Moonspear blood of my blood

arcturus did not come near, but he listened and watched for hydra. he remained outside even as growls turned to snarls, and then snarls turned to strange silence. arcturus knew naught of birthings, but given all that transpired as of late, he was ever near to hydra.

he stood sentinel well outside her den, sitting against stone in a stiffened pose. he was oddly collected for a wolf so close to hydra — perhaps his ignorance of whelping (and how horrifically it could go) was a blessing, for he was remarkably composed at this hour. 

dirge was given only an impassive look any time the prospective father came his way. other wolves might be nervous or fret as their wives, mothers, or sisters bore children: arcturus was not. he knew hydra was fierce and strong, and he knew this too would soon be over.