The woman calmly dragged a new pelt into their den, happy to have gotten it off the hunter who’d made such a kill. A fine skin it was, that of a Gerenuk, a perfect length for her body. Piling it onto the others, they had quite a rug, now. Perfect for when their cubs would arrive... and perhaps enough room for any other wives Gwyn would invite there. She knew soon he’d be coming home with someone. Both the signs from the Gods and from his growing thirst. She could not satisfy his multiple trysts as well as she had before the pregnancy. Having much less energy, most days. Pistis had tried her best, though. Still, the thought of others... it brought her great anxiety. She’d still not mentioned it to Gwyn, just letting him think she was fine with it. All she could hope for was someone nice. So there she lay, humming as she began to pick bits of dirt from some of her herbs. Careful to keep the herbs away from the rug of pelts she lay on. If she could get these all cleaned up, she could move them to her cubby of herbs. Instead of drying in their den, on one of the shelves, as they had been. The clove was important to her, so she was gentle with it. She knew she must keep it intact for it to be properly used after she gave birth. @Gwyn & @Ymerallis (Let’s have Gwyn post first <3)

Code by CloudyNight

We can skip over Rudi these first two rounds <3

There is easy confidence, and little worry as he leads his new aquisition into the earth. Through the network of tunnels to entrance that led to the complex of caves that served as his den. When he arrived, he signaled for his new wife to wait. Pistis said she was okay with other wives, but at the same time he cared enough that he wasn't about to spring one on her. At least without warning her, talking to her first. He gently taps the waiting woman with his tail, voice low. "I'll chuff to let you know to come. I don't want to surprise Pistis with you." he explains, voice barely above a whisper. Then he strides forward to find his snow hued wife.

She had a new skin and was doing something with herbs. The hulking beast gently nipped at her nape, her forehead in greeting, peering half curiously at the plants she had. Not ones he was familiar with. "Hello my love." he rumbles, voice soft. "I've a surprise for you, for us" he murmurs, lavishing gentle attention on her. Hoping that she would guess from how his scent was mingled with another. Hoping that she would react in a positive manner. He had no reason to think she wouldn't take it well, but, he is also careful with her. He cares for her deeply and thus, does not want her uncomfortable because of her past.

Code by Saph Image by Kairi

@Pistis

Gwyn’s presence was welcomed with a warm, rumbling purr from her chest, glancing over her shoulder at him, and placing a quick kiss on the bridge of his nose. At the mention of a surprise, she smiled. But noticing the scent, felt a pang in her gut. Nervous, so very nervous. It was the scent of another lion, a female, and an adult, from what her nose could tell. After her faltering smile, it famed back a bit stronger, but it was fake. “Oh?” She asked, gently bringing the herbs back to their temporary shelf before turning back to him. “Well- I- bring it in, I suppose?” She requested, trying her best to not let her emotions show. But thousands of thoughts filled her mind. What if she were prettier? Younger? Unscarred, both mentally and physically? She wasn’t sure whether she could handle those sorts of things. Insecurity already plagued her. Now adding another woman into the mix? Well. It was disheartening. But he’d said he’d bring another woman in, to ‘give her a break’ seeing as she had a rapidly growing litter in her womb. Her memories going back to Diuris, perhaps if this meeting went bad... she could go off to speak to him again. As he was the only one who knew her insecurities about her marital relationship. @Gwyn

Code by CloudyNight

We can skip over Rudi these first two rounds <3

And while he had been oblivious to her reaction before, now, now he noted it. Gwyn was a man, yes, but he wasn't the owner of emotional intelligence the size of a teaspoon. It allowed him to get laid more often than not. Because watching her smile disappear, her face fall let him know that she was not comfortable. That something bothered her with his news.

Something he would set to right. She had no reason to fear, to be upset. He had warned her and Mera was a nice lioness. Perhaps darker than his current spouse but would be perfectly amiable to Pistis, or so she said.

Pistis rises, placing the herbs away and is met with a frown. The beast settles beside her, gentle and sphinxlike. Reaching over to press his muzzle against her. "You are upset"he observes, his massive form offered as a brace. A place to explain and pour her heart out. "I thought you were fine with the surprise I brought." he rumbles, gentle, kissing the part of her his muzzle touched. Come on talk to him.

