Nier felt a small, concerned frown fix to his brows as Saul spoke gently to his partner, the golden furred wolf listening attentively. She nodded and obligingly laid back on the roof of the house, baring her abdomen for Saul to manipulate. Nier sat in tense silence as his cousin rolled his handpaws over Grace's tummy, a small nod bobbing his head as he concentrated on the motion. Nier felt his throat begin to tighten with the emotion of the moment, already feeling the tears welling in his eyes and his words failing. Saul laid a handpaw on his arm and the other on Grace's shoulder, his voice, so filled with happiness and hope, proclaiming that they were to be parents.
Nier felt as if he had been poleaxed for a brief moment, the grin slowly spreading across his muzzle as the news sank in. He looked at Grace and saw that she was still in the shocked moment after the revelation, but as he watched her, still grinning like a shot fox, he saw the terror form in her eyes. He felt his grin slip slightly, sure that he looked a fair bit mad with the faint remains of a smile on his lips but the beginnings of despair in his eyes. Grace jerked her shoulder away from Saul's gentle touch and abruptly stood, her tail flat against her legs, her face fixed in grim determination. She shook her head and very simply said "No." Before striding off the hill house roof and disappearing into the house.
Nier sat back and felt his throat tightening for an entirely different reason, tears still threatening to fall. He jumped slightly as the front door of the house crashed open and Grace stormed off, bag thrown hastily over her shoulder and a frantic Leo trailing her as she jogged away from the house and her partner. Nier could hear the curious and confused mewls from the quoll pups, and he turned his own confused and hurt filled eyes to watch her departure. He sniffled quietly, raising a paw to wipe his nose as discreetly as possible. He knew that it was best to leave her to her own devices, she wouldn't harm herself and he didn't want to make her even more mad. He would let her get her shock and terror out on her own, comforting her later tonight when she returned from her walk.
He gave himself a shake and took a deep breath, clearing the blockage in his throat and scrubbing at his eyes for a moment, fixing a small and fakely bright smile on his face, turning to his grey cousin. He held out his paw for Saul to shake, Thank you so much Saul, this is great news. He felt his voice catch and vigorously cleared his throat to try and mask his emotion, not wanting his cousin to see how distraught he was by Grace's reaction.
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