A faint cry cut through the tension.
Kael's head turned instantly toward the den, instinct humming through his veins. He didn't need to hear it again to know it was Liora.
---
Sienna sat near the hearth, her eyes bleary, her body curled protectively around the small bundle tucked in soft linen. Liora's golden fur was tousled, her tiny frame trembling in a dream that made her whimper.
Kael approached quietly and sank to his knees beside them. "Is she alright?"
"She's been restless all night," Sienna whispered, not looking up. "She's sensitive. I think she feels it too—the tension. Like the world around her is shifting."
Kael reached out, gently brushing Liora's soft ear. Her breathing slowed at his touch.
"She's strong," he murmured. "Like her mother."
Sienna gave him a tired glance. "Don't flatter me when I've barely slept and probably smell like goat's milk."
He gave a breath of a laugh. "Wouldn't dream of it."
