Stavanger Bay white elephant in the room

Once the deed had been done, Rannoch looked onto the expecting mother hopefully, curious to what would happen next. Would they part ways again in favor of their own interests? He was expecting this just before he spoke. As he was about to turn and return to his nest, she spoke to him quietly in a tongue that he had never heard.

He frowned, unsure how to follow up. Of course he wanted to be there for her, but, at the same time, he could truly understand what she was attempting to express. So, for a lack of better words, he replied just as quietly in way of an apology.

“... I’m sorry.” His ears flattened and he looked to her, wondering what she would do next.