Wolf RPG

Pink and white buds dotted the still, small, body of water as they prepared to bloom in the upcoming weeks. Lotuses were beautiful and honestly, Reiko didn't see them very often and was quite pleased to find them here in their new home. Wandering by the side of the spring, she followed what she thought was Awenfen's scent, the Empress, having concerns to speak with her to —

About the swelling in her midsection. 

The life that began to bake in her little oven, now that it was obvious and the fair coated woman could no longer hide its presence, she grew increasingly nervous for them. As a first time mother, she was uncertain of her ability. Of her capability to raise them properly but of birthing them without a hitch most of all. And so she sought the wet nurse who so newly joined them about a week ago.

 
The battered woman, unaware that her Empress was seeking her, had coincidentally found herself following along the same springs. Dirty rabbitskin clutched in her maw, the dusty irisvar sought the cool embrace of the lotus pools to wash the grime of the gardens from her coat. 

They were coming together splendidly, the plots churned by paw and furrowed for optimal growth. Awenfen estimated that she'd finish them within the next week. Planting had already begun, a few choicy seeds buried within the rich loam - hopefully to yield a bountiful early harvest in the upcoming turn of the moon.

Satisfied, content, and admittedly proud of herself, the ruined mother trotted along - curly, feathered tail bouncing in unison. 

Just as the sighthound reached the waterside, her gaze was drawn by a flash of white to light upon the fair lady Reiko. 

Tail wagging veraciously with joy, the girlish sylph lowered the filthy hide to the ground so she could greet the tapeesa with a wide grin, a chirp of warmth. 

"Merry meet, mi'lady!" Awen lilted in welcome as her crown of white dipped respectfully.

A pause. She watched the sylph along the water's edge, she seemed at peace, happy, and for a moment Reiko basked in the sight to see someone in her new empire just enjoying life. It was beautiful. With a smile, she approached, as Awenfen turned to greet her happily, a sway in her tail returning the kind acknowledgment. Dipping her own crown, Awenfen, how is the Empire treating you thus far? 

Not wanting to bombard her with personal matters right away, she wanted to hear of the new peasant's time within the borders first. Those who chose to follow her always came foremost naturally. If it weren't for them all, those left behind by Uaine Gorsedd would be without a family, a place to belong to. 

She would hear the lady out before asking about the life growing inside her.

"Quite vell," the midwife's head bobbed mirthfully in affirmation, her answer accompanied by a shy yet contented smile. The wag of her feathered tail was bouyant, cheerful - much as the healer was revealing herself to be within the Empire, safe from Aliroth. 

"Vhat of ye, mi'lady?" She asked in turn, curiosity present within the spring forests of her gaze. "I fear I've spent so much time in me gardens zat I 'ave not seen you since joining," a tinkling laugh wisped from her lips. 

"Are ye vell?" 

I'm glad to hear that~ She sang in return, happy to hear that Awenfen was doing well now that she was safe within their borders. She certainly seemed better too, happier even and less shy or skittish. A distinct change from their first meeting. A change that was only a few days old and Reiko was curious to see what would come from the pretty little mutt (thought so with all the love given!!) in time, what her natural personality would be if given the chance to blossom?

Shaking her head softly, a smile peering through as the woman apologized for now checking up on her since joining. It isn't your job to check up on me lady Awenfen, it is mine to make sure all under my care are doing well. Trying to ease the halfling's worry she spoke gently with assurance in her tone. It was the leaders job to keep their followers safe after all, not the other way around. She was the one who had chosen to take up this mantle, not theirs to bend at her whim and spend their lives cushioning her life by tending to her every moment of every day. 

I am well, I think... A thoughtfilled pause. But, I believe I'm pregnant. Bright curelean eyes searched the peasant's face for an answer to a question she had yet to ask. It's my first litter... and I ask, as our only wetnurse, how do I prepare to ensure their health?

Though the druid certainly admired the northron's tenacity, something still niggled at her - perhaps the intuition that cursed her with seeing too deeply beneath the surface, or that forever shattered piece of her soul that recognized agony. 

"Aye, mi'lady," she lilted softly in agreement, a diffident gentleness cast over the words, "..but vho checks on ye?" 

Recognizing her own insolence, the waifish sighthound withered with submission shortly after - spine curved and tail tucked as her wispy auds pinned. 

"I only mean'..it vould be nice to 'ave friends," she explained hastily, octaves ahush with trepidation. "I vould very much like to be friends." Somber, pale eyes blinked at the Izuka. 

The news that her leader shared prompted a change in demeanor: ears perking curiously as the healer half-straightened, something equal parts cheerful and sorrowful in her fae gaze. 

"Truly? Congrat-ulations," the words fumbled from Awen's maw clumsily, a small smile unfurling upon her stiff cheeks. Despite the mother's hollow echo of grief, she truly welcomed the thought of children running about the Vale.

"Vell, firstly, I vould reccomen' keeping to yer routine as closely as possible," the botanist advised as she seemed to take on a clinical view. "In t'ese early stages, t'ere isn't much change to make."

"Try to eat 'ealthy: rich and fatty meats, berries, roots. Lots of vater, of course. Excercise, sunlight, the necessities." 

"Avoid anyt'ing too strenuous - excessive work, traveling far distances, sparring - especially as  yer pregnancy progresses. If yer undergoing quite a bit of stress, light doses of lavender every o'ter day or so should help. If'n not, ve can look into something stronger t'at's safe fer ta bairns."

"I t'ink t'at about covers it fer now," the midwife drawled slightly as she trailed off, concentration carved upon glacial features as she pondered. 

