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 Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 1:10 pm
 Okay, so her plan to tell Verse that same day that she had told her mother had been completely blown out of the water. Though it wasn't entirely her fault. Aleu had tried to track down her poetic mate but she was not about to scour the entire pack lands to find him and had given up a few hours later. She could have told him that night when they shared a den together but by then her nerves had returned in full force so there was no way of saying it. Of course she intended to tell him the next day, hoping that a good nights sleep would calm her, and it had, only Verse had already left the den that morning by the time she woke. It would seem as if every force of nature was trying to stop her from telling him.
Well one day had turned into two, and then three, and before she knew it several weeks had gone by. In fact enough weeks had gone by that she was definitely showing by now. Luckily she had managed to keep the rest of the pack from telling Verse, but how much longer could she hide it? How many more days would he go without questioning her steady weight gain? She loved Verse so much but sometimes the male was a bit on the stupid side, this was obvious proof of that.
Right now she lay in a clearing sunning herself. Really she should be out looking for Verse but Aleu was tired, plus there was a chill in the air today so leaving the warmth of the sun at this moment was pretty low on her priority list. Tail flicked as she mentally scolded herself for not telling him sooner and that no matter what she would do so today. Enjoying the warmth Aleu tried to think of the best way to tell Verse, outside of just blurting it out of course.
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Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 10:11 am
 Verse was feeling a bit uptight lately - so he'd taken to leaving early and filling his days with pack activities. He wasn't sure why exactly...but verse wasn't really the type to question such feelings - or perhaps a part of him did suspect what was going on and he just didn't want to admit it to himself.
Aleu's mood swings were due to tensions in the pack, the lack of a second Alpha, Derecho and Terreis bickering and she'd started eating more due to the stress right? Of course..it made perfect sense and if she was getting a little pudgy because of it - well he was at least smart enough to keep that comment to himself. Yes his mind had worked out plausible reasons for the changes to his mate and he had decided to believe them because..because ignorance was bliss.
But he couldn't avoid Aleu all together - she always got her way, look what had happened the lat time he'd tried to avoid her. Besides he didn't really want to avoid her..he loved her, so he returned with a spring in his step and had his delusions eve further reinforced when he found her lazing about and a warm look brightened his eyes "The light does so wonderfully play upon a hide of lovely gray and my eyes I find just cannot stray" He quipped in a loving tone as he approached.
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Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 10:21 am
Verse voice snapped her out of the daze she had found herself in. Panic gripped her and part of her mind was just screaming at her to get up and run away to avoid telling him. Luckily there was another part of her mind speaking calming that told her to not put it off any longer, that part she listened to - for the most part at least. She decided not to run, no that would only sap her of her energy, so rolling onto her stomach she smiled at her mate and gave him a lick when he got closer.
"You were up early this morning." She commenting, having not found him in the den when she had finally roused herself in the late morning. "Did your patrol go alright?" Maybe if she started with some idle chatter then slipping in the news would be that much easier. It was worth a shot right?
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Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 10:29 am
"I wanted to get an early start,looked like their might be stormclouds to the east when I got up..didn't want to be caught in the storm but it blew over anyways" He explained, nuzzling her before lowering himself to his haunches and curling his tail around his front feet.
"The same as always I expect, nothing unusual - though the prey herds have started moving, I fear winter will truly make itself known soon" He mused, he would have to tell his mother of the herds movements, if they wanted to have one last teaching hunt before the snow came it would have to be soon. "and your morning? Has it been good?" He questioned with sincere interest.
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Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 10:44 am
Returning the nuzzle Aleu nodded while listening to Verse. Yes, she had seen a few clouds off in the distance earlier but the wind had shifted blowing them away from the pack lands. At mention of winter Aleu cringed slightly, it wasn't until this very moment that she realized their pups would be born near the beginning of winter. Not the best planning on their part, of course this wasn't entirely planned either, sure she wanted a family and Verse well she was sure he did too, but she hadn't expected for it to happen so quickly so it never occurred to her back then. Winter could be dangerous for young pups and she almost groaned with the thought of trying to keep them warm and safe throughout the winter. Don't worry it will be okay, she assured herself.
