Sun Mote Copse spring's thrall

Eljay didn't quite understand when Towhee mentioned not having a mate but still seemed upset or maybe even surprised that she wasn't pregnant. She.. knew.. about basic reproduction, right? She knew she needed a mate -- or at least a male -- for that, right? He looked a little confused until Towhee continued, luckily before Eljay could ask any further dumb questions about that, to say that Raven had only said she wasn't pregnant -- mildly disappointing to the Midwife, who had hoped he could learn decipher whether someone was receptive to become pregnant at all through the information -- and... she had actually slept with men, but she just wasn't pregnant.

After a short thoughtful pause, Eljay said: Maybe it just wasn't meant to be, or not yet. But Towhee, raising pups is really hard, and even more so alone, he wasn't sure where he got the courage to even say that to Towhee's face, And -- It doesn't go as easy for everyone. Especially if you're stressed about it. But I don't think there's a way to tell if you really can't at all. At least as far as I know. He looked at Towhee's clearly not-pregnant-belly and wondered, Does Wraen know about you... trying? He figured she did since Towhee wasn't exactly private about her escapades, but still. Maybe Wraen would help with raising it, Eljay thought, which was slightly more reassuring than Towhee doing it alone.

Eljay knew, after all, how hard it could be to raise pups alone. Then again, he was without pups this year too so maybe others like he and Wraen could chip in more easily. Still, part of Eljay found it hard to break free from the traditional picture he had in his head of a father and mother raising pups together.