Ouroboros Spine sure would like some sweet company

"Thank you, Kukutux," Ruenna received the praise graciously, and without any of the bashfulness that she might have shown in her younger days. The Redfern was finally starting to believe in her own worth, perhaps. "I'm grateful too, and.. happy." And she was happy, mostly. It was only that caring for the Redhawk children as if they were her own was not quite the same as caring for her own. 

The duck's next question cracked open the door, leaving it up to Ruenna as to whether she would walk through. She decided she would. 

"Children, I suppose." Ruenna answered, trying to sound more offhanded than she actually felt about it. "Mother" was the only role, it seemed, that could not be taken away by age, disability, or privilege, and Rue yearned to secure such a position for herself. Once it was achieved, she felt that she would always know her place. She'd always have her place, come what may.  

"I had hoped I would have found their father by now," Rue admitted, speaking of her unborn children. That IS the hitch, isn't it? In order to be a parent, one has to first be successful in a romantic relationship! Well, Rue would have to be, at least. More able-bodied she-wolves in their prime, like Towhee, made fine single-parents, but given the extent of Rue's disability, she would need a partner to act as a provider. A mate. Someone to bring meat to her hearth, as Kukutux would say. 

And as irony would have it, the very reason that Rue needed a mate was also the reason that she would struggle to attract one. She wasn't exactly the picture of feminine vivacity.

"This heat pool is fantastic," Rue commented blissfully, in an attempt to remain upbeat. The Caldera lake had been good for her strength training this summer, but within the heated waters, the relief sank into her spine and soothed her pain.. that is, her physical pain. Heartsickness would be decidedly tougher to cure.