Be still my heart~ Vysemala could not rid herself of all doubts. After all, this would amount to nothing less than an immaculate conception if it were true and she did not think she would be certain of their existence until they were at her side. Until she could see them, touch them, smell them, part of her held onto doubt. It was safer than completely getting her hopes up. But days continued to drift by and the amount of hope the Sovereign held onto grew stronger, wider, fuller and vast in love. She felt different, in her gut and soul there was more to her than before. She gave herself permission to dream, she'd dreamt of a family of her own before why stop now merely because it seemed plausible and true? She carried herself eastwards through the Cove and towards the shore with a light dance in her step, a smile across her face and both tails parading high behind her as dirt turned to sand below her toes.

Beyond the waves rolled through sunlight, waves crested and sparkled in the rays. Vysemala lightly sighed, her pace slowing while tails dropped down to sway against her ankles. The sun warmed her striped face as she turned it upwards, her blue eyes traced the clouds drifting on by. A warm, beautiful summer's day on the Cove. She could not ask for much more than this ideal life she'd found herself in.

@Willoughby

ever since her coupling with Erevu, and their official mateship began, she had been feeling happy. ecstatic, even. she now knew what to be in Amaryllis. a good wife. a good partner for the man. of course, the Cove was important - but not equally. Erevu would always be her number one, so she sought out someone who probably thought the same of their own partnership. @Vysemala was not someone she spoke to often. Willougbhy had seen her mostly by herself at the festival, and that was really fine, but she knew the woman was expecting.

she was too. "hello" she beams at the woman as she nears. this was Jewel's mate. "do you mind if I join you?" she asks the brunette, keeping a respectful distance away. they hadn't much chance to talk yet, so she didn't want to overstep anything. "we... haven't properly met yet" she ducks her head sheepishly "and I wanted to, y'know, get to know you. and the others I don't." she adds with honesty. she wears a bright smile as per usual, waiting for permission or rejection. if Vysemala wanted to be alone, she would respect that.

A lovely melodic voice trailed around her mind, it pulled her attention and she curled her ears first towards Willoughby. V's striped face curled into a slight grin, a sea breeze rolled around her face and tussled her brown earthy mud fur. Please yes. She wanted company. It was not abnormal for Vysemala to enjoy time amongst others but right now especially she felt herself craving a conversation, a friendly face to look upon, and merely the thought of meeting someone new was intoxicatingly delightful. Vysemala patted the ground beside her as she herself settled down her twin tailed rump in the sandy base of the shore. You're @Willoughby yes? Vysemala questioned. She recognized the lovely woman, who in the Cove would not know the bard? She'd pulled of a flawless event and showed off Caladan in a beautiful light.

"why, yes, I am" she says as she moves closer, given invite now. Willoughby sits next to the other woman, maintaining a respectful distance between them all the same "and you are Vysemala?" she knew this, but wanted to hear it. to know it. to make a hundred percent sure it was. she had seen the brunette during hunts, leading them to victory.

"I heard" she says to the woman again, a bit hesitant "that Maua blessed you and Jewel" Willoughby hadn't heard much of the deity but enough was known to know... it was a divine intervention "so I wanted to offer congratulations." she beams to the other, smiling politely and joyfully at the same time. more children in the Cove was a good sign of its prosperity.

Your party was a hit. Vysemala praised with a wink and little flourish of her ears, flickering forwards happily towards @Willoughby. Thank you for giving Jewel a reason to slow down and enjoy herself. Their prosperity was for nothing if there was not moments to embrace it, to show it and to indulge in fruitful company with each other.

Speaking of little fruits... Maua did... I think? Her eyes and attention drifted down along the brown lines of her belly and chest until her chin was tucked down flesh to flesh. One of her paws lifted and brushed along herself softly- like it wasn't her own body. Thank you. Regardless if Maua's gift was one true and real the gesture was kind and Vysemala received it well. Her crown lifted upwards and on it was a slight smile- the air of uncertainty about her state, about the mystical wisp children, tinging the corners of sanity and common sense.

she giggles. "I doubt Jewel could relax with that many strangers on our land" Willoughby shoots back with a wink "I hunted her down after the event and she was patrolling, restless and cleaning up." it had been a funny scene, and a funny thought. but she did see her and her mate relax a few times with their family. it just wasn't what the peach hued woman wanted - Jewel deserved a break, and it never seemed she got one for long.

