A strange mix of pride, curiosity, and jealousy had been stirring in his gut for quite a while. Pride and curiosity he was quite familiar with in some form or fashion, but jealousy was not an emotion he had much familiarity with. At first he wasn't even sure what to call the feeling, but he was honestly ashamed with himself after he realized what it was. Ever since Imena had volunteered to care for Loki's wayward pups he had been proud of her, curious as to how she was getting along with them, and, of course, jealous that Loki and his pups were getting to spend so much time with her. To top it off he was worried about her well being. He had noticed at the meeting several days ago that she had not been feeling well, sniffling and all that, and he really felt bad for not noticing it before. If he had stopped for a moment that morning and waited on her to wake up before he took off he would have been able to help her, but he hadn't done that. What he really needed to do was talk to her, one on one. He needed to tell her how he had been feeling, needed to ask how she had been feeling. Cael just needed to put all of his cards on the table. Ever since he had come back he felt like everything was in the air and it made him feel like he was walking on eggshells. It was time to figure out what they were going to do with their life. He was laying just outside the den they still shared, sighing as he rested his head on his paws. He let the sun warm his pale coat while he waited for Imena to return. Cael hadn't dared to go out to the den on the edge of the territory that Loki had been keeping the pups so he would just have to wait... Speech Thought Companion Others

Imena

She had promised Loki she'd be back shortly. The pups were old enough to not need her all the time, soon she would need to wean them. But she needed some time to herself to get some air and to move about. Plus she wanted to check on her den, Cael, and Amia. Amia had stopped in a few tires to give her herbs to make sure her cold was fully cleared up. They never told Loki knowing he'd more than likely freak out. But they had been careful to keep the pups healthy. But today was a small break for her. Trotting to her den felt more exhausting than her thought it would be. The caring for pups and providing milk was tolling on her but she would be fine. As the den came into view she sighed heavily with a smile. Home never looked better, well maybe it once had. When she knew she was coming home to Cael and into his embrace. As she came closer she saw the white male sitting outside the den, as if waiting for her. She smiled and almost hurried to him till she remembered they weren't together anymore. As cast down and she walked the rest of the way. She hated this awkward feeling between the two of them. She could not lie to herself that she didn't miss the way things had once been. Pausing by him she smiled softly."Enjoying the sun?" She asked softly. She wondered how he felt about her looking after Loki's pups. She hadn't seen him since she got tasked with the duty.

It was like an answer to a prayer or maybe just luck. Whatever it was, he was happy to see Imena's form coming toward him. His head lifted from his paws as he watched her, his ears and eyes alert as he looked his mate over. It was all too clear that she was tired, but otherwise he thought she looked okay, physically anyway. He had no idea what was running through her mind. Maybe that was the most frightening part of all of this. He remembered a time when he could practically read her mind just from looking into her gorgeous blue eyes, but now he couldn't be sure of himself. She stopped beside him and a small smile crossed his muzzle. I am," he replied just as softly. "Will you join me?" He hoped so desperately that she would take his offer and lay down beside him. At the very least he hoped she would sit near by so he could talk to her. Once she decided where she would settle herself, he would hesitate for only a moment before he would press on. "I'm really glad you came home today. I've been wanting to talk to you, but I didn't want to bother you when you were with the pups... But where do I start?" He gave a soft, half-hearted chuckle before he went on, trying his best to control his emotions, but not always being successful. His irish accent was normally quite subtle, having dulled down a bit from his time living in Valhalla, but as he rambled on he could hear it becoming more pronounced as his emotions began to get stirred up. "I guess I should say first how proud I am of you volunteering to take care of those pups. It's a shame that their mother wouldn't do that for them and I know how special pups are to you, so I am glad that they had someone like you around willing to care for them... But I have to be honest with you because it was hard for me to be honest with myself about it. I realized I was jealous of them and Loki for having all of your attention... I know, it's ridiculous for me to be jealous of a few puppies, but... I guess maybe I... I always thought that I would have a part in you being a mother and that it would be a special first experience for us... I know, I know, they're not yours and it's not the same, I've been telling myself that over and over, but..." His ears flattened against his skull, feeling petty and selfish for even thinking that way. "Imena... Imena, I just..." He shook his head, turning his gaze to meet hers, trying to put together the right words. What I'm trying to say is... I still love you. I still love you just like I did the first day I laid eyes on you. Do you remember when we met? When it was so hot that I carried your herbs for you so you could catch a breather?" A slight smile came to his muzzle as he thought of the memory. "Even then I knew you were the most beautiful fea I had ever seen." Deciding to test his luck, he glanced away from her gaze for just a moment so he could reach over and place his forepaw over hers before looking back up to her gaze. "Imena, I want to make things right. I want to have those special moments with you, give you everything your deserve. I just want you to be happy. Imena... can I do that? Can I make you happy?" Speech Thought Companion Others

