Valette went to check up on her daughter. They didn't have it easy lately. Keoni died. Steph got a collar around her neck. They lost Clary and Nanook. They weren't really lost but they still left. On top of that, Murdock died. She knew her daughter was close to him. She didn't want her daughter to pine over the male though of course, there should be mourning.
Valette howled for her daughter. Glad her wounds were healing at least. It was unlike Nikai and his wounds. The mother worried about him. On the other hand, there was also nicer news she wanted to share with Steph. Since Valette didn't have her sister to share this with, and perhaps it was weird to share it with Banner, she decided that she wanted to go to Steph with the news.
Steph had fallen into a depression. The death of Keoni, her Aunt and sister going off on some adventure, and now she had this thing around her neck. She had mostly gotten used to it, but the weight still annoyed her often. She couldn't figure out what it did, if anything. It made no noise, and gave no indication was anything but to get on her nerves.
Her head lifted from her paws when her mother's call rang out. Her tail wagged briefly, always happy to see Valette. She got up, the collar shifting around her neck, and padded through the forest. The past few weeks, she had found various spots to sleep in the forest. Valette hadn't kicked her out of the den, and she still slept there occasionally. But, Steph was a teenager, and as she aged, her need for indepence increased. Not so much that she ever thought about leaving; but enough that she wanted to find her own den. Plus, she knew Stark had been getting closer and closer to her mother.
Valette came into view, and Steph's tail wagged again. She nuzzled her mother's neck in greeting. Hey, Mom, she said. What's up? she asked, wondering why Valette had called her.
Valette was glad when she saw her daughter. The mother wagged her tail and licked Steph in greeting. Since her daughter's coat was dark she could just think away the collar for that moment. Valette hummed. "I'm happy to see you," she spoke and then plopped down before her daughter. "I have some good news in all this drama. Oh well, I'd like to share some of my good news with you," she spoke to her daughter.
Valette looked a bit flustered and giddy but that was probably her feelings for Stark making her act this way. "As you might have realized, Stark has been more and more into my life...," she stated and battered her eyes at her daughter. "And well, I really like him," she admitted and then laughed. "I feel so silly! I feel like a teenager in love for the first time," she muttered and glanced at Steph. Hoping that she would be happy as well.
"Then I realized that you are a teenager now and perhaps there are some things we should talk about. Girl things," she hummed. She wasn't sure how Steph would feel to get 'the talk' from her mother all so suddenly. "If you want to, at least?"
Steph could always count on her mother to lift her spirits, no matter what was going on in Steph's world. And the fact that Valette seemed extra happy this morning made her daughter smile, wondering what the good news was. What is it? she asked, her voice filling with excitement.
When Stark's name came up, Steph's expression changed to one of expectation. She knew Valette and Stark had been getting closer the past few weeks, and Steph wasn't surprised to hear that her mother liked-- no, loved-- him. So, are you two...? Her voice trailed off, figuring her mother would understand what she was asking. Were they official?
Her ears perked when her mother brought up a subject most teenagers would dread to have. But, Steph's history didn't afford her the knowledge to know exactly what Valette was talking about. What kind of girl things? she asked, curious.
I'm just going to say that this thread takes place after Stark and Val became mates!
Valette was glad to hear that Steph was excited about her news. She hoped that it would live up to her excitement levels. She didn't know how close she was with Stark. Probably not so close. She hadn't sniffed much of Stark on her daughter. Only when she had been away. "Mates? Yes," she confirmed. "I hope you don't mind. He is a really nice guy," she spoke with a firm nod. She wanted to add: Unlike your father. But Valette had the feeling that she didn't need to confirm that to Steph who hadn't been a fan of Ezekiel either.
"Well, spring is here and often in spring females will go into heat. Do you know what it is?," she asked. She wasn't sure how much Steph knew. Valette realized her own heat might come soon as well, and she would want to have pups with Stark. She didn't want to freak out her children by behaving very differently. She remember that her last heat she was far more forward and bitchy to other females.
She smiled when her mother had admitted that she had found a mate in Stark. She was quick to shake her head back and forth when Valette was worried about her minding. No way! I like Stark, she comforted. And if he makes you happy, I like him even more, she assured. She had never seen her mother in love before, because Ezekiel sure didn't count. She had nothing to compare it to, except when it came to her own relationship with Stark. She didn't automatically assume it would make him her Dad, though she was feeling the loss since Murdock's passing.
She shook her head side to side. No, I don't, she admitted. She had never heard of the term before. What does it have to do with the weather? she asked. Since Steph was born in late summer, she had no idea the things that happened when spring arrived, and love was in the air.
