FORTUNE FORTUNE SMILING FATE
I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU MUCH OF LATE
NEED YOU NOW AND CANNOT WAIT
BUT WANNA LOOK, YOU'RE NOT AROUND

Aquila looked more a beast than usual. The fluffy lion was walking through Vermeda with a host of pelts on his back. Judging by the scents on them some were new and fresh finds, others might have been taken from his own den. They were draped and crossed over his back, not so heavy to inhibit his walking but a few of the longer trails threatened to tangle up his feet if he was not careful.

The path he cut was round about, wandering around the Brook for other lions, visiting dens, and at each one taking a moment to poke his head in and see if anyone needed some additional pelts to stave off this strange and long lasting cold. At least it was keeping him busy... he didn't want to think what this freak weather might mean.

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cassandra

As the weird cold weather had rushed into the Brook, Cassandra had tried to stay in her den as much as possible. With her belly being so swollen, she wasn't able to move as quickly and didn't want to risk getting caught out in the weather and potentially getting sick because of it. Her cubs needed her to be strong for them when they came, and that meant no getting sick. Despite her fluffy fur, she still felt the sting of the cold blowing into her den every so often.

Hearing pawsteps crunching the cold grass nearby, Cassandra let out a quiet chuff to call attention to whoever was wandering around outside. She wasn't sure who was outside, but if it was someone who could help her get some more warmth into her den she would be perfectly okay with them stopping by her den. This cold that had suddenly blown in was odd, considering it was springtime. It certainly didn't feel like it...

Plus, some stuff with extra warmth would be great for when her cubs came - especially if this strange cold was still hanging around when they made their entrance into this world.

@Aquila

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First his head poked into the den and spied Cassandra there in the dimmer light. Momentarily his head vanished and then his body, shoulder first, came back in. With a thud pelts were hitting the ground between them. He didn't wait for her to ask before he began to unload the entire load of pelts from his back down onto the floor of her den. "I think mine only chewed holes in some of these..." He mumbled, shifting through them with his nose to spread out the assortment of pelts before @Cassandra and make it less of a heap. Evidently not giving her the option of picking from the pelts- he was already deciding to leave them all behind here. He'd raised most of his own through winters after all and knew well that warmth was essential for it.

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cassandra

She wouldn’t really admit it, but she was a tad chilly. Even despite trying to line the den with another pelt or two, the unseasonably cold weather still brought a bit of a chill into the den. When her uncle’s head poked into her den, she was about to speak when his head vanished once again. What was he up to? His intentions would become clear, however, after a moment when a bunch of pelts hit the ground with a thud between them.

The expectant mother sat in shock for a moment, staring at her uncle and the amount of pelts that had just been dumped into her den. It was a good thing Myrkvi was out for the moment - with three adults in there it wouldn’t have been easy to maneuver around to situate the new pelts in there. A soft chuckle escaped her as he mentioned thinking that his had only chewed holes in some of them. "It’s not a big deal if there are some holes in them - they provide warmth all the same." Cassandra said, aiming to give her uncle @Aquila a head bump from her spot on the ground.

"It’s appreciated nonetheless, thanks. But isn’t there anyone else who could use some extra pelts within their den as well? What about my mom and her youngest girls?" She asked, not wanting to take all of the pelts if someone else needed them. A paw stretched out to try to help organize the pelts as well. She’d get up and mess with them to make them more of a nest once he had taken his leave, but for now she’d help nudge them into less of a pile.

Art by Cala & Code by Zodiac

"There's more." Well, he'd find more at least. It wasn't for @Cassandra to worry about. Maybe someday, surely someday as Aquila reminded himself of his niece's ambitions and drive. But today she had some very specific lions to worry about and he could handle the rest of them. "I'm also convinced your mother would just bring any extras she could spare, and then some, right back to you." Like any good, excited, grandmother to be.

Aquila took a small step back from the greeting and contact in order to give her room to situate the pelts to her liking, feeling older by the second. "Are you ready?" Stupid question, how could anyone be? Let alone a first time parent.

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cassandra

Eyes narrowed at her uncle as he claimed there were more pelts for others within the pride, not fully believing the older Valour about his claim. "If you're certain. I don't want others of the Brook to go without when I have more than I need." Cassandra said, hoping her uncle would understand that if there was someone else who needed them, that he should take some of the pelts to them as well.