"Ah, yes!" She softly exclaimed aloud as her face lit up. "I do 'ave a bit of black 'aw stockpiled, it is good - in small amounts -fer preventing miscarriage in ta ferst few mont's." 

You got me there.~ She chuckled softly. Awenfen was so sweet and such a perfect addition to their little pack. Though Reiko would never ask too much of anyone in the pack unless absolutely necessary, it was nice to know that they were all looking out for one another.

So as Awenfen ducked and shied away from her bold declaration, Reiko couldn't help but approach her and offer a gentle nudge, to encourage her to rise up for there was no need to cower here. Well, at least she liked to believe so - Takeshi was a whole different topic to discuss on the matter of cowering away. We are friends, all that is left is to get to know one another.

The woman listened and nodded as the wispy woman gave all that she knew as proper direction - stress was definitely an issue and perhaps Reiko should look for more lavender to bathe in and try to soothe those nerves further. The thought of sparring or fighting while heavy with children was an uncomfortable thought, a woman who would or even could do such a thing both impressive and wreckless - seeing as how little energy she had to just walk around let alone fight!

But then again, Reiko wasn't a good fighter to begin with... that's been proven over and over.

As the mention of miscarriages came up and a possible prevention, the Empress' ears perked up with interest. Would... would it be possible for me to have some?

"Of course," the Saluki murmured graciously, circlet of ice dipping faintly as moonstone eyes shuttered gently. 

"I 'ave begun build-ing me practice among za cherry trees," she informed the leader - both calmly and vaguely questioningly, as if wondering if this was permissible. 

"If'n ye vould be so kin' to follow me, mi'lady." The irisvar turned as the words lilted from primitive tongue, gesturing with a sweep of her muzzle as she gathered the hide in her jaws.

As Awenfen accepted, Reiko felt a moment of happiness, like she was doing more now to be a good mother instead of hoping everything would just turn out well. With a wag of her tail, she gleefully followed the saluki mix as she led them to where she chose to make her garden. I'm thankful you came up on our borders Awenfen,

Looking over to her companion, Reiko smiled. This will certainly help my concerns... She would also learn more from the feathery woman in taking care of the young, her medicinal knowledge seemed vast and she was eager to learn from Awenfen whenever possible. Have you been studying medicine for long?

"Aye," she soughed quietly in agreement (once they'd returned to the groves and she'd set aside the pelt), "an' I'm zankful ta 'ave foun' zem."

She couldn't imagine what her life would be without Lady Reiko's interception. Well, that was a lie. She knew only too well what it would look like; she'd still be running, still peering over her shoulder for sign of her former husband. 

With a thick swallow, the mother padded to the recently formed cairns and pawed aside a few stones - collecting herself while her ivory moonface was turned from the Izuka's view. 

"Oh, yes," Awenfen answered affirmatively, a bright smile spreading across her features as she turned back to face Reiko - black haw resting beneath a single tiny paw. 

"I learne' from a slave in Grine-stone an' later I vas traded to the Druids to 'eal," her diadem of hoarfrost dipped as she spoke, something distant in her gaze. 

"It 'as al-vays been a pass-ion fer me," she explained softly, cheeks warm. 

"Do ye 'ave any inter-ests - aside from leader-ship?" Her head cocked as she hesitantly questioned her newfound friend, moonlight gaze rising curiously.

Nodding along as she listened carefully to Awenfen, the thought of slaves caused a mild wince but as the story continued it sounded better. Leadership isn't quite a passion, not that I would call it. Chuckling, she couldn't think of leading being anything close to a passion. It only made sense that Ibis and she would lead their new pack considering that they were the bonds between each individual among them initially.

I've always enjoyed gardening herbs, and have a knack for healing. So I try to learn whenever possible. Hence why she asked these questions to Awenfen, not only to keep herself healthy but to know for future use in her own arsenal should someone need it too. Everyone is so unique in their own ways. Musing out loud, she thought back to the wolf she met who would carry herbs in some kind of basket-thing, learning the use of cobwebs from her, as well as Marigold from Speedy.

"Ah, apolo-gies, mi'lady," the wyvern sighed with newfound realization. It was a matter above her understanding, leadership, given her newfound freedom but it seemed to the insightful botanist that suffering was inevitable. 

Either the people must be shackled by misfortune or else the leaders; better never meant better for everybody. 

"Aye," she agreed, musing internally on the differences she'd seen in various characters of her past and those around her now. 

"Ye ken, I vould nae min' if'n ye vould like ta come visit me 'ere some-times. I vould love ta teach ye vhat I've learn-ed vith ze druids," the timid mother offered timorously as she bundled the black haw into a broad leaf for safekeeping. 

"Rem-ember, nae too much. A bite of a leaf in ze morn' should do it," Fen reminded diligently as she nudged the small bundle to her Empress. 

"Bless-ings upon ye an' yers, mi'lady, an' I look for-ward to yer com-pany," the midwife lilted, given that the northron Lady moved to depart, with hope that she might truly return - whether just for companionship or for medical lessons. 

I will remember that, thank you. Such a kind woman. Awenfen truly fit within the Empire since day one of her joining. Helpful, kind, gentle, willing to be a part of something bigger than just herself. Reiko was in awe with how quickly she got comfortable here. One bite in the morning, got it. Repeating the dosing that Awenfen gave, Reiko logged it away into memory to do until the puppies were born.

And to you too, Lady Awenfen. With a smile, she dipped her head and gently scooped up the herbs offered only to now depart from the wispy woman's company. She would certainly take up that tutoring option later on to learn about herbs from someone else, as well as of Awenfen to deepen their connection. In time, they would certainly be good friends as they both desired.

- End!