Nina reached camp. I think I know what I have to do...
As she entered the camp, Nina hung her head shamefully. "NINA!" several voices exclaimed, and then she was hugged tightly by multiple people. Fearing for the kits, she struggled out if the embrace, but gave a smile to show there were no hard feelings.
"Listen, everyone," she began. "I'd just like to say I'm sorry for the way I acted. I didn't mean to hurt anyone's feelings, and-"
"Nina, it's fine," Bunnymund assured, holding up one paw. "We understand; you're really stressed over your new family." Nina flinched slightly at his choice of words.
"Yeah, I mean, I was worried about being a good member of the guardian family, and you obviously feel the same way about Squint and Raz."
The white doe relaxed.
"Yeah, I'm really worried about her." she replied, remembering how weak the kangaroo was. "She really needs help," she muttered sadly.
"Well... I won't complain about working with Bunnymund. For NOW," Jack muttered.
Nina smirked. "Thanks, Jack."
Raz stared at where the doe had been standing, then scoffed and went back into her cave.
How HAD she known that the doe had kits? And why didn't she scorch them then?
She sat down beside the picture she'd drawn of the man with the dark hair, trying to remember the details of her encounter. She closed her eyes, relaxing, bringing back the moment when she'd first sense the intruder to her territory. She remembered feeling the doe's heat signature in the air, and noting it seemed somewhat hotter than it ought to be. Then she remembered the crucial moment, fleeting as it had been. For a mere two seconds, she had felt a number of OTHER heat signatures, all coming from within the white doe. Upon taking a moment to concentrate, she had determined they were all within her abdominal region. And then she had realized the tiny rabbit was expecting a litter of kits.
She sniffed, taking this information in. It seemed there were a number of abilities she possessed concerning heat. "This could all be very helpful in the future," she thought with a sky smile.
"But WHY," she muttered, "did I let them go? Now, she'll probably tell everyone in her group where I live..."
She thought for a while, then scowled. "I'm weak. I showed her mercy."
"Now she's gonna' tell everyone where I am, and they're gonna' come and KILL me."
"Has anyone seen Squint?" Nina asked.
"Not since you left, sheila." Bunnymund replied. The doe nodded.
"Right, thanks," she muttered, before turning and walking off.
I have to tell him NOW, Nina thought as she walked. Otherwise... I may be putting our kits in danger.
Eventually she found Squint sitting at another pond, peering intently into it and muttering to himself. With a deep sigh, she walked over and stood behind him. Squint, upon noticing her presence, turned to her and smiled, standing up. "Hey Nina," he greeted, dusting his paws off. Nina gave a nervous smile back.
"Hey Squint," she replied. "Listen, I need to tell you something..."
"What's that?" the buck asked. The white doe gave a sigh, before gently taking his paw and laying it over her stomach.
Squint tilted his head quizzically at his mate. What was she trying to tell him? Was she sick? Was she injured? He gently felt over her stomach, trying to determine what was wrong. If he pressed just right, he could feel numerous, small lumps in her abdomen; they were about the size of small grapes. Squint tried to think; tried to figure out what was wrong with her.
Then his eyes widened. "Nina...are you...am I gonna'...are we...?" The white doe smiled bash fully, and gently laid her paw over his.
"Yeah Squint," she chuckled. "You're gonna' be a daddy."