motherhood is not a foreign concept to her.

her children are beyond the point of adolescence, grown and sharp as the icicles that crash down the mountainside, but she is reminded always of the toil of carrying especially in unforgiving conditions. even in the springtime, their mountainous home is still frigid and brighid thinks to visit her partner and ask of her comfort.

not to mention, brighid had known of her marriage with the ecrosian king, but the cubs had been a surprise.

"empress?" she pauses outside the den, feeling the warmth trickle out and tickle her paws. brighid does not seek to startle her and waits patiently for the woman to appear from the yawning entrance. while she knows that @Anya ♔ can take care of herself, there is something that urges her to linger and protect while the woman is oh so vulnerable.

its tempered with a careful facade of brighid's usual sternness.

BLUE MOON & ELECTRIC LIGHT, EVERYTHING IS SMOKE AND GHOSTS

art by drifty, code by javs

She was away of Brighid's arrival before her name was called, but such was the state of her nerves. Mamasha's lessons never prepared her for the paranoia, for the constant fear that some unknown threat lay lurking nearby. Such a feeling had only grown the closer she drew to the arrival of her children, but she would not allow it to rule her.

Instead, she slowly exited the warmth of her den, tired blue eyes looking up to @Brighid ♔ with a hint of warmth seldom found these days. Koroleva, she greeted gently, finding her footing beneath the weight of her paws. I imagine you've come to discuss the other terms of the agreement I made. She sent a glance toward the swell of her belly—something she simply had not yet the chance to mention.

It is not so bad, she said, though her face belied her discomfort. I am only grateful he is not here, for I feel like I am going to rip into the next man I see.

"only if you'd like to share," it was @Anya ♔'s business, after all. even in the exhaustion worn lines of her face, there was a spark. brighid had been shocked the raise of a brow and a sharp inhale of breath her first reaction at seeing that the gilded woman was with child. "you are married, after all." its said with a hitch of humor, then brighid is reminded of the fact that anya had offered to be an envoy of the summit and granted her release. she blinks once, twice, and finds her tongue pressed against the roof of her mouth. it clicks. (she's sure anya will notice the sudden bulb between her ears)

were the cubs transactional?

it isn't as uncomfortable a thought for brighid as it may be for others.

nothing in life was free. especially riches and power. anya had fully binded herself as an important asset to the ecrosian king.

smart girl.

"will they stay here in illyria?"

the snow would melt from the pines soon and the hardy shrubbery would be thick again. at least she had a grand sense of timing.

she wanted to tell anya motherhood suited her to soften her discomfort but that would be a lie. she was almost certain that the empress would rather be scouring their kingdom and others, shaking paws and kissing babies (that were not hers) while pursuing other antics. "its sad men bear none of the true burden," brighid says loftily, settling herself in the shadow of anya's den. she wouldn't drag her too far. "so i came to see if there was anything i could do for you."

brighid had yet to spy the mire king around the borders. though, she figured it would be any day now before he would be treading through illyria to see his heirs born.

BLUE MOON & ELECTRIC LIGHT, EVERYTHING IS SMOKE AND GHOSTS

art by drifty, code by javs

We rule together, she said simply. There can be no secrets. Certainly not when it concerns matters of alliance. She had not missed the shock in @Brighid ♔'s face, but she did not let it bother her. Such a reaction was fair, she supposed. Still, the Empress offered a slight chuckle at the humor for what it was.

Levity when she was oh, so miserable.

The next question is a fair one. I shall have them here for as long as I can, she said. Eventually, I suspect he will want them back in the Mire but I intend to persuade him otherwise. By trading a child or two, perhaps, but this she did not say.

Sad or fortunate? There was a mischievous glint in her eyes. How easy it is to convince them that their burdens are the greatest there are. How easy to manipulate them. Luther, for all of this strength, was but a man at the end of it all. And she knew how to play his games.

