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Post by Phantom on Oct 20, 2009 7:02:56 GMT -5
He grinned, avoiding her ear-nip, and moved to nuzzle her lovingly in return. "As I love you." He purred, muzzle straying to her belly to try and detect the movements, going completely still so he could tell. Inside, he was so excited to be able to play with his own pups again. Sure, he could still play with the first three, but... all but Juliet had their own mates. And Forest had left with Sol, even. It had just gotten so lonely.
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Post by Mystic on Oct 20, 2009 15:32:45 GMT -5
Romeo was not disappointed. The pups in Myst's belly stirred again, almost as if they sensed their father was near and were excited to have him be near. They were going to a routy bunch. Enough to keep Romeo and Mystic occupied for quite some time.
Mystic chuckled. "See? They can't wait to play with their papa." It was cute to see Romeo so excited. Sure, he wasn't jumping for joy. But Myst knew him well enough to read the signs: the light dancing in his eyes, the fact that his tail hadn't stopped wagging since she'd let the secret slip, how still he sat to feel the pups moving in her belly. "But until then their content to kick their mama." She chuckled again. The pups could not arrive any sooner. Mystic was looking forward to arriving at the dens after weeks of absence with a litter of pups toddling behind her, eyes wide and curious. To watch them grow and play. And, eventually, take them on their first hunt.
"I can't wait." Mystic murmured, either to herself or to her pups.
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Post by Phantom on Oct 22, 2009 20:58:18 GMT -5
Romeo chuckled, feeling excitement again rise in his chest when he felt the small stirrings. He leaned back, glancing up at Mystic. But along with the excitement, he felt fear. Magic and his sister had come oddly easy to Mystic when she'd given birth to them. But he'd seen births go wrong before - and they could turn more bloody than a Blackshadow massacre. And as much as he loved pups... what if that happened to Mystic? He could never forgive himself. And Sol would not be around to help.
She could die.
The single thought startled a whimper out of him, the horror filling his eyes. He quickly buried his face into her fur to hide it, terrified. He didn't want to kill his mate. And it would be his fault. All his fault. He would be a cold-blooded murderer, just like he was forced to be in his old pack.
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Post by Mystic on Oct 22, 2009 22:06:36 GMT -5
Romeo couldn't hide anything from his mate. He should know that! Mystic whimpered and licked his head. "Love, what's wrong?" She didn't understand it. Why was he upset all of the sudden? It didn't occur to her that she could actually die giving birth to the pups. Well, that was a lie. It had. But every mother knows better than to think about that. If you were giving birth and thinking about things like that, something was bound to go wrong. It was just better to think about the happiest outcome than the worst.
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Post by Phantom on Nov 22, 2009 20:20:57 GMT -5
He shook his head, refusing to say. He couldn't let these kind of thoughts plague her. Her outlook was right - think negatively and something is bound to happen. He took a deep breath and drew back again, moving to a stand, lifting his head in that strong, regal manner. "Will you be okay here? I should go hunt for the pack."
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Post by Mystic on Nov 22, 2009 20:45:11 GMT -5
Mystic giggled, clearly amused. "Romeo, they're not even here yet. How much trouble can they give me?" She licked his snout loving, her tail thumping against the den floor. She couldn't wait to be a mother again! One thing was sure, though. She wanted to name one of her pups after Starfrost. He may not be her birth father, but he'd raised her. Hell! Myst was in a good enough mood to agree to naming one after Hemitite!
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Post by Phantom on Nov 22, 2009 20:54:35 GMT -5
Her mate might have a bit of an objection to that. But at the moment, Romeo just needed to work off some energy. He leaned forward and licked her cheek. "Don't jinx it, hun." He frowned worriedly, eyes betraying how much he worried for her and their new batch of pups. He moved away from her and started out of the den.
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Post by Mystic on Nov 22, 2009 21:09:07 GMT -5
"Tch. You sound like a superstitious elder." Mystic told him, deciding to make light of his comment. She knew Romeo worried about her. He'd been been worried when she was carrying Magic, Juliet, and Forest. Mystic set her head on her paws and closed her eyes as he left the den. Sometimes a mother had to give her life so the pups could have life. That was a fact of life for she-wolves. Many openly accepted it. It was something the males would never understand; the infinite love a mother had for her pups knew no bounds. If Mystic would have to give her life for these pups, so be it. But, as stated before, one shouldn't think those thoughts. That would really be jinxing it.
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Post by Phantom on Nov 22, 2009 21:28:55 GMT -5
This ultimate sacrifice was hard to understand when one only wanted their mate safe and alive. Romeo paused outside the den, head dipped down, watching his paws. He couldn't stand the thought of Mystic's death. But it wouldn't stop plaguing him. He dew his ears back tight, glancing back at the den. He could see in his mind the blood, smell the pain, hear the screams... He shook it off, laying down outside the den and burying his snout under his paws. Mystic...
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Post by Mystic on Nov 22, 2009 21:45:39 GMT -5
Mystic raised her head as he mate stopped outside the den. She got to her feet and padded out to him. The she-wolf licked the top of his head and sat down beside him. She whispered, "Love, I'll be fine. So will the pups." Mystic had the nurturing, motherly tone down pat. "Don't worry. Please don't. Nothing happened last time, nothing will happen this time." She pushed her snout into his fur. "It'll be ok..."
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Post by Phantom on Nov 22, 2009 21:53:24 GMT -5
Romeo leaned up and nuzzled her gently. "I'm sorry... I'll try not to worry, but it's just... hard." He sighed, licking her cheek. "It's even more frightening than the first time. I'll keep it to myself, I promise." He leaned back, giving her a reassuring smile. He would try his hardest to suppress this kind of thing. For her.
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Post by Mystic on Nov 22, 2009 22:14:14 GMT -5
"I know it is. But you've got to look on the better side of things. Don't look at the risk. Look at this: you're going to be a father of a new healthy little of adorable little pups." Mystic purred. She loved her mate. She loved him very much. And she hated seeing him in distress almost as much as he hated seeing her in pain. "Now cheer up so we can stop cuddling. You're grossing out the pups." She nodded once to a group of pups. Avalanche's mate had the honor of pupsitting and was giggling while they murmured in disgust.
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Post by Phantom on Nov 22, 2009 22:34:05 GMT -5
Romeo stuck his tongue out playfully at the pups and rolled to his paws. "They don't get love yet." He said teasingly, tail flicking as he moved back into the den. "Man, the next two months are gonna be hard! I can't wait!"
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Post by Mystic on Nov 22, 2009 22:44:11 GMT -5
"Teehee!" Mystic giggled, smiling at the pups. Hopefully their new pups would be among them soon. The she-wolf pawed gently at Romeo's soft stomach and said, "Keep your voice down! We want it to be a surprise, remember?" Romeo was so adorable when he was like this! Tail wagging, eyes bright, and a big smile on his face. He looked like a pup in a young scarred male's body.
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Post by Phantom on Nov 22, 2009 23:12:26 GMT -5
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Two months later, Romeo paced outside the den, entirely tense and shaky. The day had come. The pups were here. He whimpered, and would sit down only to get back up and pace more, tail lashing anxiously. Previous fears came right back to bite him, and he whivered at the morbid thoughts that terrified him. Oh, Mystic, please be okay!
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