Tormented Tarns stay

Soon. Of course soon. Nanuk was surprised she hadn't burst yet. How many did she have in there? Four? Ten? Too many? Was she the natural version of a clown car? As a creature who lacked any kind of maternal instinct, the polar bear found even just one parasite to be one too many. For the leading pair, she would put up with the brats, but they would undoubtedly learn to leave her the hell alone. 

"They will be strong." While they were parasites still, Nanuk was sure that any who had survived the ordeal that they'd been through would be as worthy of the name Tartok as their parents were. The storm, the traveling, everything was now boiling down into the final few moments of her pregnancy. If stress had not eaten away at her brood, they would be survivors and fighters. As any Tartok wolf naturally was.