All welcome!
@Misty or
@Numa or
@Andalusia or everyone ever?? :3 Maybe
@Ancalagon might like to hop in? I know this takes place right after she leaves him and Flynn, but maybe he finds a reason to track her back down and then you might be able to use this towards Caretaker if you're still interested in pursuing that trade?
Snow had begun to fall as Harlyn made her way back to her den, evergreen branches held softly in her teeth. She had collected far less than she would, but she was pleased simply to have started at all. Though she did not often share her traditions with others, they were no less important to her. She had not told Mordecai of her intention to decorate their den with the bristly needles, but she was certain he would not object. They'd be far enough removed so as not to poke at the den's inhabitants, and they would fill their home with the scent of the forest and of nature. Who could possibly object?
The alpha had just hopped lightly across the babbling stream that signified to her that home was just another 30 minutes away when it happened. She froze upon the shore in surprise and stiffened, obvious surprise etched upon her face. She peered curiously at her side, wondering.. Was it them? Her mind reeled back to the pregnant wolves she had tended in the past. How soon had they felt the movements of their brood within them? Her heart pounded excitedly, though when nothing more happened, she settled into deciding it had just been the way she'd landed upon the shore. That was all. They would make themselves known in due time, all was well. But still.. she didn't move in hope that maybe... just maybe... it would happen again.
Yep! It's his secondary trade goal. c: *gradually nudges Lagon in here* also tried to be vague b/c i don't want to assume anything lol.
It had taken Lagon a few seconds after he, Harlyn and Flynn had departed from one another's company to pause on his way back to his den where his (pitiful) horde of (three) lake bed rocks were nestled in the furthest corner of his den to reconsider Harlyn's statement about treasure hunting before he, carefully, set the antler down and stared down at it for a few seconds. Essentially, it was a useless object. Sure, he could worry it but for a second he pondered if perhaps the alpha female would have liked the antler. Initially he'd intended it for himself (because he was a greedy little shit like that) but the more he thought about it the more it felt more right to gift it to her. After all, she'd been the one that had accepted him into their fold and put faith and trust in him. While he fully intended to repay her by taking up the Guardian trade, giving them his undivided loyalty and tending to his pack duties he supposed it might not hurt to also show his gratitude in a different way.
Thus, he picked up the antler once more and altered his course, tracking his steps back into the clearing before he discerned and followed Harlyn's scent. It led him to what was, presumably, the alpha's den. He slowed his gait upon his approach, dropping the treasure at his smoky ink colored paws and inquired softly, “Harlyn...?” towards the mouth of the den, not wanting to be rude and intrude if she'd rather be alone; and mentally planning that if that was the case he would leave the gift for her and maybe see if he could find any other treasure jackpots (since he was on a roll and all).
She hasn't actually made it to the den yet. She's standing by a stream not too far from her den :D
Harlyn was focused on her own body as another approached, but not so intensely that she didn't hear him speak her name. She turned to spy Lagon, whom she had just left not too long ago. Her wonder at why he had followed her was non-existant, instead she felt relief and excitement. It was one thing to experience what she had on her own, but to share it was another blessing.
"Lagon! I think I felt.. But it's so soon, I'm not..." Harlyn said with a rush, pausing to take a breath before fixing her packmate with a fervent, hopefuly look,
"Have you spent any time around pregnant wolves? How soon after conception should you be able to feel them moving inside you?" It didn't occur to her that her question might be odd or even ill-formed. She was too wrapped up in the moment, and too keen on finding an answer to notice the flaws in her rushed questions.
Lagon had thought she'd entered the den, entirely missing that she was standing by the stream nearby instead and let out a slight start of surprise when her voice came from away from the den as opposed from inside it. He hung his head for a second, taking a deep breath to calm the increase in his heartbeat the startle had caused and was about to playfully scold her for scaring him but he was quickly distracted by the words that followed his name and the rush in which she spoke them. He might have been concerned by her trailing off words about feeling something but she didn't look distressed. In fact, she looked anticipative. He drew nearer, keeping his posture submissive, trying to make sense of her words until she inquired if he'd spent time around pregnant wolves before.
