“Loona?”
The familiar voice came from behind.
She glanced up sharply, already pulling her emotional armor back on—but paused when she saw who it was.
Jenna.
Tall, composed, jogging lightly in a maroon workout tank and black leggings, her rust-red fur tied back with a headband. There was always something maternal about her—comforting but firm, like a warm blanket that would also scold you for not washing your hands.
She slowed to a stop, ears perking. “Hey there, stranger. Didn’t expect to see you out here.”
Loona shifted. “Just needed air.”
Jenna smiled and took a sip from her water bottle. “I get that. I run this path most mornings. The air here’s cleaner than the Inferno, that’s for sure.”
Loona tried to smile. It didn’t land. She looked away.
Jenna watched her for a moment, then slowly sat on the other end of the bench. Not close. Not crowding. Just… nearby.
“How’s work?” she asked gently.
“Fine.”
“How’s Blaze?”
Loona hesitated. “Still weird. Still writing.”
Jenna chuckled softly. “That sounds about right.”
There was a pause.
Loona shifted again, her tail flicking nervously behind her.
“You know,” Jenna said after a beat, wiping sweat from her brow, “I used to sit on this same bench. Years ago. Right after I found out I was pregnant with Amaryllis.”
Loona’s ears twitched.
She said nothing.
“I thought I had it all together,” Jenna continued. “I’d planned for it. I had family. Stability. But even then, I was scared out of my mind. I stared at that little white plus sign for an hour. Like it was gonna change its mind or something.”
“…I’m not like you,” Loona mumbled.
Jenna’s smile didn’t fade. “I know. That’s why I’m not giving you advice. Just… sharing a memory.”
Loona clenched her paws in her lap. “You were ready.”
“Sure. But that didn’t stop me from crying in a closet at two in the morning because I thought I’d mess everything up. Readiness doesn’t erase fear, sweetheart.”
There was a long silence.
Jenna’s eyes were soft, but sharp. Focused. “So. Does Blaze know?”
Loona’s eyes widened slightly. She recoiled just an inch. “What—? I—No! Of course not. He doesn’t… know.”
“You planning to tell him?”
“…I don’t know yet.”
Loona leaned forward, elbows on her knees, burying her face in her paws. “I don’t even know if I’m keeping it. I don’t know what I’m doing.”
Jenna let the weight of that hang.
She didn’t offer platitudes.
Didn’t rush to soothe.
Just… nodded.
“I’ve been through this before,” Jenna said finally. “I can see it in your eyes. The way you’re holding yourself like the world’s about to drop out from under you. That kind of fear? It’s never just nerves.”
Loona looked at her sideways. “You got X-ray vision now or something?”
“No,” Jenna smirked. “Just Mom vision. Comes with stretch marks and a gut instinct you can’t shake.”
That got a small snort from Loona. Barely a laugh. But it was something.
“Whatever you decide,” Jenna said, her voice quieter now, “you need to do it for you. Not for Blaze. Not for me. You. You don’t owe anyone an answer—not today. But don’t carry it alone forever.”
Loona looked away.
Not ready to hear that.
Not yet.
Jenna stood up, stretching a little. “I’ll leave you to your walk. You’ve always been more ‘solo brooding’ than ‘group therapy’ anyway.”
“…Thanks,” Loona muttered.
Jenna smiled and leaned in to gently brush a paw along Loona’s shoulder. “Just… don’t wait too long, okay?”
And with that, she jogged off—her rhythm steady, even as Loona was left behind.
Still.
Alone.
But maybe just a little less adrift.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Because I'm actively writing "Hell of A Legacy" and keep wanting to make scenes from it.
Look at that, the two top ladies getting a moment together!
I really loved doing Loona's face here. She's just so... "Uuuuuugh!" right now lol
Can see what happened here: https://inkbunny.net/s/3708242
~Loona (C) Vivziepop
~Jenna (C) Universal
~Art is mine
