TaradSoftwing: Life was admittedly good for Leon, though he was somewhat puzzled. It wasn't turning out quite like he had expected. His dream of the perfect love had come true... but it had all these annoying realities in it as well. How could one feel completely enraptured forever and ever if one had to put up with wet hide, or brambles, or even the occasional spat with one's dearest love? Lately he'd been growing more and more baffled, which tended to put him in a sorry state of self-pity. This day found him wandering aimlessly (so little had changed in that respect!) and moping. He'd found a stone and was kicking it along a path, pouting down at it like a little foal denied molasses oats. He wasn't angry, but he was put out and irked at the massively complicated and dismaying thing called life. He was absoultely sure he was never ever going to get the hang of it or figure it out properly. Mumbling disgruntledly, he kicked the stone again with one hoof, the sharp click of hard hoof meeting hard stone repeating as he kicked it again.

Ebonized Dragon: Asherah, on the other hand, was positively brimming with life. Her stint of anger at the sea for treating her as it had so long ago had finally disappeared. The poor damsel that Leon had met was gone, and the strong, prideful and open mare had replaced it, returning her to the confidence to love both life, the sea, and as many stallions as she had whims to love. But this was not the only way it seemed the mare was 'brimming', either. The slightly rounded stomach showed the beginnings of life forming inside of her - not far along at all, but noticable enough.

Ash was in search of some kind of fulfilling meal - an apple or two, perhaps - when her keen cerulean eyes lay upon the pouting stallion who had seen her at, perhaps, the worst state she'd ever been in. If she remembered correctly, she'd broken the poor thing's heart. Still felt bad about that, actually. "Leon!" That was his name, right? Her clear voice rang out as she broke into a small trot, going toward him. Hopefully he wasn't still mopey over that.

TaradSoftwing: The melodic voice calling his name snapped him out of his reverie. His head came up, and he watched in astonishment as the single individual responsible for his most shameful moments came trotting up towards him. For several moments he was completely dumbfounded.

And then he saw she was pregnant.

Her rounded belly gave clear notice as to her condition, though it was subtle and easy to bear as yet. For several very slow and agonizing heartbeats, his eyes bugged out and he couldn't breathe. His single coherent thought was...

"Gemma's gonna leave me!!"

But after sense squeezed in beside the panic, his brain pointed out in calm logic how very long it had been since he'd seen her, and how very light her pregnancy sat on her. There was no way he could be the one responsible for her condition.

He let his breath whoosh out in a wheeze, still looking floored. For now he was left with a different problem. What would a gentleman do? Inquire after her health? Staunchly ignore her condition? His eyes darted right and left as he sought for something to save him.

At last, however, he ended up merely stammering, "Oh... well... hello there." Standing there awkwardly, faced with the beautiful mare that had unwittingly nearly been his undoing, he felt like an utter tongue-tied fool.

Ebonized Dragon: What...a nice greeting. At least he hadn't completely ignored her, turn tail and fled. That would have just hurt the poor gal's feelings. "Imagine seeing you," She said with dancing eyes, "After so long. It has been such a while - though you look so sad. I do hope that life has improved...?" Hers certainly had, and she would have been sad to hear that this stallion who had been so valliant and honor bound had yet to find peace within himself and within his life. Or that his experiences with her still left lingering pain - though she really wasn't so conceited as to think that was the reason for his unhappiness.

Try as she may, she really couldn't ignore his reaction to her condition, though, and there was a deep amusement set in her gaze and her voice. It was plain to see by the way panic had over taken his features that he'd been afraid that he was the cause of her impending motherhood. Truth be told, Asherah wasn't quite sure who their father was. That was perfectly fine with her, and bothered her none at all. She could raise them herself, though she'd likely know their origin after their birth. Lord knew she wouldn't know how to find their sire, however.

TaradSoftwing: Her expressed concern over his own emotional state was bracing enough to allow more sense to enter his thoughts. He very nearly shuddered his entire hide, shaking his head slightly as if to wake up. "Pardon me, ma'am," he spoke almost sheepishly. "I was... lost in thought." He gave her a muted, shy smile before answering her question. "Yes ma'am, it certainly has." He was actually blushing! But it wasn't an embarassed sort of heated flush, but the glow of the bliss he had just been pondering the lack of. Poor Leon had yet to figure out that although the daily toils of life seemed to erase the passion for life and mate, it never could blow out the flame of true and enduring love, nor wipe out the devotion and delight that having such love brought.

