Wolf RPG

Every morning, Towhee assessed herself for any signs of pregnancy. So far, she didn't feel any differently. Her appetite was a little larger than usual, though she didn't experience any morning sickness or even need to pee more frequently than usual. It was still early days, though anxiety had begun to take root as time passed. She tried to remind herself: she had somehow experienced an entire pregnancy without realizing, so maybe her condition might never be particularly noticeable.

Trying to take her mind off matters, she headed out on patrol, then helped herself to a hearty meal of frozen venison afterward. As she sprawled in the snow, gnawing on the bone to get at the marrow, she thought about Meerkat's recent visit. She had been quite subdued still. Her mother's heart ached for everything the yearling had been through lately. And the carousel was probably only just picking up speed for her, unfortunately.

Speaking of which, she'd passed along word of Arielle. Meerkat had mentioned visiting Kaertok at Sapphique and passing word along, so Towhee had done her part. She dropped the splintered bone after sucking out the delicious center, stretching upward into a sit as her mind wandered from her conversation with Wraen to the wolves of Brecheliant in general, before eventually landing on Maia and @Eljay.

Hey! You should have him do a checkup! Towhee thought, suddenly sitting up straighter as her mental meanderings came full circle.

She'd find a Fennec first!  She'd wandered south to check out Brecheliant before returning to the Caldera, and when she had returned, hadn't made a particularly big deal out of it.  She knew she should go find Towhee and Phox pretty much straight off, but she was still in a weird spot with everything and not enjoying the amount of thinking she'd been forced into lately.  Soooo she kinda just settled into a routine instead.

She didn't realize at first that Towhee was who she was approaching.  Kraa had let out a call that meant food and she was hungry, but when she continued in the direction, she found her mom digging in.  She snorted softly at the raven's obvious misunderstanding (or joke?  do they.... do jokes?).

Hey, mom.  Fennec sat down, suddenly abandoning thoughts of lunch until a bit later.  She had forgotten until she arrived that before she left, Towhee had been starting to think kids and all that, and she'd definitely completely forgotten to ask at the Glen for suitors.  Shit.  Long time no see.  She smiled a little deviously at the comment, then waited, curious to see what news had passed while she was gone.  Please no more bad news.

She pushed onto all fours and began to wander in a random direction, wondering if she could find his trail or if she should find someone to howl for him. Not long after that thought crossed her mind, Fennec crossed her path. Towhee halted and smiled at her daughter, aware that she couldn't see it. Idly, the Sovereign wondered if Fen could hear it when she spoke.

"I just rolled my eyes," Towhee quipped in response. "I'd love to catch up but can you do me a quick favor? Can you call for Eljay?" She paused, then realized she should clarify, "I'd consult with you but it's more of a midwife thing than a medic one."

Fennec's smile deepened at the footnote, and she let out a (rare), audible, single laugh.  She quieted curiously, though, when her mom mentioned summoning Eljay.  She wasn't worried because if it was medic related, she knew Towhee would tell her.  Still, she wasn't about to let it go that easily.

Sure.  But first... try me.  Fennec said, deciding abruptly that maybe she'd be able to sort it out.  Eljay and she hadn't really broken into midwife things, so chances were she'd have zero clue... but it was worth a shot, and she liked the sound of it.  Besides - it wasn't like it was urgent, right?

Instead of calling for him, Fennec insisted on helping her mother. Towhee huffed a laugh and replied, "Okay, sure." As she spoke, she closed the distance between them and took a seat beside her daughter. "I'm curious if there's any way to tell if I'm pregnant yet. And a general checkup wouldn't hurt." Her head canted as her eyes rested on Fennec's face, wondering how she might approach this.

Oh.  Fennec paused, then cocked her head.  Couldn't be that hard, right?  She kind of recalled last time her mom was pregnant hearing and feeling weird shit, and she wondered if maybe that might happen again.  That was the only way she knew how - otherwise, this wasn't something Eljay had taught her about.

Sure.  She moved in close and ran her muzzle lightly along her mom's side, searching for the center.  Then, without bothering to ask or explain, she laid her head against and just kind of waited there, listening.

