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 Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 8:42 am
 Getting into the swing of his new Alpha duties was actually proving to be quite easy. He had already been helping out with the pack prior to Chivosi's offer and so picking up some extra work here and there wasn't a big stretch for the wolf. Whenever things were quiet and they both had time to spare Chivosi would give him more in depth training on what it takes ot be an alpha, really it wasn't all that much different than he thought it would be. They were the ones to break up and resolve any disputes, ensure that the packs alliances remained strong, that the members were happy and healthy. That time together also allowed them to bond even more, to become a true couple. If he were to be completely honest the role felt very natural to him.
While it had been some time since his rise to alpha status and he and Chivosi's subsequent admitting to their feelings for each other Galahad did feel as though something was missing. It was something he had wanted for a while, well before he had come to YMCA, something that at some point in their lives most wolves wished for. But he was unsure if Chivosi was ready for it. Well he had told her they could take it slow, but honestly neither of them were getting any younger and so he had made the decision to speak to her about it. If she said she wished to wait then he also would wait, if she agree then he would be a very happy wolf. Padding through the trees Galahad was following Chivosi's scent, she had went out on a patrol earlier and perhaps he could catch her before she got back so they could speak privately.
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 8:52 am
 It seemed like today was going to be much the same as her patrol yesterday - calm and uneventful, almost boring really. Chivosi was not going to complain about such things, quiet, peaceful and boring boarder patrols meant nothing was coming to disrupt her pack and everyone could continue to live their relatively uneventful but hopefully happy lives.
Stifling a slight yawn Chiv stopped to lap from water from a nearby stream and rest a while in the shade. Summer it seemed had come on with a vengeance once it got started and the afternoon heat had long since lost the appeal it had at the beginning of the summer. Funny she thought to herself how in the winter they all wished for summer...and in the summer they all wished for winter again.
In any case she supposed she shouldn't linger to long in the shade or risk giving in to the temptation to take a nap, stretching as she rose the YMCA alpha contemplated the rest of her route thoughtfully before starting off again.
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 8:57 am
Spotting a familiar hide through the trees Galahad padded forward, but made sure to not make it look like anything was wrong. Racing up to an alpha, even if the one doing so was the other alpha, could make one think that there was danger or something needing immediate attention. And while yes he wanted to talk about something important to Chivosi it wasn't worth making her think something bad had happened over it. So he padded up to her calmly, quietly, falling into step beside her. "Mind if I join you?" He asked with a smile.
The patrol seemed to be quiet as per usual. His earlier patrol had been the same, nothing much happening, a few deer and smaller critter moved about but there was no invading wolf packs, no visitors from their northern allies, in fact he hadn't even seen any travelers either. Those would surely come soon enough, the warm weather prompted many wolves to wander around looking for new homes or just getting that wanderlust out of their system.
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 9:05 am
Chiv's ear flicked slightly at a sound from behind but the scent she caught a moment later assured her it was only Galahad. Glancing over at him she gave him a warm if slightly amused look "I suppose that's alright - but haven't you gone out on patrol today already? This one will likely be just as boring as yours was" She warned him cheerfully because as she had already decided - that wasn't a bad thing at all.
She suspected that Galahad had decided to join her for some other reason then a desire for a dull walk in the woods - but she wasn't going to complain, sometimes it was hard to find free time in busy months so they might as well take advantage of this quality time while they could before duty took over and such joint walks became an impossibility.
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 9:11 am
His smile grew a bit wider. "How can it be a boring patrol when I have such lovely company." He glanced out at the forest for a moment and then slowly returned his gaze to Chivosi. "Besides I did the eastern border route, this is the western side, perhaps there will be something of interest out here that isn't found in the east." One could never be certain where they could come across a wanderer, visitor or something else, just because it was boring for one patrol didn't mean they all would be. Besides, he was certain that once they got to talking it would no longer be boring.
That made him think of the reason he had come to find her. He had worked out what he would say back at his den, but now that he was here with Chiv his mind had decided to forget all of that. That meant he would have to wing it. "Sure is nice out today." Lame, Galahad, that was just lame. Really talking about the weather? Giving his head a slight shake to refocus he set his mind on the task. "Aleu and Verse's pups have grown a lot, I think with the summer weather here they will blossom into fine wolves. And Casimir's lot is doing well also." Perhaps talking of other pups, or at least pups that had now grown would help ease them into the conversation he was hoping to have with her.
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 9:27 am
"Flatterer" She accused him with a slight laugh. A small part of her however was secretly pleased by the praise, everyone liked to be complimented once in a while and she had gone so very long without such things - she deserved to be flattered at least once in a while she reminded herself. "I suppose that is true, the northern side is a more interesting walk however - but Apollo has been taking those on lately for some reason or another" She remarked - and it wasn't the first time that Chiv had pondered just what her grandson was doing to the North..but as he always returned happy and unharmed she supposed that it couldn't anything too bad.
