Dragoncrest Cliffs filtered through the interstices

portia nodded at the mention of not being in any hurry. neither was she-- or her body, clearly-- but it was nice to hear that dio was on the same page. like him, pups aside, the idea of just the two of them holed away just with each other for a while... it sounded nice. and this time around, it seemed, she wouldn't have to share. she hadn't been fully okay with the idea of it last year, but let it slide for wildfire's sake-- and truthfully, this year, after seeing how well her friend had raised her three... portia probably didn't mind if it had happened again this year. but again, it was nice that she didn't have to share.

the thought of sirio made her heart hurt-- but only barely. he'd hardly been a son to her the last few months. it was dalia who was favored, who thrived and grew and learned. she preferred her daughter anyway, sirio was simply... not family anymore. that was his own decision. "there's no rush," she said sweetly, tongue sweeping to gently lick the side of his muzzle. "maybe we'll have a batch turn out like dalia, this time around. good, i mean."