She wasn't traveling anymore. The young coyote had retreated farther and farther into the pack as her pregnancy continued. For a short time she'd continued making trips, but that was past. Her belly was swollen, no way to deny it now. It wasn't just a bump, but a clear swelling where life was growing. Terra found herself exhausted with energy, crawling to sleep when she would otherwise wish to play. Irritated by her lack of ability to do what she used to just made Terra even more moody than she already was, haunted by nightmares that had passed for a time.
Hungry Terra had passed out of the house, moving over to the cellar where the food was stored. By all rights she wasn't an invalid, and should have been hunting for herself. Terra's hunting skills were poor normally when she was at her best however, despite lessons to correct it. Small prey would fall victim to the hungry coyote, but scavenging and thieving was still a much easier way for her to gain food, neither available in the court. Instead she resorted to eating through their stores, an endeavor she was currently quite happily involved in.
He was restless now, as he had been for quite some time. It was an inexplicable restlessness, but it had him roaming within the pack lands much more often lately, rather than focusing on the borders and the more populated areas of the territory. There may have been better things for him to do, but nothing came to mind, and so he had taken to simply checking on things: the fence around the hotel, the stores of food, the temple full of bones. Perhaps some of it was unnecessary, but he found himself trying to keep busy, and perhaps it was being done in hopes of avoiding contact with others.
Things were strange in his mind now, lending an air of aloof irritation to the King's demeanor. The caramel-hued dog mutt tilted his head, listening to the sounds of rustling below, knowing he was standing above the cellar where the pack kept their stores of food and supplies. Was something being added? It was not normal for something to be used now, given the good weather and plentiful prey, but there was no crime against it. Still, he made his way down, if only for something to do. He was curious.
"Oh, hello, Terra," he said, spotting the small hybrid. Dark brows raised momentarily as he noticed the swell of her abdomen, large and obvious as it was. Their last encounter had been awkward at best and clearly something had happened since then. "How are you?"
The coyote jumped as a voice called out, looking over guiltily. She didn't like being reliant on the pack for food. She hadn't liked it when her leg was broken, and she didn't like it now that she was pregnant. Seeing Vigilante there Terra managed a sheepish grin. Hello. Terra hadn't seen him for a while. Then again, Terra had been more isolated than usual. The fear her pregnancy had produced sent Terra to more isolated sections of the pack, searching for where she could be safe. There was no fear of that with him though.
Sitting down as tidily as she could Terra attempted to push the half eaten rabbit into hiding. I'm doing fairly well. Been hanging around the pack, talking with the others. Terra hadn't traveled out of the pack for a while, simply staying in the lands she knew best and keeping hidden from the rest. Terra didn't miss the gaze on her swollen abdomen, another sheepish gaze falling out. I guess I'm going to be a mother. Sorry about when I was in heat. It had seemed like a good idea at the time. Now that she was aware, it was a very bad one. She was lucky he hadn't grown angry.
"Sometimes, those things have a tendency to take over our thinking," he said by way of accepting her apology. The dog King was glad that it was over, however unnerving it had been at the time. Her behavior had been unacceptable, true, but he did not think it fair to hold it against her for very long. She was clearly embarrassed, and he need not call out more attention to it. Besides, there was apparently more important matters for them to discuss now.
Jade eyes, wise with age, had noticed her state immediately, but hearing her admit to it was helpful, if only because it meant he did not have to tell the young hybrid himself. Briefly, Vigilante wondered who had been given that task. "Should I assume that they belong to the male we met that day?" the King asked, feeling it his right to know. "What are your plans now?"
Terra nodded her head, relieved by Vigilante's acceptance. Being in heat was very strange for her. It had such a powerful pull. Nothing else had seemed to matter, not even her pack. To be subject to such a strong desire was rather strange. Terra was glad that Vigilante hadn't gone along with what she had desired at that moment. It would have made facing him even more difficult than it was now. Her tail wagged tentatively, glad that she could move on past that.
Embarrassed Terra's ears flattened at the question. Yes. He doesn't know. Not because she couldn't find him. Terra just ended up melting into a huge puddle of panic whenever she went anywhere near him. Asked what her plans were Terra's ears lowered even further. I haven't thought about it. Keep the pups safe, stay in the pack. Make sure they get enough to eat. It bugged her that she didn't have a mate to care for the pups with her.
There were many reasons an expectant mother might not want the father of her litter to know that they were coming, or had been born, and Vigilante wondered what Terra's reasons were in this case. He had only met the male once and the meeting had been tense and fleeting, the King unable to make a judgment about the male's character from such a short introduction. The male had been defensive of his relationship with Terra, and Terra had been in heat; these things had made it difficult for the dog King to read the other's character.
"The pack will help you," he said gently, knowingly. No one here would turn Terra's pups away, whether the father was present or not. It was just the way that the kingdom of Miracles was. "If I may ask... Is there a reason you have not yet told him that you are pregnant?" His tone was gentle, hesitant, and he hoped that she would know he was not thinking poorly of her. If she needed help with something, or protection for any reason, he was more than willing to go out of his way for his loyal pack member.
A smile formed on her features. Speaking with her alpha was perhaps the first time she'd felt truly relaxed in a long time. Terra was doing her best to care for the pups, but the recent attack had her on edge. It didn't matter to her that it had happened far from the pack. She just hadn't been able to wind down from what had happened. Thank you. She was glad she'd chosen to move into the house, even if it was a bit odd sharing a home with the alpha.
Her gaze dropped to the ground, asked about where Kit was. She should have told him. Terra knew it. She just hadn't managed to. I'm scared of leaving the pack... He was outside of it. It was only a short distance, but Terra just hadn't been able to leave it. Not since the pups truly had started showing in her weight. So many things that could happen outside the pack danced through her mind, driving her crazy.