Valette felt relieved when Steph spoke about liking Stark. She instantly grinned and wagged her tail excitedly. "He does make me very happy," she confirmed to her daughter. She sometimes felt a bit guilty as there was Steady but she tried to think that Steady wanted her to be happy.
Valette nodded more seriously when Steph admitted that she didn't know what heat meant. That made it even better that Val would explain it now. "Eh.. No. Well, could be?," she chuckled. "It happens from the end of winter until early spring," she explained. "Heat happens for the first time when you are around two years old. But I wanted you to know about since I might be going in heat, along with other females of the pack," she stated.
"Heat only happens to us females and it means that is the window you can have babies," she explained. "You can tell when you have your heat mostly because you will start to smell and behave differently. It last only for a week or so," she spoke. Her hazel eyes glanced at her daughter to see if she had any questions about it. Maybe she should follow up with an explanation of where pups came from.
Steph was happy to see her mother so happy. She was old enough to know that Valette would not be alone forever if she didn't want to be. She was also wise enough to know that Ezekiel would not be taking that place, so someone else had to. He had been such a fleeting spec in her life that if she was honest with herself, she couldn't even see why Valette held any interest in him ever. But, if she hadn't, Steph, Clary, and Ezra wouldn't be here. So there was that. Only that.
She cocked her head when her mother gave more than one answer to her question. No? Maybe? She was about to make a joke about someone needing to talk to Valette about this, but then her mother continued on. She nodded her understanding as to why she should know this when it wouldn't happen to her for another year and a half. So, do you just feel hot? she asked, assuming that's why it was called "heat".
She considered what her mother was telling her, trying to make sense of it. So, where does the male come in? So far, Valette hadn't mentioned that part, and Steph was curious. She got that during this period, females would act weird, and it was the time to get pregnant, but what did the guy do?
Valette was expecting those next questions. It was common to think females would just feel overheated but it wasn't the case. "It is a different feeling altogether. I can't really describe it. You just feel a need, like you want to fill a need when hungry," she explained to her daughter. That sounded right. It did feel like that but instead of hunting and getting meat it was the need to breed one would get.
"Well, as you know the males have a penis," she started. "I'm not exactly sure what happens but when they use it while you are in heat it is most likely that you are pregnant with pups. It mostly comes naturally to you at that moment. You shouldn't worry about it too much. Though do remember that after they are done and it worked the male will get stuck for awhile. It is normal you just have to wait it out," she assured. Valette then chuckled. "This must all sound very weird to you," she admitted then.
Steph was quiet for a few moments, her brain trying to process this new information. It was likely that she wouldn't actually use it for some time, but she wanted to understand it now. Apparently, while it was called "heat", they didn't actually feel hot. Instead, her mother likened it to feeling hungry. So, instead of hunting for food, you hunt for a mate? she said jokingly.
The rest seemed okay, but her eyes bulged when Valette told her the males get stuck. Get stuck to what? she asked. In her mind, getting stuck to a female hadn't been thought of. She did wonder about what happened during birth. Does giving birth hurt? she asked.
Valette chuckled at her daughter's comment. "Yes, sort of like that," she laughed. "Though you would want a steady partner, one that helps you with raising babies. Unlike I did. Luckily I had your aunt Nanook helping me," she commented. Though she didn't need to tell Steph about the loss of a dad. She wished it had been different for her but her daughter had grown up without a dad, to then lose her father figure as well. It was the same for Valette. Bad relationship with her father and then Reek who disappeared. She wondered how he was doing, perhaps he was deceased by now. He had been old then. "I just realized you are a lot like me, Steph," she spoke then after all those thoughts.
"Oh, well, get stuck where the babies come out. Not sure why it happens but I wouldn't want you to freak out when it does happen one day," she explained. For her the first time, it had been very strange to feel. Valette then listened to Steph's next question. "Oh yeah, it hurt a bit. Mostly the cramps and contractions hurt the most, I'd say," she admitted. "But once you see those beautiful faces you forget all the pain," she spoke and then reached forward to try and shower Steph's face with little kisses and licks. Such a mother she was.
Steph knew that her mother was speaking of Ezekiel, and she frowned. Since he had left, she had spoken about him once to Aunt Nanook, but then never again. Mostly, she felt like it would be a waste of time if she did. Was he always... Absent? she asked, wondering what he was like before she was born.
A smile broke her frown when Valette said Steph was a lot like her. I'll take that as a compliment, she responded in kind. She looked up to her mother more than anyone, and prided herself on being like Valette. It made it all worth it now that Valette had realised it, too.
Her head tilted as her she tried to envision what her mother was explaining to her. But, without having any experience, it wound up a mess in her head, and her expression likely showed it. But, she wasn't surprised when Valette explained that giving birth hurt. You think I'll have babies one day? she asked. She hadn't thought about it up until now. With no love interest, there was never a point.
