Ragnar was not overly surprised when Peregrine admitted that he and his wife, Fox, were planning on having children in the upcoming season. Children were a lot of work, but they were worth the tireless nights and long hours. The prospect of having his own children was an exciting one. Not to mention if he and Thistle did have a litter then it meant that Odinn was making good on his promise from many years ago and that Ragnar did not sacrifice so very much for absolutely nothing. Odinn and him had not been on the best, or most agreeable terms as of late, which might have been where the chaos that was recently surrounding the Bay, in Ragnar's mind, had stemmed from. If taking his eye had appeased the All-Father for the rest of Ragnar's life, no matter how long or short it was Fated to be then it was worth the loss, as far as Ragnar was concerned. The Gods were notorious for giving with one hand and taking from the other, though, and though the Northman did his best to hide it, he was still weary. But they were alike now: Odinn and Ragnar. It had been rumored, passed from father to son that his family was descended from the All-Father himself. Whether that was the truth or not Ragnar did not presently know.
“A dozen, hm?” Ragnar murmured thoughtfully, breaking himself out of his thoughts which had wandered only marginally. “That is a lot of children,” Ragnar was not sure that he could ever handle that many children at a time, and of course the Viking caught the humor in it since litters typically did not exceed four. “If the Bay is stable enough to handle more children when the time comes, then yes,” Ragnar hated the words as they spilled forth from his lips, disgusted (because he was selfish sometimes) that he had to sacrifice what he wanted most in the world, if the pack was not. Facing facts right now: he'd say no. He did not think the pack was stable enough, their members too scarce and seemingly, from his stand point not driven. If not for Thistle and himself taking the orphaned Ostrega children in he had little doubt that they would have perished. Maybe not, maybe one of his subordinates would have surprised him, but he did not know, nor care.
“If not, then no,” Not to mention, Ragnar wasn't confident that he should be having more children. After all, only one of his children had remained in the Bay, and only two of Verrine and Julooke's children hadn't been kidnapped or whatever. He was failing miserably at the father thing. “Perhaps I should not, though. I can't even keep the orphaned litter we'd taken it safe. Two has either been kidnapped, killed or ran away of their own free will.” And by the time that Ragnar or Thistle had caught word of it, it'd been too little too late and Ragnar did not have the man power to send out hunting parties for them. “Not to mention my daughter ran away, and Mercury too.” Though Mercury was a little bit of a different case. “Maybe that is the Gods telling me that I should not continue.” Being Jarl, or being a father, the Viking wasn't exactly sure at the moment. Perhaps, it was a sign of both.
