Ardis woke as the room slowly brightened with the morning light.
She turned her head toward the entrance, her gaze distant. Somewhere deep in her heart, she had already made her decision.
Letting out a soft breath, Ardis stretched her body before stepping outside.
Sylas was already there, seated as he prepared the meat with practiced hands.
"You should sleep more," he said without looking up. It was rare for Ardis to have a day free like this.
"I don't feel sleepy," Ardis replied, picking up a bucket of water.
Sylas only nodded and continued his work, though the faint heaviness in his movements betrayed his exhaustion.
A moment later, Kaeris entered, carrying bundles of fruits and berries.
Ardis quickly washed up and came back inside.
"Want some?" Kaeris asked, placing the berries carefully over broad leaves.
Ardis's eyes lit up slightly. She loved sweet fruits… but she had to be careful.
She nodded, though a small yawn escaped her.
Noticing this, Kaeris quietly sorted through the pile, selecting the ripest and sweetest-looking ones before placing a modest portion in front of her.
Ardis accepted them with a small smile and began to eat.
The fruits were delicious—sweet and refreshing. For a moment, she was tempted to take more.
But she stopped herself.
Last time, she had given in to temptation. The memory was still vivid her stomach aching, the nausea, the embarrassment of vomiting afterward.
And Aeron's stern scolding.
Ardis slowed down, finishing only what she had been given.
Kaeris picked up the remaining bundle and stepped into the other room.
"The fruit is delicious," Astra's voice came from inside.
Ardis paused, her expression turning thoughtful.
Astra had woken up early today.
Watching the quiet activity around her, a feeling settled in Ardis's chest.
Astra might give birth today.
Sylas quietly prepared a pot of meat soup for Astra, his movements steady but purposeful.
Ardis, meanwhile, stepped outside and transformed, her form shifting as she settled onto the warm stone behind their hut. She basked in the morning sunlight, her tail swaying lazily from side to side.
To anyone watching, she looked relaxed—almost idle.
But her distant gaze told another story.
Her thoughts were far away.
One by one, the others returned after finishing their morning tasks, the usual rhythm of life continuing despite the anticipation in the air.
Ardis eventually shifted back and joined her fathers, helping them prepare food. Her movements were calm, practiced, but her attention often drifted.
Not long after they finished eating, Astra stiffened slightly.
A faint discomfort crossed her face.
"It's starting…" she murmured.
They quickly helped her lie down on the soft fur. Ardis moved beside her, her expression turning focused as she gently pressed on Astra's lower stomach, checking her condition.
"It might take some time," Ardis said softly.
Kaeris knelt nearby, carefully feeding Astra small amounts of the warm soup. "You'll need your strength," he said gently.
Astra only took a few sips, shaking her head after a while. She didn't want to drink too much, she didn't want to feel like going to washroom in the middle of giving birth.
Everything had already been prepared.
Beneath the hut, a nest had been arranged for the eggs safe, warm, and protected. Kaeris would remain there once the eggs were laid. He could hatch them, but that meant he wouldn't be able to leave for months.
The others would take care of him during that time.
Three months.
That was how long it could take.
Astra ate a little more, some fruits, a few pieces of roasted meat, before the real labor began.
Her breathing grew heavier, her body tensing.
At that point, Ardis was gently ushered outside.
She didn't argue.
Instead, she waited.
Time stretched endlessly. The sounds from inside were muffled, but the tension was unmistakable. Ardis sat still, her hands clenched slightly in her lap.
Waiting.
Hoping.
After what felt like an eternity, it was over.
Astra had given birth.
Compared to bearing cubs, laying eggs was easier, but it still took its toll.
Kaeris emerged briefly, holding a carefully woven basket filled with the eggs. His expression was soft, filled with quiet joy.
As he passed Ardis, he gently patted her head, a reassuring smile on his face before descending into the underground nest.
Ardis watched him go, her eyes lingering.
Varos stepped forward and placed a bamboo mat over the entrance, securing it.
"Don't worry," he said warmly, glancing at her. "He'll be fine."
Ardis nodded, though her gaze remained fixed on the covered entrance.
Ardis stepped back into the room quietly.
Astra was already asleep, her breathing soft and even. Vaelor and Borin moved gently around her, wiping her hands and cleaning up the space with careful attention.
Relieved, Ardis didn't disturb them. She turned and slipped out of the room.
The hut felt… quiet.
Too quiet.
Her brothers had grown up. They were no longer constantly by her side—they had training, responsibilities, their own paths to follow. The fox brothers had moved out as well, leaving behind an emptiness she hadn't quite gotten used to.
Sometimes, Ardis felt it deeply.
Loneliness.
Fragments of her past life surfaced now and then, mostly in dreams—faces she once loved, now blurred and distant, names she struggled to remember.
Even those memories were slowly fading.
The feeling lingered as the day passed in its usual busyness.
By the time evening settled, Ardis had already eaten. She lay on her fur, staring up at the ceiling in silence.
A soft sigh escaped her lips.
Turning onto her side, she closed her eyes and began counting sheep in her mind—an old habit from a life she barely remembered.
Slowly, sleep claimed her.
The next morning, Ardis made a decision.
After informing Aeron, she took a few small wooden bottles and set off toward the fox brothers' new hut.
The air was cool, the path familiar beneath her feet.
As she walked, her steps slowed slightly.
Ahead, she spotted someone.
A girl.
Ardis frowned faintly, trying to recall her name. Ardis didn't know her personally but she was cousin of a woman named.... Mona…? Something like that. She vaguely remembered that Astra disliked her intensely.
The girl was arguing with a boy, her expression sharp, voice tense even from a distance.
Ardis paused for a brief moment.
Then shook her head.
It wasn't her business.
Even so… a flicker of curiosity lingered as she walked past.
But it didn't hold her for long.
Soon, her thoughts drifted elsewhere as she reached her destination.
Standing before the hut, she knocked lightly.
"Brothers, are you there?" she called.
The door opened almost immediately.
A handsome young boy stood there, his hair slightly messy, his posture relaxed, almost lazy.
"Ardis?"