There was something unfamiliar with the cold. It held a different feeling towards Shellnose. Usually there was a certain warmth that tumbled around with their frozen surroundings, perhaps due to the amity they shared with their home. This time, the snow radiated bitterness and every breath was a set of icy claws on his chest. There was something in the air that just made the ginger tom uncomfortable. White paws wandered through a narrow path, blending in with the ground as his figure came into sight of any others sitting in camp.

He was being too hard on her. There wasn't any question of that. She was pregnant, but it was a mistake, and he should be at her side, supporting her, not sitting alone in the cold. But it was hard. Every time he thought of her with someone else he felt flushed with rage, and he just wanted to sink his claws into someone's pelt and shred them to little pieces. These kits would be a permanent reminder of someone else in her life. How could they move on with a life together if she always had the past hanging around?

He stared at the frozen ground ahead of his paws, melancholic. He just wasn't sure what the right answer was. They had to figure it out, one way or another: this couldn't continue. They couldn't avoid the subject or constantly fight over it, he couldn't just take out his frustrations on the prisoners when they acted out, and eventually those kits would be born, and what then? Shadowglade closed his eyes. No, they needed to figure this out, the sooner the better.

His ears twitched at the sound of pawsteps and his head jerked upright. His eyes caught on Dyinglight and he straightened, hopeful--- then she embraced Shellnose. A deep stab of jealousy wrenched his gut and he dug his claws into the ground. They're just friends, he reminded himself firmly, but it still made him angry to see her with someone else. To see that someone else had to make her smile, because he was too busy fighting her.

Shellnose allowed her to approach him, not flinching away or even moving forward to greet her. His paws froze in his tracks, he just took a moment to silently look over her. She was heavy. The round in her belly reminded him of how harsh others were being on her. He might have a reason to be angry, but as much as he searched and reached out for a reason, he couldn't find it. He only felt an overwhelming sense of affection for the Jarl and her unborn kits. Dyinglight was his friend, after all. His best friend. His only friend. To push her away would be to push away anything he had left in the clan to keep fighting for.

A pair of green orbs flashed downward to take it all in, a deep breath breaking the silence. "How are you holding up?" The tom couldn't help but to let his gaze wander off into the near distance, catching the eyes of Shadowglade. He wondered what went through his mind, but his curiosity didn't last long as he refocused his attention on Dyinglight.

Parting his mouth, he hoped he could find some sort of words to comfort her. All that came out was a hesitant breath, dry of any useful idea he could give that wouldn't hurt her. "From an outsider looking in, it doesn't seem completely healthy," he confessed softly. But really, he couldn't be sure if a toxic relationship with Shadowglade was due to having another tom's kits. "I wouldn't know anything about that, though." Dyinglight was the only one who really had any imput in his life. She was aware that Shellnose never had anything to call a romantic relationship. Honestly, he probably wouldn't know what that feeling was, even if it had batted him right across the face.

"Does it feel right to you?"

"Jealousy is toxic," he reminded her. Shellnose knew that radiating hate she was describing. He could feel Shadowglade's eyes burning into his pelt whenever he crossed paths with the Jarl. He was afraid if he even brushed whiskers with the she-cat he would be ready to shred Shellnose into nothing more than a limp pile of ginger fur. "It gets worse. It festers. It's abusive." He shook his head, ignoring her icy gaze and staring where her paws buried into the snow. "I'm only saying this because I care for you. And those kits." He paused, wondering how Shadowglade felt about these kits. Was he willing to father them, knowing they weren't his own? Would he even look at them without seeing someone he hated? Clearing his throat, he lifted his green eyes to that distant area where the tom was spotted. "You have more lives to think about now, and they will be counting on you. Do whatever is necessary to give them a happy life."

Shellnose nodded, though being reminded that she wouldn't keep them longer than nursing them to stability sent a wave of grief through his chest. He was sure she didn't want them to go, but he knew that her intentions were good, and most likely out of love for Hiddencharm. The ginger tom struggled with understanding that part, but he couldn't bring himself to question her decisions. "I don't doubt it," he agreed hushly. "Though if you do decide to change your mind, I'll stand by your side."

Nodding, the ginger warrior glanced back to where the other warriors sat. Their eyes had still been felt burning into his fur, leaving an uncomfortable mark. He shivered beneath his pelt and nodded in response. "I could use a walk," he agreed. The tom chose the path leading to the exit and padded past in a manner that said he couldn't wait to get out. His muscles were tense and tingled with the anticipation of running outside. He didn't look back, as he trusted that his friend was close by.

After eating , Owlstrike followed the couple out of camp. "Hey , Shellshine, Dyinglight! " He said as he neared them.

Dyinglight glanced over her shoulder as well at their  unexpected follower. Another odd uncomfortable movement from her belly had her looking down at it in slight shock. They had not moved this much yet. She was finding it rather strange. She didn't think she was that far along. No, she wasn't due for at least another week. Maybe this was normal. She mentally made a note to ask Mistyveil when they returned and then another movement, this one sharp and throbbing, causing  her to suck in a sharp breath and wince.