Arrow Lake verdunkeln

children would be born to diaspora, but still their numbers had fallen, had dwindled. the gargoyle performed a grim patrol, gathering the stale scents of those who had disappeared. and while he was not angry, disappointment rose like sorrow in his throat.
he paused alongside the lake to drink, heading off soon thereafter to the eastern borders. a lone shadow, he traveled without complaint, in a quietude marked only by twittering birdsong and the sound of his own steps. perhaps things easier upon the mind could be found elsewhere.

Quietly steals this

Taki moved along the borders as well, keeping an eye out for trouble despite feeling her usual mix of fatigue and nausea. It seemed like just over the last day or so, her abdomen had grown bigger and more rounded, enough that anyone who saw would know she held growing life inside her. The roundness caused a weird swaying of her mid section as she walked, and she wondered how it would look when she was even bigger. It mattered little to the northerner, though, never one to be much concerned with how things looked; she could still explore and hunt and be a productive member of the pack, and that was most important to her. 

She caught Mahler's scent as she made her way silently through their claim and quickened her pace until she saw his dark form up ahead. As she neared, she released a soft chuff. Do you want company? she asked as she moved to his side. If he wanted to be alone, then she would go on her way, but she hoped that wasn't the case; his company was by far one of her favorites to keep.

<3

he was not long alone before the pionier appeared, glowing with the new curves that pregnancy had added to her body. he had always found takiyok beautiful, in his own way, but to see her blossom into motherhood was a new sort of loveliness. "only if it is you," the gargoyle returned, a small smile lighting his impassive expression as he paused to let her draw alongside him.
"how are you feeling, takiyok?" mahler inquired after they had begun to move again. like him, she was a guarded creature, and peppering her with questions about the intimate nature of carrying young would not do for either of them. by the same token, the shadowpriest took very seriously his role as diaspora's healer, and as the first mother among them, the winterwhite's comfort and wellbeing were paramount.

An odd sense of warmth and contentment swelled in her chest at his statement, and she offered a thoughtful nod in response as she came to walk next to him. He inquired as to how she was feeling, and she shrugged a little. I am okay, she answered first, used to the being constantly tired and sick to her stomach by now. The roundness was not so easy to adjust to; not only did it make it harder for her to keep up her normal activity, but it also felt kind of weird to be so big. I am ready to meet my children, she offered instead of her growing list of pregnancy complaints. It was the truth after all; more than anything, she was ready to finally meet the life growing inside her. As her pregnancy progressed, she often thought about how many pups she would have and what they would look like. She had started thinking about names and wondering how many pups would be sons and how many would be daughters. A lot of the time, anxiety would find its way into her previously happy thoughts and cause her to worry about whether or not they would be healthy or if her labor would be difficult. She had no idea what to expect really, and so she supposed it was only natural to worry about these things. Knowing Mahler had done this before and would be there to help her should she need it calmed her anxiety some. She had put aside any pride she had regarding the state she would be in while in labor, and in its place was only gratitude that she would have the security of his knowledge and help. 

She turned a fond gaze on Mahler. And you? she asked. How are you doing? she added. Taki knew the pressures of leading could be heavy sometimes, and she would happily listen if he decided to speak of anything. Or if he just wanted company, she would gladly provide that as well.

​

he expected nothing more from takiyok than the somber acceptance of her burden, yet he suspected she was uncomfortable, tired, and sick from time to time. however, mahler did not want to insult the woman by pointing out these things, for she would have shared them with him had she wished it. takiyok, like himself, was a proud creature and he would honour that with his silence upon the matter.
"i am vell. these days i patrol more, so i am tired more often. but i am content." unbidden, his mind began to wander to thoughts of stigmata, and how he related to this situation. did he truly care for takiyok, or was it a gentle affection of necessity between them, something conducive to rearing children together if not romantic in nature? it was not his affair, and yet he could not help himself.
"i too am ready to meet your children," the gargoyle murmured instead, sweeping a warm gaze toward his companion. the children of diaspora — their claim truly solidified with the birth.

She wasn't surprised to hear that he had taken to patrolling more often recently, but she wondered if it was because he was anxious about their dwindling numbers like she was. What worries you? she asked, concern creasing her brow as she spoke. Even if he was content, she knew there could still be a variety of issues weighing heavy on the Kapitän's mind. And just like he had not probed her for more information regarding her current condition, she would show him the same courtesy should he not want to divulge the reasons for his stress. 

