They had been traveling for a while, backtracking the way they had come was easier and seemed to be faster than the trip away from his packlands. She was beginning to suspect something was amiss when her appetite slowly began to increase over the last few days, finding that she wasn't satisfied with her usual fill of their kills, but she didn't act on it the first time. Maybe she was just more hungry after the hunt itself. Sometimes that killing blow wasn't easy. Maybe she just was burning more energy than usual. Fish would help with that.

It persisted though, even when they had fish once or twice.

Talia was very careful to hide this fact from Veero, however, and now that she was sure that she knew what was going on she was glad for it. Rather than him finding out accidentally she would rather give him the news, so as they settled for a rest she moved to where he had settled down.

"Veero?"

Veero hadn't noticed Talia's increased appetite, mainly because he hadn't been looking for any strange new patterns. Instead he enjoyed their hunts, and their travel across the land. He was excited to be going home, though he was a bit anxious what they were going home too. Before he had left war seemed inevitable, he had a sinking suspicion that upon his return he would be needed to fight. Yet he didn't want to ruin his blissful journey with Talia by bringing up things he wasn't even sure about yet.

He opened one eye slowly and grinned up at her blinking and sprawling in the grass. They had paused in such a serene location and the sun filtered slowly down on his black coat warming him up and making nap seem like heaven. "Come lay down love...we'll be off again soon." He moved slowly to coil his body into a half moon shape eager to snuggle her close. Then he noticed her posture and her voice, did she want to talk to him? Was she having doubts now that they were heading towards the pack? "Talia?"

She took the invitation, he looked too comfortable not too, and it was probably for the better that he was lying down for this news anyway. Settling in the little nook he'd created for her with his own body she went on, straight to the point as she looked him in the eye.

"Veero, I think that I might actually be pregnant."

He relaxed as she settled down beside him, no her news wouldn't be bad. She probably just wanted to tell him she was hungry again, that she craved some rabbit or fish. He softly nuzzled her and smiled when she looked at him, he could gaze into her eyes fore-what? What had she said? His ears flicked and then perked and he blinked.

"Pregnant?" He stared at her his eyes swirling with sudden confusion. That fast? Had they really done it that fast? He was...he was going to be a father? He'd never even had a father, how was he going to be a father? How we he going to be a good father when he had never even had one? He felt his heart suddenly race and then he focused back on Talia feeling lightheaded.

"Are you sure?" He managed to stammer out in confusion. Maybe she was just hungry? He thought of Crunch, Musketeer, Butterfinger of all the males who had helped to raise him, who had loved him and taught him. He could be a good father...he'd had the best. Slowly he felt the tight sensation in his chest start to fade but he was still dazed.

"Well, not entirely, but I can't think of any other explanation for things like my increase in appetite... and the last two days I've started to feel more tired than usual."

She shifted her head to rest on his paws, sighing quietly as though to signal said bout of weariness. It wasn't that she tired easily, it just seemed like she was needing more rest than usual, and not actually taking it meant that she'd get tired during the day instead. "You're either incredibly lucky or incredibly fertile, Vee." The dark she-wolf chuckled.

"I think I'm both..." He thought of his mother and father, they had shared one brief night together and he and his siblings had been born. Except he wasn't going to leave Talia, he loved her, he was going to be a good father for his pups. He softly nuzzled her watching as her head moved down on his paws. He tenderly flicked his tongue against the back of her ear and nuzzled her neck.

"We're gonna be parents?" He murmured softly against her cheek trying to grasp the enormity of it all.

"That you might be."

Her eyes were already closed, and she was rumbling quietly in appreciation at the attention, but when he asked again she got concerned. Her eyes opened again and though she didn't move from her spot her voice carried a slight bit of uncertainty. "Veero... you do still want this, right?"

It wouldn't be as if she couldn't get help from her family if he left, but she did hate to think that it would come to that. Granted she hadn't said she loved him back yet, but he wouldn't just leave, right?

"What? Of course I do Talia, I just..." He took a deep breath and nuzzled her neck again his voice lower more uncertain. "I'm just...worried that...I'll be a...a bad father." His ears fell back and he frowned slightly. "My father...I never even knew him, I don't think he even knew my siblings and I existed. I want to be the best for our pups, but...what if I do something wrong?" He curled closer around her and sighed softly against her neck. He had never told anyone how his father leaving had made him feel about being a father himself someday. He hadn't expected to feel so suddenly inadequate, he tried to reassure himself, he'd had good role models, but what if there was something special that could only come from having a father of your own?