She didn't hear or feel anything, which was pretty disappointing.  She gave it a minute, then pulled back with a disappointed look.  Nothin.  I can't tell.

It tickled, like, a lot when Fennec skimmed her muzzle down Towhee's ribs. She tried very hard not to squirm, though she couldn't quite help a little wriggle. Right after that, her daughter pressed her cheek against her flank. The Sovereign held very still, wondering what exactly Fen was assessing.

The news didn't surprise her. "It's probably still too early," Towhee replied, then said, "You're welcome to continue a routine checkup if you want." She could always seek out Eljay later.

She'd really hoped she'd be able to tell something, so her disappointment mirrored Towhee's.  She was ready to call for Eljay when her mom stopped her with the next statement.  Sure.  She needed the practice still, and there was no use bothering him right away if she could answer some of the questions at least.  She made a mental note, though, to get some pointers from him next chance she got.  Pregnancy was a bit of a black box for her still, and with so many kids on the way, she should probably be ready.

I feel like, for now, how you are feeling is most important.  Since I can't tell any difference yet.  Fennec started, still confident despite clearly feeling the process out.  So, how are you feeling?  Sick at all, or any different?

Fen agreed, though it seemed she wanted to begin with a verbal assessment. "No," Towhee replied with a bit of a rueful expression on her face. She wished she could say otherwise, though she honestly didn't feel any differently. "I've been pretty hungry but that doesn't mean anything. I'm always pretty hungry."

As she waited for Fennec to conduct the rest of the physical examination, Towhee's thoughts wandered a bit. She thought again of Meerkat's recent visit. She wished there was a remedy for heartache and heartbreak, though she knew there was nothing for it except time. She couldn't decide if she would prefer this Atlas reappear or stay gone. She kind of wanted to rip off his face for hurting her daughter. What sort of man left his lover and the rest of his family in the middle of such tragedy? A coward, Towhee thought, a little unfairly.

Fennec couldn't help a playful smile when her mom's tone came back rueful.  She nosed her shoulder.  Mom, hate to break it to you, but that's a good thing.  She said once she'd raised her head again.  Despite her blindness, Towhee's own condition had bred in her the automatic instinct to ensure her face was not obscured and directed (mostly) at her conversation partner when speaking.  Likely it fed into her blindness being a tidge less recognizable on first impression - but growing up, she'd have learned through experience, failing to do this rarely got her a response.

It means you're healthy.  I don't think you're supposed to feel sick or anything right away.  She couldn't say for sure, but it was another note for Eljay.  What's expected and what's wrong?  I can send Eljay your way.  I need to talk to him anyway, and have him teach me some of this.  Since I'm, you know, going to be around.  She felt a little self conscious on that last part, but shoved it down under professional indifference.  It shouldn't have been a big deal, her decision to stick around here... but it really was.  And she was proud of it, in a weird and small way.

Towhee only snorted at Fen's quip. Her head tilted, all thoughts of Atlas emptying from her mind as she pondered aloud, "I had no symptoms at all with Meerkat, so it's entirely possible I'll never get morning sickness or any of the other tells. I should be happy about that, but..." But if she had to puke up her guts just to be sure she was carrying, Towhee would happily eat the cost.

There wasn't much more Fennec could do for her right now, she knew. "Cool," was Towhee's astute response. "Speaking of being around, you're more than welcome to check in with me as this progresses, presumably..." She poked at her own flat belly. "You can even hang around for the birth, if you want, and all the shenanigans that come after. Y'know, for science." Her lips twitched.

If science is what you want, we could see what kinds of things you need to eat to give them certain things.  It was a joke, but Fennec definitely saw potential there.  What if there was a plant out there that could give a pup super-strength or something similarly awesome?  Two heads could be cool too, though if she knew the reality of those types of deformities, she likely would have been less taken with it.

I'll be around.  I mean, mostly.  She'd already been to visit Bronco and would likely bounce around the wilds a bit... just this corner.  Plus, she'd promised to back Alyx, and that trip hung in the back of her mind as well.

Family was family.  And she did mean to keep her promise on one thing - whatever kids Towhee ended up with, Fennec planned to be a wayyy better influence than Bronco had been on Meerkat.