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 Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 3:23 pm
It was good to see life in the pack, what little of it was left now. Kurroa’s little ones were doing well, and the Dame seemed to be managing in spite of the fact that her mate had been killed in the slide. Vorona was busy, her cousin still seemed uncertain about stepping into the position of Queen but, as Nene had told her, there was no one else for the job. At least that ranger boy, Aheero, was helping her to support her cousin. When he was around anyway. He was often away, looking for more help for them. She wished he’d stick around more, but stretched so thin he was needed here and away both at the same time.
Well. She’d just have to stretch herself out a little more. Heavens knew there was enough of her to stretch. A bit glumly she looked down at the ‘fluff’ before shrugging and moving on to see if she could find some of those herbs she wanted. One of the dogs had been coughing a little, and while it didn’t seem like anything to worry about, a sore throat was one of the few things she did know how to help with. A broken heart…well. That was harder. Much harder. She was always happy to try though! It was much nicer when everyone around could be happy instead of sad. And lately sad was all that seemed to hang in the air around here. Sorrow and uncertanty. The only happy sort were the new rogues Aheero found now and then. Vashti often made her laugh…though how much of that was intentional was hard to say…
Humming quietly to herself, the pale furred cleric nosed around the brush near to her new den. How lovely if she could find the herbs she needed nearby…then she wouldn’t need to be away if someone might come looking for her.
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Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 3:42 pm
 Huffing a little as she rather ungracefully waddled up the last bit of incline, she had to pause and catch her breath. Ears flicking, she sneaked a glance round her shoulder, desperately hoping Cier wasn't looking just at that moment and wouldn't see just how weak she was. Well.. not weak.. Fat, blown, full, round.. pregnant.. Grimacing she glanced down at her over-stretched belly, though couldn't find the will to struggle and lick the dark fur of her side.
"Will you quit kicking in there..." She huffed, ears back despite the warm light in her bright eyes. Oh, she already loved being a mother, but heaving around what had to be a million full grown pups was starting to get painful. Lifting her gaze she smiled as she saw Cier following her up the path. "Would you mind going on ahead and warning the cleric we are here, kuvu?" Giving him a soft smile she touched her flank, or rather her belly, to his as he slipped past.
She needed just a moment longer before finishing the climb. And to think, she wouldn't have even realised this slope was here before she got so large....
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Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 4:11 pm
Cier chuckled at his mate, his green eyes sparkling as his keen hearing picked up her comment, " Mpenzi you should be pleased they have a strong kick, it means they also have a strong heart." The Ranger came to stop beside her before brushing past, giving her a gentle lick along her ear.
"Of course, I am happy to do as you bid...ever am I your humble servant m'lady." he teased her gently, nudging her neck with his nose, " Why don't you wait here? There is no need for you to climb further for now. I am sure I can manage to track down a Cleric. After all, I was trained to track, remember?, My life before you became my world."
Cier's voice was full of gentle tones, the light in his jewel bright eyes colored with mirth and a pleased note that seemed to say, Yes this is my doing and I am proud of it.. " Wait here my love, I will not be long." Bestowing another lick to her ear, he trotted off, tail high, to find a healer who may have survived the disaster of a few months ago.
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Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 5:20 pm
The sound of pawsteps caught her attention, and she looked up from where she’d been rummaging through the greens for that sore-throat plant. It probably had a more proper name, but she was accustomed to calling things by what they did. It made it easier to explain to those who thought plants were…well. Plants. Snorting and shaking her head to dislodge some of the dirt from her nose and the plant in her teeth, the cleric padded back towards her den. Someone coming this way…someone looking for her? It was rarely good when someone came to find her, and it could only be made worse if it were difficult for her to be reached.
And with that lovely thought, she shifted into a quick lope, bounding back along a small incline to where the entrance to her den was. It was a decently sized little cavern, she needed plenty of room for patients after all. Spirits willing she wouldn’t need the space, but she’d rather have it than need it. “Hffelo…” she started to call, before remembering to put the plant down so as to speak clearly instead. “Hello?” she asked again, a glimpse of brown that was neither mud nor tree drawing her attention. “Oh hi! There you are. You weren’t looking for me were you?” Nene asked, just in case he wasn’t. But if he was then asking would make it go faster…
…odd, he looked familiar but not like someone she’d seen recently. He wasn’t one of the new former rogues about…must have been…someone else… name name name, what was the name…surely she knew it, or she had known it. At some point. Probably.
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Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 5:34 pm
Blushing as she caught his look, the heavily pregnant Dame could only shake her head at him with a smile. "They are our pups, of course they will be strong!" Purring softly she leaned a little into the warmth of her mate before he eased away, and she was careful to keep her balance, with a belly as big as hers she had learned the hard what that she wasn't as stable as she used to be, nor as quick.
