Sun Mote Copse with the gold of the richest kings

There had been quite a few strange wolves around lately. Once Waawaashkeshi would have been excited, but with the prospect of her first litter it was difficult not to see how that could be an issue. Especially now that she feared that Nasamiituuq may leave her.

She loved the sunshine girl dearly, and Keshi knew that it would kill her to see her friend walk away in her time of need. But what was she to do? Nasamiituuq had been so upset, it would be selfish to ask her to stay if she did not truly want to.

Maybe she had been selfish to ask the girl to follow her at all.

Saddened as she reflected on their last conversation, Waawaashkeshi sat upon her meticulously marked border. She wanted to make things right with Nasamiituuq.

Betrayal; an odd sort of feeling, unique among others. That strange mix of hurt and anger and confusion and love and — and it was all too much. As much as she tried, she couldn't make herself stop caring about what Keshi had done. It was tied too closely to the fact that she cared about Keshi, and she could never stop loving her friend. Even if she loved her too much.

Too much. It was just too much. Nasamiituuq laid her head on her paws miserably, not seeing the gilded girl who sat along the borders near to where she reclined. She hadn't eaten since they'd last spoken, had hardly strayed from the space she'd designated for herself at the outskirts of the territory. Too much, and not enough energy for it all. She closed her eyes and wept again, eyes already red and raw from the times before.

Sat still, it was a breeze that pulled her from her thoughts. The scent carried on the wind, her Nasamiituuq.

Quick to hope to her feet, she set out to look for her. She was tired of the avoidance, tired of the silence. It wasn't fair to either of them, the stress of it wasn't fair to the litter she carried.

Slowing upon her approach of the other, she lowered her head to meet her. Nasamiituuq.. look at me, please..

She would not allow this to go on any longer.

Waawaashkeshi was, in truth, the very last wolf Nasamiituuq wished to see at this moment. She did not want her friend to see her crying, or to face Nasamiituuq's own hurt. But when she heard Keshi's voice, she lifted her head slowly and put on her best mask. It wouldn't hide much, she knew, but she couldn't bear to unlock the Pandora's box tucked between her ribs.

Keshi. It is good to see your face, she murmured. Nasamiituuq sat up, tail curling neatly around her paws. The calm in her golden eyes belied their red-rimmed, swollen appearance, but she scarcely blinked.

She remained silent for a short moment at the reply. She didn't believe her in the least.

Tell me why you are upset. She kept it blunt, searching Nasamiituuq's face as though it were a patch of starlit sky.

No more weeping, no more feeling sorry for herself. The gilded woman laid down across from her friend, set on finding a solution.

Why, she asked. But how could she not know why? Nasamiituuq looked away, inhaling sharply, and bit back the words threatening to pour out of her. She wasn't certain what she wanted to say, but she knew that words spoken in haste would not serve here. So for a moment she only breathed, and thought.

When her eyes found Keshi again, she felt steadier. I am upset because, Nasamiituuq began, voice trembling only a little, Because you were with a man. Because you were with someone, and it was not me. Now he may come back, and want to be at your side. But that is my place. I always thought it was.

Now I wonder if you do not feel the same, her voice dropped near to a whisper as she finished.

She listened with a gentle expression. Now she was beginning to understand.

Sighing, she shook her head. You know the funny thing? When I laid with him, it was because I was afraid that if I stayed in the territory I would tell you how I felt. I did not love him, I do not know him. She paused, frowning. I'm not sure we even spoke.

But my point is, Nasamiituuq you are the one I want by my side. Eyes flicking to the ground, her voice lowered now. For months I thought of nothing but you.. I sang for you every day while I was trapped with those horrible wolves. And even now, she thought of her in everything she did. You are the one I love Nasamiituuq,

I just.. didn't think you felt the same.

Nasamiituuq wanted to tell her that she didn't find it funny at all. It wasn't. It still burned her to think of Keshi with some man, and perhaps it always would. But the moongirl bit her tongue and listened; she was hurt, but the hurt would fade with time, and there was something more important here.

You are the one I love.

A soft breath escaped her.

Of course I love you, Keshi, Nasamiituuq murmured. She still could not bring herself to move closer, but her golden eyes were a little brighter. I followed you all this way, didn't I? I would have searched forever to find you.

Then will you forgive me? She searched the face of the other with a gentle frown.

Her paws shuffling to move herself closer, she hoped the answer would be yes. I want you to return to the copse with me. We can raise the litter as though they are as much yours as they are mine - and they will be. She did not want them to be her children, but theirs. We need no man, if they come we'll send them off with half a nutsack. A bit brutal, but she wanted to sell her point.

She tried to remember what the father looked like, but found she could not. Part of her hoped that he carried some of Nasamiituuq's beautiful greys, blacks, and reds.

Fade? <3

Nasamiituuq nodded slowly, giggling just a little at Keshi's last words. She wasn't certain how she felt just yet — but she knew that she would not leave; that as long as she had a choice, they would never be parted again. The rest could be sorted in time.

I forgive you, she murmured, hoping that she herself would be forgiven for this lie. It would become true in time, she hoped.

Until then, they had a future to figure out. Together.

We should find a whelping den, large enough for all of us, Nasamiituuq went on, rising to take the lead.