Valette was surprised that Steph wanted to know something about Ezekiel. "He went missing for a long time when we were dating," she started. "Before that he was very loyal. He went missing for more than a year, or that was what it felt like. So I fell in love with Steady. Once he returned he wasn't really the same," she admitted. Especially since Valette loved Steady now and not him. "Perhaps the idea I liked another was too much for him. Though he had a chance to prove himself after Steady died, yet he didn't. I think something happened while he was away for so long. He was always closed off and difficult with sharing emotions," she admitted.
Valette then smiled. "Yes, you should," she chuckled. Steph asked if she would have more children one day. Valette instantly nodded. "Yes. But only if I have a mate. Though if they are all going to be like you and your siblings it will be tough to say no," she hummed. She was so proud of her children. "I really like being a mother and puppies are just so cute!," she admitted. She really couldn't help herself.
She listened as her mother drew the past into the present. Who's Steady? she asked, not having heard that name before. She wondered what exactly had happened while Ezekiel was missing, but she doubted she would ever get the chance to ask. I wish I knew him the way he was before, she said softly. With Murdock gone, Steph was missing her father figure, and Ezekiel had been on her mind lately. But, wishing wouldn't change anything.
She grinned when Valette began talking about puppies. You're a good Mom, she said honestly. Valette had always been there for her children, and Steph imagined it would be the same way with her next litter. Steph was rather excited to have some younger siblings running around, too.
Valette looked a bit surprised when Steph asked who Steady was. The mother couldn't believe Steph didn't know about him. Then she remembered that she only told Clary about Steady's passing. "Well, Steady was my mate. He passed away last spring. I loved him so dearly," she sighed. "The tallest rock in Stone Circle is named after him. Steady's Stone." She offered Steph a softer smile.
"You would have loved him, though, if he would still be alive, you wouldn't be here. Then I would never have Ezekiel breed me," she admitted. Then she would be with Steady. "He was very handsome, with a dark coat and brown eyes," she hummed. "He was the leader of this pack while I was just a member," she hummed. She smiled at her daughter. "You are sweet. Thank you. That would mean you would be a big sister!," she grinned. "Though first, we need to find out if Stark wants babies as well."
Steph's expression saddened as her mother told her about her previous mate. I'm sorry, she responded, regarding her loss. What happened? she asked, wondering how Steady had died. She knew what stone Valette was speaking of, though before now, she hadn't known it had a name. Now she could call it that.
Do you think he would have been a good Dad? she asked. Had she thought about it more, she may not have asked. But, the question was out of her mouth before she could stop it. She liked the idea of Steady, mostly because she didn't like her real father.
She grinned as Valette talked about more pups. I hope he does, she said excitedly. I'm sure you can convince him! she grinned. Steph didn't imagine her mother ever didn't get what she wanted.
Valette nodded sadly. "It was terrible," she sighed. "He was out of the territory and got into a fight. He died from his injuries later on," she spoke with a saddened look. "Yes, he would have been a wonderful dad. He raised many pups that weren't his own. Once I would have my heat we would finally have our own," she admitted. "Though he died before I got my first heat," she sighed. It had been quite devastating when she finally got her heat 2 months after.
Valette then smiled. "I hope so as well. I think Stark would make a good father. Plus he is my mate now so it would be worth doing it together," she spoke. She and Stark known each other for a long time but only been in a relationship shortly but she believed they could make it work. They had the same past relationship. They could understand that both would still miss the other and be at peace with that.
Her head tilted slightly. He raised kids that weren't his own? she questioned. The idea that a wolf would raise children that wasn't their own was foreign to Steph. She didn't realize that Keoni and Niaki weren't biologically her siblings. Her world, aside from the loss of her sister, and her father-figure, had been innocent. Sure, Ezekiel hadn't been there, but because her life didn't start out with him, so she didn't miss him. She didn't realize that, in some cases, both parents weren't able to raise their pups. Steph was just lucky.
Steph knew enough to realize that if Steady hadn't died, she wouldn't be here. (both IC and OOC!) But, she didn't say that aloud. She imagined it wouldn't be a good outlook for her mom. I'm sorry he passed before you got to have babies together, she said softly. She nodded when Valette spoke about Spark being a good father. He saved me from the big birds the first time around. Practically dragged me by my scruff into the woods, she chuckled. Now that the collar was gone, Steph could laugh about the circumstances that had brought it along. After all, it never did hurt, even it had frightened her quite a bit.
Valette nodded. "We took care of Nikai and Keoni together but he also looked after the pups of his brother, I believe. I just joined his pack at the time. I wasn't that close to him in the beginning. We were on good terms but not good friends," she spoke with a smile. So strange to think of that time. How bitter she had been. She had decided to listen to Steady and join his pack. So much had changed because she joined Silvertip Mountain.