"Pfft.. stop being silly Cier." She returned as he nuzzled her neck. "And I certainly can manage such a small slope! It is just faster for you than me right now." Trying not to smile at his overly flowery words, she huffed and nudged at him with her nose until he obeyed her and went ahead. Puffing out her cheeks when he finally went off to find the cleric, she shook her head, winced at another kick from the little ones within her belly, then slowly resumed her wading climb, grateful no one else was about to see her in such a condition. She hoped the pups would be born soon, despite how much the idea of giving birth terrified her, she wanted to actually see and touch her babies, and to be able to move again.
Taking a breath she pulled herself up the last little bump and waddled towards where she heard voices.
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Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 5:48 pm
Cier lopped up and around the bend in the slope, toward where he was fairly sure the Cleric's den would be. He hadn't had time to really explore their Pack's new home, but he trusted his nose, and what it told him was that there was a den up here filled with many types of plants that did not grow together, therefore, they must be stored.
Trotting up to the den's entrance, he turned around when a voice called out behind him. " Nene, thank the mountain you are ok. Dame Kayla and I have been worried out of our fur for everyone." The Ranger came over to her, tail wagging.
" We need a Cleric, Kyla is about due," he said with great pride, " she's trying to climb up the slope, but I think she is grown a bit to wide to make it.You should see her, she is the size of a hippo," Cier laughed, " I swear she just gets more and more...."
He stopped mid sentence, his ear flicking back as he heard his mate walk up. Wincing, he looked back over his shoulder at her, a rakish smile on his muzzle, "...beautiful each day, " the wild dog finished smoothly, not missing a beat as he stood up to help his very round mate into the den.
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Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2011 10:03 am
Dame Kayla? Oh! Then this must be the ranger Cier! Oh then that was great news, the other search party had returned safe and sound, thank the sky and mountain. Her tail wagging furiously with glee, she actually squeaked when he said that his mate was expecting. More little ones! What joyful news for their pack!
"Expecting mothers are always beautiful!" Nene agreed cheerily, bouncing forward to greet the dame. "I am so happy you've come back safe! And with new little packmates too, oh, I can hardly wait to see them!" she chattered, nuzzling the female affectionately before turning to lead the way inside. She'd just finished sunning some of the grasses she'd managed to collect for a bed only yesterday, it was fresh and smelled so so nice... it would be perfect for Kayla to rest on...
Abruptly she lifted her head, eying the obviously proud father. He couldn't be here when the pups were actually born but...well. She didn't have the heart to simply chase him out now. When Kayla got closer to her time she'd shoo him, but until then there didn't seem to be any harm in letting him stay.
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Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2011 10:34 am
"I heard that." The heavily pregnant female replied, as she finally managed to waddle up beside her mate, giving him a solid bump with her ample girth, unable to hide the grin on her muzzle. "A hippo indeed. I hope you don't expect a warm bed tonight." She threatened, tone serious but her eyes sparkled playfully.
Tossing her head she turned her attention to Nene, grinning with genuine pleasure as she greeted the other female in return. "Its good to be home." Chuckling she tried to ignore the tightening in her chest at the thought of giving birth. "Me too... I'd rather they be out than in, I swear they are far more troublesome than they have any right to be. I look forward to when I can hand them over to Cier for safe-keeping." Giving her mate a cheeky grin. Well, after all, she had done the hard part of growing and birthing the pups, he was way behind on the parenting rota.
Allowing the pair of them to usher her into the den, she made a show of flicking her tail and taking her time in carefully settling down. She wouldn't admit it, but she ached so bad, all she wanted to do was sleep for a week.. and a large fresh meal wouldn't be amiss either.
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Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 9:51 am
Cier gave his mate a toothy grin, chuckling softly at her as he gave her cheek a lick, " Good, you should hear me praise your beauty everyday, for truly the sky smiled on me when I was honor with your affection." He nuzzled her gently and helped her to the grass bedding.
" Oh, I am looking forward to it my heart," the ranger said happily, " I intend to spoil them rotten and make sure they turn out jussssst like me." He winked at the Cleric, clearly thrilled with the whole idea of pups. If the male was any more happy, he'd probably burst.
Making sure Kayla was comfortable, Cier turned to Nene, " Since I know I am all paws when it comes to this kind of thing, what would you ladies care to eat?"
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Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2011 1:35 pm
Nene just wanted to nuzzle and fluff the female with happy attention. Pups were always ever so exciting, so wonderful, so much joy. Every time she had helped a mother with her first little ones had been a treasured moment indeed, followed closely by when they little ones met their father for the first time. She had a love for seeing those she knew and looked after beside themselves with joy, with wonder, with excitement. The only sour mark on this day was the fact that almost none of those whom she had shared this experience with so lovingly were...here. So much of the pack had been buried beneath the rocks, so many families gone or broken...
