Redsand Canyon The heart does not exist solely for the purpose to pump blood

the birth of his children. the fever that followed. the reappearance of crowfeather.

were it not for the newborn lives beside them both, ruenna might have found him stiff-necked and unyielding in the darkness. germanicus had never been assailed with so much in such a short time. the struggle to hold all of it was great.

he should have been present for it all. instead he found himself moved and split into halves that shifted independent of one another. 

i loved you.

i love you.

the tenses splintered him. his voice was hoarse. "i love you, ruenna."

the words were genuine. he would not explore the sensation behind them. as she looked over their children his eyes followed each in the dark. he too had not yet been able to connect name to sound, only to image: alivia was small and softly grey. cornelius was already a stocky boy with the imperator's own look. aquillius shared the same shadowing with a promise for height. valiria bore a black paw. 

germanicus turned his attention to his wife. "can i bring anything to you?" he knew she was exhausted after her long battle post-birth, and wished to be attentive in any way possible. work would keep all else from his mind.