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Lerin summoned the wherewithal to cast her a tiny smile from the corner of his mouth. "Well, you don't appear to be hurt yourself, even if you did end up caught by the wrong side... So they must not have done to poorly. It's weird, though, I-" Silver eyes flicked down to the swell of her belly as his cheeks warmed. Without much thought, his hand tugged away from her, curling back toward himself. "I would've thought for sure... For someone like you, anyway..."

He swallowed, gaze darting back toward Senja's face as a sudden sense of embarrassment washed over him. "I don't... usually have much interaction with, uhm, with..." His head tipped down again, fleetingly. "And I just wondered if I could- But I understand if you think it's... a little weird. After all that's happened, I'm sure you're feeling especially protective of it- Her? Him?"

"You're pregnant," Lerin asserted, suddenly feeling a stab of boldness. "You should be the one your family looked out for most. If not for you, then for- For her. Him." His face scrunched as he shook away uncertainty at what to call the tiny being residing in the soon-to-be mother. "That seems only reasonable. The world thrives off of mothers and their children, so of course your family should've protected you. But somehow you still wound up captured. It almost isn't even fair. I-" He huffed softly, tipping his head downward to glare at the ground and biting back the beginnings of a rant toward a woman he didn't even know that well.

"Sorry," Lerin murmured out at last. "You're fine. So there's really no reason for anyone to get worked up, I suppose. Still, I..." Silver orbs traveled back up to meet Senja's as the young Shifter's fingers twisted and wrung about themselves. "If it's really alright, could I... just..." He was suddenly thankful daylight skin concealed most of the heat swimming around on his face. "-touch... to see... I've never actually held a polite conversation for this long with a pregnant woman, let alone actually asked to..."

Lerin swallowed. He could just as easily blame the Obans for taking her, since it was primarily their fault, and even people with an overpowering sense of conquest should have some limitations. And pregnant women really should be one of them. Though since they hadn't actually hurt her, that was probably as much of a blessing as they could hope for. "Well, I'm not, really." Lerin admitted with a shrug. "I just don't see a reason for people to be needlessly cruel to each other. I'd feel... protective of anyone in your position, honestly," he told her with a sheepish grin, peering to her face from beneath his lashes.

But back to the matter at hand. Hearing her laugh at his plight actually made him feel just an ounce better. She seemed to take things all in stride; a very positive person. Probably a very good mother when the time came. He smoothed back his hair into some form of semblance from her ruffling, before looking inquisitively back to her. When he didn't immediately spot anything telling him not to touch her, he hesitantly settled the tips of his fingers on the swell of her stomach, giving a fleeting glance up to her once more before turning his attention down, again. "Hi," he whispered softly, curiously letting his palm settle over her.

Lerin wasn't entirely sure that he'd label people as being 'usually nice,' but he wasn't up for dampening Senja's spirits. They were all free, safe, and only had to worry about the road ahead. The past was behind them. And as his fingers hesitantly brushed against the swell of her belly, he expected the path ahead would be brighter, if not ridiculously challenging. He smiled hesitantly back at her.

"Yes, I'll be alright," he promised with a nod of his head, dutifully flicking his fingers through his hair to re-straighten it. He peered around her briefly to spot the boys she spoke of. In any event, Senja at least seemed pleased to see them. With a dip of his head, he murmured, "It was good to meet you, Senja. Thank you for joining me this far." With that said and done, it was time for him to continue on his own path, with Tandoori dutifully perched on his shoulder.