Wolf-Mother, Where You Been?

It had been long since her pregnancy was confirmed. She was to birth the next generation and the heirs of her work, but most importantly, she was to be a mother. Never did she expect to see her standing here, but here she stood, though admittedly it was growing harder by the day. She ached and her stomach had swelled to a mass where she wondered just how much larger she could get before they would be due.

Sitting still never quite felt right, but she also yearned to give her weary muscles a break. @Hieronymous had been a blessing as the weeks passed. Food was more often than not brought to her and every now and then @Quicksilver had something to ward off the pains of pregnancy. Nothing would truly cure it though until her children were born. 

Ira had been straying from the den less and less, though thirst would often draw her out. Luckily the central caverns where most rested were sourced with their own pool of water so she never had to go far. She was slow as she wandered the trailing tunnel back to the main opening, her tongue eager to lap what she could before easing herself onto her hindquarters with a heavy breath.

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To the royal chambers he roamed, a fresh kill clutched firm between his teeth. The hare was plump and healthy, swinging from his jaws with every stride. He could taste the metallic tang of its blood on his fangs and although tempted to consume a share for himself, the druid withstood. To present a half-eaten meal to the High Queen would be unacceptable.

When he found her, her back was to him as she lowered her head and quenched her thirst. Quicksilver rumbled fondly to her as he lowered his snow-dipped tail appropriately, not wanting to startle her. He dipped his muzzle and placed his offering on the rock floor at his paws, and kept his head lowered in a respectful bow.

“Queen Ira,” the druid greeted his leader softly, pastel gaze lifting to take in the sight of rounded flanks. “Any changes?”


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It was soft, almost missable at first as the scraping of claws followed by the padding of paws sounded against the cool stone. It seemed she had a visitor and as golden eyes fell to the silver-clad man, her tail would give a soft thump against the ground. “Nay, but it is good to see you all the same.” His multitude of trips had gone unnoticed with her recent reclusive nature, though perhaps it was for the best that she was not made aware of the lingering tether that tormented him so.

“What has become of you? Of Vanderfell? I have my fair share of news, but it's not so personal.” As far as she knew he had decided to move on from his yearnings and pursue medicine. A much-needed skill, especially with the arrival of her soon-to-be children. She had not been around to see how he had managed to settle thus far though aside from their brief meeting where the tricksters play.

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“Likewise,” the druid returned with a warm smile when Ira announced that it was good to see him. This hint of warmth from his leader had been unexpected, considering her usual stoic demeanour, though Quicksilver did not dwell on the unfamiliarity of it. He had always appreciated her, her strong will and her guidance, and it was nice to hear how she had come to value him too.

She pressed on to ask after her pack, and he stepped in closer. His eyes continued to sweep over her form, heavy with pup, and Quicksilver suspected that she carried a fairly large litter. This was both a joy and a worry: more children to shape and nurture, but more strain on the new mother's inexperienced body. “Vanderfell thrives,” he offered, “we are eagerly anticipating the arrival of your brood. You made a wonderful choice in Hieronymous, for he has made a great King.”

A pause, and pastel eyes sought the High Queen's face, “when I called for aid yesterday, it... it was Reiko who I found, down in the run. I pulled her from the stream. She is fine and rests now, in my chamber, and I-” he inhaled. Ira would know how difficult that would be for him, to have the snowflower so close to him. “I think we should send word to Shiroshika. By the time her escort arrives to take her home, I believe she will be well enough to travel.”


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She felt his gaze upon the swell of her stomach, though it concerned her little. It was natural for him to look, aside from the obvious, he had become her dedicated aide. “It warms me to hear so.” How far they had come, even if their numbers had not grown greatly with time. The ones they did have were dedicated and had been since day one. Even when they were four they had been capable and held their own, so it brought comfort to know they would do the same even without her guidance and through the growing chill.

“Yes, I believe so too, though it is comforting to hear it from another's view.” She might have delayed on his proposal, or at least what she believed to be one, but the relationship had bloomed rather quickly. It was a risk for her to give faith like so given her position, but it was a risk that had seemed to have great rewards. She too peered to the swell of her stomach “It would seem the wait is almost over too.” How strange it was to see her body in such a way. How jarring, she wondered, was it for another to look upon her and not see her once lean muscled body.

Quicksilver would continue, her ear flicking idly to listen to what he had to say as he soon recounted the events of the day prior. She recalled his howl, though word had not come back yet to hear what had truly happened. Her first reaction was to ask for the Empress' current status, though the Vanir would quickly answer that without the need for her inquiry. The next would be why he had chosen to harbor her within his own confines given what she knew of his interests.

“Yes, of course. Word should be sent right away.” Reiko was someone of importance, her disappearance would surely be noticed before long and it would be best to notify them before a panic occurred. Not to mention she would be better off healing in her own domain, not that she had a problem with her presence. The snow empress could hardly harm a fly let alone one of them or her soon-to-be children. “Though I must ask, why house her within your own den? There are plenty of empty chambers here in the cavern.”

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It would seem the wait is almost over.

He wondered how she knew, what changes in her body she felt. Quicksilver's expression was warm as he quietly regarded his Alphess; how many babes did she carry? Could she tell, with the way they moved and grew within her? Pregnancy fascinated him, he who would never be able to experience it, but he did not wish to bombard the High Queen with a million questions.