The lightfurred dog chuckled at the couple's banter. They were so suited, so happy, together. Nothing should spoil this, not even bad memories or worries about what their small pack would do now. "Dame Kurroa just recently had pups," she chattered, "Two girls and three boys, all orange and brown and white and black. It's always so amazing how well the spirits can blend all the marks and means of the mother and the father into new life. I wonder if any of them will be... pink?" she giggled as she eyed the ranger's markings. Chatter was light and cheerful, keeping the sadness at bay while she pawed the newest bed to make it extra fluffy for the pregnant dame.
"Oh, I don't know Cier," she shrugged when he asked what she cared to eat. "I'm sure you're lovely mate has quite an appatite by now though!" She was, after all, eating for at least 'two', probably more. She could be trying to feed as many as nine! Now that had been a large litter!
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Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 2:24 am
Snorting at her mate's comment the rounded female padded heavily over to where Nene was fluffing the bed and after turning round awkwardly a few times, she curled her slender limbs under her and settled down. It was hard to get fully comfortable these days, but the bed was wonderfully soft after sleeping on nothing but rocks and scrub grass for the past few weeks.
"We will all be in trouble if they were just like you, my dear.. there aren't enough like me to go around." Chuckling she stretched her nose up, waiting till he came close enough in order to nuzzle his warm fur affectionately. Shifting a little with a wince she let her head drop to the bedding, but shifted her forepaw out to rest over her mate's. She needed him close even if she wouldn't admit it, the nervousness that kept stirring in her chest every time the pups moved in her belly, ate at her usual casual confidence.
"Anything big and tasty....." She replied, giving him a cheeky grin despite her secret uncertainty.
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Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 1:09 pm
Cier accommodated his mate, placing his nose to hers and licking her muzzle softly. He did not think that his lady knight could ever be more beautiful then she was now, heavy with his pups, though such words were best said alone, in the dark, between lovers, so he kept his peace for now.
The Ranger chuckled at the Cleric, giving her a wide grin, " I am not pink, I am a rose color..like the sunset low in the mountains," he winked at the ladies, " it is poetic color, and I my dears am a poet." He gave them both a lavish bow, ending it by nuzzling Kyla's ear once more.
" As you wish my lady, one big and tasty meal coming up. I live only to serve." The sparkle in his green eyes was filled with joy and no little bit of mischief, " Although, I could be awhile...I didn't see any hippos on the way up." Cier teased his mate, knowing that she was frightened with the impending birth, seeing past her brave front, though he did not let on, allowing her to be the strong, independent dame she was.
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Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 4:53 pm
Nene blinked at Cier when he commented on not having seen any hippos on the way up. Having never left the mountains herself, she had never seen one at all period, but she'd heard about them. Big and cross and not safe with very large bites...and they never sounded particularly tasty. As for the color...
She giggled. "Sunsets are pink, or they seem so to me," she teased lightly, her tail wagging to show it was just for fun. "But it is a lovely color either way." He was so sweet though, so loving with his mate. It made her so giddy to see them together being cute and adorable and... uhm...adorable.
"We'll be fine," she assured them, and while her eyes were directed at the ranger her words were meant for both. Kyla was bound to be nervous after all, but there was little to worry about. Nene knew what she was doing, and even if she had not mothers had been bringing new life into the world on their own for generations. All would be well. And she would make extra sure of it.
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Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 6:16 pm
She had known for along time that she had picked the right male for her mate. Cier was a wonderful partner, and even now he understood her without the need for wards, at a time when any female would be more confused and confusing than ever. Letting a little sigh of pleasure escape before he moved, she tilted her head where her cheek rested across her paws, and grinned up at him. "Nene is right, you 'are' pink.. " Her cheeky grin softened as she chuckled warmly. "You are hopeless, is what you are Cier.." Lifting her head into his touch she smiled fondly as he moved away.
Snorting at his teasing about hippos she shook her head, once again reminded how limited in mobility she was right now. Instead she delicately crossed one paw over the other and gazed at him from under her lashes. "Very big.... Thank you love." Just about able to keep the grin off her muzzle.
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Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 6:40 pm
Cier was a sucker for her when she gave him that look, and all he could do was give a huge doggie grin at them both. Leaning down he licked his mate once more for luck and then nosed the Cleric's ear.
" Dinner for three...er...or so, coming right up." The Ranger gave the ladies a courtly bow, " Brought by I, your friendly pink poet ranger." With a wink and flick of his tail, he slipped out the door and down the mountain to were he could hunt for a Springbok or maybe a new born Impala. His tail held high as he went.
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