It had been a little over three weeks since the silvery alphess of New Dawn conceived the litter that now fattened her belly. She was already slowing down, and thanks to the bounty of food and skilled hunters in her pack she had gained about twice the amount of weight that most wolfesses did at this stage of pregnancy. Soon she would be too fat and slow to leave New Dawn until her puppies were delivered. The thought normally wouldn't have troubled her. How often did she leave the pack lands? In fact, she had hardly left at all since the pack was formed! But suddenly Titania had the itch to go. No, she didn't want to leave her pack, but there were two very special people who she wanted to tell about her pregnancy before the litter was born.
“Jiva! Jiva? Where are you?” She called out to the woods, though she had no reason to think Jiva was there. He was just the first person who had come to mind when her idea suddenly hatched. Maybe he would be in the den with Palaydrian. Hoping to find him there, the chubby alphess trotted quickly through Glen Eyrie towards the pack's den.
She was a bit dismayed when she came to the clearing to find that she was winded, panting heavily. The summer and a belly full of babies was not her idea of comfort. She paused at the edge of the clearing, half in the trees and half out. To hell with it. “Jiva?!” she called, supremely lazy as she yelled loud enough so her voice would be carried into the den. If he was there, he could hear her. A beat passed and she lowered her rump to sit as she raised her head and let a howl sound, calling for her autumn colored cousin.
Jiva was not at the den, in fact he was out collecting leaves and roots for a medic kit of his own. He learned enough about plants, how htey worked dried or not and how to prepare many of them. He was still learning though so it would take him some time to become far more than just the journeyman he was at it. His ears perked forward when she called him and he came rushing to his alpha’s side wondering what she wanted from him.
“You called?
He asked as he rolled on his back and nipped lightly at her paws. He could tell she was full of baby and it was early yet. He had been there when she had gone into heat though he stayed out of the fray. It was a natural custom yet it seemed so strange to him and his... tame way of life he knew with his own family. He knew that Titania grew up much the same way, sort of, but she seemed to connect to her wild self far better than he. He wagged his tail as he remained upside down, showing his submittance to his alpha, and quite happy to do it too.
ONE LAST KISS, BEFORE I GO. DRY YOUR TEARS, IT IS TIME TO LET YOU GO
Well he didn't come from the cave but at least her summons had been answered, because soon enough her cousin appeared from the wilds and padded up to her. She smiled, happy that he had come so promptly. Now that he was here, she intended to beat around the bush for a few. He rolled onto his back at her paws and nipped at her feet, and she laughed and nipped back at his muzzle though never bothered to really make contact. She put one leg over him, straddling him with her forelegs, and dropped her chest onto him and chewed playfully on his neck. She was only goofing, though, and he could easily slip out from beneath her if he wanted. Although not, of course, until he was sufficiently drooled on.
“I did,” she said. “How is Palaydrian?” That was not what she called for but she would get to it in time. She knew he had been looking after the girl and that his care had seen her brought back from the brink of madness and death. “You did right by her.”
She finally moved off of him (if he didn't wriggle away already) and sat up again, though still she didn't hois her heavy self up completely. “I was thinking about Cour des Miracles today,” she started, mentioning Jiva's old home and the place that their relatives lived. “And Casa di Cavalieri... Juliet lives there. I was thinking about visitng.” She said it offhandedly, as though making small talk, but she glanced out of the corner of her eyes at Jiva. Would he guess what was next?
Her actions to his submission were a bit childish if anything though he didn’t mind. It was why he loved his cousin and he knew she could get away with it, though he laughed, and wriggled around as she drooled on him, he closed his eyes though and waited for her to move off him. He grinned at her, thinking she may have heard about their mateship but then remembered she may have just been talking about him taking care of her.
“She is doing much better, she’s able to move on her own and has most of her range of movement, he swelling’s gone down. And thank you I have tried my best. I do love her dearly. Zalen gave me permission and I asked her to be my mate.”
He said. It didn’t occur to him that he should go to her as well. He was sure Zalen discussed it with her and he had waited some time just in case she had a problem with it. So he hoped that was the case if anything. Once free he was able to sit up and wag his tail as she spoke about going to the miracles pack as well as one of its neighbors. He raised his eyebrow and smiled a bit thinking he had an idea of what she meant. She would need someone to go with her. Being pregnant wouldn’t be eay to move around for the young woman and he figured she would invite him along. His tail was wagging furiously now at this. To be off with his cousin it was an adventure. He knew Drin would be fine here with the pack, and he was certain she wouldn’t mind him going with the alpha. It would be an honor for anyone to go with her. Though this was his assumption, but he would make sure she said something before he made a stupid comment that could get him into trouble.
