Qeya River [m] horn lance

her breath hitched softly at his words, at the strength of his embrace, at the vulnerability he allowed her to see. sun eater—the hunter, the chieftain, the man—had always been a pillar of stone, but here, beneath furs and shadowed by their shared warmth, he softened for her. only for her.
star eater pressed closer into him, her muzzle tucking into the curve of his neck. she breathed him in—the scent of pine, blood, caribou musk—his scent, her home.
her eyes closed briefly, savoring the moment. in this life, and the next. wherever you lead, i will follow.
she shifted, her belly—heavy with their future—brushing against his side. her heart swelled, though the ache of loss still lingered, woven into the very fabric of who she was. but here, wrapped in his arms, she found a fleeting sense of peace.
our children will know you, she murmured. know what it means to be saatsine. to be strong. to love. her voice cracked slightly, but she did not shy away from it.
she tilted her head up to meet his gaze, eyes glinting like distant stars. and i will be here—always—your wife, your shield, your hearth.

WEEPS; fade in your next or this?