King Elk Forest What Arrows

She didn't seem to mind his touch, but oddly, Shrike didn't feel inclined to try again. He'd wanted to both reassure her and express his own concern, and he felt he had done that. She might have wanted more, but Shrike knew in his heart that it was not his place to do so. He still had no idea how long Lasher had been gone, or if she was just turning her own grief into want. He still felt as though she was being too optimistic, but there was nothing he could do about that. And maybe things would just turn out right for her. 

When she asked if he'd stop by to see her again, he nodded deftly. "Sure," He said, in his usual, abrupt way. Having been told many times as a child that his abruptness often came off as being rude, he elaborated. "I'd like to. When?" He asked, knowing that if she gave birth soon, he woulnd't be able to come back to see her before the pups were born, and she would need some time post-birth to recover before meeting him again.