you touch the bump I punch your throat

Feeling the weight of her body against his, Aresenn's mouth twitched once more into that rare half-smile. His amber gaze flickered with a spark of amusement at her quip. "Survived, yeah." He retorted, a deep chuckle rumbling from his chest.

His paw moved lightly to rest on the small of her back, drawing lazy circles on her soft fur. The harsh wind seemed to soften around them, their bodies generating heat enough to counteract the icy chill. His eyes flitted down to their entwined bodies, his gaze settling on her stomach. Indeed, the thought of more Absinth-like creatures running around wasn't as terrifying as he previously thought. He didn’t quite know how to come to terms with that they were half his too. "Who knows, maybe one of them will outdo you in the charm department," he rumbled, amusement lacing his words as he pulled her closer. He watched her for a long moment, amber eyes tracing the curves of her face, the growing worry lines around her eyes, the slight puffiness of her cheeks. Despite everything - the cold, the impending threat of fatherhood, the chaos - she seemed to glow in a way he couldn't quite put into words, and it was beautiful.

He couldn’t help but allow his amber gaze to linger on her for several more moments, before a quiet yawn. "Pups will be hard work, won't they?" He mused aloud, his low voice carrying a rare note of uncertainty. His paw came to rest more firmly on her side, the warmth of his touch seeping through her fur. A soft gust of wind rustled their coats and sent a scatter of snowflakes fluttering around them. “It sounds like we should rest up now.” There was humor in his tired voice. But even still, the exhaustion seemed to only get heavier. He offered her a gentle grin as he motioned back toward their den. It was time to call it a night so early in the morning.

"Aresenn Praetor"