Hell

The thumping of her tail let him know she was happy to see him. His own tail swished behind him as he teased her nose with a feather. A mighty sneeze escaped her. Grinning, he dropped the feather and nuzzled her lightly as her tail thrummed like a drum beating upon the stone. She turned towards her belly. He glanced at her, quizzical for a moment before he turned and pressed the top of his muzzle to the curve of her belly.

They kicked.

He had just a second to feel the press of them before she was snarling at him. Elated, he didn't care. His tail swung more fiercely as he stared back into those teeth and ignored them. He nudged her with his nose and lathered her face in excited kisses. The pups! They had moved! They were alive and well within his mate who endured the changes to her body with as much grace as she could muster. They were growing. They were healthy. They were strong.

His chest swelled with the pride of soon-to-be fatherhood as he turned affectionately to his mate. Soon. Not too much longer now and then they would have a fresh generation of Tartok. His. Hers. Theirs.