4/30/2025, 6:23 PM
sliding in here...
just when her roots had began to spread, and just when she'd finally found a home, it was ripped from her hands. cruel, quick, blinding—bear claw was no more. she'd awoken somewhere strange, but more alarmingly, she'd awoken alone.
cole wasn't beside her, curled around her and cradling her within his arms. his warmth was gone. his scent was gone. all she had left of him was the life that had just started to grow in her womb. how could she raise children alone? how could she survive without him?
what would she tell their children, if she never found him?
just when she'd thought the gods had answered her age-old prayer of love and security and family. a dove without its lover, a bird without a nest.
she'd spent a fortnight searching for any trace of him. wandering aimlessly with only her cries and the ache of her heart to keep her company. desperate to find even the faintest scent or his prints; anything that would guide her back into his arms. that is where she belonged, and if she couldn't have it?
it was a dangerous thought. one she couldn't allow herself to dwell on, less she crumble apart.
and so she forced herself to keep moving, as every moment stood still was a living hell. sometimes, she swore she could hear his voice. calling for her, beckoning her. it was so, so cruel...
when she finally found him, he wasn't alone.
she barreled toward the two with a choked cry, a strangled breath of relief. the moment she crashed into his arms and buried her nose into his fur to inhale greedy lungfuls of his scent, she finally felt as if she could breathe.
twitch. oh, her poor, sweet girl. winnie draws her into her arms, holds her close and tight so that she may never lose her again.
just when her roots had began to spread, and just when she'd finally found a home, it was ripped from her hands. cruel, quick, blinding—bear claw was no more. she'd awoken somewhere strange, but more alarmingly, she'd awoken alone.
cole wasn't beside her, curled around her and cradling her within his arms. his warmth was gone. his scent was gone. all she had left of him was the life that had just started to grow in her womb. how could she raise children alone? how could she survive without him?
what would she tell their children, if she never found him?
just when she'd thought the gods had answered her age-old prayer of love and security and family. a dove without its lover, a bird without a nest.
she'd spent a fortnight searching for any trace of him. wandering aimlessly with only her cries and the ache of her heart to keep her company. desperate to find even the faintest scent or his prints; anything that would guide her back into his arms. that is where she belonged, and if she couldn't have it?
it was a dangerous thought. one she couldn't allow herself to dwell on, less she crumble apart.
and so she forced herself to keep moving, as every moment stood still was a living hell. sometimes, she swore she could hear his voice. calling for her, beckoning her. it was so, so cruel...
when she finally found him, he wasn't alone.
she barreled toward the two with a choked cry, a strangled breath of relief. the moment she crashed into his arms and buried her nose into his fur to inhale greedy lungfuls of his scent, she finally felt as if she could breathe.
cole,her voice shook. tears wet his fur as her swelling sides trembled from her sobs.
i thought—thank the stars you're alive.
twitch. oh, her poor, sweet girl. winnie draws her into her arms, holds her close and tight so that she may never lose her again.
it's okay,she murmured. over and over as she needed to convince them both that, now they're reunited, everything would be okay.
i've got you.