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@Pistis

The beast notices her emotions. Which isn’t rare, but it seems like he had been out of touch with hers recently. She takes a deep breath after his words. “I just didn’t expect someone new so soon.” She admits, as it hadn’t been but one and a half moons since their own marriage. She’d just thought there’d be a longer grace period. Had he been sleeping with other women more often than she thought? “How long have you known her?” She asks, trying to both change the subject and being genuinely curious. It couldn’t have been long, but that didn’t bother her too much. No longer than they’d been married, she figured. The lioness was unaware these two had known each other less than a day. Upon hearing such, she would probably be quite shocked but again, hide her emotions. In her mind, if she just hid her displeasure for the most part, their marriage would go great. Pistis had always been good at bottling away her emotions. Speaking to those not involved instead of going directly to the source. Now was no different. @Gwyn

Code by CloudyNight

It is not that he is out of touch but simply busy. Between ruling and handling the mess that Manes and co had brought upon him for no reason, he had been preoccupied. He nibbles at her and responds. "The timing is perfect, No? You get a break and help with the children"he points out gently. She is precious to him but he also wants her to understand what might help. That this could be a good thing. Nothing to be afraid of.

Her next question earned a hum of approval. There we go thinking politely. "Not long, but we did not know each other for long either." he rumbles, pointing out that fact. Sure it had been slower than he would have liked, but fast for her. Fast for those who cared about things. It would be fine, would it not? Pistis just had to think of it a little differently.

Code by Saph Image by Kairi

@Pistis

The timing. Perfect. Sure. She offered a small smile to him. “I suppose you’re right.” Perfect for her situation, but not perfect for her emotions. Gently he grooms her and she leans into him. Perhaps she was being unfair. He’d told her there’d be others, and she wasn’t ready now that the time had come. She almost let out a harsh, petty laugh at his words. They’d known each other for several moons, what had it been, four or five? Before they’d laid with each other. This was different, much quicker, in fact. Four or five moons had been the pace she’d wanted to go at, of course, but now she knew just how long she’d made Gwyn wait. “Let me see her.” She finally responded, trying to look confident despite how small she felt. Despite the nervousness rising in her throat and stomach. Sending a prayer to any Gods she could think of that this would go well. That the two women would at least like each other, if nothing else. Be willing to help with the cubs, but not overreach with her help. Not try and raise their cubs herself. @Gwyn

Code by CloudyNight

He does not like upsetting her but this is something he had told her of early on. Some part of him wants to tell her to suck it up.. However that would be cruel and he could see she was trying. So he continued to groom her and comfort her as she processed it. "just keep an open mind" he responds, his voice oh so gentle. And then she gives permission and the man purrs his approval. Yes there we go my dear. "Alright" he agrees, raising his head and chuffing. Directing it so it would not deafen either of them. Calling for the olive hued woman to join them here.

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@Pistis @Ymerallis

she's nervous. ymerallis stands outside the den anxiously, claws scraping the soft earth below her. she can hear the faint whispers, the sounds of her lover's low rumbles and the softer, melodic whines of another female whom he loves. if she is to share him, then it must be so, but becoming enemies with his other mate will not serve well for her future in the pride. she hears gwyn's call, soft and loving, like the sound her father used when he needed to talk to her of something serious. the hunter-shaded mistress nods her head, eyes dancing from the clay-colored barbarian to the opening of the cove, in the direction of the wife she has not met.

slowly, slowly, ymerallis emerges from her place, peering into the opening as she spots the light lioness shrouded in the darkness of her dwelling. hello... she bows her head, as respectfully as she can, even as the butterflies dance wildly between her ribs. this lady does not seem threatening, and she can sense her caution. it's nice to... to meet you. i'm ymerallis, i'm... new. she flicks a gaze at gwyn, tone cautious, as she doesn't know how far to verbally tread. i'm here to help any way that i can. i'm honored lord gwyn invited me to... to come live here... with you. her saturated eyes bat, still apprehensive, at pistis. please accept my humble servitude, my lady. ymerallis only know how to be formal, and she bows before pistis, understanding that respect and chivalry gets one very far in the face of adversity.

@Pistis, @Gwyn

Pistis is blissfully unaware of her husband’s shortening temper, and instead nods to him. She would try... if only for him. If only for the promises she made him. She just needed to put her jealousy and nervousness aside. When the new wife emerges, Pistis stares at her for several long moments. She was gorgeous, in a sort of strange way. The white female had never seen someone with a tinge of green to their pelt. But there was a first for everything, she supposed. The other starts to bow and speak and Pistis wonders if she is a wife or a servant, just from the way she is acting. Gingerly Pistis walks over to her, bumping her head to the other’s crown. “None of that, please. I will appreciate any help, but you are to be my friend, a sister wife, not a servant or anything else.” She smiled at the other, backing away to give her space. It was nerve wracking to both of them. Pistis feeling a similar fluttering in her stomach. Not scared but uncertain of this other woman. Someone new and foreign brought into her den. “I’m Pistis.” She offers. @Gwyn @Ymerallis

Code by CloudyNight