaking paw to her slim belly—a belly that wouldn't remain slim for long. She was growing their children, their family. Why wasn't she as overjoyed about all this as he was?

That was when Avacyn admitted what he had figured out on his own. She was afraid. It was a fear Saracyn showed no signs of feeling. He had the utmost faith I their bloodline and in the strengths of their souls gifted to them from the Ancients. They had been meant to be together. Surely that meant the Ancients would bless their union and grace their children with bounteous gifts and power! It was the only thing that made sense to him. To even consider any alternative felt like a betrayal of that faith he had in Avacyn and in their union. He simply could not fathom that in his heart and mind. But that didn't matter right now. What mattered was that his mate was scared and she needed him to be strong for them both. She needed to be reminded of why this was the right path.

Avacyn had dropped her paws from him, but she hadn't moved away, which made it easy for Saracyn to scoop her back up in his embrace and pull her close to him once more. He held Ava against him, resting her head against his chest while he cradled her with one giant paw behind her head and the other around her back. "Shhh, it's okay, Ava," he spoke in softening tones as his hurt melted away into caring love. Saracyn was not a gentle wolf by nature, but for Avacyn he was the softest creature in the world. "Don't be afraid... We're in this together like we've always been. This is what the Ancients made us for. Our children will be the most blessed, most perfect Mendaciums in our family's history. It's why the Ancients gave us each a soul, so that we could make these perfect little wolves without fear." Leaning his head down to nuzzle her crown and kiss along the top of her forehead, Sara slid his paw down from behind Avacyn's head to rest over her own paw on her belly where their pups had just begun to grow. "This is a big step for us, and I'm nervous about being a father, but I know this is a good thing. For us, for our family, for Elysium." With another kiss to the bridge of Avacyn's nose, Sara added with a smirk, "You're going to be such a good mother."

"Avacyn & Saracyn"