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It was the insistent bite of cold that finally woke her. Yue’s eyes blinked open with some difficulty. They felt like they had been closed so long that they didn’t remember how to open. It took several moments for the rough earth and stone walls of her surroundings to register – filling her with confusion. A face seemed to appear, hovering over her filled with concern. It was a familiar face, the face of her mother. What was her mother doing here? That question triggered her memory, and full awareness suddenly crashed over her. Yue sat bolt upright, chest heaving in sudden panic. Her hands flew to her stomach while she looked around frantically.

“Makia! Where …”

Tala had been startled by Yue’s sudden movement but recovered quickly, hushing her before she could finish her panicked question. “Don’t worry, he is safe.” She murmured, gently brushing Yue with her muzzle. “Your father has him” she indicated with a slight bob of her head in Dasan’s direction.

Tala’s soft reassurance barely held back the tide of fear and panic that rose in Yue’s chest. Memories of the horrible days and night on the run had, in her exhausted state, mingled with her nightmares. The almost magical appearance of her parents added to the swirling confusion as her mind frantically tried to sort fact from fiction. She tried to move towards her father, but pain suddenly stabbed through her shoulder and leg. She collapsed with an agonized gasp.

“Easy!” Dasan rumbled. “Your muscles were badly damaged and wasted by infection. They are still not fully healed.” Carefully he wiggled closer so that she could touch him without needing to walk.

Placing her hand against her fathers’ side, Yue could sense her son’s life force, strong and steady. He was asleep. Tala saw that she still had one hand on her belly. Wiggling closer, she gently touched Yue with her nose. “The baby is still alive” she murmured softly.

Yue managed to take several deep breaths. The sense of profound relief shattered something inside of her, a barrier that had held back the sea of emotion. The pent-up emotions from days, weeks, years of fear, uncertainty, unbearable pain, and loss washed over her, and she collapsed against her father’s side, unable to stop the tears. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry…” was all she could whisper. Right now, what else could she say? What words could erase her past mistakes and make things right again?

Dasan and Tala shifted closer, drawing the protective circle of their bodies tighter around her. Gently they nuzzled and kissed her, uttering soft rumbles and murmurs of comfort. The past angers and hurts had no place in this moment, there was only room for love.

Tala felt her daughter shivering from the cold as she licked her. That was no good. Yue was still weak, and it would take very little for her body to sicken or lose the precious life she was carrying. She needed to be warm, completely warm until they made it back home. Dasan picked up on his mates’ intentions and after one last gentle lick, he used his nose to push Yue up, supporting her with his muzzle to take some of the weight off her still injured leg. Carefully Tala reached out and took her in her jaws, using her tongue to draw her in and maneuver her body into position.

Yue struggled for a moment in surprise, but quickly gave up. She did not have the physical or emotional strength to resist what was about to happen. An average sized Amarok could swallow a couple of adult humans’ whole without difficulty. A little magic could be used to stun prey or otherwise help the process along. As true alphas, both of her parents were larger than average. Her mother would have no problem sending her to her belly.

Yue felt the large tongue gently positioning her so that she would go down feet first, to avoid her twisting her shoulder overmuch. She felt a moment of vertigo as her mother sat up and lifted her head. A strong swallow, aided by gravity, sent almost a third of her body down the throat. A slight toss of the head and another swallow and Yue’s body was drawn down to her shoulders. She felt that moment of hesitation before the final swallow and closed her eyes, not wanting to see the world and the freedom it offered slip away. The final swallow came, and she was gone, sliding down in darkness.

Yue fought down her instinctual terror of being “eaten” alive and of being in such a confined space. Her body was forced deeper, feeble squirms overpowered by the muscle surrounding her. The throat seemed almost eager as it ushered her towards her destination. It seemed like forever before her feet felt open space. Finally, the throat released her, and she dropped fully into the stomach. It reacted to her presence, welcoming her with almost painful enthusiasm, its walls rippling around her. Yue fully appreciated how lucky she had been with both of her parents. If they had not recognized her, or worse, rejected her like some would have, she would have been nothing more than food and this chamber could have been the end of her.

After several long moments Yue felt the powerful muscles around her tightening, pushing her back, forcing her down, deeper into her mother. She found herself in another space, the second stomach. This place welcomed her more gently, its walls cradling her sore body and soothing the faint irritations caused by the fluids of the first chamber. She tried to focus on the warmth that finally drove the chill from her bones and on the sound of her mother’s steady heartbeat, the most powerful sound in her new environment. It was a comforting sound, reminding her of days when she had been younger, happy, and carefree, still filled with dreams and hopes for the future.

Tala sighed as Yue settled into her second stomach. She had felt Yue squirming on the way down and there was a faint, sour taste in the back of her throat from her daughter’s fear. She had not particularly enjoyed the process, she had not wanted to distress the young woman, but it had been a necessity. Yet, Tala could not deny a sensation almost akin to satisfaction as she felt the weight in her stomach shift, moving deeper. Inside of her, Yue was safe, surrounded by a wall of muscle and bone, hidden away from the world. Anything that wanted to mess with her daughter would have to go through her first, literally.

She could feel Yue still moving inside of her. Closing her eyes, Tala collected herself for a moment before reaching out and Mind-touching her daughter. No words were offered or exchanged, instead Tala sent out feelings of love, protection, and safety – trying to calm Yue and soothe her distress.
When Tala finally opened her eyes, she felt a wave of exhaustion sweep over her. It took a considerable effort to haul herself over to where Dasan lay. She settled against his side with a half sigh, half groan. The Mind-touch had connected her to Yue’s mind and the dark, raw emotions she had felt disturbed her deeply. Whatever story there was to be told, it would not be a happy one. But now was not the time or place to examine it.

Dasan gently licked his mates muzzle as she settled against him, then uttered a sigh of contentment. For the first time since the ravens had come to them, he was able to relax. Now that their precious treasures were safely tucked away, they could move at a faster pace. He doubted they would make another stop before they reached the Den. The Den was their home, the place where they lived and raised their family. It was the safest and most well protected place in the whole territory. Once they reached the Den, they would have a decent place for Tala to properly care for their daughter. If all went well, her child would be born alive and healthy. And, he thought as he felt a faint movement inside his belly, Makia would be able to safely wander about, without the looming presence of a wolf worriedly following his every move. Safe. And hopefully, able to regain a fragment of his childhood.