Qeya River [m] horn lance

his body tensed at her question, and so he did not answer so quickly. "serve me by keeping safe," he murmured at last, tender despite himself. their land was wild, the wolves moreso. anything she offered had the threat of jeopardizing herself and the little ones.

he did not want to admit his need, nor his want.

he continued to gently smooth her fur for a gravid pause. "it is not safe for us to share the furs," sun eater said at last. "you are vulnerable in many ways, my wife." and he must find a way to safeguard her through them all.

not safe. he hoped she would not press it — any of it.

"you serve saatsine also in this way," lying his head now down against her nape as he fought his anxieties and his desire to stave them off for a time in her embrace.