Hideaway Strath To be and not to be

For the lovely @Aspen

 

And the man walked. He walked along his borders, freshening the scent and reveling in the fact that it was his, all his. It was his home and he loved it. He loved the lush forests that provided him with deer, rabbits and shelter. He lover the River that provided him water. He loved the plains on the other side that the herd animals passed through in the right season, and he even loved the Black Morass that lay south of his borders, although still part of the valley.

He sighed in relief as he approached the spot he started at this morning. He had finished the perimiter of the borders that faces the opening to the valley, and now no one could miss them.

Aspen was trailing through the valley in the direction of the forest zaavier had indicated he would hope to settle. She wondered how things were going with them. Had things finally become official? She trekked slowly through the grasses remaining alert for any dangers. Alder probably wouldn't be happy knowing she had made this trek this close to having puppies. She was only two weeks away and her belly was growing larger by the day causing her to tire easily. She had sort of snuck out and hoped he wouldnt be too mad when she got back.

When the silver queen reached the borders she could tell the dark furred male she was in search of had just been doing a patrol the markers fresh as ever. She sat down and took a moment to catch her breathe before calling on the wolf, hoping she was not catching him at a bad time. She had things she wanted to talk about, alpha to alpha, friend to friend.

A strange scent caught his nose and he followed it for a ways along his borders, stopping in a clup of bushes. He nosed about, his nose crinkling at the horrid smell. Finally he found the source and he stared down on it with a disturbed face. It was a rat -- a dead one -- and it was rotting. He tilted his head to avod getting more of the smell in his nose as he shoveled some dirt atop it before before pissing. That would do, besides, what better than to mask it with his lovely scent? He chuckled inside to his srcastic joke before plodding on.

A snowy figure then appeared and he later identified her as Aspen. A smile crept across his face as he gazed at the pretty woman, noting her swollen stomach. "Aspen! It's nice to see you," he trotted over to nudge her shoulder respctfully, letting her mention her news herself.

Aspen smiled as the dark furred male appeared through the trees. She rose to her paws as the male greeted her with a nudge that she returned. "Hey Zaaiver, nice to see you too, I hope you don't mind some company, I needed a break from the court for a few hours and I have news to share," she said smiling warmly. 

Her tail swayed mid rise behind her, she was still dominant but this was his home, not hers, so though she was an alpha she remained respectful near his borders. She hoped she wasn't intruding on anything, though if she was she would head back and return some other time. She was fairly sure Zaavier knew of one of the things she wanted to discuss but the other might come as a surprise to him.

"Well you've come to the right place," he told her. "To escape from the Court, I mean. You're always welcome here." For a man who doesn't always speak the truth, this was completely, utterly true. He turned to walk along the borderline, allowing her to come along with him. She told him of her news and he nodded vigourously.

"Darling, please tell," he teased her. He had already noted her swollen stomach, as that was obvious, but he had a feeling there was more, and he was eager to know.

Doh! Its sooooo short X-X

It's fine :3

Aspen thought for a moment as she chambered to her feet and joined Zaavier on his walk tail twitching happily behind her as the Alpha mentioned that she was always welcome here. It was good to know she had somewhere to go if she wanted someone to talk to besides the wolves of the court.  Not that her wolves were not good enough, was just nice to have outside chat sometimes.

Aspen offered a playful smile when Zaavier teased her about the news calling her darling at the same time.  Well first things first, let me state the obvious, I'm due to have Alder's puppies in a few weeks," Aspen stated proudly before quickly realizing Zaavier didn't know of Charley's name change. So she quickly added "Oh Uh, Charley changed his name to Alder, that might be important to mention," she chuckled. 

She took  a deep breathe as she processed what to mention next and how to say it. Uhm now for the...not so great ish news. I'm not the only one....expecting Alder's puppies, another female, heartha, is also..." she said frowning slightly but she shrugged it off. There wasn't much she could do about it now. 

" He..cheated on me not long after him and I had mated...and then ran off for a while... after her found out I was having his puppies, and after he told me..leaving me to run the court, relatively alone," she stated her face calm and her ears twitching as they trailed through the trees. "I appointed a duchess though, so she has been helping me out, Alder returned just a few days ago...at last...he was gone a month..apparently he had gotten sick.." she stated letting out a sigh then letting her gaze wander first to the valley then to the male who walked beside her. She wondered how he would react.

