Dragoncrest Cliffs Matthew 25:35

Thuringwethil begins to speak of her home and Asherah listens intently, searching her tone and words for any intentions. Was the speech pleasing to her? Is she convinced? Or does she mean to gently turn them away? Her expression is hopeful as she watches the woman, it would be foolish to feign neutrality when it is so far from the truth. For a moment Asherah believes that the woman is attempting to give reasons that they cannot be accepted. They are not simply three more mouths to feed, and this she understands but her heart dips deeply all the same. The completion of that sentence though causes her ears to twitch, and her eyes search the woman's face.

She speaks of pregnant women in the pack, their priority, and Asherah is so swept in by the realization that this is the end of the journey that she misses that it is the woman's mate who is pregnant. This would have brought her pause normally, confusion, but her mind is full of shock. She can be helpful here, she realizes slowly, dulled and delayed by her immense relief. She feels emotion threaten to overwhelm her as the woman turns and gestures them in, bidding them forward. Her legs shake as she takes a step, the weakness of relief. She glances away and swallows quickly, inhaling deep breaths so she does not alarm her children with tears. She moves towards the woman, nodding as she feels Elohim's eyes on her.

He is a dart, shooting past her to greet the woman and for the first time in months she is not terrified to have him so far away. She shakes away the tears as she and Anatha approach, pausing to level Thuringwethil with a still wet gaze. "Thank you." She manages, waiting for the woman to lead, accepting her place in this new home.