His breathing heaves, but all other motion is ceased. His eyes are staring, but he does not truly see. His brain tries to comprehend what it has already thought through. The reality of it is too surreal. This would mean a permanence between them. The permanence he could only hope to squash out the ill thought and rumors milling about in his mind. He had heard of imprints in passing, had heard of his own sister falling under some similar circumstances. Perhaps one day he could ask her after the nature of such a connection… but for now the stillness of his body is mirrored in the stillness of his mind. Babies. Puppies. Little critters calling to their lovely mother when their nasty father scolded them too harshly. A small smile lights his lips as he pictures Asthore coming up to him in a huff about being too rough with his children. Oh, it would be priceless. That amusing thought breaks his frozen stance and he drops his head low to press a wet nose into the fleshy belly of his mate. Puppies. And quite a handful of them by the look of it! He whines, worrying her tummy with his nose and tongue as if the little imps could feel his worry and love through their soft walls. He hears the sniffle in her voice, the strain in it worrying him over both her sake and the sake of their very easily influenced children. He looks up and finds that distanced expression solidly being shaken from her face. He does not know why she would think of him now, at a time like this, but the light residue of the imprinters scent is all he can guess.

               The intruding thought of possessiveness is eradicated from his mind again. He would not ruin her newfound bliss with his morbid ones. He would share her happiness. He would revel in their shared future together! Oh if these men would simply stop stealing her away from him, or stealing their way into his maddened mind! She whispers his name, speaking to a feeling that was mutual to the highest degree. He speaks before he can think, “I have missed you too, lover, Asthore.” But he knows he means it in more ways than she has. He means, I have missed you, for you have not been back with me for some time -- ever since you saw him remains unsaid, but thoroughly thought. She is often missing, to him. Often dreaming of stars when the sun is brightly shining in her eyes. If he is her sun, then the star that is her imprinter must be a red giant in comparison. “You are my everything, mother to be. I hope they look every bit as wonderful as you.” He murmurs as she buries her muzzle into his thick fur again. Her head drapes over his shoulders as he crouches to lay down. He can afford such a relaxed nature here with her. He can afford to be the man she wants here. He can know that he is not the only beast keeping watch, for Aragon is watching over them and the future of their pack is safe. His nose wuffles over the crown of her head, his mouth engulfing one of her ears playfully as he feels a deep chuckle in his chest. “Have you told Aragon of our delightful news, then, beautiful?” He drags a wet tongue over the bridge of her nose as he releases her ear.