Jael: -had been feeling off for a few weeks now, feeling sick and having everything taste and smell bad, so she decided to seek out a healer- .... -bit down on her lip and stood outside a building where someone pointed her to a healer- ..... -looked nervous and flicked her tail-

Ashu: *is inside, sitting on his kitchen table with a toy crown set at a jaunty angle, playing 'castles' with his young son. An illusion dragon made of smoke, and his own little 'princess' kindel, doing battle with the heroic little boy* You'll never take me alive!

Jael: ..... -knocked on the door door and stayed outside, looking really nervous-

Ashu: ?? .... *hears the knock. Flattens back his skinny pink ears and climbs down off the table* Ehehaha... you n'Ashara take on the outside. >x) *ushers his boy along before opening the door. Has his wood crown on still, but greets with a smile* ... Hello, dear!

Jael: ..... A...are you a healer? -softly, eyeing the crown but giving him a nervous smile, not wanting to seem too rude-

Ashu: *tracks the glance with his eyes and hastily takes off the crown, setting it briskly down on a table beside the door* Indeed I am. *gives a slightly embarrassed smile and opens the door* Here. Come inside... *has quite a small home, with a nice, subtle smell of baking through it and the occasional toy on the floor*

Jael: ..You've children I take it? -smiled, smelling the baking and seeing the toys as she walked in still looking nervous with her hands in front of her-

Ashu: I do ... I've still my youngest here. Should be just outside... he's such a sweet little thing. *ushers her to one of his little dining chairs, taking a seat across from her. A gentle, rather feminine voice* What seems to be the trouble?

Jael: -took a seat carefully, not wanting to mess anything up and then sighed- For a few weeks now.. My sense of smell and taste has been off. Everything is tasting wrong and sells bad. ....I've been feeling sick, too.. -feels kind of dumb, thinking it was like a cold or something-

Ashu: Mmmm, ( That could be a few things. ) Have you eaten anything different since it started? ... *one ear spiked up and the other flat. Clearly thinking as he speaks*

Jael: -shook her head, both ears flattening- The only difference is in my way of living is .... ah, having a new ...male friend.

Ashu: Ahhh... I see. ( *thinks to himself* ... Not to assume process of elimination, but... certainly a likely candidate. ) ... How long have you and he been seeing one another

Jael: .... a little over two months now, I think? -bit her lip, trying to think while pushing her hair out of her face, having not worn the bandana and it was really curly-

Ashu: And you've, ah... enjoyed one another's company, I take it? ( I'm not sure if she knows where cubs come from... there seem to be quite a few in these parts who are mystified as to the actual process... ) *trying to gauge her some before he proceeds*

Jael: ....A few times, yes. .... -blinked and groaned at what he was getting at, having figured it out as soon as she answered- .....Surly.... not that..

Ashu: It's always a possibility, even when one is careful. ... have you noticed any shift in your cycles at all? ... or any ache to your breasts? *peers at her carefully, head tilted just a little bit* ... I'd say it'd not be far along if so...

Jael: .... I haven't had my cycle yet. I thought it was stress from .... -shook her head- Nevermind what from. ..... My breast were aching some... not so much today. Ooooh no.

Ashu: I'd say it's a good chance, to be honest with you. ...I can test your blood and give you a definite answer now, if you wish. Elsewise, you'll still know soon enough. *crosses his short pink legs. Smiles sweetly, and adds in a quiet voice* ... they're wonderful, though, even when they're not quite expected.

Jael: ...Test my blood, please. I..... .... need to know for sure. -watched him and then looked to the side, an arm at her stomach- .... I guess... -never one for kids; wanted then ONE day, but maybe when she was thirty or something- .....I mean, yeah, but.. -sighed-

Ashu: *gets up and straightens his shirt... moves to a tidy little drawer of magical artifacts and medical tools and starts going through them for the things he needs. Wings flitting as he goes* ... I won't lie... they do change everything. ... Everything. *looks back over his shoulder for a moment* ... can be hard, but it's a good sort of change. ...how do you think the father'll take it?

Jael: .....I don't know... ... we didn't even talk of this. -murmured softly- ......We weren't even talking of marriage or.... even . being more than what we are. -murmured-

Ashu: *takes out a fancy-looking syringe with hand-painted measurements down the side. Sets it down while he grinds together pinches of herbs and other unknown assortments of things in a little pestle. Still using a quiet, earnest voice* ...might be best to tell him early if this comes out positive. ... give him as much time to adjust as he may need....

