Larksong Grotto There's a struggle coming

"You're right," said Reek, conceding his feelings and utterly despondant. "I don't have the right to compare this to my own troubles."  Reek's head drooped even lower and his eyelids shut tightly. He had lost everything he ever had, had broken his family down until only splinters remained, and worst of all, Reek had lost the right to see his very own flesh and blood: his children whom he'd never seen, but loved deeply. Yet, he was not the one heavy with child -- but, the parental burden still hung heavy over Reek's head.

Hearing the hatred lingering in Tavi's voice toward her own young cut Reek like a hot knife. Of course, the pregnancy had been unwanted, but Reek could not bring himself to blame the innocent life currently growing in utero. He could only blame himself -- hate himself -- for being weak and deeply flawed.

Perhaps Tavi would be a poor mother. There was only one way to find out and it was trial by fire. Reek worried himself about his merit as a father. The coyote pups he had cared for as practice while he led the maplewood had been regarded as a complete failure. In no way did Reek want to make the same mistakes and have yet another child grow to hate him.

By the time Reek had a tether on his thoughts, Tavi was having a full-blown panic attack on the cave floor. His worries of the future, along with the regrets of the past, were all but stripped away in favor concern for Tavi's wellbeing. He closed the distance between them and dropped to his stomach beside her as she sobbed. Reek placed his head on her shoulder and exhaled. No words were offered, but he wanted nothing more than to let her know that he was simply there, and always would be for as long as she allowed him.