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Miguel was both scared of and profoundly sad for the cub. He had killed at his age. But it didn't sounds like he had done so with any job. "That's awful. I'd rather have no parents like I do, then have them." It seems we were right, being nobility isn't all it's cracked up to be. Miguel watched as Justine found a piece of bread for the Prince. "It's probably not very good compared to what you're used to I'm sure. But we've got commoner's food."

Gently Miguel took the bowl from the Prince and let more water from the ice drip into it. Then he brought it back, and help it up to the Prince's mouth. He had a hesitant smile on his face, feeling less afraid as he listened to Justine. "She's a fierce as any noble bear. I would hate to meet her in a serious combat." In truth Miguel wasn't too bad of a fighter, it was his heart that held him back. He had the build for fighting, and even some of the instinct, but he hated to harm anyone.

James exited the room feeling like he had been through the avalanche. Non-death matches maybe, but the King hadn't held back on the younger guards that he didn't need as much for protection. Parts of James's pelt were died a crimson colour that was going to take forever to remove, and his muscles were going to be sore for weeks. He doubted the Captain was faring much better however...

Miguel felt pity for Armel, and the apparent trauma he had suffered at the hands of the King and Queen. "No clearly you have no parents." He replied, trying to impart the wisdom his Kitchen family had taught him on this nobel bear. "Because those who are worthy of the title 'mom' and 'dad', they don't hurt their children they way they have hurt and used you." He stood up from here he was, and moved to grab more food, as he whispered, "or abandon them."

He passed Armel the rest of the bread he found. "If they're heartless enough to let this happen to you, then you probably don't want to find out how they react if you return looking like that. Eat and rest here. I'll keep watch." Miguel was feeling strangely protective of the bear who looked like him. Like he felt for the rest of his family. He couldn't help a smile flashing onto his face as Armel agreed that Justine was fierce. He didn't know the half of it.

[sure!]

James rounded the ice corner on the entrance to the barracks and ran nearly right into Humbert. He quickly jumped back and tried not to look ashamed by his current appearance and mistake. "My apologies, Sir. I was not paying attention." He dipped his head low for a moment. "I will go outside to clean my fur immediately."

Nanuq slumped on the ground for a moment, feeling the ache which meant he had sated his need for violence and blood. He himself had sustained only the most minor of injuries, nothing like the bears who would be seen leaving his chambers. He suspected the older ones were too scared to try fighting the King with their full might, loosing easily was much safer for them. And the younger ones simply didn't have the skills or strength to fend him off. That was fine though, he preferred it that way.

However, now that he was done, he was curious where his lovely Wife was, after likely enjoying a gift or two to herself. He heaved his massive body up onto his paws, and licked the blood from his claws, then raised his head into the air and roared loudly, calling for her. He didn't have to worry about making a racket, he was the King and he could do as he wished. And she would come when called, she always came back to him in the end.

Miguel watched with growing concern as the prince began to become panicked. He reached out a hand as if to help, but Justine was there first. "Relax, relax! I'll go look for them, okay?" He spoke urgently but gently. The Prince was clearly traumatized, and he didn't want to make his fear any worse. "As a servant, I'm good at getting things for your family, I should be able to find them. But if I can't find them tonight, I'll keep you warm in my bear form while you sleep, and we'll look tomorrow, how's that?" He made his way to leave, not really waiting for the answer to the question. He didn't want to watch the face like his panicking again.

"Justine, make sure he doesn't fall to pieces or die before I get back." Miguel slipped into the hallway quietly, thinking of what he was looking for and where to look.

[Do you want them found, or no?]

James wanted to wince at the shoulder bump. It felt like every inch of him ached. But he hid it well, for which he was proud. "Yes... let's go." James was well aware of the rumor going around about where the older guards often disappeared to when the Queen called for them. But just as Humbert respectfully didn't ask about James's ordeal with the King, James was not going to pry about what Humbert had endured at the paws of the Queen. He just prayed she didn't fancy him when he was older.

He began leading the way into the tunnel, heading out into the ice and snow. The cool air would help dull the sting of his injuries and it would help to remove the blood.