"It is" She agreed glancing up at the sun for a few moments "Though a touch hot" At least she didn't have Merrill's heavier coat - the beta would surely start complaining about the weather soon enough. "I do hope so" She remarked as Galahad turned onto one of her more favorite topics - the packs pups "It's nice to watch pups playing in the sun again now that its warm out"
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 9:37 am
Letting out a chuckle Galahad shook his head. He couldn't help it, and really she was lovely company to be around. Mention of Apollo doing the northern borders made him smile wryly. "Can you blame him? The allure of all those females up there, hard for a young wolf like him to resist." Really if he had been younger, or at least not involved with Chivosi he too would want to do the northern border to get a glimpse at the warrior females. But he wasn't that kind of wolf and was more than happy with Chivosi at his side, though the same could not be said for all the other males of the pack. Who knows, maybe Apollo had taken a fancy to one of the females, though trying to impress her might be a challenge. Anyways he was thinking off topic now.
"It's only bound to get hotter, summer has only just begun." He reminded her. Galahad didn't mind the heat that much, yes there were days where he wished only to hide in the cool of his den away from it, but for the most pert he enjoyed it. Now that they were on the subject of the packs pups it would be hopefully easier for him to say what he wished. "Yes, they will get to run and explore much more than they could during the winter. And perhaps there will be new pups as well." He had overheard Terreis and Derecho talk once or twice about possibly having another litter at some point, and a few other members were at that age as well.
Bringing his paws to a stop he looked at Chivosi. This was the time to say it, he couldn't delay any further. "Chiv...have you thought about having pups again?" He asked somewhat hesitantly only because he didn't want to force her into anything. He would wait if needed, but he at least had to ask. "I know we said we would take it slow, but I was just wondering if it's something you wish to have again at some point."
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 10:49 am
"True" Chivosi admitted with a slight tilt of her head as they walked along and she considered the implied possibility that Apollo had taken a shine to a femme from the North. "His father will throw a fit" She added after a few moments throwing in a melodramatic sigh at his warning that summer was only going to get hotter - it was a sad but true fact she supposed, of course one could always take a dip in the river when it got too hot.
"I expect their will be" Chivosi commented "Spring fever such as Apollo seems to have caught does not only affect the very young and we have several happy couple in our pack" Of course when he spoke again Chivosi was a bit surprised - true she had known the other wolf had sought her out for a reason, and she had expected that all the talk thus far had been merely idle chatter while he got his thoughts in line but she hadn't expected him to ask her this. As she had just said - spring fever does not only affect the young. "I..have thought on it, a while back" She admitted...she had in fact agreed to have pups with Mene again after he had shown some small signs f getting better, bu she'd forgotten about it when he lapsed back into the shell of a wolf he had become and one day just...drifted off along with two of their children. "I wasn't sure I would ever get the chance to consider it again..." She confessed
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 11:00 am
Galahad smiled, Derecho would indeed have a fit if one of his sons did end up taking a fancy to one of the northern girls, but really had Derecho not ended up with one of those females as well. And while he didn't know Apollo completely he certainly didn't seem to type to let a female just walk all over him, plus most of the females up there would be offended by his truthful ways. So surely if that was the case it couldn't be that bad right? Well only time would tell.
He hoped that they were counted amongst those happy couples that she mentioned. Galahad knew that he was happy and while she sometimes seemed distracted or distance, which he couldn't blame her for anyways, he was certain that Chiv was happy as well. He wanted her to be happy. He took a step forward, getting closer to her. "Your children are all grown up and having children of their own. I know that you adore when there are pups around, I see the way your eyes light up when they are mentioned or nearby." He too enjoyed little ones scampering around, though admittedly females were usually more excited by pups than males were. And one day he hoped to have children to call his own. "I can't say that I have always wanted to be a father, I was a bit too brash during my youth to ever think about such things. But now that I'm older I have thought about settling down and having a family of my own." He looked into her eyes and pressed his muzzle against hers. "We can have that together." And then after a pause he added. "But only if you want to." She needed to want to create a new family, he would never, ever force it upon her. It would happen when they were both ready.
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 11:14 am
Chivosi remained silent for a little while after Galahad spoke, she returned his affectionate gesture with truthful affection of her own - but she remained silent while she thought things out. In truth she realized there wasn't much to think about - she wasn't doing anything wrong against Mene - he had left her remember? And both Aleu and Derecho would likely not have any problems with her and Galahad starting a family - Aleu was probably thinking it was past time for them to do.
And Galahad did raise some good points - Chiv loved puppies..she'd adored watching her own children grow, took pride in the way they had remained so close and now raised their own children in the sanctuary she had built for them, she was getting older - she was still young enough to have puppies but the day was drawing closer when she would be - and how much time did she really want to spend wasting with thoughts and misgivings of the past? Galahad was a good wolf..and she did love him. He deserved a family of his very own - for all that he had stepped up and treated her children and grandchildren like his own Chivosi knew it wasn't quite the same as having true blood pups. "I think I do, and you certainly deserve to have some of your own. It is time to move forward for good I think" And to that end of course she added "You should move into my Den" they were a couple and had been for some time now but they had kept their own separate space as well, Chivosi hadn't been ready to take that second step..but as they were no contemplating the third she figured they might as well pu the second behind them for real as well.