"I'm sorry as well, though I am also happy because it gave me you and your siblings. I am very happy to be your mother. I am not going to let Ezekiel ruin that," she spoke proudly. She saw them as mostly hers anyhow. "He really stepped up that time, didn't he? I am glad." It was a relief to her that Steph and Stark could get along. She wouldn't have known what she would have done if they didn't.
She looked a little confused when Valette explained that they had raised Keoni and Nikai together. It took her a moment to figure out that it meant Valette and Steady weren't the blood parents. Why did you have to raise them? I mean, what happened to their parents? Steph certainly wouldn't change her viewpoint on Keoni and Nikai. They would always be her brother and sister, no matter if there was no blood relation. Steph had learned early on that blood meant nothing, and that character meant everything.
She smiled to Valette. I'm glad you're my Mom, too, regardless of anything else, she responded, referring to Ezekiel. She nodded about Stark. Yeah. It seems like just what he does. He fits as a protector, she said honestly. She had been pretty out of it, but she didn't think he had hesitated to save her, with little to no regard to his own safety.
Valette realized by looking at Steph that she hadn't been aware that Nikai and Keoni were adopted. Luckily she didn't seem too phased by it. "Well, their mother joined this pack, fleeing for bad wolves. Steady took her in. Only a few weeks later those bad wolves caught up with her and killed her. We never found out what she did or why she was killed for it," Valette spoke sadly.
"So then Nikai and Keoni were without a mother so I raised them. I was lucky that they were on more solid foods already if they were still drinking milk only they wouldn't have survived." With them, Valette learned how much she wanted to become a mother herself. "Same," She smiled. Steph might not be Steady's offspring but she was hers and Valette loved her immensely. "Yes, and we could need a protector sometimes," Valette spoke.
Her mood saddened greatly as Valette told the story of Nikai and Keoni's mother. That's so horrible, she said, the emotion evident in her voice. She couldn't imagine that happening to someone in her family. To loose someone to murder. Do they remember her? she asked of their mother. It sounded like they may have been to young to. I hate that happened to her, but I'm still glad I get to have them as siblings. She couldn't imagine a world in which she didn't.
Steph did have a question for her Mom, but she wasn't sure how she was going to respond to it. Soooo, she drawled out, how old were you when you started dating? She watched Valette's expression closely to see if the question upset her or not.
Valette nodded in agreement. She had been shocked at the time as well that this happened. She had never seen such violence before. She knew that Blackfeather did bad things but she didn't think it would really happen. "They were too young. Nikai asked about her once but couldn't remember her," she explained. "I'm glad as well that they are part of our family," Valette spoke with a nod.
"Dating?," she repeated and then smiled. She looked back. When did she have her first crush? Oh yeah... Mason! Silvertip. He was the reason at first why she joined Silvertip. "I think I was your age. 9 months or so? I had a crush, it never came to dating," she admitted and then chuckled. "I was too shy to say anything and then he left. Not sure what happened. He was Steady's nephew, funny enough." Steady had been older than her. She was around the same age as Mason at the time. "Why? Do you like anyone?," she asked with a grin.
It was so sad that Nikai and Keoni couldn't remember their first mother. But, then again, it meant they couldn't remember the horrible way her life had ended. Steph felt lucky that she had Valette and didn't know what she'd do if she lost her.
So, it seemed Valette had started dating about this age. It made Steph feel better, like she wasn't lagging behind in the guy department. Her eyes widened when Valette admitted to almost dating Steady's nephew. You had a crush on his nephew? she asked, needing confirmation. That sounds awkward, she laughed. She sobered when Valette asked her if she liked anyone. Not really, not so far, she confessed. I mean, we have some nice males here, I'm just not sure I like any of them in a special way, she admitted.
Valette nodded in confirmation about liking Steady's nephew. "I don't know, it wasn't that awkward. I was a teenager and Steady was already an adult. I think he had his suspicions but I never really confirmed it to him, I think," she explained. "Once we got together we were a year further, perhaps even more? I don't know we really grew to care for each other. It wasn't an instant crush on my side at least. Steady was more the leader I was loyal to and worked hard for. He was mated to someone else, and I was having my eye on Ezekiel," she explained and let out a soft grown.
She glanced at Steph. "That might be a good example for you. Really get to know the person well you want to mate. You will know when it feels right though," she spoke with a nod. "That is why I never mated Ezekiel because I knew something didn't feel okay," she added. Valette nodded when Steph explained that they didn't have nice males. Not really her age no. "Well, you could visit Morningside or visit Bearclaw? Who knows!," she smiled. Mason hadn't been in the same pack either. "Nikai's crush was also in another pack. I think he went to visit her," Valette told Steph.