Her mind snapped back to reality when she realized that Verse had asked her a question. "Huh?" Oh geez why couldn't she have been paying better attention to him, instead of being distracted by the thought of winter and puppies. She forced herself to remember what he had asked before giving her head a slight shake. "Oh, it's been alright. Pretty uneventful so far. I do hope it will be a mild winter." Not that she hated the cold and snow, well the cold she didn't care for so much, but there was nothing better than running around in the snow, especially with pups, that made her smile a bit.
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Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 10:51 am
Perhaps if Verse was a bit more observant about such things he would have noticed something bothering Aleu and not responded with the very first thing which came to mind, which weren't going to do much to allay her fears. "Oh I don't think so, that lynx friend of your mothers - Pyxis says it's already hit higher up in the mountains and she expects it to be particularly bitter this year" He blathered on completely unaware of his mates worry.
"But that will mean lots of snow - and you like now if I remember right? it's a good thing Apollo and them have grown so much lately, right in time to get through the winter well" He told her with a smile.
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Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 11:04 am
This time she did groan, a bitter winter would certainly add to the stress of having the puppies. Perhaps Pyxis would be wrong about the winter conditions, though Aleu knew that the purple lynx was rarely wrong which is why her mother always listened to her advice about weather changes and what directions the herds would move in. "Yeah, I like the snow." She finally ventured after a long pause. "And while the boys have grown enough to get through the winter without much fuss you have to remember we will be having those pups from Antianeira arrive soon and they are still young enough that the cold will effect them."
Not to mention their own pups as well, which will be much younger and therefore more vulnerable to the chill of winter. Damn it woman, stop delaying and just tell him, her mind screamed at her. Aleu sighed knowing that she must say something now, especially since Verse still seemed oblivious and chances are if he said one more thing about the approaching winter she would cry. "Are you done your patrols for now? I was hoping we could talk."
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Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 11:15 am
"Right...nearly forgot about them" Verse mused, brow furrowed slightly in thought "Though I've heard their father might be coming to stay with them until their older - certainly that will help a bit" He told her "i mean at least they won't be newborns" He continued, looking off into the trees in thought and so completely missing the effect this conversation was having on his mate.
His attention however was drawn back as she asked him a question - oh dear, she wanted to 'talk'...talks never went well and he spent a few moments trying to recall if he'd done anything incredibly stupid lately and angered her - he didn't think he had, she didn't seem angry anyways "Sure hun" He agreed with a slight nod of his head "I didn't have anything planned for this afternoon and even if i id I'd rather spend it with you"
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Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 11:23 am
Was he seriously trying to piss her off without even trying? First he tells her how bitter the winter will be, then comments on how Derecho's boys will be old enough to get through it without much trouble, and now with the mention of the Antianeira pups coming down he has to go and make a comment about the fact that they aren't newborns. Sighing Aleu gathered her courage when he agreed to the talk. She still hadn't exactly figured out how to tell him so her mind was scrambling to find the right words.
"Well...I'm sure that you have noticed some things are different now and..." She paused trying to find the right words. Damn it, why was this so hard. Chewing her lip she finally figured out the best way to say it, and lifted herself into a sitting position she looked into his eyes. Taking a deep breath she prepared herself before speaking again.
"The love we share, fills me with such joy,
When we first met, you were just a boy.
We didn’t get along but back then I didn’t see,
Just how special you would be to me.
And after that night I snuck into your den,
Our love has grown a lot since then,
We don’t share the den yet all of the time,
But I think we must after I finish my rhyme.
And while it may seem still a bit strange,
Let me tell you now things will soon change.
I really do have something that I must say,
So allow me to do so without more delay.
I have waited too many days, and I cannot wait another,
Now listen closely Verse, you are going to be a father."
When she finished she held her breath, hoping that he wouldn't be so distracted by the fact that she had just recited a poem that he would miss the words contained within it.
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Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 11:35 am
Verse waited patiently for her to gather her words and spit out whatever she had to say, it was always better not to hurry Aleu along and since he was pretty sure that she wasn't mad at him he was willing to wait quietly, I mean how bad could the news be?
And yes he had noticed that thing were different I mean they'd decided to share their lives together - how much different could you get? And he had actually opened his mouth to comment on that fact when she started reciting a poem of all things. Now she certainly had all of his attention and despite the shock of her reciting poetry rather then singing he focused on the words because well it was a poem and that was the important bit.