"No one is perfect, even the best parents make mistakes once in a while, Vee, but I don't think you have anything to be worried about. Just be yourself. What's most important is that you'll be there for them and love them."

She nudged his neck with her nose with a soothing motion, not to make light of his feelings.

"What am I always telling you, besides? Trust your instincts... If I thought you'd be a bad father I wouldn't have taken you for my mate, don't you think...?"

"I know...I just...don't want to ruin their lives." He huffed softly and then sighed and licked her cheek. "I love you, and I know I'll love them." He relaxed a bit reassured by her words and glad she was so much more casual and confident about this. She made it sound somehow easier then he had imagine it would be.

"I don't know you could have been swayed to take me for my charm and good looks?" He grinned and nipped at her ears teasingly before nuzzling her. "You should rest...if your really...pregnant, we should slow our pace a bit, dedicate some more time to small hunts and keep you well rested."

"Not possible, not with you for a dad." She chuckled, shifting onto her side to paw at his shoulder a little. If she sounded sure of herself it was mainly because she had years to think about what she'd do if she ever became a mother, considering she wasn't opposed to spending an evening with a relative stranger and what not. She certainly had no intentions of bringing that up now though. "Not to mention your skill in the art of modesty and flattery." She teased, grinning, but nipped at his muzzle once he came close. "I'll be alright if we just sleep a bit more when we rest. If we slow down too much who knows how close I'll be to giving birth by the time we arrive."

No reason to stop their progress, she was thinking.

He smiled at her words and nipped playfully at her paw, she was incredible. Veero was probably silly to think so, and while he'd never tell her, he felt as though Talia had been preserved through time just for him. She was older, but she possessed the maturity and knowledge that came with age as well as the playful streak that endeared him to her. "Good of you to notice my best qualities." He chuckled and took the n** in good spirits.

"If your sure you'll be alright, but I would like if you ate a bit more, keep your strength up." It would take them a while still to reach the pack, she was right if they slowed too much she might give birth in lone lands. He would much rather have his family around, have his grandmother and her healing knowledge there if Talia needed it. He thought again of the war, had it started? He couldn't tell her now though, he couldn't ruin this moment...they were going to be parents, tonight was for happy thoughts.

"I'm sure, I lived in the mountains for about four years, I think I can handle traveling the low lands for a while, pregnant or not." She playfully quipped, moving to nuzzle against him again.

No, she wasn't quite ready to say it yet, and she hoped he wouldn't be disappointed if it took some time, but at least they were on the right track to start...

"Well you may have lived in the mountains but you've never been pregnant, it might tire you out more then you'd expect. Just promise you'll tell me if we're moving too fast or if your hungry." He was starting to feel a bit smothering, but he didn't want her to think he didn't care. Maybe he just cared too much? Could a male care too much if he really loved a female? If he really wanted her to be happy and safe, wanted his pups to be healthy and happy?

True enough, and she couldn't even say she'd really been around any pregnant females much in her life. She was going on instinct as much as she suggested that he do the same. None the less she chuckled and agreed humoringly. Talia didn't mind letting him fuss, it was within his right to be easily excited, it was his, their first litter after all, and maybe she did like the attention and being spoiled.

"I promise."

"Good...now you should rest before we move on." He softly licked her cheek once more before lowering his head beside hers and nuzzling hers with a mild yawn. "Anything in particular you want to eat when we wake up?" He murmured softly wanting to make sure she had whatever she needed, whatever she wanted.

"Hmm, alright. Since you're insisting." She agreed with a light yawn, even with his licking. They had traveled quite a ways to get to their little resting spot, so she supposed there was no harm in getting an early start rather than sleeping longer. Her eyes were closed, and it didn't take much for weariness to settle in as she spoke, warm, comfortable, wrapped up in Veero's body like she was. "Deer or fish... Fish would be easier. Deer would be more filling though." She mumbled softly, nuzzling against his neck and jaw as her body relaxed. He was so sweet. She never thought she'd go for that again after Tsume. Maybe he hadn't ruined her for males after all, not quite.

"Deer it'll be..." He murmured and smiled softly as she nuzzled close, he curled himself around her protectively. He waited until she had drifted to sleep and then slowly he allowed his eyes to close. Sleep found him finally dreaming pleasantly of his family, past, and future.