LIKE A WALK IN THE PARK, LIKE A HOLE IN YOUR HEAD

As winter wore on and changed into spring, her stomach grew and with it grew the desire to seclude herself even more than was normal. Her den, emptied of its trophies and treasures, had become nearly unbearable. But still, she stayed. She could not leave now, something deep within in her kept her tied to this safe place as the world outside seemed to become dangerous. Ehiyeh knew that this was because of the life inside of her- even if she hated the man who had done this to her, they were her children, she was responsible for keeping them safe. And they would not know him. Her father had been hunting, searching, remembering the scent that had clung to her the night she had returned home. The male would be weaseled out, culled. He had made her weak, but those behind her were incomparably strong.

Today, though, something was different. Ehiyeh was anxious, pacing around her den and nipping at her sides. Something was hurting, a deeper pain than the rolling and moving of the pups. She continued to pace until a large contraction made her yelp, tears springing from her violet eyes. "No, no." She said in a hoarse whisper, wanting to scream and cry for help but like before it seemed as though she could manage only a whisper. Instinct, she supposed, drove her to lay down within her den, head flopping down upon the floor. She did not want to do this alone. What would happen if something went wrong? Would she lie here in a pool of her own... own...

It seemed that she no longer had time to think. The rolling, roiling sensation in her stomach hit its apex and she cried out in pain and fear. It did not last forever though, the pushing and the pain. Before long her first child was born into the world, a daughter, who Ehiyeh promptly cleaned and drew to her side. "Adonai..." She murmured. A strange feeling welled up in her chest. It was the desire to protect and nurture, it was pride, it was hope for the future... Perhaps love was what she was feeling. There was no time to dwell on it, though, as a similar pain hit her, signalling the arrival of the second pup.

The boy was more difficult, larger, perhaps. It was tough on her smaller frame but there was no significant damage or pain. Ehiyeh repeated the process, cleaning the boy off and again placing him near her side. The same feeling enveloped her but it was different this time. This boy, he did not take so much after her family. He looked more like the man who had hurt her. "Pagan." There was no anger in her voice, no pity. It was a challenge. The boy had been labelled an outsider, a nonbeliever. If he was truly like his father in nothing but looks, then he would be able to wear the name like a badge of honor.

Ehiyeh was tired now, but she could not rest. She was responsible for other lives. Perhaps if she just closed her eyes for a moment...

ehiyeh