Morningside Cuesta freedom

There was pain and suffering, and then there was pregnancy. Khoe hadn't slept for longer than an hour or so at a time before she needed to expel whatever was left inside of her (which, in truth, hadn't been much; her appetite had disappeared long beforehand) which took a toll on both her mental and physical health. She had become irritable and agitated, constantly snapping at everything around her from the once soothing chirps of the birds to the wretched smell of her lavender patch. She was miserable; it seemed that no matter what she did, something would go wrong in the process.

Pregnancy was not treating her well, and though she had expected such a revelation, she found that it had been much more real and severe than she had prepared for. The den that she had dug out to rest in had succumb to the powerful stench of her vomit and Khoe quickly had to move to a more open and available location. Thus, we find her now lying beside the slow-churning waters of a thinly wound creek, panting and whining in the midday heat.

Sunspot had been traversing the territory, looking for something to keep her busy. She was in a strange mood, being back with her brother. Being so far from her home. Being so... so without all the wolves that used to need her. She was used to being needed. She was not used to having so much freetime.

It was almost a relief when she came across the panting, pregnant woman. Almost.

"Khoe?" she called, her voice gentle but clear. For a moment, she worried that it had not been the right name, but of course, there was no mistaking this particular packmate. Grayday had given only a rudimentary description of her, but 'tiny' was all he needed to have said.

Khoe's automatic defenses kicked in as the unfamiliar voice reached its way into her ears. As she rose to her feet, hackles raised and a low growl building, she came to recognize the scent wafting between the two of them. She immediately silenced herself but remained attentive with her tiny stub tucked and her ears perked. The joining of Grayday's sister had been discussed, but she was still a stranger and made the young mother feel everything except for secure.

What? she barked bluntly. This was a new side of her, and one that she had worked incredibly hard to keep hidden at that, but it seemed that her own discomfort would do her no good. As Khoe stood eyeing the new face, she gave a sharp glare of warning, as if to hide her own insecurity and fear.

As soon as the woman responded, Sunspot tasted something sour on the back of her tongue. Her gaze sharpened, and when she spoke, her voice lacked the warmth it'd had in her initial greeting.

"I wondered if you'd taken anything for the nausea," she said in a flat voice, showing her disapproval at the tone that'd been taken with her. So what if she was puking? It wasn't her fault Khoe had gone and gotten herself knocked up. (Having never experienced pregnancy for herself, Sunspot had no sympathy for the other.)

Recieving the woman's glare, Sunspot returned one of her own, though it was more out of confusion than spite. "I'll leave you to your puking, then," she said a bit snippily, but the woman remained, reluctant to acutally take herself away, if the Khoe didn't know what plants to take. Still, her pride wouldn't let her sit meekly when such an attitude was being taken toward her.

Khoe scoffed and turned back around to face the water, her body slowly finding its way back to the ground. I know what I'm doing, she snapped, but it was quickly followed with a relinquishing sigh. She didn't know Grayday's sister, so even if she did just want to help, how could Khoe be sure? She needed to make sure that she was safe and that her whelps were safe, and allowing a stranger into her space wasn't ideal.

...but thank you. She turned to peer over her shoulder and remained that way for a moment or so before having to move to avoid another potential wave of nausea.

"I'm sure," the woman replied, her voice bland and unfriendly. Even when the other shewolf followed up with a softer response, Sunspot could not find it in her to return to her usual, amiable nature. She was used to a certain amount of respect, and although she did not have the same standing here as she'd had back at home, she still didn't see any reason why she ought to stand for rudeness.

Flicking her tail in acknowledgement, Sunspot turned to walk away, seeing that her company here wasn't wanted, and that - likely - she would not enjoy said company either way.