Noctisardor Bypass we built these dreams on sand

As Glaukos looked across these tiny bodies, breathing them in, he heard a bit of movement and turned an ear towards Ava, then glanced at her, and their eyes met. She was studying the little ones the same way he did. He felt nothing to indicate he should chase Ava off, and in fact felt like the misplaced entity within the den. That could have been the claustrophobia but just as valid, it could have been the spark of overwhelm upon realizing he was a father.

Was he, though? He knew himself to be a soldier, protecting Rivenwood as it rose up around Druid and these newborns. His body was a weapon for use against the forces that meant Druid ill. He didn't consider himself a purveyor of justice or a protector of the realm—what did he care about the bypass, it was only a place, and he had lived many places—he didn't even consider himself among those worthy of such protection. As he looked upon these weak, mewling, hungry, smelly bundles of fur that couldn't hear him, or see him, or order him around, Glaukos wasn't sure if they fit in to the category of things worthy of his attention let alone protection.

The girl beside him was watchful of the children. Glaukos wondered if she felt anything when she looked at them, or if she was only doing it as a favor to her mother and her aunt. What did she get out of it? As these thoughts began to pivot, he released them to the aether of shadows here in the den, and chose not to pursue them. If it did not feed his own ego or otherwise inform Glaukos of something he deemed valuable, he wasn't going to waste his time.

She was here, one more woman to mind the children.

He was reminded of Germanicus again; he had wisely kept the women and children separate from the soldiers, and the more Glaukos looked upon these useless little creatures, he could see why. He did not feel the need to end their lives as he looked down upon them one last time—but neither did he feel connected, and why should he? He had merely been their donor.

Glaukos wordlessly sinks back against the wall and draws his eye towards the den mouth, to the light, where he hoped someone might appear and dismiss him from this tedious job.