Dragoncrest Cliffs edge of tonight

She stared at the neatly stacked pile, wondering how it was possible for someone to arrange them like that. Meerkat kept waiting for them to fall, yet they remained perfectly still, glowing in the evening light.

Footsteps heralded the arrival of someone else. She finally tore her gaze from the pretty sea glass, eyes landing on a heavily pregnant stranger. Meerkat felt herself stiffen. Although she usually enjoyed meeting pack mates, she hadn’t realized there was another expecting she-wolf in their ranks.

With Erzulie in a similar state, Meerkat wondered and worried about the pack’s resources. Her jaw tightened, before she caught herself and forced herself to relax, letting out a breath through her nose. She didn’t say anything right away, instead looking at the pile of smooth, translucent stones again for a long beat.

When she trusted herself to speak, Meerkat said, Hello, Lorelai. I’m Meerkat. Her eyes wandered to the woman’s rounded flanks, then flicked back to her face. They were both expectant mothers, surely they could bond over this instead of Meerkat feeling mildly threatened by her presence… Erzulie’s teaching you? she repeated in silent invitation for elaboration.