With the morning, Taryn stretched out her arm to only find that Raschen's side of the sleeping furs was empty. From the coldness there, Taryn wondered if he had slept at all. The rain had stopped but the wind was blowing unmercifully. Voices were chattering beyond the tent hide which surprised Taryn. She wouldn't have thought the Hase would face the cold involuntarily. Dressing hastily, but leaving her waist band unfastened, Taryn tugged her shirt over her stomach. She frowned. Yesterday everything fit fine but today, well the babies must have had a grown spurt. She felt  as if a small horse had attached itself to her middle. Even her posture had changed as she struggled to stay upright, leaning back a little to lead with her stomach. A pain shot up her back and she eased it by supporting her lower back with her hands.<br/><br/>Opening the tent flap, she was rewarded with seeing Raschen and joy flooded her being. The babies kicked her as if rejoicing in the sight of their father. He was in conference with the Hase elders. Jax was standing next to him, scowling.<br/><br/>"You and your party need to plan to move on this morning. We are a peaceful community and do  not wish for warriors to live here any longer than necessary." the elder was saying as he toked on a fat joint.<br/><br/>"But he saved your asses from a fate worse than death," Jax interrupted.<br/><br/>"You would say that. You who have turned from peacemaker to warmonger. As for you, Jax Longjumper, if you think to reside within our burrows, you will give up your weapons of iron and vow to make war no more." the elder continued, a wreath of smoke around his ears. "To keep our ways pure, we will have only those here who make love and not war. Thank you, Friend Raschen, but your party must move on."<br/><br/>Taryn stood with her mouth open. Just because she had come to the conclusion that living with the Hase might not be the best idea didn't stop her from feeling outraged at their lack of appreciation  for the sacrifices that Raschen had made. and How Dare He Speak Against Jax!. Taryn was furious. She waddled over to the gathering, rudely bumping into Hase with her stomach and not even caring. She stood behind Jax, who had a paw resting on a throwing knife.<br/><br/>"How dare you speak against Jax!," she stated, magnificent in her fury, " He lost his family in a way that no one should ever experience. He nearly lost his life. Are you condemning him for surviving?"<br/><br/>The elder turned his eyes on her, unblinking but a little dazed.<br/>"Jax Longjumper lost no more than many of us did in that attack. Many of us suffered more. But we survived and let love heal that hurt. We picked up, mated others and started new families. Jax Longjumper represents the unnatural order of life. Hase were never meant to be predators. We avoid conflict but when we can't, we die with dignity. We celebrate life, all life, we even celebrate the unnatural life that you carry, Hume. We will never be your enemies, but you will never be able to be part of our society. You and your offspring will always be predators. This we recognize. Please go now, Taryn mate of the High Sheriff of the Warren."<br/><br/>He took another toke and passed it to the bunny on his right.<br/><br/>Taryn was numb. She turned to go and missed what Raschen and Jax said next. She waddled back to the tent and very slowly began to dismantle it.