ONE LAST KISS, BEFORE I GO. DRY YOUR TEARS, IT IS TIME TO LET YOU GO
Yeah, she was going to tell him to go with her to visit the other packs, Zalen surely wouldn’t want her going all that way alone and in her “condition,” but Jiva suddenly blindsided her with the news of his mateship to Palaydrian. She was shocked as she looked at him, her mouth making a little O shape just like her mother whenever she was surprised, but her expression melted away much quicker than Orin’s usually did. She cocked her head, a devilish prank suddenly sprang to mind.
“Oh, really? Is that so?” She questioned skeptically, then turned and pranced away from him a few feet, her tail curled high in the air. There was a swagger to her step as she jokingly mimicked her usual leadership stance. “I haven’t heard anything about that. Zalen approved it, hmm? Well maybe Zalen said it was okay, but what about me?” She glanced over her shoulder at her cousin.
“Maybe you can be Palaydrian’s mate, but can Palaydrian be yours? After all, I am the head female here and no one asked me.” She looked at Jiva with mock pity. “That doesn’t make me happy one bit. I say no.” As if to punctuate her point, she dropped her haunches to the ground and sat in a huff, turning her gaze away from Jiva and staring forward, hiding her devilish grin from him. She waited, watching out of the corner of her eye for the panicked lovebird to come plead with her. Ohh…sweet revenge. She and Jiva had been playmates as pups, and there were plenty of times when the boy cub got an upper paw on Titania because of her sleight stature when she was young. Now it was her turn to execute the perfect practical joke. To what lengths would Jiva go to to become Palaydrian’s mate?
Word Count :: 248 OOC: I cannot believe you are making him do this, LOOK AT THESE PUPPY DOG EYES@!!!!
Shock was all over Jiva’s face as Titania spoke. She had not known? Hadn’t the leaders always told each other everything? His heart quickened as she spoke. He could be hers but could she be his? He squeezed his eyes to keep himself from being offensive, sitting in a low hunch, knowing better than to challenge her. If he did all bets were of and he would surely not be the poor woman’s mate. All he could do was plead.
“But Titania... I already... in front of my dad! How could i go to her and tell her we can no longer be mates? Please!”
Yes he would grovel at her, plead, beg, anything with his cousin to make her see he couldn’t be without drin. He moved forward, his ears low, his tail tucked, he was not in his normal lupus form but he was on all fours. It hurt to do this, more in his pride than his body, but it would hurt even worse to lose Palaydrian.
“Please cousin. I had not known you didn’t know, I’m sorry but please I beg you.”
He made a pathetic whining sound. he looked to her tail which was the closes thing to him. Her back was to him and he wasn’t sure why she would think of doing something like this to him. She was his cousin for crying out loud, blood. He stayed waiting for her reply.
ONE LAST KISS, BEFORE I GO. DRY YOUR TEARS, IT IS TIME TO LET YOU GO
“Well you wouldn’t really have to tell her you can’t be mates anymore, you’d just have to tell her that you were never mates to begin with.” There was a hissing sound as she tried to hold back a laugh, luckily it sounded more like a sneeze than anything. She reigned it in quickly. She stood up and turned to face him. “What, you think that just because you’re my cousin I would let you skirt the rules?” She spoke so casually, so nonchalant. She was kind of surprised she managed to make it sound so convincing. She shrugged, “It’s too bad, you would have made a cute couple. You broke the rules, now it’s out of my paws. I couldn’t just say it’s okay now or it would look like I was favoring you just because we’re blood.”
She trotted past him and over to a tree, lowering her muzzle to sniff at a spot at the base of the tree for a moment as though she had forgotten that he was there. She was completely unconcerned with his plight. Then her head suddenly lifted and she looked at him with perky ears as though she had just gotten a great idea. “Oh! I know… welllll… maybe you could earn your right to Palaydrian back. But what would be good enough to make up for all of this… hmm…” She cocked her head as if really pondering it.
After a long, drawn out show of consideration, she turned her eyes back to Jiva. “Okay, I think I got it. First, you have to escort me to the Court and Casa, because I couldn’t possibly go alone like this.” She looked at her belly and back to him. “While we’re out you will be on a quest… you must obtain three items. One, you must find a gift for New Dawn. I can’t tell you what it has to be, you have to let Luna guide your spirit to it. The next, you must get something for Palaydrian, something that symbolizes your love for her. Only you will know what that is when you see it. And lastly… you need to get something for me!” She grinned for a moment, before adding, “…to make up for your indiscretion.”
She paused for affect, raised herself tall, and asked, “What say you, son of Takekuro and blood of my blood? Do you love Palaydrian enough to rise to the challenge?” She probably should have stopped the jest long ago. Of course she knew that Jiva had asked Zalen to mate Palaydrian, but her idea had become so romantic she wanted to know what he would do. Plus, she really didn’t mind the idea of getting presents.
Word Count :: 221 OOC: Lawl... pooor jiva taking this entirely seriously but she's very convincing!!!
