Lavender Ethos don't threaten me with a good time

@Naia <3

Lachesis was an expert in worrying. If one could acquire a PhD in the subject it would be the pale healer.

Hearthwood was his home and he couldn’t bear the thought of their ranks dissolving completely. Too many wolves had come and gone; their numbers had decreased to the founders, who had travelled from one forest to the other together. There a few whose lost still stung, their absence feeling like a gaping wound in the fleshy tissue of his heart. As a result, he had closed himself off from others, burying his time in his profession and keeping to himself. He was always out searching for both his plants and potential Hearthwood recruits, but it seemed he was only having luck in one department.

With the river’s actual leader currently out of commission Lachesis had also grown increasingly worried for the future of their pack. With Karina out doing whatever it was she was doing and Orren in hot pursuit of his sister, the Baranski brood was slowly diminishing as well. Lachesis hoped they would return quickly and unscathed for he knew that it put a terrible weight on the shoulders of their parents. Luckily the power couple’s most recent litter seemed a little more normal and they were seldom troublesome.

The arrival of puppies always lightened the spirits of the pack — gave them something to look forward to; something to take care of. In order to secure the fading future of the Hearthwood wolves another litter was crucial; it might even aid them in the department of acquiring more wolves come spring.

Truthfully the male had only thought of having puppies of his one a few times in his short life. Last spring he had thought of pursuing parenthood with the exotic Bastet; however, it was a good thing they had been unable to, as she had pulled a disappearing act as well. After helping take care of Shade Slayer’s children after his ex-mate had fled Nineteen would not stand for an absent mother. He had seen how it had affected Shade’s brood and he vowed to never let his own children (if he had any) go through the same experience.

The pale healer sat on the cusp of Hearthwood’s border, his tail twitching behind him as a plague of thoughts overwhelmed him. Lachesis had never thought of himself as the ‘father type’; he had always played the uncle figure and was exceptionally good at it, surely being a father wasn’t far off? His lips creased at the thought, curving downward as his brows furrowed.

stick with those who stick with you

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For about a fortnight Naia had sensed her time was nearing. Oddly, this year her hormones felt more intense than usual, as if her body just somehow knew that this was the year.  She had swung back and forth between excitement, anxiety, and even panic.. thank the gods Inali had shown up when she did to help put the Timber lady’s mind at ease.  The fur along her spine rose as she traveled out from the communal den, following Nineteen’s scent toward Hearthwood River’s meeting ground. Normally a friendly, easygoing wolf, Naia felt anything but today; should she have chanced upon any male but Nineteen she would have emitted a low growl, warning him to keep his distance.

 

Her ghostly friend was a beautiful and tragic sight, moving among the new lavender blossoms with his usual look of deep thought and concern etched across his face. If he hadn’t sensed her presence already he would soon, for no male could fail to notice Naia’s scent today. “Nineteen,” she said quietly, and then amended with a louder call of, “Lachesis.” Gods above, she couldn’t keep thinking of the father of her children as a number, yet the name by which the young man had introduced himself was apparently stuck. She wagged her tail when his pale gaze landed upon her, the motion a bit timid. Naia had never been shy a day in her life until today. She took a breath to steady herself, and then a few more steps into the Ethos.

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most awkward breeding thread ever awkward goes to:

The healer truly had no idea what he was doing. While he had toyed with the idea of being a father last spring, Lachesis had never thought seriously on the topic. He was still much like an adolescent himself — how could he be a father at the same time?

It had been for the best that he and Bastet had not taken the plunge into parenthood. The exotic female had disappeared after their move north and Lachesis had not been in the right mental state. Anastasia had returned around breeding season and he had worried what she would have thought, for the healer would always harbour feelings for the blue-eyed dove. If she had stuck around perhaps it would have been him and her in the Ethos this year, but she too had disappeared from the lands of Relic Lore. A frown creased his lips at the thought as his head dipped slightly, yellow-green eyes focused on the snow-dusted ground beneath his paws.