About halfway through her recital he thought he'd figured it out - she wanted to take up sharing a den together all the time, well! He wasn't going to complain about that and h beamed at her ready to tel her that that was just fine and discuss which den they should take up..his or hers.
Cept...she didn't finish the poem there like he had expected but kept right on going and by the time she got to that last line his heart had started to thump in his chest and he thought for a few moments he might be having some sort of attack so he just sat there blinking at her for a few moments before he could speak and when something did come out it probably wasn't the best choice of a reaction because while Aleu was likely looking for him to whoop with joy or profess his love of being a father and having puppies...the only thing that came out of Verse's mouth was "Your brother is going to kill me"
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Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 11:41 am
The seconds that ticked by after she had finished the poem seemed to be going by agonizingly slow. In fact it took her only a moment to realize that he was just sitting there. He wasn't smiling, wasn't jumping for joy, he wasn't doing anything...he was just sitting there! Anger began to broil inside of her. She had even wrote that stupid poem for him and he didn't even react! Forget Derecho killing him, for she would do it herself.
"That's all you can say!" She snapped at him, anger obviously flashing across her eyes. "Males!" Standing up she started to pad away, it was better than sitting there and likely ripping out his thought, plus now she was on the verge of tears and as much as Aleu was angry at Verse right now she didn't want him to see her cry either.
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Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 12:05 pm
Verse had known of course - almost as soon as the words lipped out of his mouth - that that hadn't been the right thing to say and he flinched at the anger that rolled off of her afterwards before jumping to his feet and dashing around in front of her to stop her retreat. "No! I mean I'm sorry...it was just..I wasn't expecting this news so..soon" He finished lamely.
Obviously this wasn't going the way Aleu had envisioned it and Verse when he thought about it hadn't figured on reacting this way either - it was the shock talking he told himself and he moved forward to braze;y ignore her anger and nuzzle her "I am happy" He told her "We will make wonderful parents" And they would...despite the unfortunate timing of he pups winter birth. They'd find a way to make it work!
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Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 12:15 pm
"So soon?" She half snapped at him bringing her paws to a stop, though her anger was beginning to melt away. Aleu could do nothing about the tears however and they began to roll down her face. "I have been waiting weeks to tell you! Look how fat I am already!" She wasn't actually fat...yet, a bit plump yes but certainly not fat, but it would hopefully drive the point home to him. What that point was she wasn't sure anymore.
When he finally said that he was happy Aleu pressed her head into his neck and wept both tears of joy and tears of every other emotion that was racking her body right now. "But the winter...it will be bitter you said so...that's no good for newborn pups." Oh if only their timing had been better, but it was too late to stop and think on that now. "I know we will be good parents."
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Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 12:23 pm
Oh gods, he'd made her cry and that if nothing else made Verse downright miserable for missing the so very obvious symptoms, it was probably best he just let the whole fat comment drop he figured since anything he said now she'd probably take the wrong way given her state of mind.
And it was an unfortunate misstep on his part to go on and on about how cold the winter was going to be given how upset it was making her he reflected though truthfully now he was more then a little bit worried about it himself. "We'll uh..we'll line the den with some of the softer pine boughs..and leaves..and we'll take up your den since it faces away from the wind" He told her 'We'll find a way to keep them warm and safe" He assured her
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Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 12:37 pm
Aleu sniffed and fought to keep the tears from pouring down her face as she pulled her head back. "Yes, that's a good idea, and mine is bigger than yours." They would need plenty of room in the den if they were to share it and have room for the pups to move about once they arrived. She glanced about the small clearing, while the clouds had blown away earlier there was definitely a chill in the air and it was growing. Winter might come sooner than normal, and that was not good no matter how one looked at it. "We had best start now, if Pyxis is right we might be in for an early winter and I don't want to be bringing wet leaves and branches into the den."
All the concerns of what they needed to do was rolling around her head and if they could attend to as many of them now as they could Aleu would likely be able to relax a bit. Giving him a nuzzle Aleu wondered where the best place to find the materials they would need was. "Come on." She said and began to lead them out of the clearing.
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