he heard her, and heeded, sweeping into the clearing with maw curved into a radiant smile. willow! he exclaimed, eyes falling to the lush roundness of her sides. he did not know exactly why she had crowed triumphantly unto the sky, but the beta wished to revel in her joy, and presently he crossed over to her and nudged her shoulder gently with his muzzle.

at first he did not understand what she meant, but her laughter, the joy that aureoled her every movement, soon had him place his cheek against one velveteen swell. he felt nothing, but shared her excitement all the same, lifting himself to grace her cheek with a gentle lick. what does it feel like? lasher inquired of her breathlessly, ears cupped forward with interest and anticipation.

flutters, he repeated, eyes bright. recalling suddenly that he had created a gift for her, lasher pulled away somewhat. i have something i wish to show you, blue willow, he said, rather more formally than he intended.

gesturing that she should fall into step with him, the beta led her toward the edge of a brook, where a large willowtree hung its head o'ertop the bank. having selected such a bole as was farther back from the water, lasher lifted his paw to point out the den, its comfortable innards decorated with all manner of pelts and the crushed petals he had found.

it is to be a place for the children, but i was only struck with a whim, taltos murmured bashfully. if you wish to keep your current home, i will not be offended. i felt that you would keep both domiciles, the latter for your invalids.

blue willow was pleased, and lasher released a tension he did not know he had been holding. returning her lick, his gaze again traveled to her sides; he could not help it. how long will it be now? he queried somewhat absentmindedly; he was picturing the children splashing like golden fish in the soft curve of her rounded belly ... how tiny they must be now!

lasher's face spread into a wide smile; he could not contain it, and yet some feeling of nervousness flared into his breast at the suddenness of their birth. a horrid thought struck him then, and the smile faded quickly from his gaze, from his lips. blue willow, how do you know you will survive? taltos whispered the words as if they were an evil spell, suddenly racked with terror and worry for his lover and their beloved unborn.

he had not meant to ruin the moment, but the mention of blood caused a burst of queasiness within his gut, and he stared at blue willow for a tense moment before a brief scuffle carried him to the nearby bushes and he gave up what was in his gut. i am sorry, he whispered, trudging sheepishly back to her. i have not the countenance for blood. but i will be at your side, no matter what.

he became sick yet again, but this time for the bushes he did not dash. rather, taltos sank down and lay his muzzle beside her forepaws, a regretful sigh escaping along with a self-deprecating laugh. i suppose i shall have to survive it! the man jested, though he presently brought his muzzle unto her cheek and began to preen her in a comfortable silence.