After her daytrip to the bay, Huā returned home to her den. As the sun set upon the ocean, and stars came out to play, her children slept- while the empress gazed through the trees to the orange marmalade sea, dreaming of where Ying might be now. Where Atausiq might be. She was tired, but would not retire to the den yet- unsure whether to let her day meet its close, and feeling that perhaps it was not complete just yet.
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As the sun began to set and the stars emerged, so did Tzila. The cool of the approaching evening was refreshing, especially for a wolf like her with such dark fur. Once the temperatures warmed even further, she would find it harder to be comfortable during the day. Summer was the least favorite of her seasons. But here by the coast, her options were no longer limited to the shade of trees and caves. With so much water around, relief from the heat was but a step away.
The familiar shape of Hua, close by to her den caught her eye. Reminding her if Astaroth had indeed broken the news to her, as he said he would. She peered past her, towards the den for any sign of her children. A reminder that she would soon have her own. Motherhood would keep her busy, but she ought to make the effort to forge bonds and new relationships now. Certain that she had been noticed, with a wave of her tail, she chuffed lowly, announcing herself.
Huā's eyes found her before her ears heard the chuff, and smile graced her features then in greeting. There were things to be said between them- and though Huā knew she should not rush Tzila, discussion would be important. Greetings, Tzila.
A short pause. Astaroth tell me your news. Congr-gratulations,
She began, before gently patting the ground beside her with a black paw. Come, talk.
She invited encouragingly, hoping the dark mother-to-be would open up to the empress tonight.
A small trickle of relief shot through her when she saw Hua's smile. The last thing she had been hoping for was an upset Empress, having learned of her pregnancy. The smile was returned, and with her tail waving high in the air, she closed the space between them with a slight spring in her step.
If she could have blushed, she would have, as Hua extended her congratulations. "T-thanks. I'm a bit of a nervous wreck over it though." She said while flicking her eyes to those of aqua, with a hint of shyness. "Astaroth told me he would break the news to you. It's why I'm here." Joining her by her side, Tzila very nearly sidled up against Hua. But she would reserve her outward gestures of affection for later, perhaps after they finished talking. Plopping down onto the sand, she rolled onto her back in a most carefree manner, facing the star dotted sky. "Mmn, did I ever tell you? Night has always been a special time to me."
Huā completely understood being a nervous wreck, knowing you would give birth to the children of a man you weren't even mated with... it was a frightening thing. It will be okay,
She hummed as comfort. Tzila was just lucky the father of her children was close- Mal only came every so often, and Huā could not bring the little ones to him. She had the pack, yes, but at times she felt she was alone in raising them.
As Tzila rolled to her back, Huā joined her to stargaze. Special time? Oh, really?
She questioned, tone showing her interest.
Tilting her head over to the side to regard Hua, her dark ears drooped some as she shared with her a nervous smile. Gently, she touched her nose to Hua's cheek. "Thank you. It's...nice knowing I'm not the only first-time mom on this island." And she meant what she had said. With Hua by her side and even Minori and Ruo, (who she hardly knew), she hardly felt alone. With luck, she could lean on these wolves for experience.
"Mhmm, that's right." An affirmative nod. Silver optics traced the sky in between the stars. She relished the cool brought with the evening. "I have always been fond of the darker hours. My name, it means shadow, or of the night." Her head sunk back comfortably against the still-warm sand. "It's just....I dunno, there's something I find oddly comforting of the shadows...of the dark. Like it's a part of me."
sorry for length I'm doing the 100 word thing LOL
It took a village to raise a child. All of them would have to work to keep the children respectful, honorable and hardworking. Huā would hold her brood and Tzila's to equal standard- even those that were not her children were connected to her through community, therefore, she would see them raised well.
Ears twitched with interest as Tzila spoke, of the darkness, of her own namesake.
I see... dark for you, is what water is to me,
She hummed.
I find comfort by sea, like it part of me too... my family name, Jiang, mean river.
She shared quietly.
She hummed thoughtfully. "Jiang..." She tested the unusual pronunciation. "It...has a nice ring to it. Suits you. I've heard that all rivers eventually do lead to the sea." And speaking of the darkness.... Now that the light had faded, her sights landed on the rolling waves of the ocean, shimmering under a curtain of shadow. "There's something about the look of dark waters..." She idly chatted. "But I always loved being able to see straight clear to the bottom." Her preference between the two was clear. It had been a while since she had dipped her paws in water for extended periods of time. Maybe she could learn to find an affinity for it again.
Feeling compelled on her own behalf to speak on the true topic that was on her mind, she tipped her head to the side to meet Hua's aqua gaze. "If it wasn't for him...Astaroth, I don't think I'd be on this beach. He played a large part in my decision to come here." Her eyes averted to the sand, knowing there was another woman he also had strong feelings for. Hua's sister, Ying. "I feel like I owe him a lot. He accepted me as I was....made me want to be better..."
wrap soonish? ^_^
When Tzila commented that it suit her, Huā nodded slightly, lips then turning upward at the next truth: that all rivers ran back to the sea. It was true as far as the mermaid knew.
I prefer clear water... but, there is beauty in mystery of water whose end you cannot see.
Huā pondered in return. The topic shifted then, to something more important, the empress smiled faintly.
I am glad he lead you here, then. You are one of Yuèlóng most value members.
As for accepting her, well... Huā thought such a thing was easy with a woman as accomplished as Tzila. Of course, she had only seen glimpses of her darker side, and knew next to nothing of her past.
She had touched only lightly on the subject of Astaroth, daring not to go further and express her deeper feelings for the man. The last thing she wanted was to offend Hua when she knew Ying still had a place in his heart. Despite how she felt, Tzila would not force her way between them, should Ying ever return.
Nodding softly, she spoke gratefully. Ears flicking back slightly, Tzila almost looked bashful. "T-thank you...that means a lot, coming from you." Never had she received such a compliment. Not in Elysium and most certainly not in Nightwalkers. "I am glad to be a part of your pack...your family." She stood up then, a cue of self-dismissal. "It's starting to feel more...natural already." She let her eyes linger on Hua for one extra second, as if to imply that she played a great role in this. "I'm going on a nightly patrol...but I enjoyed this time together." She smiled, waving her tail and then padding away.