Joining with @Aspen's permission :) after this THREAD where Shalon told Aspen not to leave the territory alone while pregnant. I hope you don't mind Amelia, I can always delete :)

Shalon had been on the hunt for her Queen, it was time to tell her what she had learned from her encounter with Aeronwyn and Nico. She knew that Aspen enjoyed to midday nap often during these late weeks in her pregnancy, and so she had started her search there. And was confused when Aspen couldn't be found in her den within the tunnels. Think that perhaps the Alpha Female might have gone for a patrol of the border Shalon headed for the closest spot along the border to the den. With the Queen being super pregnant, Shalon was sure she could catch up. As she left the tunnel she did pick up trhe scent of Aspen though, headed for the border! Ok on patrol, no big deal. As she came to the border she found that her Queens scent continued PAST the border!! She couldn't find anyothers scent. Shalon couldn't believe it, she was mad, the first time she could remember being mad at Aspen. Shalon had asked her not to leave without an escort, did her plea mean nothing to the "industructible" Queen?! What was the point of being Duchess if her word wasn't taken seriously.

With fury in her eye, she followed the scent. Her silver orbs scanning the distance for any hint of Aspen's form. Maybe she would have to assign her a guard..... for her own protection! She must know how dangerous it was out here for a lone wolf. She was among the trees, her grey and tan fur helping to disguise her somewhat, she tried her best to remain out of site. Not to far away stood the pale Queen Aspen in all her pregnant glory, speaking with a male Shalon didn't know. They seemed to know each other, but Shalon figured she couldn't be to careful. So she stayed hidden, although primed for any action required on her part, waiting to see what would happen. She was to far away to hear what they were talking about, but she could read their body language to gauge the situation as it progressed.

No prob! sorry for the wait!

Zaavier sat there and listened to the whole story like a good friend should. He narrowed his eyes and his head cocked, listening to how charley -- Alder -- left, then came back, plus he stuck his dick in another girl other than Aspen. He was delighted to her she was expecting, and his tail wagged with excitement for her, but the other news brought him down.

"Damn Aspen, he's changed. Honestly, how can you be okay with this? I mean, I wouldnt," he blurted without thinking much about it. What a shitbag, he thought to himself, although he tried not to think to much about it. Charley was his friend and he still was. "Making you and another girl pregnant and then disappearing? Being sick isn't an excuse."

Just then, a woman appeared and he cocked his head to look at her, tail raising a bit higher just in case. But she seemed to know Aspen and he didn't pay to much mind to her, turning back to Aspen. He had calmed down a bit now, but his eyes were sill ablaze. 

"I care about you Aspen, don't let him treat you like trash," he told her softly, slightly fearing how she would react to all of this. Well, he didn't care, he needed to get his point across. He really did care for her, more than he'd like to admit, and definitely more than Charley would be comfortable with, yet he still didn't care.

*Plot twist*

It's kinda funny you mention that xD You never know *suspense*

Aspen's ears twitched as Zaavier spoke explaining how he didn't know she was okay with this. "I don't know either Zaavier, people make mistakes I guess, and I just couldn't picture myself leaving him. I'm carrying his litter and I still care about him," she said quietly having put some serious thought into what she was saying.

" He left because he was giving me space, though I wasn't happy it was for so long. Being sick is what stopped him from coming back but I don't think he should've left in the first place. He did what he thought he was supposed to do though," she said with a shrug. Suddenly the overwhelming feeling of being watched came over her but she neglected to do much about it. 

Zaavier spoke again saying that he cared about her and he didn't want Alder treating her like trash, but he put emphasis on the word care. Aspen's eyes widened slightly be she chose not to bring it up right now. Perhaps there was more there to discuss but right now the time did not feel right. She cared a lot about him too, she just wasn't sure to what extent her feelings went just yet.

"Do you wanna walk and talk, I wouldn't want to keep you from your duties too long Zaavier but at the same time, I'm enjoying the break from the court. It's nice to catch up sometimes," she said with a slight head tilt as she stood to her paws.

Shalon watched the pair carefully, her spot having been found out by the male. She could see his slight posturing, although it didn't appear as if he had told Aspen. She dared to go closer, she wanted to hear their convo.

The male cared for Aspen? Shalon furrowed her brow slightly, who the hell is this guy?

And now Aspen is enjoying her time from the court?

Shalon shook her head, she must be hearing things. She almost sighed when Aspen suggested they walk and talk, she had wanted to remain hidden from Aspen. Trying to give her the space she needed while trying to proctect her. If they did move off she would remain at a distance, and avoid hearing any other aspects of their conversation. They seemed to be good friends, and Shalon knew she was intruding. BUT.... Aspen had thoroughly pissed off Shalon, leaving without protection was selfish.