OOC:Backdated to the 7th. Mid morning. Takes place on the pebbled section of the beach.
Den site reference below.
@Astaroth
Tzila had been up early that day, and with good reason. Despite never having been pregnant before, some deeply rooted parental instinct urged her into action. Her belly was getting more swollen by the day, and already she could feel little jolts and kicks, telltale signs of the life within. Until now, she had been so busy stressing, so busy making sure she was on the same page with Astaroth, and then speaking with Hua, that she hadn't even thought of finding a suitable den site.
She needed to do so, and find one today. The dark woman wouldn't rest until she did, firmly dedicating the day to this single task alone. She would have a future, one she and Astaroth created together. They were of their blood, and already, the mother to be felt an overwhelming sense of protectiveness towards the little bundles. They were to have the very best and nothing else. Scarfing down not one, not two, but three giant mouthfuls of fish, Tzila satiated her hunger, if only temporarily. With the warming weather, she was keeping to the shade more and more, but she could not deny the pleasantness that radiated against her skin from the smooth pebbles lining this section of beach. Huffing, she arose. This wouldn't do, not at all. Her family needed a proper shelter, away from the exposure to the elements. Like a black inky streak, she hugged the tree line while beginning her house hunting.
he'd been looking to fill the caches when he caught sight of tzila's figure in the distance. each day her abdomen grew just a little bit wider, and he felt relief in knowing his children were strong and growing well inside her womb. a part of him felt guiltily in knowing she must take on the physical challenge of carrying them on her own, and that the most he could do was support her when she needed it.
"whatcha up to?", he asked once their paths merged together and he was close enough to hold a conversation. from a distance it had looked as if she'd been searching for something specific, and so he silently wondered if she'd lost an item somewhere along the pebbled beach.
Astaroth needn't feel guilty. It was a female's job to carry and bear their young. Some may see it as sexist, as the sole purpose a female would ever have. But she didn't look at it that way. Being the strong-willed woman she was, Tzila viewed the fairer sex as being stronger, for enduring such labors on the body. She had yet to experience the whole birthing process but that time would come. She was certain she would handle it just fine. The aches and pains and stabbing little jolts she could handle. It was the stress, her rampant hormones that were taking a greater toll.
She hadn't been expecting her friend...(or was it crush?) to be so close by. Hearing his voice, she slowed down enough so that he could catch up, letting him walk alongside her, their shoulders bumping together. "Hey Asta..." She smiled, though she seemed distracted, her eyes tracing the distant tree line. "I have an agenda today. I just realized...it's starting to get close now. And I haven't even found a den yet." Her commitment to the task was made obvious as she branched away, ducking towards some undergrowth where the ground began to slope down some, leading in to a sheltered tangle of gnarly bushes, like a natural fortress.
although he was greeted with kind words and a gentle bump to the shoulder, tzila's focus remained elsewhere. den hunting was it? there was the abandoned den he'd dug for ying and her children that could serve as an easy option, but his friend seemed set on finding one on her own and so he didn't bother bringing up his suggestion at all.
he trailed after her, eyes darting here and there but nothing catching his eye. "have a specific type of den in mind? like a hollow log or small cave?" if he was going to help her look, which he was, it would probably best if he knew what her preferences were.
Even if Astaroth had brought up the suggestion of the den he dug out for Ying, she would have politely declined. That was a space he had made especially for Hua's sister. Tzila wouldn't feel right taking it, as if Ying's spirit might somehow linger in such place. Besides, if the female did unexpectedly pop up with children in tow, she would need a place of her own to hole up.
Turning away from the spot she had been investigating with a small huff, she shook out her furs and resumed her previous path. Again, she drew in close, tail wagging furiously as she bumped her dark muzzle up under his chin. She was paying a bit more attention to him now. Her silver eyes were thoughtful, yet still trained ahead. "Somewhere sheltered. Set back from the water, of course. I think a cave is more ideal."
he didn't know much when it came to dens. he often chose to sleep under the stars rather than in a hole, and only took shelter when the elements were particularly unforgiving. but he knew the basics of what made them suitable, and so knowing the details - sheltered, cave, far from the water - would help him keep his eyes out for anything that looked worthy.
his own tail swayed happily behind him as the pair of them wandered the beachside. while his focus was on helping tzila find a den, he found it difficult to ignore the thoughts swimming around in his head. "how many do you think there are?", he wondered aloud with a motion to her growing side, curious if she is be able to tell how many children she's carrying.
Somewhere ahead of them, along this stretch of rich coastline, the shelter in which their pups would be born, awaited them. She turned further in, away from ocean. Judging where the high tide met it's limits was critical, in order to choose a site well enough away. The ground grew more solid...more earthy beneath her paws. More shrubbery, with more trees and less sand.
