Nova Peak gentle reader

elowen's breath hitches at his touch, at the weight of his words. the tender pressure of his paw lifts her chin, and she looks up into his eyes, her own doe-eyed gaze soft and uncertain. the words stop doubting yourself echo in her mind, but her heart still races, a flutter of uncertainty that she can't quite quell.

she wants to believe him, truly she does, but the weight of her own inadequacies still lingers, gnawing at her in the quiet moments when his presence isn't enough to chase away the doubts. she swallows, trying to steady herself, her heart thudding against her ribs.

i— her voice falters, the words tangled in her throat. her eyes flicker to the ground for a moment before she meets his gaze again, the faintest hint of a smile forming on her lips. i’m just... afraid, sometimes. afraid that i’m not enough. that i’ll let you down. let them down.

her voice is a whisper, vulnerable and unsure, but she forces herself to speak, to let the truth spill out. but i’ll try. for them. for you. she presses closer, seeking comfort in the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. they’ll know your strength. your heart. and... and i’ll teach them the same. i want them to know they have a home, no matter where they go.

her stomach twists again, but she breathes through it, unwilling to let it break this moment between them. she reaches for his paw, pressing it gently against her belly, as if grounding herself in the warmth of his touch.