The Vicera howled from a clearing a few miles from Sacrarium's dens, calling for her mate
@Avery Cruor. She was finally sure - she was expecting. She had awoken that morning and promptly gotten sick as soon as she'd left the dens to relieve herself. So, she took the day off from patrolling, and instead laid in the sunny clearing, atop a rock that she'd cleared of snow. It was cold, but not terribly so, and she awaited her mate, a nervous excitement beginning to bubble up in her chest. They were going to have their first litter... so far, things were going well, despite the cards they'd all been dealt.
Upon hearing his mate howl, Avery instinctively ran towards her, knowing exactly where he'd find her.
She was a sight to behold. He watched her silently for as long as he could, taking in her dark fur shimmering in the sun. She looked like she belonged there. She had always held herself regally to him. He couldn't help but chuckle as he thought to himself, A Queen on her throne.
He approached her confidently, brushing his fur against hers before languidly settling himself next to her.
"Avery." His name was spoken softly, gently, even. She nuzzled him when he approached, then, eyes bright, she told him, "I'm pregnant." There wasn't much else to say - this moment was for them. For their children - pack news could come later. "We have to think of names."
"I'm pregnant." His head swam in Violante's words as he processed what he heard, emotions and thoughts hitting him one by one. I haven't been around a pup in ages? How can I be a good father? How can I keep them safe? Despite all of these, his primary emotion turned to pure elation.
Avery realized he had been stoic for quite sometime. He quickly said the first thing that came to mind to ease the silence, that also told his mate that he wasn't completely incompetent.
"Can we please name at least ONE of them with a letter 'A'?"
Violante snickered softly, rolling her eyes at him, though she conceded, "Mmm... I suppose. I'm naming one of them after me, after all." She could envision her now - a daughter, perhaps graced with her mother's melanism; a beauty. Perhaps it was vain - she didn't care.
Violante nipped at her mate's neck, pondering, "So... An 'A' name... If it's a girl - well, 'Avery' is unisex." She snickered - she didn't think he'd go for it, but perhaps he'd surprise her.
Avery smiled tenderly at his mate, surprised she would allow him this and grateful for it. Her family had a long tradition of names that begin with the letter 'V'. She would break tradition for me?
With that two names came to him, he spoke them aloud to his mate, hoping for her approval.
"Aspara, if they are female."
"Alexander if they are male"
Violante nuzzled Avery, telling him, "Yes. At least one of them will carry their respective name." Tradition... what did it really matter? Her father had started the tradition - his son and daughters had all been given "V" names, and now they, too, could induct others into the family. So far, Violante had only brought Avery in; she'd taken the chunk of his ear, but he had refused a traditional name, favoring his own. She supposed she understood. Sighing softly, Violante leaned into her mate again.
Avery stared down at his female. He rested his head on her nape mumbling, "You've been surprising me lately." His history wasn't anything grand or anything worth remembering, but it was still important that he be represented in his children's history.
Violante snickered, nuzzling him as she told him loftily, "And I'm going to keep surprising you, darling." Then, she settled into a more comfortable position, adding with mild amusement, "Don't underestimate me."
If I even considered doing so you'd emasculate me, would you not?" Avery said in response to Violante, his voice holding no trace of humor.
Violante snickered softly, then rolled her eyes. "I wouldn't dream of it," she purred softly, kissing his cheek. Then, she nudged him, shifting and slipping down from the rock. "Let's head back." She would wait for him, then she would lead the way back to the caverns.