Casting a lingering but disinterested glance to what was an obviously long abandoned burrow of a fox, perhaps, she considered his question. How many? She wasn't really sure. She pressed her lips together thoughtfully. "Well...it's hard to say..." Her eyes drifted down to peer at her slightly bulging sides, where just now, she felt a gentle jostle. She chuckled. "But judging by the jolts...the movement, I'd definitely say there's two, at least..."
two, with the possibility of there being more. "i hope they're girls. i hear boys are a pain in the ass", he teased, though truthful couldn't care whether he was given sons or daughters. perhaps one of each would be nice, the best of both worlds sort of thing, though he supposed it could also be the worst of both worlds.
"i'll be sure to collect plenty of furs when we find the den, and leave a cache nearby in case you get hungry when i'm not around to bring you something fresh." she'd be bearing the brunt of the parenting responsibilities when their children were first born, and so it was his wish to try and make everything just a tad bit easier and more comfortable if he could.
Tzila wasn't sure how many there would be. Two was a nice number. More than three and she'd certainly have her paws full as a first-time mother. A dark brow quirked up, a smug little smirk breaking out on her lips. "Oh is that so? Well, I have heard that girls can be quite fussy." She shot right back, teasing of course. Her tail waved loosely, happily, thwapping against his hips. "But really, I will be happy with either, so long as they are healthy."
Following the more solid ground, which led them on a gentle incline, Tzila made sure to brush her shoulder in an affectionate manner against his. "Thank you. I appreciate you willing to do that. But as soon as we find this den, I had planned on making a trip to the Sea Lion shores for meat and pelts." Her eyes darted sideways towards him, paired with small smile. "Just thought I'd let ya know. I think...keeping busy is helping with the stress." Ahead of them, just where the pebbled ground began to meet its end, loomed the tree top of a massive relic. Earthen walls on either side tucked in and out, the perfect formation for where a potential cave may be found. She squinted, pressing forward, seemingly on to something. "This area...I think we should explore it more, don't you?"
he followed where she led, his steps soft and purposeful as he glanced here and there for any sight of a potential den. she mentioned taking a trip to the beachside where the sea lions laid, and though he knew she was more than capable of handling herself, he still let out an affectionate "just be safe. i don't know how aggressive they'll be due to the season."
he was unaware of when the sea lions would give birth to their own young, but knew that spring and summer tended to be the time for raging hormones and fiery tempers. at her words of whether or not they should explore further, he simply gave an encouraging nod. if nothing of use could be found there, at least they could stop to admire the unique tree on it's own.
"Don't worry. I will. Promise." She nudged his cheek and even dared to place a gentle lick there. "Not just for you...but for them." She said, eyes glimmering. He would understand. She was sure of it. Tzila hadn't considered what role she wanted to pursue. She was already a mercenary and due to the breeding season and settling in to her new home, she had been understandably short of time. Once the pups were born, she could invest more thought into the matter.
Walking ahead of him, following the natural lines of the sturdy brown earthen walls, Tzila moved with a subtle little sway in her hips. Even pregnant, despite her changing figure. She was a bit of a show off, and always would be. She could only imagine, with her looks and his rugged handsomeness, how the children would turn out. "I wonder whose eyes they'll have..." She wondered aloud. Pausing, something caught her eye. The solid soil of the walls split suddenly, delving in to form an opening. Precisely where that titan of tree stood. Gnarly, thick roots, exposed by the worn away earth, draped down like a protective platform. Chunks of driftwood littered the immediate area before the dark opening, like a barrier against any water, be it rain or sea. Tzila stared, wide eyed in awe. "A-Asta...are you seeing this? Its...stunning. I never knew this was here!"
she promised she'd be safe, and he trusted her. even if tzila herself was a little bit of a hothead, he believed she had enough maternal instincts to keep their children out of harm's way. he returned her nudge with a gentle bump against her shoulder, chin tipped upwards as he thought over her question.
"mine probably. gold eyes seem to be a pretty strong trait found in my bloodline." his father had the most magnificent shade of ruby, and yet he and all his siblings had inherited their mother's gold. he would have gone into more detail had her attention not been swept away. and so instead of continuing he simply followed after her, stunned by the enchanting beauty before them. "it's incredible, dare i say perfect", like it had been made for them all along.
Gold eyes. That was a nice thought. It reminded her that in her family, many wolves had gold eyes. While she had been blessed with silver from her father, it seemed to be a less dominant trait. Briefly, she thought of her brother, Urias. His eyes were gold. But it wasn't like he was here now, and he was the least of her problems. Had she not been so enthralled with their find, she would have bothered to engage him further in conversation on the subject. Instead she came closer, stepping carefully over the discarded driftwood.
