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Kale sighed and shook his head, mulling over the development over the past few weeks. Of all things, his daughter had found a mate and then--much to Kale's chagrin--become pregnant. Was his line that virilent? Hadn't he warned to two about things being too early?

He sighed, nothing could be done now. Well, he could still mourn the new title he was going to be given, "Grandpa". He wasn't that old, was he? Gah, he felt like he was still a young stallion, there was nothing wrong with him in the aging department. It was only mentally.

To be blunt, he just wanted to be treated like he was still young again and feel like it. What mare would want a stallion who was a grandfather, anyway?

Dramatics seemed to be his call this fine summer morning.

Kale's thoughts were--gratefully--disturbed by a sudden interruption. He turned his head, white braids flapping gently against his neck. The call hhad been from a voice he had recognized, but only barely. Naturally, Kale was curious to see as to who it was so close to his family's home.

Imagine the surprise when he saw his son.

"Tw...Twilight?" He managed to say, utterly surprised as to his son's return. The younger stallion had left when he was only half-grown, it was hard to imagine that the young colt Kale had chased after in those days had come back as an adult in his own right, standing there and looking quite nervous.

"Twilight, it's good to see you," He managed to say, shock at both his return and the realization that Twilight was indeed no longer a child, no matter how much his memory and mental pictures had tried to argue different, "I was hoping you'd come back someday."

Kale smiled at his son, wondering why the younger stallion looked so nervous and concerned. Did he expect his family to be mad at him for wandering away? Well, Kale was a bit put off by the fact, but every creature was different and had their own calling, there was no reason to be angry with someone who had the right to do what they wanted when they wanted.

A bit of warning would have been nice though, he hadn't even gotten that with Marina or Kalm. A mental wince; now was not the time to think about such things.

At his son's sudden "hug" he chuckled and smiled, "I missed you too, Twilight, I do believe that lack of chasing you around has made me less fit that I would like.” He separated from the other stallion, simply because he wanted a good look at the other. “I see you have grown into a fine stallion, Twilight, did you have a good time on your adventures?” Kale hoped he had, there would have been no point in going on them if they weren’t “fun” for the younger male. Curiosity did rear its head at his return. Kale had hoped he would, but he had doubted that his son would ever return. Just like Marina and Kalm.

“I don’t suppose you’ve heard the news, have you?” Might as well tell him the other news as well. Get it over with and such.

Kale, having little memory of his time as a colt, could only smile at his son's words. At least he had enjoyed his journeys and learned of new things. He would probably do such again, a spirit such as Twilight's would probably never settle down.Perhaps he had gottenthat from his mother? Who knew.

"I'm glad you had such a good time, Twilight," He responded easily, wondering what else he could say to such words. Obviously, Kale was only marginally envious of his son's excursions. Kale wasn't terribly fond of staying in one place as he did right now, the hope of seeing his mate--well, "former" should be the correct word now; he had begun to move on without her--had kept him here. Sadly, this had kept Az around him to "keep him company" for those years. She had wanted to look around the world as well.

A small smile, and a faint chuckle escaped him at his son's antics, "Well, I'm not sure how you'll take to this, but your sister has...found herself expecting." He sighed, glad to get that out and finally tell someone outside the immediate (not that Twilight wasn't a part of that family, he just wasn't around at the time) family the news.

"There's no need to worry though, She found herself a mate first before it happened...Thank the gods." He sighed, wondering what he was possibly going to do with any of them now.

Kale couldn't help his grin at his son's reaction. His had been similar enough, though at least he had been given a bit of warning.
....However futile his own warning to the two had been.

"Don't worry, Caelen seems well and able to take care of both his new mate and the children they're both expecting." Az is not too pleased about the expecting though." Could he blame her? Apparently (Az had never told him directly) it had been their first time to do anything.

A resigned sigh and a bit of a groan, "It also means you're an uncle, which isn't nearly as striking as "grandpa" but it'll do, won't it?" Another sigh. He was allowed to be difficult on this matter, he was hardly old enough to be a grandfather and he was not prepared to act like it either.

"Aside from that, approaching your sister for the next few months is not especially encouraged, do you understand?" A shake of his head greeted that statement. Az would be happy to see her brother...right before she interrogated him for the next few hours and stress herself too much. Even Kale could worry abotu the children.

Kale laughed and shook his head, same old Twilight. Always looking on the brightside.

A chuckle, "I would hope so, but once "grandpa" is past the lips all bets are off." He sighed, shaking his head though a smile still graced his features, "Pardon my surprise at suddenly being placed into the "old-horse" market instead of the middle." His white tail flicked lazily, swatting at a bug or two.

His son's tone made him pause, "It's not your fault, Twilight," He assured his son softly, "It's not anything that I wouldn't suggest to anyone visiting her." He sighed, ears flattening slightly, "She's young and with young age sometiems comes a higher risk of....losing the children. Stress makes it higher too and though Az would love to see you..." A soft sigh, "Despite everything she'll probably still resent you for your freedom."

He gave his son a soft smile, "But that doesn't mean forever, alright? I'm sure once all of this is over and the children have at least been born, I'm sure she'd love to see you." He couldn't say anything on Az's part, but denying his son something like that would just hurt him more than he had shown in the moment.

A chuckle, "They won't say, "grandpa" I think," He mused aloud, nodding once, "If they're anything like their father it'll be "grandda". Their father's accent is quite like that and likely to run in them." He thought about it for a few moments, wondering how the children would speak and act. If they were anything like either of their parents...the world was in for many surprises.

Kale gave his son a sympathetic smile, "Mares can't always carry their children until they're ready to be born, Twilight," He explauined softly, "Sometimes, the children inside die before they can be born and so a mare "loses" her children. It's a possibility with all pregnant mares. Why do you think everyone suddenly starts being careful around a pregant mare? It's not just because of the hormones." He sighed and shook his head ruefully. Hormones were definitely a part of that equation though.

Kale surprised himself with a laugh, "Oh, she's definitely hurt that almost everyone left and she was stuck behind with her old dad." He shook his head, "I believe the only reason she stayed with me, was because I would be left all alone here and she felt an obligation to remain. She has a wandering spirit as well, Twilight, she's just never been allowed to release it very often." He sighed aagain and blinked, not quite understanding.

"Do you mean seeing her again as in while she's pregnant? She's not exactly looking like the mare she usually is at the moment," He smiled faintly, "But afterward, I don't know. She'll have her foals soon enough and then I'll take you to see her, okay?" No sense in putting things off a bit.