Redhawk Caldera Azurite

Yes, Wraen had said all those things, but she had greatly over-estimated their level of maturity and grown-up-ness. They had had the first practical hiccup along the way and they already thought that everything was over. As much as she loved her sister and respected Eljay, when and if they ended up as a mated pair, she hoped that would be the beginning of everlasting, peaceful "happily ever after" and not the drama-filled "I think he hates me now" stuff or all the speculations about the 101 things that could go wrong. She would never refuse help or a word of advise (by gods, she had thousands of them, lend her a spare pair of ears to listen), but there is a limit to one's patience and understanding. 

Will there be any time you won't need him?  Wraen thought and knew the answer. No. As long as Eljay let them, he would be put to good use. First pregnancies and broken legs. Then childcare and mentoring. Then first colds, digestive upsets and some valuable lessons in being friendly and civil. Then Niamh would get in a fight or some knuckle-head teenager would get mauled by a bear. Someone would trip and suffer a fall from caldera. Someone would get their eye's scratched out by jealous girlfriend. And then would the next season arrive and the circle would begin anew. "I told her that too - without knowing, what was going on at the time here - and also that with two pregnant wolves here, there isn't likely to be enough resources for a third one," she explained. "I lived in a pack, where there were far too many babies and far too little people to care for them. It did not end well," she referred to Sunspire.

"Eljay is such a hard-working and selfless person, he puts everyone's needs before his," she told Towhee. "But I don't know, if Maia will be content of being second to everyone else forever. She's patient now, but it's wearing thin."