Swiftcurrent Creek At the ballet

She could hear the heavy sigh he uttered, but she could tell that he'd at least moved back as his shadow disappeared. She quieted, and licked her lips anxiously, curling up within the darkness and peering out with wild eyes into the small patch of light framed by the narrow entrance to the den. Being that it was underground, she couldn't see Arric, now that he'd stepped back, nor could she see Arlette.

But her voice was instantly recognizeable, and Cygnet held her breath so that she could hear what was being said. For a moment, she felt a light victory, hearing Arlette telling Arric to back off. She would have preferred it if Arlette had scolded him for making Cygnet feel cornered and scared, but...She'd come too late, and hadn't seen how upset it made the dramatic girl to have her back up against the wall. 

Her wild imagination pictured a different scene- one in which Arric snapped, and tried to pull her, screaming, from the den...All in front of Arlette. She wouldn't spend any more nights with him after that, that would be for sure. Such a thing couldn't be staged now- but she thought of something else that could. 

She slunk forward at the sound of Arlette's voice, cowering as she gave Arric a wide berth and immediately pressed herself to Arlette's far side, keeping the motherly figure between the two of them. She shuddered and whimpered, casting a whale-eyed glance to Arric below Arlette's belly, before she lifted her pleading gaze to Arlette's, and gestured with her head and a small stagger sideways.

Come with me, away from him!

Cygnet was not one for begging- but she was desperate to get them apart.