"but thank you."

Vysemala's attention focused on her belly, and Willoughby could relate to that. her own soft peach belly would grow, slow and steady. but would the brunette show? she didn't have experience with Maua at all. "I hope our children can be friends" she smiles, patting her own belly gently "because I am expecting too. with Erevu." all she wanted was for the Cove members to get along, be friends and family... she just wanted things that could be feasible.

Knowingly Vysemala sighed and then nodded. It wasn't a hard picture to form in her head. The guests had gone and Jewel was walking the borders making absolutely sure no one inappropriate hung around too late and outstayed their welcome. Whatever relaxation Jewel had gotten was brief and inevitably had to end. It did not make V any less thankful to @Willoughby for her efforts. It said more of Jewel that she couldn't relax than it did of Bee's party planning skills.

Bee was expecting too? The news brightened Vysemala's features and the Sovereign looked excitedly over her pridemate's face. I'd like that. The peach woman was kind, agreeable, and the children's father was wise and compassionate. They'd be almost necessary companions for whatever reckless creatures she and Jewel would raise together. Are they going to be your first too? Vysemala was glad to have the experience Jewel provided her but her mate could not provide the camaraderie of being a first time mother. For that reason Vysemala was hopeful that not only could their children support each other but they could place support in each other?

a look of joy crossed the woman's face as @Vysemala agreed and offered her a chance to subtly brag. "yep!" Willoughby grins, her fluttery nerves going away in favor of excitement and new friendships "I've never had the pleasure of having children before" a pause before "but I am thankful it's with the right man the first time."

she figured Maua would not tell the sovereign couple what they'd get before it was 'time'. "do you have names picked out?" she would ask the queen "I know Jewel has a different sort of name scheme... um, naming them after the cubs' features or personalities?" that sounded right. she racked her brain trying to recall the other's words "I've never named something before."

another confession. "I'd like to have at least two children. maybe a boy and a girl... or maybe two girls?" she fussed quietly, trying to figure out exactly what she wanted. though Willoughby would love them all the same, regardless of gender.

xNot exactly. Vysemala was happy though to clarify and to share Jewel's naming traditions. Traditions which Vysemala would happily allow to be followed with their upcoming litter for the power and uniqueness it brought. For the first year they'll be called something to do with their features, physical or otherwise. Bright Eyes. Spitfire. It wouldn't be possible to pick out and settle on these names too early- the women could discuss ideas and find favorites but ultimately anything they took a liking to could end up being a horrid fit for any children they have. And then they'll pick their own name. I'd help them if they're struggling for ideas for ultimately their name is their choice. So short- no they didn't have names picked out but not for lack of thinking about them.

I'm sure names will come to you two. She tried to reassure but definitely did not envy the heiress's position. It was a formative decision- one that had not been placed on her for her children. But was it a decision you could get wrong? You can always try a few out, say them outloud, that sort of thing. Call birds and sticks different things; any bit of wading through the shallows before the unavoidable plunge into the deep end coming up for both @Willoughby and Vysemala in their own time. I'll be happy with whatever. They were hers. They were Jewel's. They should have been impossible- their gender didn't matter in the slightest.x

"I see!" she utters this in awe, figuring it was much more... sensible. "what about you, Vysemala?" Willoughby says, ducking her head shyly "what were you like before you came to the Cove? before you met Jewel?" she hoped it wasn't untoward to ask such a thing. she was merely curious about the other queen in her life. "did you have, say, a big family? or a small one?"

Vysemala did offer advice about naming. she smiles, nodding. there was one name she wanted to use, ever since she saw the flower blooming in another land. it was lovely, but also deadly. poisonous but strangely soothing to look at. Foxglove. it was a very cute name. of course, she also liked the name Chamomile because it had weight with her and Erevu. "I think we'll go the nature route."

that is, naming them after nature and her plant life.

10 exp - bard - learn family or pride's history (vysemala)