OOC! For @Moonshadow I'm assuming she's sleeping at the pack den... if you want me to change it, let me know.

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Setting: Afternoon of 4.13.17,  13F/3C, Mist

Word Count: 327

Tagg stretched, sore muscles protesting at the movement.  They hadn’t been home for very long, but he was already starting to have nightmares about Moon leaving.  He wanted to give her space so he didn’t overwhelm her, but he was worried if he did that, she would think he didn’t care.  So he’d made the extra effort to bring her food and see how she was doing every day, while trying not to seem like an overly-worried father.  Except that’s what he was – a worried father-to-be and husband.

Today was no different.  He’d slept outside the den, so she wouldn’t feel so crowded, and headed out early to find something for her to eat.  He’d been lucky enough to find several rabbits and squirrels the past few days, but today was different.  He couldn’t seem to find much, so he headed to the lake and stood belly-deep in the frigid water for several hours to catch some fish.  Just as he was about to give up, luck returned to him and he was able to snag three decently sized morsels.  He quickly scarfed one down himself, then collected the other two to offer to his mate.

He trotted into the area around the den, glancing about to see if anyone else was there.  It was beginning to become evident that he and @Moonshadow were not the only ones to breed this year, and he wondered just how many pups their leaders thought they could support come time. One litter was usually hard enough.

He set the fish down in the dirt at the mouth of the den. “Moon?” He called, not wanting to just barge in and disturb her. “I brought some fish, if you’re hungry.  May I come in?” He didn’t want her to have to limp out, after all. Though the fresh air might be good for her, the mist was thick enough to make his fur heavy and he didn’t want Moon to catch a chill.

"Speech"  Thought

OOC!  

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Word Count: 289

He could hear movement inside the den, but he didn’t expect her to come out.  He backed up to give her room to leave, carefully pulling the fish out of her way so she didn’t trip. Pleasure flashed through him as she brushed her muzzle under his, and he returned her greeting with a kiss to her crown without thinking. Her playful remark caused Tagg’s tail to wave, thumping against the ground as he sat.  She was still herself, even though she couldn’t remember.  She was still his Moon.  He just had to be patient.

“How are you feeling?” He asked, deciding not to comment on the fact that he thought she probably shouldn’t be outside in the cold at the moment.  He couldn’t really remember the way Namid had been when she had been expecting her first litter, but he also recalled that winter hadn’t been as heavy as this one. He really hoped she would be okay.

The veteran nudged the fish towards her. “Here.  I know you’re probably not starving, but you should keep up your strength.” They hadn’t told her she was pregnant yet, but she was bound to figure it out sooner rather than later. It wouldn’t be long until she started to show. If she figured it out on her own that was one thing, but if someone had to tell her he wanted it to be him.  She might freak out less if someone broke the news gently, rather than her coming to a revelation.

But he still didn’t want to scare her.

He knew there was compathy between them, even if she wasn’t entirely sure what was going on. He was relying on that to help bring her closer to him, and help her remember.

"Speech"  Thought

OOC!  

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Word Count: 326

Tagg was pleased to find that Moon was no longer made nervous by his gestures, and she seemed to at least remember how being around him felt.  He supposed that was his real proof that she loved him; even though she couldn’t remember, she still knew. It gave him hope that she would recover her memory someday.  

At least she’s not trying to convince me she’s okay when she’s not anymore. Tagg thought as Moon admitted she wasn’t at her best.  He nodded sympathetically.  He bet she was uncomfortable at the very least.

“Thank you love.” The words sent a thrill of pleasure through him, and his tail wagged again.  He had to remind himself she might just be saying it to make him feel better, but what if she wasn’t? What if it was starting to come back?

He talked to her as she ate, just telling her little things about herself that he liked and some things about other members. “Namid stepped down for a little while.  You were in her place when I got back, actually.  That’s how we met.” He smiled fondly at the memory. He had been incredibly confused when she had arrived to answer his call to the leaders.  Had he known then what would grow between them… “She took back over shortly after that, and you’ve been her second ever since.” He could also remember the first time they hunted together.  It had been her fearlessness to ask him questions and take charge during the hunt that had sucked him in, head over heels.  Every interaction after had only strengthened the feelings he’d had, until-

It wasn’t until she said she didn’t feel well that he realized he’d stopped talking.  “Are you al-”

She suddenly dashed off and heaved the meal onto the ground a short distance away.  His ears fell back. “No, don’t apologize; it was my fault.  I should have realized with your condition that you might not be able to stomach anything.”

"Speech"  Thought

OOC! I actually have butterflies.  I am physicaly nervous for Tagg xD

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Word Count: 322

As soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted them.  He froze, mouth still half open from speaking. His eye widened, gauging her reaction.  She didn’t freak out.  Instead she took a deep breath, as if steeling herself.  Please don’t ask please don’t ask please don’t ask. He chanted in his head.

But of course she did.

It had been a few days since their return, and she was obviously a little more comfortable around him than she had been before. She didn’t duck away from him anymore, and she had eaten without questioning his request even though she clearly wasn’t feeling well. He swallowed and took a moment to breathe and find the right words.  “You can’t remember, so we didn’t want to frighten you. Please don’t just run off, okay? It’s safer for you here.  Where you can get help. It’s nothing to be afraid of; you’re not sick. Not really.”

He looked deep into her beautiful silver eyes.  The eyes that he loved, and hoped his children had. “You already know that we… that I’m your mate.  I love you.  So, so much. And you love me too. I have tried not to overwhelm you these last few days so you could recover. But you’ll be able to figure it out soon enough anyway.” He was so scared. Terrified.  He hadn’t felt like this since the day he’d first told her he loved her.  He was afraid she would reject him.  She had lost a lot of time; she might fear the responsibility she had agreed to take on when she had her memory. But he didn’t look away; that would make him a coward. She deserved his full attention. “About a month ago, we went to our alphas to ask permission to step above our position. They granted us their blessing. Moon, we’re going to be parents.  You feel so strange because you’re going to be a mother. You’re expecting puppies.” My puppies.  Our puppies.

"Speech"  Thought

OOC!  

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Word Count: 317

She was taking things surprisingly well.  His beating around the bush was probably what made her the most nervous, but when he came right out and said it…

At first she seemed excited, a prospect that gave him an immense amount of hope for them.  She had been excited before, too. This was still his Moon.  He had to keep reminding himself that the only way she was ‘different’ was that she had lost some memories and some time. She would come around eventually.  He’d won her heart once, right? He could do it again.  And if they had children to raise together…  Well, hopefully it would help.

But she quickly became nervous, voicing a worry he suspected all new mothers shared. He smiled fondly at her. “You’ll be great.” He soothed, rubbing his head under her chin. “I’ll be right here the whole time, and the rest of the pack will be around to help too. Namid has raised two litters now; I’m sure she will give you some pointers if you ask.”

Perhaps he should talk to her on his own and ask her to offer some comforting words to his mate. His leaders cared about their pack members just as much as they cared about one another.  They would be there to support them.

“Besides,” Tagg added, sitting back again, “You aren’t the only new mother in Fallen Tree Cove. We’ll all be able to learn together.” He really hoped that thought was as comforting to her has it was to him. He wasn’t sure who the fathers of the other litters were; Kajika had been gone, so he doubted the beta would have sired pups.  Draven had left; maybe out of guilt? Either way, it was none of his business.  All he knew was that he was becoming a father in a few weeks, and he was excited. He hoped his mate would share that sentiment again.

"Speech"  Thought