Naia’s scent was impossible to miss as she neared the clearing; it was strange to think he never noticed how enticing it was until now. He blinked, ridding himself of the thought immediately. He cared for the scout — they had been all over Relic Lore together — but never in a romantic sense. Even now, it was not something he wanted to explore with her. They were friends and excruciating loyal to their pack; this was for the pack.

He had to keep repeating that to himself. Not that Naia was revolting and undesirable — she was the complete opposite, actually — but their relationship was more on the brother-sister level. For the pack.

His ears twitched as he listened to her soft footsteps crunch against the snow; he turned, his chartreuse gaze softening as he studied the nervous scout. He was glad to see she was just as anxious as he was. Some days Lachesis still thought of himself as the awkward teenager who had stumbled reluctantly into Relic Lore, who still stumbled over his words and made a fool of himself in front of others. She had corrected herself in calling out his name, which had resulted in a lop-sided smile unfolding across his maw. The tawny female was one of the few wolves who called him by Nineteen; most of the river wolves knew him by his other name. “Naia,” he greeted warmly with a low wag of his tail as he took hesitant steps toward her, his movement tentative as he threatened to decrease the distance between them. He stopped after a few steps, his lips tight and expression bashful as kept his pear-coloured gaze focused on her. At least she smelt good; it made it much easer for the hormones take over and his mind to draw a blank, because this was foreign territory for the anxious healer. 

stick with those who stick with you

It was pretty much a given xDD. I feel like Lachesis would be awkward with anyone though.

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Naia felt the fur along her spine rising once more as Nineteen neared; and this time the feeling was not agitation so much as anticipation. The ghostlike healer somehow looked paler than usual, and he halted his approach after just a few steps. Was he having second thoughts? “Last chance to back out,” the agouti said with a half-smile to match Lachesis’. Her eyes lit up as the usually did when she joked, but there was an unusual heaviness in her tone that suggested significance in the playful words. Their next move would change the course of both of their lives forever.  Not only would they have a second generation to raise, but co-parenthood would undoubtedly bond the two of them together for the forseeable future.

 

I wish.. Inali..

 

Naia pushed away the thought of her lover before it was even fully formed, knowing all too well the profound sadness that was sure to follow should she indulge in even a moment’s reflection on the Woodlands scout.  Creating offspring was not a joy she and Inali would ever share; dwelling in that sad truth would not change the facts and would only serve to ruin the present moment—her, here with her friend, about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime.  Nineteen was most certainly not wishing himself here with someone else, and neither would Naia. The Timber lady tilted her head invitingly, honey eyes dancing in anticipation of his answer.

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this is true. lachesis would be the guy that goes in for a handshake after 'doing the deed'

What an unlikely pair — the healer and the scout. They were both furiously passionate about their roles within the pack and drowned themselves in their work. However, for Naia, she would be temporarily out of commission for a few months. Immediately guilt consumed him once more, followed swiftly by more worry.

Now is not the time for this, he thought bitterly to himself, quickly sweeping his troubled thoughts into the corner of his mind. Is this how Maksim feels all the time? The healer could not imagine being the leader of Hearthwood permanently — it was far too much stress for the alabaster spider to handle. It was this stress, along with the agouti king’s prolonged injury, that had put the two in their current situation. The current Baranski litter would be entering the adult ranks soon and there would be more little ones running around in their place. The thought almost made him squirm with excitement.

“Don’t think you’re getting out of this so easily,” he responded  with a soft flick of his tail and a coy smile as he stepped forward, closing the distance between them. In all honesty Lachesis could not have picked a better wolf to be a co-parent with. It had almost been three years since they had first met in the meadow and played a game of tug-o-war over a pair of antlers. And now they were in another meadow, on the opposite side of Lore, about to play a different kind of game.

