Lost Creek Hollow a brief history of time

it would not be long now. time and gravidity had swollen mona's little body until she looked rather ridiculous to her own mind. the spring melts had come, and she used that time to wash herself in the fresh waters, shivering slightly upon the bank of the creek as she groomed herself dry.
then to her den, and an excavation of her own. without a mate, mona was hard-pressed to move the winter-cold soil alone, and was forced to break several times, her round sides heaving with exertion as she sought to widen the small shelter in anticipation of the children to come.