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 11:37 am
The silence didn't bother him, Galahad knew that Chiv would want to think on it, ponder over the possibilities and then give her answer. He didn't expect her to fling herself at him with an immediate yes, she wasn't that kind of wolf...and neither was he. He respected Chivosi as much as he loved her and would always treat her properly. When her answer finally came Galahad couldn't help but smile.
She deserved the happiness that pups would bring her, and he certain would be glad to have a family of his own. Yes he acted like a father figure for Aleu and Derecho and was as good as any grandfather for their pups as well, but there was something about pups of ones own blood. The bond for them would be even stronger. Nuzzling her deeply Galahad was at a lose for words for the moment. He wasn't sure why, but perhaps it was just his nerves getting the better of him. Finally when his mind settled down he spoke. "Moving forward is a good thing, and I will be there with you ever step of the way." When she added the comment about moving into her den he nodded. "Yes, that sounds like a good idea." What couple lived in separate dens? They had done so up until now to allow each to adjust to the new life set before them but now it was time to come together.
Taking a step back Galahad looked in her eyes, happiness showing in his own. "Shall we continue on our walk now?" He said turning and bumping her shoulder with his before padding down the path looking over her shoulder to make sure she was following. "Do you think I will be a good father when the time comes?" He asked, he may have treated the other pups int he pack like family but something about having his own pups in the future made him question his parenting skills.
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 11:46 am
The fact that Galahad had remained silent and let her consider her decision without getting either insulted or impatient just went to how the type of wolf that he was and further convinced Chivosi that she had made a good choice with him. he was patient and kind and understanding - more so then many males would be and Chivosi didn't have the words to express how grateful he was of that fact. The most she could do was lean into him with love as he nuzzled her. "I know you will" She told him softly "It's the only reason I can do it" She added truthfully - Chivosi wan't entirely sure that she would have been strong enough to move on by herself.
"I think we should - its a good thing we live in peaceful times" She added with a chuckle as he bumped her and they continued walking - the woods only knew what might have slipped past them while they stood talking had there been a threat of some sort. Thankfully no such threat was about and their lolly gagging on patrol wouldn't cause any harm other then to slow down thier return home.
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 11:55 am
He was glad to know that he was the force with which Chivosi was able to shed the sadness from her past and move forward. Strange to think that if he hadn't come across this pack all those months ago and saved Arii from that bear then he might have never met Chivosi. He wondered for a brief moment what his life would have been like if he had chose to walk down another path that day that might have led him to another pack. But honestly he couldn't imagine it. He might have found a place to live yes, but he doubted he would have been as happy there as he was here.
Galahad couldn't help but let out a laugh. Imagine if something had slipped by them while they were standing there talking. They would never hear the end of it from Merrill that's for sure. "Indeed." He said after stifling his laugh. "If we let something slip past us just then Merrill would have a fit, Derecho and Aleu too." But honestly even though they had been talking they hadn't been completely oblivious to the world around them and would have heard, smelled or saw anything approach.
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 12:03 pm
Chivosi laughed along with Galahad as he mentioned Merrill getting irked should something escape their notice "If you really want to see her get riled up..just tell her we saw bear tracks" She told him in a humorous tone "She's hate bears since long before you rescued Arii from one" She told him recalling Merrill's extreme paranoia over the beasts. They were dangerous of course and one should watch out for them but Merrill's paranoia over the fact went above and beyond being careful.
Thankfully for the remainder of the journey Chiv saw nothing amiss - not that she had expected too but by the time the central lands came back into view again daylight had started to fade thanks to their impromptu conversation. Not that she would take the conversation back if she could - no it had opened new doors for her and Galahad both and they were good ones to have open. "Do you want to move in tonight?" She asked him as they approached the dens.
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 12:19 pm
"I'll have to remember that some time." Although playing a prank on Merrill about bears, while it would be mildly entertaining would likely cause the pack much more grief than necessary as the purple beta would likely not rest until the bear was found. But it was always good to know what made wolves tick in order to avoid that as much as necessary.
Approaching the dens Galahad glanced up at the sky, the patrol had taken longer than usual thanks to their conversation but otherwise it had all been routine. Better to return late with no news than return late with an angry pack following you or something else.Chiv's voice brought him out of those thoughts as he looked towards her. "Yes, I think that would be a good idea." They had already agreed to sharing a den now so why spend another night in separate ones? As they reached her den Galahad stepped to the side allowing Chiv to enter first and then after a moments pause he followed her inside. This was their first major step in their lives together.
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