While Naia was most definitely an attractive wolf Lachesis had never been attracted to her in the ‘lets make babies’ kind of way. Aside from right now due to all the wolfy hormones radiating off the scout that were impossible to ignore. He studied her quietly, his chartreuse eyes heavy as he grew intoxicated by the lavender pushing through the remnants of winter. “Last chance,” he echoed, his velvet ears tipping to one side as he stepped closer, only a thin line of space separating the two.

stick with those who stick with you

Haha maybe he'll get his chance. If you want we can skim over the r-rated stuff and wrap the thread up with some post-action dialogue.

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Thankfully, Lachesis met her joke with a smile and teasing words of his own, and it was enough to break the ice and propel him forward once more. Naia had met the healer when he was a boy (and she was barely a woman grown herself) but for over a year now she had seen no trace of the stuttering, shrinking youth Nineteen had been when he arrived in Relic Lore. Perhaps it wasn’t as obvious to him, but Naia had no doubt that he had shed his old self just as he had shed his old name.

The Timber’s honey eyes danced with impish delight at their shared joke, and she closed the small remaining distance between the pair herself. Lachesis made her a similar last chance offer, but Naia had made her mind up long ago. Now or never, she told herself, nudging the crown of her head into the man’s ivory chest. It would be a familiar gesture to Lachesis—Naia was an expressive wolf and often offered her friends licks and nudges. However, the motion became something more that friendly as her cheek lingered against his chest, brushing across his torso to the crook behind his foreleg as she ran the length of her body beneath Lachesis’s chin.  She let her tail lift enticingly as she nipped playfully at his hindquarters.

“Slowpokes don’t become fathers!” were Naia’s last teasing words before she loped off across the ethos, dodging in and out of the lavender stalks.

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works for me! :)

Since Bastet had disappeared from the realm of Relic Lore the healer had completely tossed aside the idea of becoming a father. The idea had always lingered in the back of his mind — especially with Anastasia’s brief return — but he had never acted upon it. Lachesis believed that he was destined to be alone and that he was much better off immersing himself in his trade and leading the river wolves while Maksim was unable. Until he realized that the Baranski clan would not be producing another litter this year, he had shoved the possibility of being a father in the dark crevices of his mind.

As she nudged his chest with her forehead a warmth spread through his body from her touch, his chartreuse gaze softening as he watched her slow movements. The display was not out of the ordinary, but today it held a completely different meaning. He nipped playfully at her ears as she maneuvered beneath his chin, her serpentine movement captivating his attention  as she returned the gesture by nipping at his hindquarters. A low, playful growl rumbled in his chest as she bounced away, her teasing voice lingering in the air between them before she turned away, bounding through the lavender. His dark lips curled into a half smile as he lunged after her, fuelled by a desire he never knew he could possess. Of course she wasn’t going to make it easy — just because they were doing this for the future of Hearthwood didn’t mean that it had to be all business. Lachesis was awkward, but not that awkward.

With his lazy grin still pressed to his lips the healer snapped at the tip of her tail before pulling up on her right side, his shoulders in-line wth her hindquarters. Giving her a playful nudge with his shoulder he pounced at her, without warning, in hopes of knocking Naia off her paws and pinning her with her back to the ground.

“Who’s the slowpoke now?” He cooed affectionately into her ear with a sharp flick of his tail.

stick with those who stick with you

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If Naia had been completely healthy (and perhaps if she had actually been trying to get away) the healer would have never had a chance at catching her, since likely she was the swiftest wolf in the River. As it was though Lachesis quickly drew up beside her, and Naia was glad for this as she was already breathing hard in her delicate state. When she felt her pursuer’s nudge, she rolled acquiescently into the lavender, legs flailing in the air and growing even more breathless with laughter. Honey eyes widened in surprise and delight as her friend pounced on top of her, pinning her lightly into the grass.

