Horizon Ridge Dusky Dawn and Furry Paws

Editing this a bit for obvious reasons.

Few others joined but Ragnar paid them no mind, his gaze in a knowing manner, flickering between Pump and Thistle, having made a rough, though accurate conclusion. Pump spoke then after everyone who was going to come appeared, confirming what the Viking had suspected. Thistle was pregnant from her tryst with the faceless Plateau wolf, though it came as something of a surprise to Ragnar that he had known of it before even Pump herself. The aspiring Beta to be did not let this on, however, morphing his scarred face into contemplative surprise though it was no surprise to him at all. His eyes moved back to Thistle, despite that Pump continued to speak, meeting her gaze across the distance, only looking away and back to Pump when she spoke about the fate of the children would be death in a “regular” pack. Ragnar, silently, disagreed with that for their opinions of a “regular” pack differed rather vastly. Odinn’s Cove had allowed any who wished to breed the ability to do so, and illegitimate children were not uncommon, especially among the slave girls who often had pups to the men that would claim them during their seasons. Even they had been allowed to live, albeit as slaves most of the time, yet still. The ruthless Vikings were not as cruel on the subject of non leader puppies.

Ragnar’s expression darkened at the thought of the pups lives being ended, at the thought of Thistle’s life being ended. It was not a question that he had grown to care for the fawn shield-maiden during their time spent together which had been much when she had been tending to his wound. Pump ceased talking, speaking of wishing to hear what they had to say, and it was Thistle that spoke first, relinquishing her chance to speak her opinion in turn of a plea. He itched to interrupt her, to silence her from her willingness to take the full brunt of punishment for her actions but bit his tongue allowing her to finish, only having to wait with slight impatience as Gavriil beat him to the punch by speaking before Ragnar could part his jaws.

A storm raged in the Viking’s eyes as if it were created by Thor himself, as he fixed his gaze upon Pump. “It was never a custom in Odinn’s Cove to kill children, even before I was Jarl,” He told her simply before he took a breath and continued with, “This isn’t a delicate matter, I am not arguing that. However, the children growing within her will be young and strong. They will be able to contribute to Horizon Ridge. It would be in our best interest given how small we are, to let them live,” He glimpsed around at the others before his eyes fell back upon Pump. “And in regards to Thistle’s punishment, you cannot kill her, or even banish her without killing or giving up the children. They could not survive without her milk.” Sure, Pump was a female but her body would not have been producing milk to give to the children, and if she had never had children of her own it seemed unlikely to Ragnar that her body would realistically produce it regardless. And, frankly Ragnar would not stay if they chased Thistle out and sure as the life blood that surged through his body that he would not idly stand by if they decided to kill her.

She was his wife now. Her life, and the life of the children of Crete's loins and perhaps, even, his own were his to protect.

“I think the male should be punished for it. Why should Thistle bear it alone? It takes two to procreate. For all we know he took advantage of her." never mind that he was likely shoving a foot up his own arse Of course Ragnar knew that was not the case he had to try it just in case, and further he spoke. “I am willing to go and find him.” And possibly kill him if he was to be found; Ragnar volunteered before he fell silent once more, waiting for whatever was to come next.