Winter had been relatively short, but nothing less than fierce. The biting cold was hard on many, and the prey animals were in short supply. Lucky for Talien, this was nothing the pale silverling was not familiar with. She reveled in the long winter months where the pristine snows made it possible for the pale girl to blend in with her surroundings. Where during the spring, summer and autumn months her brilliant white coat with its soft gray undertones stood out like a sore thumb, now she seemed to vanish like a wisp in the mists of morning, nearly impossible to distinguish from her surroundings. Her thick winter coat kept most of the biting cold out and the feathers of fur between her pads allowed her to better navigate over thick blankets of snow that cover the rolling forested hills.

She had suffered little during the winter months, and thanks to her triste with Dexter, her sides swelled with life within. She stops now, thick ivory plume curling above the gentle slope of her back, a tender smile curving across her lips. Dexter. Even the thought of him brought a smile to her face and a warmth in her heart that caused her blood to race hot. He was her first, a friend that had somehow become more to her than just a friend. Their time together had grown from a simple affection to something deeper, something she cherished and held with care. Thor may be the one the fates called to her soul, but Dexter held something of far more meaning to her... her held her heart.

The unborn pups within her move, placing well aimed kicks upon her ribs, reminding her of their presence and ensuring their hearts beat strong and true. She let a quiet groan escape her lips as she turned to let a single silver blue eye gaze tenderly upon her swelling sides. A knowing smile upon her lips. Dexter's children.

She gives her proud head a shake, letting the sensation wash over her entire frame, sending the dusting of snowflakes that had landed upon her fly free to disappear amid the layers of snow that still blanketed the ground. She turned now, casting her gaze over the landscape. Spring was coming upon them quick, already the thickly branched conifer trees were beginning to shed the mantle of snow that clung high upon their branches, Here and there, shoots of green grasses began to peek through the drifts of snow and even from this distance, she could hear the stream rolling over the rocks at its banks, swollen with melting ice and snow. Spring. Even the new mother knew that spring meant her unborn pups would soon make their appearance into this world. The living and breathing symbols of her love and devotion for Dexter. The instinct to find a suitable birthing den stole deep into her mind. The den she had chosen for herself was quaint and suitable for herself and, at times, Dexter... but it was far to small for the new mother to feel secure and comfortable in bringing her children into the world.

Worry flashed across her vision field now as she glances around her, debating her options. She could dig her own den out deeper, shovel the soft earth out beneath the large mountain rocks and give her own den more room to supplement the need for more space.. but there was always the risk of a cave in with such soft earth and then where would she be. Her second option was to continue her exploration, seek out a suitable den that would accommodate her growing family. The option was a better one, and the only one her heart was set upon and so, with a single huff the huntress moves off at an easy jog, her keen eyes scanning the landscape for sights and signs of a suitable place.

For hours she searches, nosing in an abandoned badger hole here, and checking out a small fox hole there... they were prospects, but not the perfect place she had in mind. Reluctantly she starts to wonder if she will ever find the perfect den... that is, until she all but stumbles upon it.

Near the gurgling stream, the icy waters flooded over its banks, she pauses to drink deeply, sating both her own thirst and no doubt the thirst of the pups within her swollen barrel. Her feet ached, weary from the long exploratory journey and the added weight of the pups within her. She was just about to turn back to home when she saw it. Just above the stream, hidden on the side of the rock strewn hill, a single white oak rose, its thick trunk planted firmly between two large boulders. She eyed it curiously for a moment, admiring the wild beauty of the scene, the adversity of the tree determined to grow despite the pressing weight of the two granite rocks that confined it into place. At the base of the tree, its roots branched out in all directions as though it braced itself for the worse of summer and fall storms. She moved towards it now, noting the open mouth between thick roots. Keen nose lifts as she scents for signs of life within the well built den. A faint whiff of bear from seasons past, and the occasional wolf but nothing new. Silver blue eyes eye the sandy floor at the mouth of the den where the roots dig deep into the soil, the occasional squirrel's claw marks and occasional bird are the only signs of life to have investigated the den. A warm smile curves over her lips now as she ducks her head and hunches down, crawling beneath the twining roots to enter the den with a renewed sense of hope. It is deep, going down deep beneath the ground, no doubt dug out for a home den by wolves long departed from this world. Despite the narrow entrance, the cavern within was deep and wide, tall enough that she could stand to full height and large enough that she could easily move around with plenty of room. She imagined herself here, curled in the corner next to Dexter as their pups romped and played amongst themselves. The thought made her smile and she let out a sigh of relief as she sank down onto the cool sandy floor, stretching her forelegs out to cool her swollen belly and rest her weary paws. Home... she had found it.

For a moment, she debated about calling to Dexter, debated about bounding back towards what had been her den in search of him, knowing that surely he was somewhere close by but, her legs ached too much right now and she would rather take a break in all honesty. She rolls back now, stretching her muzzle back onto the cool soil and lets her eyes slowly close as sleep takes her over. Dreaming of those dear, treasured moments not so long ago when he had painted the picture of his mother in her mind, and spoken of the enduring love and adoration that transcended age and time between his parents. She could see them now, in her mind, as clear as if they stood before her now. It was Dexter's eyes that shined from them as the two wolves gazed upon on another... and the smile upon their lips was her own.


OOC: Thought we would speed things up since the pups are almost due XD