 

She smiled crookedly at his words but did not respond, still out of breath from the sprint. Capturing the healer’s pale gaze, Naia narrowed her own eyes pointedly, and reached out for Lachesis as if in slow motion.  Intoxicated by his closeness, she licked slowly and affectionately at his muzzle once, then  twice, then over and over. Planting a paw into the ivory fur on his chest, she shoved lightly in order to tumble Lachesis into the lavender as well.  The sweet-smelling stalks enshrouded the pair, and Naia felt as if they had discovered a world all of their own.

…..    

The sun was low in the sky when Naia awakened. She had fallen asleep curled around Nineteen, and hummed contentedly as she opened her eyes and stretched. “I feel…” she began, but stopped short when she was unable to put words to the tingling sensation she felt radiating from deep within her body. “I think I.. I think it worked.” Of course it was too early to know anything with certainty, but Naia had a mother’s instincts now and she knew what this was without a shred of doubt. She smiled shyly at her unborn children’s’ father, savoring the quiet, happy moment.

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(This post was last modified: Mar 29, 2016, 03:49 AM by Naia.)

one more post from you or both of us and we can archive this? <3

It had been quite some time since Lachesis had actually felt happy. During his few years in Relic Lore he had encountered a few speed bumps along the way, but everything was now beginning to fall in place for the healer. Hearthwood was where he wanted to be and planned to stay unless turmoil hit the river wolves for a third time. He had lost a few important wolves along the way (who might have been in Naia’s place if they had stayed) but he had forced himself to get over their absence. There was no point in dwelling in the past any longer — especially when his future was going to be filled with tiny paws and fuzzy bodies.

-Here, now, with their limbs entangled in lavender and their bodies dusted with remnants of winter, Lachesis was truly happy. He had something to look forward to; something to be proud of. He would have blood relatives in Relic Lore — he would have family. He buzzed with excitement at the thought, a smile pulling at the corners of his lips as he buried his stupid expression maw in Naia’s fur.

- - - - -

The leader slipped in and out of sleep, his body still buzzing as he watched over his sleeping companion. They were in this together and XIX couldn’t be more excited, even if he was still struggling to wrap his head around the idea of being a father. The scout roused from her sleep as the sun hung low, threatening to dip behind the horizon line. Worry consumed him once more as she began to speak but his thoughts were quickly subdued as her warm voice filled the ethos once more. She radiated with the glow of a proud mother  (to be) and his tail thumped against the ground as he nudged her forehead affectionately. “We can always try again,” he mused with a coy wink as he pressed his nose to hers, chartreuse eyes glistening with mischief. His expression grew soft once more as he studied his friend, his tail curled around his body. “You are going to be an exceptional mother, Naia.”

stick with those who stick with you

You're welcome to toss another post in here if you want, but I wrote this one so that it could work as a fade. I'll leave this up for today just in case and then archive tonight! Sooo excited!! :3

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“Don’t tempt me!” Naia growled, a half-smile twitching at her lips at Nineteen’s suggestion. She blinked lazily into the setting sun with a look of such placid contentment that it was clear her words were only bluff. Her tail thumped the ground at Nineteen’s affectionate gesture, and she planted a few licks across his muzzle in return.

Her ears flicked to alert at his next comment, maw breaking into a full grin. Of course he thought she would be a good mother—that was certainly why he had chosen her—but it still felt nice to hear the words spoken aloud.  “It’s what I’ve wanted to be for the longest time, ever since I can remember..” Even when she was but a girl herself, she had known that having a child of her own to nurture and teach and love would be the greatest prize this life could offer.

“..Thank you.” she finished, in what could have been gratitude for his complement but really meant so much more. Thank you for your service and loyalty; for not abandoning this family like so many others. Thank you for choosing me for this honor long after I had given up all hopes of motherhood.  Thank you for your friendship and commitment to this, all of this, wherever it takes us. There was no way to know what was to come for Hearthwood River or their future pups, but she had no doubt the little ones would lead a charmed life with Lachesis as their devoted and adoring father.  

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(This post was last modified: Mar 31, 2016, 01:02 PM by Naia.)