I am lucky to carry Diaspora's future, she offered in response to his admission. She was grateful that even after the fall of IkKanattuk, her agreement with Stigmata, born out of mutual respect and a mutual desire for strong children, had not also been lost to her. And they will be lucky to have you and Stigmata to look up to, she added, a gentle smile playing at the corner of her mouth.

so sorry for the wait eek

"anything that might bring you harm," mahler answered directly enough, for it was the truth. losing her would be more than a blow to diaspora's future; it would be a personal wound to the gargoyle himself and his kill-brother. and while he thought highly of the woman's ferocity, she was compromised by the weight of her belly and the vulnerability of pregnancy, such as it was.
"i look forward to teaching them many things," mahler rumbled, returning takiyok's half-smile. the children of diaspora belonged to every wolf therein, he believed, and were the responsibility of all those who dwelt in the mountainous domain. it was not an honour he would take lightly.

His answer surprised her a little; she was expecting him to divulge his worries over the pack or some outside threat, not that she was causing him stress. I have been through worse and resurfaced relatively unscathed, she offered. You should not worry so much about me. Her eyebrows drew together some in concern as she spoke. Maybe she was being somewhat naive regarding the vulnerable position pregnancy put her in or the complications that could come with her impending labor, but she tried to remain confident and positive about the outcome. The pionier had suffered the loss of a pack and most of her family and still found the strength to continue on with her life, so she looked at this as just one more thing in which she would need to bear down and get through; it made it easier knowing that the pain and risk would provide her with the children she had wanted for so long. 

I look forward to the same, she answered with a slight nod. She knew the children she and the General had created would be surrounded by the best examples of strength and one day, they would lead Diaspora and help propagate the same principles on which the pack had been founded.

"that is easier said than done, takiyok," mahler murmured, feeling that this admission was somehow more intimate than his previous one in regards to fear. it was not only creeping beasts in the night that threatened the winterwhite; it was the very existence of the children within her, how their strong little bodies could crack her bones in childbirth, wring too much blood from her loins. these were not things he would voice, for he did not want her to go into her natal chamber with terrors; mahler would carry the horrifying possibility of her death in silence.
"have you considered names?" he asked instead, turning their discourse to lighter subjects. he himself could not remember the process by which his own three children had come by their titles, only that he cherished each one.

Fair enough, she thought. Taki knew well that worries couldn't just be commanded away. She, perhaps naively, had no doubt that she could handle whatever happened in the coming weeks, but she had a feeling she wouldn't be able to curb his worry any, no matter what she said. So, she said nothing else about it, hoping that soon, he wouldn't need to worry so much.

When he asked about names, she gave a slight shrug of her snowy shoulders. I haven't picked anything specifically, but I would like to give them northern names, she started. They will carry Stigmata's surname, and so I'd like my heritage to be represented as well, she finished. She wanted her children to understand both strong families from which they descended.

Suddenly, the almost constant nausea that had been a dull annoyance in the background surged, making her falter. Dammit, she did not want to vomit in front of Mahler. Could pregnancy not leave any of her dignity in tact? Apparently not. She paused, saliva pooling in her mouth as her throat tightened, causing a hard swallow to move down her esophagus. Her sides heaved, and she turned away from him to deposit the contents of her stomach on the ground at her feet. She stood there for a few moments, attempting to collect herself, utterly humiliated. I am sorry, she offered quietly as she finally turned to face him. I don't usually have much choice in when that happens, she added, gaze shifting away. She began to walk again, eager to get away from the evidence of her moment of weakness.

wrap up with another round? <3

he had parted his jaws to speak on her willingness to blend both her lineage and that of their father, commending takiyok. but her features soon thereafter seemed to tighten, and in the next moment the poor woman had brought up emesis at their feet.
not disgusted in the least, for the growing children within a woman could cause all matter of malady, mahler discreetly scratches dirt over the mess and stepped to her side again. ”there is no need for apologies,” he murmured, seeking her eyes. ”allow me to escort you home and make up a brew for your stomach.”

sounds good <3

She was thankful for his willingness to put off the moment as nothing big as he quickly moved to cover the embarrassing pile. Then he was at her side again, offering to make her something to settle her stomach. Thank you, she replied, dipping her head and clearing her throat a little. 

She gladly followed him back to wherever he kept his plants, eager for relief from her nausea. Maybe if she had said something earlier, she would have had relief sooner rather than just stubbornly keeping to herself what she had a hard time not seeing as weakness. But old habits were hard to break, especially for Taki.