Welcome to Gaia! ::

In the spring there were always a great many babies, Walks Without Rhythm thought -- since there was nothing to do in the winter, especially a snowy one like this winter past ... thoughts turned to other pursuits. It seemed to happen everywhere he looked.

He had ventured farther out from the Borderlands in search of juicy succulent plants and fruit to bring back. With so many mouths to feet in the cave system, they needed variety; being a solitary buck, he had volunteered to go just to get away from the press and crush of people.

Which meant that he was surprised and a little irritated (hard to read on his face, in his blue-on-blue eyes) when a doe appeared on the same small trail he'd been following. Swallowing quickly, he tipped his head at her in greeting.

Slide blinks at her. He is not unfriendly, just reserved -- though, he thinks, that type of behavior might be little odd for the swamp-born. "I think you were looking for me?" he asks, in a voice little more than a rumble. "These are not trails that are well-traveled." And indeed they aren't, given the leaves and occasional vine that are tangled in his long backswept horns.

Had she found him in his other-shape she might have laughed herself silly -- a rangy, windswept stag like this as a tortoise. But the doe's eyes, coupled with the way she holds herself, as if knowing she is already pregnant (and taking pains to protect herself and the unborn), makes Slide think immediately of Meets-the-Sea; the craggy old stag's expression warms after a moment. It makes him look much younger.

He shakes his head in the affirmative. "You are with child. I can see you knew this already. Some part of you was aware. You were wise, then, to have sought out the swamp-touched." After a moment, realizing he sounds rather dour, he adds, "I am happy for you."