A soft chuckle escaped her at his statement that her mom would bring any extras to her, and then some, if she had any. "You're right - she's very excited about being a grandmother it seems. How are you feeling about becoming a great-uncle?" She asked, tilting her head as she spoke. She'd not had a chance to talk with @Aquila about his feelings about her pregnancy yet. She was truly a little young, she would admit to herself. But they were made out of love, and she knew she'd have plenty of help with all her family here in the Brook.

His next question, however, would cause that nervous pit in her stomach to rise up again. Was she ready for this? "I.. don't know. I thought I was, and then this odd weather blew in and now I'm not sure." Cassandra admitted, looking at the world outside of her den. The weather had her worried - it was unseasonable, and it seemed a winter storm had gripped the Brook hard and wasn't ready to let go. "Is everyone else in the pride faring okay though?" She asked, ever worried about the well-being of those within the pride itself.

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"I think I've always been a great uncle." Well he certainly had some Dad jokes down. He stupidly smiled and waited with that awkward look on his face for the joke to land and laughter to come out that he could join in with. On baited breath he would wait.

"It's weird, the weather, but it's not impossible. Watch for them playing in big snow drifts, check their noses to make sure they're staying warm." Day by day, make sure they're staying alive and healthy. This storm made the mission of being a parent no different. Keep them breathing. It brought its own unique challenges but the children, @Cassandra, would be stronger for it. "We're all doing okay. The worry is the worst anyone is suffering."

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cassandra

A chuckle escaped Cassandra at her uncle's joke. "You've certainly got the puns down." She said, aiming to lightly bat at his ear like she herself was a cub again. She had good memories of growing up in the Brook, and she was glad her own children would get to grow up here where their mom was born and raised.

"I'm hoping this weather releases its grip on the Brook soon - it has me worried for everyone else too." Cassandra admitted, pushing an ear back as she spoke. It wasn't just her upcoming litter that she was worried about - but the entirety of the members of the Brook. They were family to her too. "I probably won't let them outside the den for more than a handful of moments until the weather warms up." The fluffy girl said, adjusting the pelts around a bit more around her den.

"Are you and mom handling things okay since I had to step back from some of my duties helping you out with the pride?" She asked, tilting her head as she spoke. Recently she'd started to cut back on how much work she was doing, simply because it was so difficult to move around at this point. She just hoped that @Aquila and Talisa were managing okay - especially with the odd things going on in the world right now.

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The bronze lion smiled. Lips curling into a grin and large, somewhat scarred up, cheeks scrunched up with delight. Thanks. Aquila seemed to be pleased as punch that his pun landed and was evidently appreciated. Even a little bit. Humor was not quite a forte of his so about any joke that managed to get a laugh was quite the victory. And being a father himself puns came naturally. Puns get a good laugh out of kids. Some incredibly important parenting advice.

We are. He said without second thought. Her help had been immensely... well helpful. But they'd managed before without an heir. It was much easier this time when something joyful was awaiting them all. Don't worry about rushing back into things either- He said with some knowing, a bit of a serious look in his eyes. He knew her. Enjoy them while they're little.

@Cassandra

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cassandra

"I fully expect you to come around and tell some of these jokes to my little ones once they're toddling around." Cassandra said with a chuckle. She would look forward to her uncle coming around and entertaining her cubs with his jokes and puns - she was sure they would get a kick of them, and at the very least enjoy spending time with their great-uncle as well.

A dark ear pushed back as @Aquila mentioned not worrying about rushing back into things. It seemed her typical ways of things were quite well known. "I'll try to take as much time with them as possible - who knows? Once they're up and around they might be more trouble than my duties for the pride to begin with." Cassandra said with a soft chuckle as she spoke.

"I would like to keep their heritage a secret from those outside of the pride - and maybe even aside from other Valours and Sigruns..." Cassandra said, flicking an ear as she spoke. She knew the Rike were around Amaryllis - and she didn't know where they were. Better to be safe than sorry. "There's those out there that would sooner see the line of Sigruns stopped, and I'd rather they be protected as long as possible. Not just from the weird phenomena occurring in the lands, but from those lions who would aim to hurt them." She said quietly, looking at her belly as she spoke.

-exit via chit chat?-

Art by Cala & Code by Zodiac