Nanuq wasn't a patient bear, so it was good Bera didn't keep him waiting long. And to her credit, she knew him well. Not only did she bring more presents for him, he noticed as he turned towards her entering their chambers, but she knew how to ensure none of them held a flame to her in his eyes. Her pelt was pristine enough he couldn't help but imagine the kind of cape it would make, and she glittered with jewels that her maids would probably kill just to wear one strand of. And Bera herself had all the swagger of a woman who chose to come back to him, was not forced. She was the only female who had ever entered his chambers in this manner, with no hint of fear. It both attracted and infuriated him.

"I trust you had fun." He spoke with an edge in his voice, an aggressive but not angry tone. "I certainly did." He hoped she didn't mind the blood stained patterns he was only now noticing coloured some of the fine fabrics in their room. "But now I'm in the mood for something a little different. What do you say, my Queen, and her guests?"

[can probably time-skip a bit for them after your post.]

[ Okay, Miguel to the rescue! And awww, by the way, Armel and Justine sharing memories and everything, so cute! And sure, let's get baby Amaya onto the scene!

Awww, that's adorable! I think the kitchen bears would be suspicious at first, but they're good hearted bears. After a while, when he proved he could work hard and well, they would take him under their wing like they did with Miguel, although they would mind their jokes about nobles with him around. ]

Miguel used his bear form to search, his sense of smell was much better in that form. He didn't know what he was looking for aside from bloody clothes, so he turned his nose towards the scent of blood. At first there was absolutely nothing. He thought about turning back, but he saw Armel's panicked face in his mind, and knew he couldn't go back until he had them.

Then finally he found them in one of the rarely used ice hallways. He gathered them in his jaws and tried to ignore the taste of some of the still-drying blood on his tongue.

"Justine? Armel?" He asked, as he entered back into the kitchens. He saw them huddled up by the fire, and was glad to see that Justine has managed to calm the Prince. Miguel dropped the clothes at Armel's feet gently, as he knew they were important to him. He could see them when he woke up, for now his healing body needed the sleep.

"You're amazing." Miguel said to Justine, as he laid down by the two of them, letting his warm body help heat them. "I don't know how you got him to calm down enough to sleep, not that I doubt your powers of persuasion, of course." He chuckles lightly, then turned to look from her back into the fire. Armel had been so scared... "Maybe being a noble...at least for some of them... isn't as easy as we thought."

James watched Humbert rolling in the snow for a few minutes in silence, until the Commander instructed him to do the same. He allowed his weight to flop onto the ground where the snow was, and slowly began to roll around in it, leaving streaks of red on the ground behind him. He didn't know anymore if the blood was his or who's. His skin was cooled now and the ache was dulled.

Nanuq gave a satisfied grunt, and a smile crept slowly onto his face.

[Yep, skippy! They are pretty pawful. razz Am I still playing Nanu well?]

[ Yes! I've ended up being quite fond of him myself smile Same!

Yes, it's too bad. Me too! ]

Miguel could see that Justine was tired, and could hear it in her voice. He almost suggested she headed off to bed, when she began speaking. Even though she called Melly pathetic, he couldn't help but notice the tender way she combed her fingers thought his hair almost absentmindedly, and the kindness in the instructions she gave him. "I think Melly is a better name for him too." Miguel replied, as he absorbed the fact that Justine had noticed the resemblance again. It really was peculiar.

Her next statement had Miguel using his muzzle to gently stroke her cheek as she leaned against him. Wise beyond her years maybe, but she was still just a child. She's worried for him. "We will just have to hope that in time, he is strong enough to take the lessons we can give him, and care, and that he will make it though." His gaze shifted to Armel for a moment, treating his words like a prayer. Please live.

He kept his eyes on Armel's sleeping form as he absorbed the rest of his friend's advice. "I will do my best." He tried to plan out what stories he would tell his new Brother tomorrow. his eyes hardened at the mention of the King and Queen for a moment. "He's not like them. They broke him. He wouldn't do that."