Regardless, he pressed on, feeling a bit more confident and less like a dumb-struck colt. He'd grown much since she'd last seen him. Gemma had helped see to that, intentionally or not. "And how are you? I see congratulations are in order." There now, that was perfectly proper, now wasn't it? "Are you happy?" he added with genuine concern. She looked it, but Leon's tender heart couldn't help asking such a question. Despite the difficult time the sight of her hearkened, he was the sort of stallion to take a personal care for all those he met. "Has your pregnancy been going well?"

Ebonized Dragon: "Ahh, so you are happy." Asherah said with a warm smile, content in the fact that his life had been going well since they had parted ways. "Thought is a place that more should be lost in," she said, giving a small nod of her head before shifting on her feet. The added weight wasn't so bad, but she did get tired easier, and hungry more often.

"Mmm, I am very well. And thank you. My pregnancy has been progressing well, though admittedly I only recently had it confirmed with the showing of the foal-bump here." Her eyes moved downward, as if she could see the swell. Oh, she couldn't just yet. But she could feel it, and the way it sat on her form. It was almost comforting. "I have every confidence that I will make a wonderful mother to these children."

TaradSoftwing: How very odd it was. Leon had had a rather uncharitable urge to snort at her comment about being a good mother. He'd grown so very content in his chosen life of propriety and structure, the idea of a mare who slept willingly with a passing stranger also being a good mother seemed off-hand as preposterous. But how hypoctrical was that?

After all, his own mother and sister were of the same 'ilk'. Had his mother been so awful a caretaker? No, not while he had been a foal. Admittedly, she did tend to be somewhat unreliable in location once he'd grown into adulthood, but who was he to pinge her for that? He was the odd one of the family, having no wanderlust, nor the urge for multiple partners. Was this mare any different?

Besides, hadn't she remembered his name, while he himself had forgotten hers? It might have been somewhat willfull forggetfulness, due to the trauma that had followed, but even so. He felt ashamed at his own knee-jerk reaction of derision at her suitability as a mother.

As a consequence, he once again found himself at a loss of what to say. He groped about, mentally grasping for something to say or do to make up for his unkindly attitude.

A sudden idea struck him, and he pricked his ears forward. He might have to do some explaining to Gemma, but he hoped she trusted him in this. "Would you care for a graze? There's a meadow back the way I came, and due to the scent, I suspect some fruit trees might be lingering near there." Pregnant mothers were supposed to always be hungry, right? Eating for four, as they said. Surely it wouldn't be an impropriety for him to invite her to eat with him?

Ebonized Dragon: "I was actually just on my way to go get something to nibble on. I would be happy for you to join me, if you'd like. You can tell me about what's been going on in your life." Curiousity generally did kill the mare. While she was definitely not one to truly settle down, at least not at that point in her life, she certainly had no problem seeing the want and need for such a thing. Stability. Being so tied to the sea made it difficult for her to envision a stillness. She was passionate, wild about life and about everything she did and the ability to embrace as many as she possibly could was a distinct draw. It was that passion and love for everything living that made her believe that she could be a good mother. She was nurturing, warm, embracing. At least when she wasn't in one of her bad moods. Lord bless the poor soul that had to deal with her on a bad day.

The mare began to walk toward the meadow that Leon spoke of, flicking her tail lightly as she went. There wasn't too much for her to say. As busy as her day to day life was, there was nothing truly exciting to share with the world. She would be content to see how the stallion had gotten along after their little...encounter.

As for Gemma, Leon wouldn't have much explaining to do at all. What was she going to do, jump him?

TaradSoftwing: He gave her a nervous glance and followed her a few steps later, bobbing his head as he walked with short, choppy steps, revealing his own uneasiness. It wasn't her, exactly. Just... memories, as well as his own unsettledness making things difficult.

"W-well," he stammered a bit, brows drawing together thoughtfully. How much to tell her? What to tell her? "I... I have found someone." He flicked a sideways glance at her anxiously. This seemed like the totally wrong subject to discuss with a mare he'd actually slept with once-upon-a-time. Still, she seemed interested and eager to hear about it, so... perhaps he should be more specific?

"Her name is Gemma, and she is the most lovely creature," he started off, eyes beginning to immediately glaze over in poetic fervor. He caught himself however, glancing at his companion again with a cough of embarassment. What an awkward situation to land himself in! "She cares very much for me, and has agreed to be my mate," he completed his information more sedately.

Ebonized Dragon: "Congratulations are in order for you as well, then." Asherah stated, turning her head to look at the male, "I can see that you're happy. That's a very good thing." Mates. Once upon a time as a foal she was sure she'd had the same dream every little filly had. A handsome, sweeping prince of a stallion and children and a family. It was hilariously funny how one's wants in life seemed to change along with the moon. Who knew when hers would change again. She was having quite the time just enjoying life how it came for the time being.

"She is a good mare, then? Makes you happy?"