god had spoken to heda today. she returned to the den lighter, scented with salt and with lavender; she lay down among the little ones and touched each small head in turn. 
she didn't know where they came from, or who their mother had been. heda could only silently thank her in some ways, for delivering these children by way of everett into her love, and therefore into the love of god.
she sang to them, feeling somehow steadier this time around as her milk flowed in abundance and the honey of motherhood was hers to taste twice in one year.
"god is love. god is sunlight," heda told them, smiling as they moved around her.