The woman awoke in the middle of the night, a dream troubling her as she laid beside her mate. Ravine... She cast a look at him, making sure he was alright before breathing out a soft sigh of relief. He was alright. Her single-eyed gaze flicked to Tiny next, making sure that her little one was still in tact as well. To her relief he was nestled in some leaf litter and feathers, keeping warm as one of the first nights of autumn was upon them. Yet, even in knowing her loved ones were safe like this Akemi still felt that there was something off. Zisa and Einarr never returned, much to her dismay, and the chances of having a litter with Ravine were growing slimmer with each passing season. But that didn’t mean the woman had given up hope. There was time still... It wouldn’t be too late until one of them passed onto the next life. Silently Akemi rose to her paws, starting out of the den and walking out into the gully. The tattered remains of her ears shifted ever so slightly, as they might when the full ears were there upon her head. She felt old... Horribly old and could feel the weight of the world pressing upon her shoulders. Sure she hadn’t given up having a litter with Ravine... But if they didn’t somehow manage to have one next year then what chance did they really have? A sigh passed her lips, guilt eating at her. She had continued to regain her memories alongside Ravine, one by one... She could even sort of remember the hunt that led t her accident. If only... Akemi shook her head. It was no good carrying on like this. Bad as she felt she knew that dwelling on what she couldn’t change wasn’t about to make it better. At the sounds of pawsteps Akemi turned her head, her single red eye searching for the source. “Ravine?” "Talk"

The man awoke at the sound of his lover leaving their den. He lay quietly watching Tiny for a few moments as he waited for Akemi to return. It didn't take but those few moments for him to grow worried and push himself up onto his paws and look just outside the den to where his wife stood quietly. He couldn't help but to admire her beauty in the dim light of the moon, even with all of her scars and flaws she was the most beautiful woman in the world, or at least to him she was. To him no other woman would match her, nor would they ever even come close. She was the love of his life, his reason for rising with the sun and sleeping when the owls were about. He even found that he couldn't sleep at night until she was safely asleep within their den at night, his lullaby was her soft even breathing as she slept at his side. Any shift in her breathing tended to awake him out of shear worry for her. He had lost her once and refused to do so again. He would only take a few steps outside their den and as if on queue she would turn to look for him, she would even speak his name in question to make sure it truly was him. He would never tire of her voice, her smell or the warmth of her as she pressed into his side as they slept within their den. A smile would pull at the corners of his mouth just before he would open it to respond to her. "It is me, my love."he would answer with his voice full of warmth. As soon as the words left him, Ravine found himself moving forward to gently press his nose into the side of her neck only to turn it into a nuzzle. "What pulls you from our den and from my side within it? he would ask softly as he could see something was troubling her. Speech,

Akemi was relieved that it was indeed her mate she had heard. She didn’t move, waiting for his warmth as he closed the distance between them. His soft question caused guilt to eat at the woman, and her single gaze came to close as she nuzzled against her beloved. “Worries I suppose…” The femme confessed softly. “Zisa and Einarr never returned… I don’t know if they will anymore.” Akemi let out a sigh, opening her red orb to look into Ravine’s soft blue hues. “We’re not getting any younger either, Ravine…” The femme gave a soft whine. “When my season comes… I want to try and have a litter with you. I know it’s a long shot but… I really want to try.” Akemi’s words were soft. “I want to give you more children before we’re too old to do so… I…” Akemi shook her head, feeling tears prick at her single eye. “I’m so sorry my love…” There were multiple things going on within her mind. Wondering if Ravine still wanted to try… and if he did what their young ones might look like. “I guess I got caught up think about things and just needed a moment…” She buried her head into his chest, waiting for Ravine to answer her. ""

Table by:: Tealah

He would stand quietly as Akemi spoke, never taking his aqua orbs from her face. It seemed she was worried about everything. Their children, their age, the possibility of more children or rather the lack of. Ravine was sure with every word he was falling in love with her all over again. She was strong, brave, headstrong even but she never seemed to worry about their age and now she was....all because she wanted to have children with him. He couldn't help but draw his brows together in confusion at her apology though. Why was she sorry? The question would bounce around in his skull as his features softened back into a grin. "I don't know that they will ever come back to us Akemi, but I'm not willing to say they wont because you came back to me at the very moment I began to doubt you ever would." he would give her cheek a kiss a moment before the next words were on his tongue. "As for having more children, I would love nothing more. I just don't understand why your sorry." He would search her face after the words had left him. Was she sorry she hadn't asked sooner or was she sorry for asking at all? Speech,

Akemi gave a small nod as Ravine spoke up again. He was right… she couldn’t give up hope! But when he questioned why she was sorry the female gave a soft sigh. “If I’d asked you sooner… we wouldn’t have needed to worry about our ages… maybe that accident wouldn’t have happened too…” Akemi looked up at Ravine, guilt shining in her eye. “I feel so badly for the time we lost… but I’m not going to give up… not now…” She gaze the male a lick under his chin. “I’m happy to be with you, my love… and that we still have Tiny… but…” She found her smile once more. “I can’t help but wonder what little ones would look like between us. I want… to have one more litter at least. With the man I love.” …and not just a false love. True love. “Don’t ever change, Ravine.” Akemi whispered, nuzzling into his larger frame once more. “Tomorrow… when we wake… I want to talk to you about something else, okay? Maybe… moving.” Akemi grinned, looking back up at her beloved. “But for now… I just want to enjoy your company.” "Hear me talk," 'but read my thoughts.' "Hear Tiny talk," 'but read Tiny's thoughts.'

Table by:: Keno