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n469 D-Day

nIf you like music while you read, try “Right Where it Belongs” by Nine Inch Nails (trust me). It’s what I listened to while writing!

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n~ SASHA ~

nIn the end they waited almost eleven weeks from when their baby was stolen. While the Gateway seemed to be less guarded, Zev didn’t want to risk trying to go through, only to find that their baby still hadn’t been delivered, so they would have to step back into Thana without know who was there.

n“But we can’t leave him with them, Zev! Not even for a few days!” Sasha had cried.

n“We won’t, babe. We’ll make it take us back to the first day after he’s delivered that we can get in there.”

nThat had soothed her somewhat, but the sudden shift of her expectations had been hard to swallow. When they’d made the decision, it was only three days away from ten weeks. To have to wait another ten days had almost killed her.

nBut the morning before the night that they would travel dawned bright. Sasha had barely slept, and woke before Zev again, her body already humming with adrenalin.

nShe was going to meet her son tonight. 𝑛𝑂𝐯𝑒𝓵𝓊𝕊𝒷.𝐂𝔬𝓂

nShe couldn’t quite take it in.

nShe also couldn’t wait.

nThe day crawled by.

nMundane things like eating, making sure the fire was completely out, bathing…. She wanted to rush through them all because it seemed like completing tasks would make the moment to leave come faster. But in truth, it just left her with longer gaps of time to fill.

nShe bit her lip, watching for his reaction. Zev didn’t look at her, but he nodded. Then they were done.

nThen Zev picked up the large burden and hooked it over Sasha’s shoulders before shifting into his wolf.

nBefore she climbed onto his back, Sasha looked around one final time and that terrible ache began again in her throat and behind her eyes.

n“Thank you, Yhet,” she breathed. “Thank you for loving us, and helping us and… thank you for being so brave.” Then she looked skyward, though she felt kind of silly doing it. “I know he’s there, with you. Please… give him a hug from me?”

nZev made a strange huff, but Sasha just sighed, then climbed onto his back and buried her hands in his ruff to keep them warm, then they were on the move.

nThat was… really sweet, Zev said in her head as they walked out of the cave and onto the trail that would lead down to the crevasse, then the valley. He would love that if he heard that. He would have been tickled.

nSasha gave a little sobbing laugh. “I miss him so much.”

nMe too.

nHe walked down the trail, keeping his steps careful because it was difficult for Sasha to balance downhill with the large bundle on her back. But then they were in the crevasse and Zev began to trot, then lope.

nThis is it, he said in her mind. Do you want to stop at the City, or just cut straight through to the Gateway?

nIt’s time, Zev. I’m done waiting.

nHe gave a little huffing woof.

nMe too, Sash. Me too.

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