Then Miguel turned his gentle gaze back on her. "C'mon, you need to get some sleep." He stood to his paws. "Hope on my back, I'll carry you up there. Armel will sleep safe until I get back to him." He bent his front legs so his back was lowered for her to climb up onto.

[It's funny, Miguel now will consider Armel a brother, without knowing he really is his brother. ]

James stood to his paws as quickly as he was clean, not wanting to give the impression he was playing in the snow like a cub. "I'll be fine, they're nothing." He replied to Humbert. He wasn't a whiner either.

[Good! After your post lets skip to baby Amaya?]

Abigail felt as though she barely had the strength to lift her head, but she needed to be with her pup. She needed to see her before Arcadius did, so she knew what his reaction would she be. Was her child a boy of girl? Strong or weak? Big or small?

She she first looked over her ragged and dirty body to see her cub she sighed in relief. She was healthy, had all her limbs, taking strong breath and already she was begging for milk loudly. She was a descent size too. However Abigail's heart dropped as she checked the gender. She's female... She knew Arcadius thought women were weak and subservient, pretty things to be shown off if you owned them, which he would indeed think he owned their daughter. She would be either ridiculed by him for not being a son, and heir, or she would be sold off as a young wife to the wealthiest or most prestigious male that wanted her.

Slowly, Abigail used her muzzle to shift her daughter's body closer to her own, where she could be fed. She had never seen anything more beautiful, innocent and strong in her life. She and her young daughter had battles through birth together, they were connected more then Abigail had ever felt to one of her own kind before, and suddenly a wave of protectiveness crashed down hard over her. "No." She grumbled to the cub. "He can hurt me, parade me around and put me down, but I wont let him hurt you. You're not his daughter, you will be kind and just and I will teach you what being strong really means. You're mine."

She had a few minutes after her vow to adore her daughter in peace and silence, before Arcadius's unmistakable footsteps sounded into the cave she had chosen to give birth in. Fear clawed at Abigail's heart. Sometimes male bears would even eat their children, if they were less civilized. Was it possible he would try to? She curled her body around her daughter.

She could tell from his face as he stood over her that Arcadius was not pleased, he looked as though she and their daughter had robbed him of something he had been promised. Abigail hated him fro looking at her treasure that way.

"You couldn't give me a boy, could you? It would be nice of you contributed at least that, for everything I've given you. A good name, my name, and all the jewels and dresses you could want. I'd wager the only person who has more is the Queen herself. And she has managed to give her husband many sons in return."

"It's not something I decided, Arcadius. I can't pick what gender the baby would be." Abigail said more flippantly then she would usually dare.

"Don't talk back to me!" Arcadius snapped at her, and turned disgusted eyes on the cub. "So, what do you want to do with it? Give her to a servant and say you miscarried? That would be shameful, but not as much as having a daughter as my heir. The bears will talk about me, my ability to produce good cubs." He put a paw near the cub as if checking her size. "Or maybe we just kill her and bury her out on the ice. That way no one will find out by accident. You can never trust the servants on their words."

Abigail almost threw up. Using her muzzle she quickly dragged her daughter away from his sinister paw. "No! I'm keeping her!"

"And do what about me then? Say you were unfaithful? It's not uncommon in our society, but I will not have any bear muttering that I couldn't satisfy you. No, you cannot have it."

"Arcadius," Abigail made her voice as low and threatening as possible, "you might think I'm a bad wife now, but you like me. I sit quietly by your side, I come at your beck and call and I let you show me off as a pretty trophy. But I promise you, if you take her away from me, I will make sure you face worse shame from me as your wife then you would face from having your first born be female. I will refuse to come out with you, and when I do I will criticize you at every opportunity, and behave horribly, until your reputation if completely ruined. However, if I keep her, I will behave as I am now." Abigail's eyes were narrowed as he turned his head slowly to look at her.

At first she thought he would strike her. It wouldn't be the first time. But he seemed to think better of it, seeing the defiance blooming in her eyes.

