plans awry

Valen didn't reply, just pulled her into a hug and Cascade melted into it with a faint whine. "Why, Valen?" she mumbled into his fluffy fur. "I don't understand what I'm doing so wrong." His embrace was relaxing, and safe, and for a moment she clung to him before reluctantly pulling away. "It's better for you and the kids that he's gone. You'll be safer. He'd gone... crazier than usual." Her mind conjured up the way he had loomed over her, the fury and the... hunger in his eyes and the barely held violence in his stance, and she flinched, before dropping her gaze to the ground. "If he comes back, I won't let him hurt the kids. I'll kill him first. You don't have to worry about them, I would die before I let him touch them, I just... wanted you to know that it was a possibility that he'd try." Her voice had a dull mechanical quality as she spoke, as though she didn't really care if she did kill him, but... the thought made her chest feel tight with panic. The thought of dying if she failed didn't even dredge up an emotional response but if she failed it would leave them vulnerable... better for Valen to know, just in case. She considered leaving, now that he knew, but she couldn't even muster up the energy to trudge to her den. "I'm sorry," she murmured miserably.