The days that wore were still shrouded in abundant cold but beneath the thick winter hide, the days couldn’t have been warmer. With her mater out of commission to attain his much needed rest, the role of den supplier had fallen onto her without a complaint in retort. With the coming of two more mouths, the trips to the Mountains became more frequent and with this constant back and forth across treacherous snow capped terrain, she began to grow stronger.
The laziness of the prior month has been worked out of her with each step along the mountain path, each kill she claimed, and every venture that lead beyond their borders. She hadn’t felt the strain of her limbs in some time and in fact welcomed the soreness that often left her stiff and aching. The pain would always call for a break, but once it ebbed away, she was upon her feet again resuming the roles her beloved had taken in her stead.
The loss of life… or rather the absence of it within her womb had taken a toll upon the pair psychologically, but within that bout of sadness there was hope for another chance later in the season. Their first attempt was a failure, but it would not be the last and reminding herself of this gave her a bright spot within an otherwise dismal world to hone in and aspire towards. The life she now lead within Ichika did not allow for her to wallow in self-loathing, not when there were mouths to feed and lives that depended on her efforts now. For those she held dear, she had to carry on. For the pups too weak to care for themselves, and for the parents under their care, she had to set aside her grief and find some iota of happiness to keep her going.
X’yrin had thrown herself into work once it was settled that Saluce would take his rest. Her time was hardly spent at the den as of late save for the morning when it was time to deliver her catch or the evening when it was time to rest. And even then her occupation was scarce at best, but noticeable to assure their worried minds that she had not run off and left them again. That selfish route had been closed off to her for some time now…
And it was on one of her deliveries that she found the petite piebald woman resting outside the den, looking for something (if anything at all) to bide her time. Shrugging the remains of a fawn higher upon her shoulders, she addressed the lady with a polite tip of her head, keeping mind not to bow too far less she wanted their meal to slip from her shoulders. “Lady Nayru,” she offered quietly in greeting. Her eyes still lacked their golden splendor, but it could be said there was some life within them however faint it had grown in the past days. None the less she made what she could of a smile for her Ryu. “Are you alright?”