"Fine, keep it. But she will have to be raised very strictly to make sure she is a proper female. Finish feeding her, and bring her inside." Arcadius gave them both one last look, then left the den.

watched with narrowed eyes until he was gone, then turned fond eyes on her daughter. "See my darling, I will take care of us." She laid her head beside her daughter's small white body. "So now that the big scary bear is gone, you need a name. As you will be a nobel heir, your name must mean 'bear', so..." She thought for a moment, and then the perfect name came to mind, the name of one of the cubs that by legend were the cubs of the First Queen. "My Amaya."

Amaya didn't know anything but the fact that she was cold and hungry, and her mother was warmth and food. She stayed close to her and drank.

James exited the hallway he had been guarding for the morning, and headed out to get some food. He had been out of training for half a year now, but this routine was already becoming quite normal, and he did his job well. No distractions when he was on duty, no mistakes.

Miguel lounged on the wall outside Justine's room, casually leaning against it, his head turned to look down the hall. They were supposed to be cooking together today and he's offered to walk with her, but she seemed to be taking forever today.

He reached up to move a few strands of his blond hair that had escaped his ponytail from his face. What's taking her?

Nanuq woke up in his room, with his Queen curled up beside him. Funny, when she was asleep she wasn't nearly so powerful or seductive, she was rather average for a pretty female. But she still represented his crown, all he had earned, so in that sense she still drew him.

He stood to his paws, not really concerned if he woke her or not, and stretched his tired but strong muscles. They'd had a long night, and he was ready to eat, now.

[Wasn't sure what to do with Nanuq, so I hope that's alright. He's such an A$$. ]

[Well here's the thing, I just checked and the polar bear's gestational period is only like 65 days, which is 2.5 months or something. So technically since Abigail was mentioned as pregnant before the skip, it should only have taken 2 months in the time-skip if Abigail knew she was pregnate right away. However, I thought it was longer then that sweatdrop So we could say that she wasn't pregnant before, if we wanted...? Also Kip is younger then Amaya, so he'll show up a bit later. ]

Miguel smiles a as smaller girl barrelled into him, and his arms automatically went around her to stabilize her. "It's alright, but we'd better hurry. Dmitri and Melly are going to scold us if we're late." He grabbed her hand with a smile, and began to run down the hallway, until he caught sight of a guard he didn't know walking Melly down the hallway.

"Prince Armel, over here!" Miguel called and waved his hand, using the Prince's formal title because there was a guard around. He cast a sad look at Melly's broken had, but tried not to let it damper his mood. "We're heading to the kitchen, are ya coming?" He wondered why Melly was being escorted back, and hoped that he could be used to get him away from the guard if that's what Melly wanted.

James spotted Humbert with the Prince, who it seemed had been trying to deliver their food. He rolled his eyes and let out an irritated snort. As a Prince he should be focusing on other duties, not serving. It was unbecoming of a Prince. Just as James would never tired to command the throne, his place was as a guard. "I just don't understand Prince Armel." He muttered as he came to stand beside his Captain. "And it still surprises me that their Majesties allow him to play servant."

Nanuq watched as Bera was dressed in jewels for a moment. Then he stood once she was lavishly draped in jewels, allowing the same maids to drape him with a single strand of blood red rubies and guided gold. He wouldn't wear as many as his wife, it would be unseemly on a man, but just enough to show his status. As the maids dressed him, he saw hints of fear in their eyes when he caught their glances. He liked to see that in the eyes of his toys, it made him feel powerful. The only exception was in his mate Bera. Her power was his power. If she showed fear, weakness, then he would be weakened.

He knew her well enough to know that just as he did, she was not thinking this was a social visit. They were going to evaluate their cubs. Most importantly if they were strong males, the cubs posed the threat to their reign as they aged, and that of their sons, and would have to be dealt with. If there was a female, and if she was beautiful as her mother was, she may be a useful pawn for the future, and a chip to use to fluff her father's ego. Arcadius had an oversized opinion of himself and overestimated him own importance, but he was wealthily and had some sway among the nobles, not to mention he was a strong bear. Nanuq liked to spend time with him, keep him on his side. Arcadius didn't need to rule, as long as he rich and told he was important.