She did not expect to be asked what she might want done, but it was welcome all the same. Walk with me. Talk with me. I feel I am going to go insane if I do not enjoy my last few moments of freedom.

anya may not realize just how much brighid appreciates the sentiment.

some might say she put her faith in anya too easily, but it is obvious that her counterpart has no intention of breaking the trust that has been placed in her. "i'll have to meet him officially," brighid says, especially now she sees just how much tethers their prides together. it isn't a daunting thought, but the gears churn in her mind of playing her cards right as anya navigated the finer details with her husband. "with an alliance he should at least know that your other half is not some barbarian."

it was only right that the children stayed with their mother, in brighid's opinion. who better to nurture and teach them? as sly as anya was, her cubs would be cunning and fierce, there was no doubt about it. though persuading him struck a different tune. "has he been promised sons?" its a shot in the dark, but it isn't a foreign concept. it wasn't often that many empires were built with the delicate touch of a feminine hand. "if you would allow, i will teach your cubs all i know of battle and the hunt."

brighid was not the gentlest teacher, but a calloused hand and bruised palms weathered more than a soft touch. anya had become practiced herself with brighid's teachings and she leaves it up for her to decide, content to immerse herself in the future.

"yes, it must be so miserable being at the top of the totem pole," brighid fake sympathizes. "but it would be entertaining to see them squirm." as much as a joy as men could be to look at (cold as she was, brighid was not immune) they could be insufferable. she's convinced she will never get close again after ... after...

perhaps anya should be the one teaching her.

she's quick to oblige anya's need for a walk. the queen would allow the pregnant lioness to set their pace. who was she to deny a plea for sanity? "the rainforest to the south of us," it was hard to miss the swath of greenery from the summit's lookouts. "are you familiar with them?" they were seated close to the mire, so she wonders if anya had ever had any interaction with them.

BLUE MOON & ELECTRIC LIGHT, EVERYTHING IS SMOKE AND GHOSTS

art by drifty, code by javs

Anya's gaze flickered briefly toward @Brighid ♔, catching the intent behind her offer, but her thoughts were momentarily distracted. Something out of place tugged at the corner of her vision, pulling her attention away. She blinked, unsure if her mind was playing tricks on her—yet there it was, unmistakable. A pumpkin, sitting bold and out of place against the stark Illyrian landscape, as though mocking the chill with its stubborn, vibrant presence.

For a moment, her brow furrowed, the absurdity of it pulling a slight twitch to her lips. She would never admit it, but the sight was enough to tug her from the heaviness that weighed on her shoulders. Still, she forced herself to turn back to Brighid, her voice steady as she replied.

He will soon understand that Illyria is far more than just frigid winds and stern faces, she said, her words holding the same measured cadence, though a glint of amusement danced behind her eyes. Anya had not missed the queen's surprise earlier, but she saw no need to dwell on it. The shock was fair, after all, though unnecessary.

The offer to teach her children was met with a quiet nod, a rare softness touching her features. You are kind to offer, she began, though the words were laced with more meaning than simple politeness. Strength and discipline—they will need both. Cunning will only take them so far.

Her eyes flicked once more toward the pumpkin, as though the strange object called for her attention, lingering at the edge of her thoughts despite herself. The rainforest she spoke of barely registered as she entertained a fleeting idea of what might be hiding there. Yet even her wandering mind circled back to the incongruity of the object.

Yes, perhaps there’s something to be gained, she echoed, a slyness in her voice that felt familiar. But before that... Her gaze returned to the pumpkin one last time, the absurdity not lost on her. I need to know how a pumpkin found its way here.

double, double toil and trouble;
fire burn, and cauldron bubble...

Nafasi watches from the bushes, never once letting herself be seen by those huddled around her perfectly-placed pumpkins. They really were a curious bunch, weren't they? Well, fortunately for them, the sprite was feeling extra generous today, and had a treat for them that she has been wanting to share. And so, it was with a small smile that the being craned her head, watching the lions for a few more moments, before giving a quick stomp of her paw against the earth.

Hm...

Without warning, the pumpkin suddenly splits down the middle, right in front of your eyes! And...oh? It looks like there is something tucked inside! Weird, but you might as well check it out. Investigating further, you find a collection of trinkets, feathers, gems, fruit, and other curious things hidden within the pumpkin, ripe for the taking! Looks like you got lucky today.

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