He stopped a few feet away from her and the puzzle pieces clicked together in his mind. For a moment her questions were a little awkward maybe because he wasn't a female and he felt for a small moment that this was something she should have been asking another female. Maybe one that had had children before. But she was asking him and he tried to recall his mother's experience — for she'd been heavily pregnant when he'd left Naga Veil. For a moment he regretted that he hadn't been there to see his baby (half) siblings but he didn't once regret setting out on his own. As far as he was concerned Lost Creek Hollow was the best thing to happen to him yet.
“I think my mom began to feel my little siblings move about maybe 4 weeks?” He knew he shouldn't have felt so awkward in his situation, especially because he wanted to be a pupsitter badly and if Harlyn was pregnant that meant he (providing the alpha pair would let him) would have a chance to help raise and be apart of their little lives. “Have you had any other symptoms? Like nausea? Or y'know have you had to pee a lot? Fatigue? Cravings?” Lagon was no medic but he definitely remember Seoul complaining about those things. He realized he should have paid much more attention to her and her symptoms and the development to the babes within her but he hadn't because he thought that was more for a midwife than a pupsitter. “I'm sorry I'm really bad at this. I didn't pay much attention to my mom's pregnancy before I left.” He laughed though he truly hoped that Harlyn wouldn't hold it against him. "So, you really think you're pregnant?" He asked in an excited hush hoping that her response would be 'yes'.
It should have occurred to her how odd it was for her - a healer - to be asking someone medical questions. Especially someone with no medical experience that she was aware of. But, Lagon was the one who had come upon her, and so he was the one who got to be pelted with queries she already knew the answers to, but had somehow forgotten in this moment of excitement and anxiety.
She listened intently as he responded. Four weeks. It was about four weeks now, she thought... She had never put too much stock in the exact passage of time, which was suddenly seeming like a pretty foolish thing to do. His other questions caused her to pause and evaluate the past couple of weeks. On some level she had known what her symptoms meant, but she'd scarcely allowed herself to believe out of fear of somehow jinxing it.
"Yes, on all counts," Harlyn said finally, a light smile touching her lips as acceptance began to settle happily in. "I've thought that maybe I was... I hoped, and I prayed. But until just now when I felt them, I hadn't... Oh goodness..." She sucked in a breath as her smile broadened.
Harlyn spoke that her response to all of his questions about other symptoms was a “yes” and unable to help himself Lagon's tail began to wag, a physical expression of his joy for her. His smile was wide as it tugged effortlessly at the corners of the dragon's lips when she gushed. For a moment, Lagon contemplated that it should have been Mordecai experiencing this joy with her, the discovery of the buns in her oven...and there was some guilt associated with it but in the end, Lagon happened to be in the right place at the right time and he was excited for the alpha pair. It went beyond the fact that he could possibly earn his caregiver trade ...the dragon genuinely loved kids and had been dejected that he'd decided to leave Naga Veil Forest before his half siblings could be born.
“That's really awesome,” He breathed, head whipped around for a second, remembering the reason he'd tracked her down. “One sec,” He told her before he turned and went back to where he'd left the antler, picked it up in his grasp and carried it over towards her where he set it down and pushed it towards her with his nose. “I originally came here to give this to you,” He admitted. “as a thanks for taking a chance on me by letting me join the pack ...and now it doubles as a congrats for being pregnant gift.” He said with a soft laugh, hoping that she would accept it.
She was pregnant. Pregnant! Silently, Harlan praised the gods for their blessing. She was going to be a mother. It was all she'd ever dreamed of - the perfect family. And now, she had it. she had it all! The perfect mate, the perfect pack, and very soon the perfect puppies. She sighed happily, tears pricking her eyes.
She beamed at Lagon when he spoke. Her head tilted as curiosity overtook her excitement when he turned away, and soon enough her expression was transforming again as she was touched by his gesture. "aw, you're too sweet," she crooned, leaning forward to plant a kiss upon his cheek, "This will be an excellent addition to our decoration. And I bet the pups will enjoy gnawing on it when they're old enough."
Lagon seemed pleased with her gratitude, and shortly thereafter Harlyn excused herself. She had very exciting news to break to her mate and was eager to get home.