His wife Abigail was another story. Beautiful but submissive, Nanqu had considered on an occasion or two trying to trick her into being his lover. However Arcadius was very possessive of his pretty property and rarely let her out of his sight. If Nanqu really wanted her he could have her, he wouldn't even have to ask, he was the King. But he took less pleasure in it if he thought her husband might actually try to take advantage of the situation, thinking the King would sway to him demands because he was banging his wife. He wouldn't of course, but he'd have to kill her to prove his point, and that would madden the bear he wanted on his side.

"Yes, let's go pay our respects to those two. Meet whatever cubs they managed to produce." Shoo'ing the maids away with a snarl, he stood by the door, then lead the way out to the Noble's chambers.

Abigail knew the King and Queen were coming to size up her daughter, and she was almost more scared of them seeing Amaya then she was when Arcadius came. However in this case it worked in her favour that she's bore a daughter. Not competition to the King or his sons, females never fought for the crown anymore, since many of the died when they used to. They hadn't been a female ruler since the first Queen. So they wouldn't try to find some way to execute her baby. However a stroke of bad luck for Amaya, Abigail could tell already that she was going to be beautiful one day. They King and Queen would try to make her into a mistress for their sons, or her father would, and use her as a pawn rather then letting her fall in love.

"We'll find some way around that for you, my dear." She cooed, as little Amaya squeaked.

[ Alright, let's go with the later option then. And as for telling Amaya's gender, we can go with your suggestion of them telling based on her scent. And Nope, Arcadius is a jerk.]

Miguel pulled Armel close a his kitchen-brother gravitated towards him. But he had to hold back a wince of his own as Justine nailed Jonathan in the nose. Ouch. As they walked back towards the kitchen, Miguel couldn't help a sly comment or two. "I thought he was supposed to be a guard, but even the kitchen staff can beat him up?" He laughed lightly, partially trying to cheer Melly up, and partially trying to lighten his own worry over the consequences Justine would face for her actions. He felt suddenly really angry at the thought of someone trying to harm her.

When Dmitri and Justine began conversing, Miguel let his worry overtake him for a minute, since she was not watching and Melly was in Dmitri's hands for the moment. What was he going to do if they came to punish her?

"I hope so." James muttered. "All of that just isn't right." He watched a few more bears milling about, he trained eyes scanning them automatically, looking for anyone out of place. Humbert's offer of food caught his attention however. "Thanks, I'll go grab some." He headed over to the pile of dead fish and seal meat they had been delivered, and was again grateful guards were fed so well. They were considered improtant to the safety of the King and Queen, and therefore given a lot of hardy food to eat.

James selected a nice piece of seal meat and carried it in his jaws until he found a place to lay it down between his paws and slowly began eating it, fat and all.

Nanqu was immediately pleased as he faced Arcadius, because the noble was in a jittery and rotten mood. Not towards the King and Queen, but Nanqu could tell something had set the bear off, and that pleased the King immensely. If it had been because of Abigail, then he could almost kiss her for it. But he couldn't see a pathetic doormat like her doing anything against her husband, so it had to be something else.

"Arcadius, Bera and I have come to meet your new cubs." He watched as the other male's eyes rolled slowly over Bera's body before meeting the King's eyes again. Nanqu moved mockingly to the side of his wife and put his head on her neck possessively, egging on Arcadius's temper.

After an angry glare, the bear motioned for them to go ahead, a formality really as they could both do as they liked, and Nanqu moved closer to the pretty Abigail's body, looking for her cubs. A huge grin split his face as he saw it. "Well, would you look at that?" He said to Bera, who no doubt had seen as well.

A single solitary cub. Healthy. And not a male. A female who was going to grow to be as beautiful as her mother. With amusement Nanqu realized he knew what Arcadius's temper had stemmed from. His first cub consisted of a female. The shame would fall to him, not to his wife, and that must eat him up inside. And yet lucky for the mother and the cub that she was female. "What will she be called?" He asked Abigail.

Abigail didn't like the way the King smiled mockingly down at her daughter, any better then she liked having the King and Queen near her at all. "Her name is Amaya." She replied, thinking the sooner she got him his answers, the sooner they would leave.