The druid dipped his muzzle respectfully to her agreement that words should be sent to their allies right away, and he racked is mind for a suitable messenger. There was little time to consider a candidate, however, for Ira pressed on with a topic most unexpected of her. His jaw slackened. Quicksilver, surprised and with heat burning beneath the Winter-white of his tufted cheeks, averted his gaze at once - shamefully, almost, as he blinked toward the stone beneath his paws.

“I...” what? His mouth dried; he was protective of the snowflower, the woman he had learned to love and failed to let go of. Ira alone knew how deeply he cared for her, and her concern was valid - yet he felt the sharpness of her question all the same. “She...” Quicksilver's mouth dried. He licked his lips and swallowed. “I am a comfort to her.”

He wanted to be close to her. He wanted to take care of her, to assure himself that she was safe. There were empty chambers, of course, but none quite as homely as that which the silver medic made his own. “I know how it might look, my Queen, but... there is nothing there that you need to worry about. Reiko and I, our... our relationship is purely platonic.”


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Her question seemed to catch him off guard. The silver man stared in disbelief, stuttering through his words as he arranged whatever story he needed to tell himself to deny what she only saw as inevitable. Ira had asked for him to speak his truth, though one couldn't blame her for thinking he had made a liar of himself. Eventually, he would settle with an answer, and though she had remained rather expressionless while he fumbled she was quick to say what he wouldn't.

“And she is a poison to you.” It was not worry that drove her curiosity, but responsibility. He had come to her once before with his struggles and as his queen, it was her job to see that he overcomes them. “Forge a sick den, one you do not share walls with. Once you see it fit she is to be moved to her own quarters. She is still royalty, even here. I believe she is deserving of a space of her own do you not?” Of course it was a loaded question and she only desired to see how he might respond this time.

He may see it as a punishment, though truthfully it was something they needed with winter looming. They had no space prepared for the sick or injured and now they harbored an empress in the confines of a man she could not even rank as honorable. It would have been humiliating had she not known of Reiko's passive and more innocent nature. Still, an apology would be owed later for not having more to offer her.

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Poison, she said. Reiko was a poison - to him. Quicksilver felt himself deflate at such a sharp insult to the pallid Empress and he hung his head like a scolded child, ears slick against the alabaster of his nape. He wanted to defend Reiko, to bite back and challenge Ira's judgement of her with his own words, but he was afraid to. He did not wish to tarnish his Queen's good opinion of him -

If she had any at all.

He was silent as the gravid she-wolf carried on, instructing him to build a sick den more appropriate for his patient. She wanted Reiko out of his own chamber, farther from his reach than the empty hollow that neighboured his own, and the druid gritted his fangs because he didn't want to. Quicksilver nodded, never once daring to raise his eyes and meet Ira's goldenrod stare, “yes, Queen Ira. I understand.”

And he did. The Alphess knew how his fondness for Shiroshika's Empress plagued him, but her statement regarding Reiko's royal title made him feel inferior. Undeserving of her, perhaps, for he would never be fit enough to be held to such esteem?

He wanted to believe that her sharpness was with his wellbeing at the forefront of her mind. She needed Quicksilver to be available, after all - he needed to be of sound mind, capable of tending to her newborns should any require medical assistance. “I... I will. And I will be available to you at any time should you need me. Are... are you comfortable? Can I bring you anything else?”


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The reaction was immediate and it was clear just how far her words cut, though she would not flinch to his obvious pain. They were words he needed to acknowledge, words she knew he was already aware of yet clung to anyways. He was desperate like a wolf deserted who would drink tarnished water just to quench his parched throat, but that would not change the result. No matter how sweet the feeling be in the moment, it would only damage him further as time went on.

At the very least, he agreed to her request. It was a punishment, but as she had said something they needed all the same. He would just have to come to terms with that. Quicksilver changed the direction of their conversation, either to avoid any further disappointment or to try and move on as he redirected the flow to herself. “Nay, I fair fine. I am weary and ache, but it is nothing unbearable. I will survive just fine with your care.” And she meant it too.

He might have been getting himself into trouble, but he was still talented even if he had yet to reach his full potential. With little who were putting efforts into their talents, it was appreciated to see Quicksilver do at least that much. “If you wish to bring me something for it I will not stop you, but I will be fine should you see your attention needed elsewhere.”

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Last from me <3

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He was glad that his shift of conversation from Reiko's residency to the High Queen's status was not challenged, for he felt the metaphorical hole he'd already dug regarding his fondness for her was already big enough to bury himself in. Ira did not wish for something immediate to ease her discomfort, though was not entirely opposed to his offer. “I will bring you feverfew, then,” he told her, knowing it was about time to encourage her milk flow as well as ease her ache, “it may make you feel a little nauseous, but I'll find some fresh ginger to combat that.”

He mustered a thin smile for the blue-furred Alphess and dipped his head again before retreating from the royal chamber. He ventured to his cache and then to the garden that he maintained close by to gather the intended products, and delivered them quietly to Ira. “Take care,” he told her kindly, with a soft beat of his tail, “I will check in again with you tomorrow.”

Bidding her farewell, he departed one last time to let her rest in peace - with his heart feeling a little heavier than before.


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She would not stop his departure as he sought out supplies to care for her now. Even if her discomfort was mild, she would not refuse a solution when one was handed to her, only when she must ask herself. Quicksilver was quick with his scavenging, the benefits of having an organized healer as he left her with an array of things to chew on before taking a more permanent leave. “You as well, my friend.”

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