Deepwood Weald younger than the mountains

for @Minnow

Their scent was growing stronger in the woods, where their borders ran nearly up to those of Moontide's. There was only a thin strand of no-man's land for travelers to pass through — and Dutch kept heavy watch over it more out of curiosity than out of worry or territorial concern.

He ranged deeper into the weald this morning, however, carrying a rabbit in his jaws. He laid it down in the meadow where Minnow had made her whelping, and then he laid himself down beside it. The night watch had been long; Dutch shut his eyes for a nap, waiting for Minnow to return.

She was restless and so was the babies that filled her belly. She couldn’t sit still and found herself hunting small critters to make a small cache to keep by her den. She knew that once they were born; she wouldn’t be able to leave much.

When she returned she seen her cousin. She had a small squirrel in her maw and started digging softly at where the others were set and left it there as well. Letting out a small chuff now that she wasn’t holding anything in her mouth.

It was first the scrabbling of her claws and then her scent snaking on the breeze that woke Dutch from his nap. He stretched and yawned, and by the time Minnow greeted him, had rolled upright to lie sphinx-like on his belly.

"Good morning," he said, his tail sweeping through the grass. He nudged the rabbit toward her, too lazy to get up. "I brought breakfast — to eat, instead of squirreling away."

He eyed her round belly, trying to measure the days remaining 'til birth in the circumference of her middle.

"How are you feeling, mere bahan?" he asked, his voice gentling. There was a pinch of concern in the corners of his eyes, but his steady calm shone through.