Honeyed Pasture bol, radha, bol

a. contraction.

he hadn't expected to run into her, much less run into her in the midst of bloody labor.

i'll come, aditya said, licking dry lips and steeling himself for what came next. tytonidae seemed quite calm, like she'd done this many times before. really, it wouldn't be a surprise at her age if she had. 

he just hoped that she was a better mother than he was a father.

the agouti man remained near her flank as they walked, and asked, can i do anything for you? bring anything? when they were approaching what looked to be the whelping den she'd carved out. he'd rather be sent on an errand for her than witness the miracle of life, the entrance of children born to be abandoned by their deadbeat dad.

god. what had he done?!