Stavanger Bay told you not to worry

first the scarred man, then akira — stormrift began to flake and fall around the young couple that clung tenaciously to the bay. he had not seen rannveig in some time; perhaps his brother had gone off to seek the titan once more. all velen knew was that he and dalia were bitterly, poignantly alone when her labour began.
the isolation was made worse by his ignorance of what to do for her, and paced a furrow in the grass as her helpless cries echoed from the den. tears stung his eyes; what if she died? what if she died because he had no idea of how to help? but the ceto steeled himself and peered from time to time into the semi-darkness.
he had expected to eventually hear the whimpering of puppies, but none came, and when dalia called to him, her weak voice was fractured with pain and fear. thrusting himself into the now-fragrant aura of the den, velen's throat constricted with a whine as he looked at the tiny pale body, unmoving, and began to nose over the boy, glancing to dalia who seemed taken off by another wave of pain.