Verdigris Ravine us weirdos have to stick together, right?

Kusuma is still grieving and blaming herself :c coydrama

Days passed. Her belly grew louder and louder, as if her coming litter was a fire within her that no longer could be ignored. Kusuma had retired from her hunting duties, expecting new additions to tribe to come any day now. 

However, staying still was her downfall. More time not moving was more time to think and remember.

She lay in a shallow dip in the sand, shaded by the rock and hoping her pelt would hide her. A shadow, staring with golden eyes that drank every once of the sun into the dirt, the rocks. Letting the sound of wind pitifully drown her thoughts. Kusuma thought of Talisman, of all the words they never got to and never would share. Why had he defended her that day, and why did everything seem so very far away from reach? The only thing that she seemed to befriend was loss. 

One paw lay across her muzzle at the joint, curling around herself. She was the one whom he had come to find - surely his fate had been meant for her. And now, returning to the tribeland and feeling springsun on her back, darkwoman had barely talked to anyone since her arrival. A wolf had invaded and would have killed her if not for the coyjackal's lighter paws and better knowledge of the land, albeit it was a sliver of luck the one with more stamina was too heavy. Surely she had no need of announcing what could be smelt.

Unlucky.

Unwanted. She thought bitterly to the day black paw stepped once more to golden sand, K'oa's sharp words still biting her.

Unloved.

Dare she, unwelcomed.

Her nose ruffled the fur along her bloated belly, trying to comfort the kicking child and lull them back to sleep. It was her pup, more than she, that she was to be taken back. Was it not? K'oa looked angry enough to snap-bite her upon learning of Talis' fate. 

Darkwoman shook. 

Kusuma-litter would accept her, no? They would love her as much as Kusuma-love did. Maybe then, when they were born, she wouldn't feel alone anymore. She'd have a purpose. Maybe the holes in her heart would mend.