He felt like he was hyperventilating now. Everything blew up in his face as she spoke saying they weren’t mated to begin with because he had not gone to her about it as well. So much for him and his damn assumptions. He wouldn’t cry though, he bit his lip and stayed down as she spoke. He didn’t move a muscle, though as she seemed to get an idea he did flinch, but didn’t make a sound. She gave him a proposition. That if he took her to the packs, a request he knew she was going to ask him already, and get a present for New Dawn, Palaydrian, AND Titania then she would consider it. He had already gotten the circlet for Palaydrian, but Titania didn’t know that did she? whatever the case he’d get her another one, something better than the crown.
“I’d walk to the ends of the earth for her Alphess”
He said formally. He would do this for the women of the pack just so that he could have the one woman he wanted for the rest of his life. He still sat where he was groveling at her, tail still tucked and feeling rather stiff with the way he felt. He swallowed hard, knowing he was at his alpha’s scrutiny.
“I will tell Palaydrian and get ready for the trip....”
He said, though not moving, waiting for permission to leave as he felt this was a formal situation that needed permission to take his leave.
ONE LAST KISS, BEFORE I GO. DRY YOUR TEARS, IT IS TIME TO LET YOU GO
Jiva rose to the challenge and Titania positively gushed at the romance of it all... at least, on the inside. If she showed it on the outside he might suspect something was up. Still, there was the slightest change in her features, telling him that she was pleased with his decision. She walked over to him and lowered her head, rubbing her muzzle on his to comfort him a little. She smiled, and looked into his eyes, her own gaze warm and soft. “That is the right choice, my cousin. You are a true wolf, a Takekuro, and I know you will succeed to claim your mate.”
She took a step back, looking down at him. “I have one more condition, though,” she said, having to think quickly when he said he would tell Palaydrian. If he told her, then word would surely get back to Zalen, and her childish prank would be revealed. “Don't tell Palaydrian. This quest, it is between you and me. Again, the others can't know that I've shown you special favor. If they found out by happenstance then your quest would satisfy them, but I would have to do it for everyone who defies me then, and not everyone would deserve a second chance like you do. I also wouldn't want Palaydrian's heart to be broken. Let her be at peace for now, and if you don't succeed, then we will tell her.”
Her eyes searched his face. To him it might look like she was looking for him to accept her command, but really she was looking for his consent because she didn't want to get caught.
“If you are well, we will ready ourselves. Tell Palaydrian I commanded you to be my guard on this journey, she will have to understand that. We will leave at the break of dawn tomorrow, and return roughly within a week. Is that enough time for your mission?” She cocked her head and quirked a brow. She didn't want to torture him too much, if he thought it wasn't enough time she would find a way to bide her time so he could have longer, which could also help her figure out a way to make her prank null and void in case he did not actually succeed.
He stayed quiet as he let her conditions sink in and he closed his eyes knowing in some way he would hurt his mate... no his soon to be again mate.... very unhappy. He had already asked the woman to join him in the meadow that evening, and he wasn’t going to change those plans but deep down he couldn’t do everything he wished. It owuld make him feel tainted but he looked at the alpha’s neck and nodded. That was all the man could do or he was sure to say something to offend her and now was not the time for that. He rose up, but no higher than Titania
“A week will do it.”
He said, He would be determined to find what he needed to in any place he came to. Or trade for something. The biggest concern was finding something for a whole pack of wolves that lived off the land. That would be his hardest challange but he would do what he could for the woman that he loved. He waited for her to take her leave before getting entirely up and leaving. He had a lot to think about and not enough time for it. He was sad about the whole mate thing though the thought of a quest not daunting but adventurous, though he continued to let his sullen self show rather than anything exciting. He was not happy he was not mates with Palaydrian.
ONE LAST KISS, BEFORE I GO. DRY YOUR TEARS, IT IS TIME TO LET YOU GO
I was just going to archive this then decided to slap this closer up here… Word Count → 200+
He had fallen for her mean little prank and stepped up to the duty she bestowed upon him. Not only would he show his loyalty to his blood, and his pack by escorting her safely to Cour des Miracles to see her mother, Orin Takekuro, and then to Casa di Cavalieri to visit Juliet Moonsong, Titania’s sister and Jiva’s cousin, but he would also step up in an effort to prove his love for Palaydrian by performing this fool’s errand (of sorts) that she charged him with. Titania should feel bad, she knew, but her guilt was overshadowed by the greatness of Jiva’s character. He would step up to the plate and earn his mateship to Palaydrian, and that was ever so romantic. Brought up on the stories and tales of the fairies and other legends written by Shakespeare, Titania could do little but gush.
She nodded, smiling at him, her tail wagging a bit with pride. “Perfect. Then let’s not waste any time, the sooner we can leave the sooner you can come back and claim your mate, because I have no doubt that you will succeed.” She gave him a reassuring lick on the cheek, and then turned and bounded off into the woods to find Zalen and tell him of their impending journey.