Jael: ..... -watching him, looking grim and swallowing and then looked away, at anything but him and nodded, not voicing her fears out loud- Will I know today?

Ashu: You will. ... this only takes a few seconds. ... *sits down, having mixed a sweet-smelling mixture in a little dish* Typically takes a few seconds. ... It might help to look away while I draw the blood, however. *holding a syringe with a slightly apologetic look. It looks big in his hands... but that's only because he has very small hands*

Jael: -eyed it and then sighed, nodding and holding her arm out for him, her head turned the other way- ... I know I'm not the first unplanned mother.... But what if he doesn't want them? What do I do? Raising them myself..... is out of the question. Not in my line of work and my traveling.

Ashu: ... if you truly don't want them, there are plenty of mothers who'd take them in. *drawing the blood slowly and carefully* ... it's not the end of the world if you do raise them alone, though. ... I ought to know. *glances out the window for a split second to make sure his boy is still safe* ... my sixth, and I've never had another rear mine with me. ... Daunting, but it's possible...

Jael: -ears flattened, feeling like she offended him somehow and sighed- .... I am sorry... I'm just... This wasn't supposed to happen now. -winced when he started, biting her lip and sighed again- ...... I .. don't think I could give them up.. I would worry about their health and their care. ....I didn't.... I thought we were careful.

Ashu: You didn't upset me... it's quite alright! *gives what he hopes is a reassuring smile* What I meant is that while it sounds hard... it can be done alone, if it must. ... Here. *holds up the blood-filled syringe and adds it slowly to the herbal mixture, shaking it a bit* Won't be long...

Jael: -nodded and sighed, rubbing her now sore arm and possibly smearing blood, but didn't really care at this point- .....I guess you.... do this a lot...?

Ashu: *still in his soft, gentle voice* It always has been fairly common. ... Often with the younger girls that aren't ready by any means. *flicks a guilty ear toward his storage cabinet* ... Why I mix a contraceptive brew to give them, if they're worried. ... It's hardly the done thing in these parts though, I realise. ... *looks down at the mix of herbs, that have turned a deep violet and are starting to give off a curling, simmering steam* Seems your suspicions were correct, sweetheart.

Jael: -blinked at that and bit on her lip, looking to the simmering thing now- ..... -brows knit together before she just looked down and sighed, rubbing her stomach- .... m.....maybe he... won't leave...

Ashu: Maybe. ...Sometimes they need a little time, so you might have to prepare for that. ... *dips his long ears in sympathy* ... I can go with you while you tell him, if you'd like that. ... *looks down at his mixture, smearing it a little with the tip of a knife and studying the colour closely* ... I'd say it's around four weeks along. Maybe four and a half. So about eight months time... you're lucky. The little one ought to miss the dead of winter.

Jael: ..... -shuddered at the thought of having a baby born when it was so cold and got really sad after that, biting her lip and looking to the side, sighing- ...... You should stay with your kids... I.. need to do this myself. ... Thank you for this.. everything. Do... I owe you?

Ashu: *shakes his head* Don't worry about it, sweetheart. *squeezes her shoulder, though being so short he ends up having to reach his arm up high to do so* Best of luck to you. ... If you need someone to talk to about it, I'm seldom far away from here.

Jael: ... I'll be .... back a lot, I have a feeling. -bent down a bit to let him do it not so awkwardly and nodded- ..... Do I need to.. set up another appointment with you, or do I just come back whenever?

Ashu: *smiles brightly* Come back whenever you wish. ... I'm not usually away and even if I am... it's only a small village. Doubtful I'll be far. ... Take it easy. ... And do come back to see me if you're in any discomfort or distress. I should be able to help. *nods, pink and blue wings flicking behind his back a little bit*

Jael: ... -knelt down and felt like hugging him, biting her lip and then smiled- See you... -showed herself out to let him get on with his time with his kid-

Ashu: *nods at, letting her go and sure she has plenty to think about. Sits down with a little sheaf of papers to take down a few notes while he remembers, thinking himself, too much to notice the crayon cat doodled into the back of his papers* ... ( Gah. I hope she's okay with all this. )