He'd caught a squirrel mostly by surprise and was able to fell the red-furred rodent with ease, so with the small carcass hung slack in his teeth, he'd stop for a quick lunch break while it was fresh. Since had nothing out on their fringes demanding his attention otherwise for the time being (peace was maintaining these days, thankfully), he trotted towards the lake the instant he noticed Portia's scent meandering that way. Since there was no other company he'd rather share, or business elsewhere for at least a while, the rest of the trail was covered quickly. He moved up alongside her sunning rock next to the lake, perfectly picturesque, with a slow wave of his tail.

A piece of him felt bad for interrupting the tranquility of the moment at all. "Room for two?" he asked quietly after setting the squirrel at his feet. He gestured vaguely to it in offering, although it was not much. It was still fresh and she'd put it to better use than he would, anyway.

After he'd asked, she edged aside so he took that as a go-ahead to move in and get comfy beside her.  He picked up his squirrel and muffled through it, whined softly to her complaints as he couldn't help but glance past her face for her rounded sides, which reminded him to splay his ears again. Soon they wouldn't just be two here and while a daunting realization all of its own, he was anticipating it more than ever before. 

Setting the snack on his paws, he distracted himself from it by nosing along behind her ears, grooming gently. "Aw, well I will try not to take up too much space because my lunch break could use some company, too," he smirked quietly into her coat, for although she fussed about her size, he was not complaining -- her petite build wasn't going to be overruled just by a baby belly to him. He might not have known the most about pregnancy and the like, but as much as he could tell, she seemed to handle it well enough aside from some obvious qualms here and there.. and at least she never seemed outright ill because of it.

The pale wocha  knew she was uncomfortable growing the babes like this (because who wouldn't be?) so he could spare to be a little extra sweet just between the two of them to try to make up for being the one to help her get like this. "It's not much, but it is fresh -- want any?" he asked, nudging the meat with his forelimb. "I can bring something better later if you'd rather not, because this one just kind of fell into my paws, so I couldn't really say no.." he chuffed, but would understand if she'd prefer something meatier of course and he'd do what he could to make sure her wants were met.

He rumbled softly to her thanks, and would still probably make sure to drag home something a little nicer — at least prey he put real effort into felling. She deserved that if he could find it, and so far, he'd always had no issue rounding up a meal to catch here by the cliffs after their relocating. His ears perked up while she listed the possibilities, though, of how many he should concern himself with feeding. Hopefully it wasn't too many.. he thought. But, all good reason to do well by them all, her and however many others would soon come of it. "Exactly why only a little old squirrel is hardly an appetizer.. just in case it is that many." Dio smirked. But, again, hopefully not.

As for family traditions, Wildfire's had him shaking his head gently. "A whole month? Hm. I'd be worried about embarrassingly descriptive nicknames sticking around if it took that long to name them.. But no. Not exactly like that, really." In the Rise, the closest thing to a family experience he'd ever reference in full (before now), puppies were a largely traditional matter. It had seemed standard procedure to him. Nothing fancy. They'd always named puppies in a few days to a week — once they appeared good and grounded in this world, for a delicate little life like that.

"I never knew my father by any more than name and my mother left me alone when I was pretty young so, nothing I'd honor pups with names of or anything. And I have no idea what exactly they had in mind when they went about having and titling me," he sighed. Since he had heard of wolves borrowing names of family and such and neither did he have any idea of lasting traditions on their behalf, it didn't seem to apply to him much. "A few of my offspring at the Rise.. they had — or were going to have — -io in their names, because there it was pretty custom for pieces of parents' names to pass on if it fit nicely. Vicario, Montorio, Giovanna.. it varied like that," he clipped his jaws shut, wondering at the faraway-feeling memory. "I thought that was kind of nice sometimes." Maybe just something to think on. "Did yours..?" he returned.

It had never been an issue to him in the past that his puppies could, and would, never know his parents. His pack structures were always just as secure as he imagined they would need to be. The Rise had nurtured its share in its time, and here and now, he had high confidence that Drageda would do just the same. He, too, was in a far better mindset to be a proper parent (or a semblance of one) here than he had been at his point in life at the Rise where his interests had pulled in a great many directions. That already selfishly made him think it would only tilt further in their favor; their litter would have him, Portia, and the rest of the pack.. so there were few worries on that regard.

He felt his brow scrunch when she told him about her side of things with the ridiculous names. "Well I guess that's one way to do it," he said, glad that Portia had made it out from such things unscathed— as far as he knew. "I'm sorry but I can't imagine naming anyone Frilly in good conscience," he snickered. It sounded a lot like one of those bad nicknames he'd thought about when Wildfire's family's ways had come up, but to have it be intended that way? Not his style. "I mean.. there are plenty of names that still have a cute feel about them without being.. entirely ridiculous. I like when it can be distinct.. and simple at the same time," he thought out loud.

But, boys. His boys, and the thought of sons that looked a like him wasn't so bad. He was vain enough to appreciate it and excited about this whole prospect. "Hm.. that could work. I'll think on it. Odds are favorable that they'll have no shortage of good looks, though.." he added with a nod, even if they didn't take after him or bear any piece of his name.