King Elk Forest The Beginning

Private for Kevalin, other tag for reference <3

Vex sought out her captive, @Kevalin. It was time for her den to be dug. As the sun set, the Queen approached, rasping, "You. Get up. It's time for you to dig out my whelping den." She gave him a look that said he had better have chosen a good spot. "And be quick about it." Though her tone was mildly scornful, it was mostly just... tired. She knew her time would start any day now — and now she had to do it without @Vivaan. She huffed softly, flicking her ears.

Kevalin smiled at her, "Yes your Highness." He said seriously, without a hint a of sarcasm in his tone. Which surprised even him, but hell, the woman was HEAVILY pregnant, the last thing he was going to do was fuck with her now. So he led the way to the massive tree near the weir that he had chosen. It would be close to the water as she had specified and he would have plenty of space to dig. 

"May I get some water from the Weir to make this a bit faster?" He addressed Vex coolly. He planned to soften the ground with water to help him dig faster.

He obeyed without hesitation, and without his usual sarcasm; Vex was grateful for this, though she would never admit it. He didn't take her far; the southwestern point of the weir lay deep within their forest. She inspected the area carefully, giving merely a grunt of acceptance to his request. It would be well-sheltered. It was even beautiful. He had, somehow, impressed her.

She settled herself ungracefully on the forest floor, laying her head on her paws as she kept one eye upon Kevalin, the other eye closing in an attempt to get some sort of rest.

Taking her silence for an affirmative, Kevalin took three mouthfuls of water to the spot where he planned to dig. He knew he would be covered in mud, but that kind of came with the territory, did it not? The ground quickly softened and he began to clearly the earth away with his claws. It was a long process but he took no breaks, he made the den a gentle slope downwards into a comfortably large opening. 

He climbed out and shook himself as clean as he could, then began to look through nearby vegetation. He quickly found herbs that he knew would lessen pain and left them by the tree outside the den's entrance. He then repeated the process for calming herbs, and additional pain lessening herbs. 

After he was finished he took a long drink and a quick swim to clean himself then presented himself to Vex once more.

The Queen watched her captive dig, but she took no joy from it, not in her current state; she despised being pregnant. Some part of her wondered if she would despise being a mother as well. It didn't take him long, and once he had cleaned himself up, he returned to her side. Vex heaved herself to her paws, ignored the herbs, and went down to inspect the den. It was large, roomy even. "Bring me bedding." She could not birth on the dirt ground. No, her birthing chambers would need to be resplendent — fit for royalty.

Nodding in what could be taken as an affirmative, he turned around and got to work. The forest was abundant in prey of many varieties. He was quick to deliver each kill to Vex, allowing her the opportunity to eat what she desired, then he would take the pelt to use as bedding. He would do this as many times as it took to fill her small den. There would be nothing wasted.

He did as he was told; Vex was pleased. He brought her several hares, which she skinned and then ate, giving what she couldn't eat to him. After a time, her den was filled with dried grasses and pine needles, and the hare pelts would be added once they'd dried. It would be a perfect den. She turned to Kevalin, telling him, "That is all for now. I'll call upon you, should I need anything else." She then entered her den, curled up upon the grasses, and drifted into an uneasy sleep.