Sleepy Fox Hollow Like a dream I can reach but not quite hold.

Children, though vital to the growth and future of the pack, were very much a mystery to her. Nyx had never felt any real desire to be a mother, did not look upon raising offspring to be her true purpose in life. She was sure that, in large part, this lack of parental instinct came hand-in-hand with a disinterest in tying herself to a mate.

Her first participation in the breeding season ended in disaster, a failure she'd tried for years to forgive herself for. The guilt remained, as raw and numb as the days that had followed, but perhaps she could be worthy of a second chance.

What she needed was for something to be her grounding to the world, something to hold her focus and break the vicious chains surrounding her heart. "I would accept," she answered, soft but bold, though she felt that familiar waver of uncertainty within. It quickly heightened to panic and, with more urgency, the tawny Ostrega continued: "I wouldn't expect you to be involved, unless... you'd want to?"

A curious prick of her ear then, as she swallowed the lump in her throat.