She would have gone into the den to look over a few herbs and take some back for herself and Aksel if Cael had not asked her to join him. She would pause for a moment to look back the way she had come before laying down next to him. As she settled down he would begin to speak, pulling her gaze to his warm face. The face she had learned to love, to cherish and dream of every night, to wish that every morning she'd wake up to seeing him first. His irish accent grew stronger with each word making her skin prickle and mental shivers race down her spine. She loved it, that accent was so alluring. Her jaws would part slightly as he confused his jealously to Loki and the pups. How he was proud of her. About how he wished to had been him to fill that void she was always missing. Truth be told it was still there. Though she loved these pups, they were not her's by blood. There would always be that void unless she bore her own. Her mouth closed before her tongue darted out to lick her lips. He seemed to torn, having a hard time confessing how he really felt. Her heart picked up in it's pace, thundering against her chest. She shifted her self to be closer to him, just a hair away from touching him. And then he spoke again, words she had a jut feeling would be said. He stilled loved her, still wanted to be with her. Her gaze fell from his for the first time since he spoke, looking down at her paws. She did not move as he placed a paw over her's. Brows creased slightly in thought. Had she forgiven him? What was she staying? She had always loved him and never stopped. Their fallout had just caused her to put a block up. But she wasn't herself without him. She knew that much. A moon could not stay in the sky forever. She needed her sun. She looked back up at him."Cael, first I want you to know..You don't have to be jealous of Loki and the pups. Yes they fill me with joy. But there is still a void within me for they are not fully mine. They soon will have no need for me. I have been a den mother before, so the task is not a hard one for me. It just makes that longing for my own even much more greater. She paused to look down at their paws.And yes I remember when we met. I remember thinking you were brighter and warmer than the sun that shone down upon us. I knew then you were the sun missing in my life. Cael you have always made me happy. And I must confess I miss your touch and waking up with you right there next time me...The moon needs her sun. She said softly before leaning in to lick his cheek. Speech Thought Others

Cael held absolutely still as he watched Imena, waiting with bated breath for her to speak. She finally returned her gaze to his, easing his fears and jealousy over Loki's pups. She looked away from him once again, but her words made his heart soar and made the weight that had been hanging on his shoulders fall away. A smile stretched across his face and his eyes glittered with tears, but this time they were tears of joy. She turned to place a lick on his cheek and he finally felt like he could breathe. "Imena..." he whispered, his tone soft and adoring. He leaned into her form, finally fulfilling the longing for her touch that he had been feeling since he had arrived back in Valhalla. He curved his neck over the back of hers, pulling her into an embrace. In an instant everything in his life went from feeling like it was in shambles to all the pieces falling back into place. "Imena, you're everything I'll ever need. You say I'm warmer and brighter than the sun, but you're the fuel that keeps me burning. You keep hope and love in my heart and show me that there really is good, kind hearted wolves left in this world." After a few moments he would let her go, wanting to see her sky blue gaze once more. The druid would smile and lean in to place a lick on her cheek before telling her, "Also... As soon as Loki's pups are old enough not to need to and you've had some time to rest, I want to start a family." He brushed his muzzle against hers, wishing they could lay here forever soaking in each other's company. Part of him knew that she should be getting back to Loki's pups, but he had missed her so dearly that it was hard to let her go again. Speech Thought Companion Others