"It would seem so. I'm glad you like it. So far." She gave him a glace, something about her look saying she was not yet sold. "But we need to be thorough. Check the inside...make sure it isn't already occupied. And above all, be sure it is structurally sound." This was the potential place where they'd be raising the very first of their bloodlines. As far as Tzila was concerned, she could afford to be meticulous in her inspection. Lowering her muzzle inches above the pebbled ground, she sniffed furiously, searching for even the faintest trace of any other animals. She was on edge...protective as her ruddy hackles bristled slightly with each step that brought her closer to the gaping mouth of the cave. Clearly, she was taking her job at motherhood, very, very seriously.
he'd been so focused on the overall beauty, that he hadn't even thought about the details. it seemed tzila was a step ahead in thinking like a parent, while he was still running to catch up. "oh yeah, that's smart." he doubted there was any serious competition on the island considering no bears or mountain lions inhabited the place, but it'd still be a good idea to make sure they weren't invading anyone else's home.
and so while tzila slunk forward and got to inspecting the possible den, astaroth held back to begin shuffling through the driftwood. any cracks in the barrier could result in the cave-like den to be flooded, which obviously they didn't want. "does it smell like anyone's stayed here recently?", he asked as he poked at a loose twig that had washed ashore.
She was silent for a good minute, caught up in sorting through the scents surrounding the front door of the den. Circling back to the driftwood, she pawed at several pieces experimentally, testing just to be sure no vermin such as rats or even snakes, hid within. "Doesn't seem to be. That's a good start." She hummed, her voice critical.
She would leave no detail ignored. Towards their right, was a natural path in the dirt leading up to the very base of the tree itself, perched above the opening. Both the driftwood and the tangle of massive tree roots would make a fine playground for their pups. But the latter was also a potential liability. Snaking her way up the tail, her dark form inched close to creep amongst the roots. Searching, sniffing...testing the structure and stability of this natural roof.
where she took her investigation seriously, he was more laid-back. so long as there was a roof over his head and he was safe from the rain, then it was good enough for him. of course children required a bit more than just the bare minimum, but he never would have gone to the extent in which tzila had. not that her being thorough wasn't a good thing, it's just he never would have searched as carefully as she was.
"looks like it's good to me", he called out as he crept towards the mouth of the den and let his words bounce off the walls. "we can always prepare a backup in case this den is ever put at risk." whether it be flooding or a predator, he thought it'd be a good idea to have a backup to run to if needed.
Had Astaroth voiced that he would have settled for the very basics when it came to a den, Tzila would see little point in arguing. Only because he was a male, and as a female, her maternal instincts were stronger. So, she would be able to understand his point of view. Seeing that the upper reaches were safe and not likely to collapse, she came trotting down the path shortly after he called, giving his stamp of approval.
Offering him only a silent smile, she slipped past him and further into the mouth of the cave. She trusted his opinion of course, but seeing the interior for her own eyes would help settle some of her anxiety. "That is a good option. In the off chance this one doesn't work out, or if we have an emergency." Her voice echoed back to him. The interior was deep and spacious, with room enough for at least three grown adults. And most importantly, it was dry. Satisfied after her rigorous inspection, she pulled back. "I dunno if you've explored the forest inland of the island...but that might be a good place for a secondary den." She suggested.
and so it sounded like the choice had been made. this would be where their children would greet the world, where they would learn to walk and explore, where they'd grow. he gave a satisfied nod before turning his attention to focus on tzila's words.
"i'll check out that area later today", he started with before pausing for a moment to reconsider, "or we could go now if you wanted?" the option was up to her. whether she wanted to stay and rearrange the new den-site or continue looking for a backup made little difference to him. either way he would be searching for an extra den and hunting at some point during the day, which one came first though would be determined by tzila's choice.
Smirking, Tzila made her claim official. By the very fringes of the den site, just where the driftwood had gathered, she laid down her mark. Her way of stating to all inhabitants on this island, that this place was hers. Astaroth was more than welcome to do the same - she wouldn't stop him. Casting a fond look back at her property, she wondered if this would be the one and only time she used it in her life.
"I think I would like to go with you right now. I'm not busy and I want to keep my hunting skills sharp." Moving away from the den site and turning further inland to where the small forest awaited them, she kept close to his side. A subtle gleam and a small smile on her lips conveyed another unsaid reason for her decision. She wanted to be with him as much as possible. To strengthen their bond.
he let her mark the den on her own for now. something still held him back from staking a claim on the den-site, which was probably nothing more than the simple fact that he would not be staying here that often, at least not until the children were born. he'd get to work on a cache nearby and would be sure to drop furs off to make the birthing location as comfortable as possible, but it was still not his to claim.
"alright, let's make it a game then. first one to find a suitable den wins", he let out with a smile as they began their short trip towards the forest. once there they'd search and search until eventually one of them discovered a worthy enough backup to serve as an emergency shelter should anything go wrong with the first location. the extra den certainly wasn't as fancy as the first, but it would serve it's purpose nonetheless.