[B] Safe and Warm (Delicate Bones x Nestle x Don't Make a Sound)

[lilacfishie]

The movement of the sun and moon went unnoticed by cave dwellers for the most part. The passage of time stretched and compressed as it pleased and as the mood shifted.

In short, Delicate Bones had no idea how long she and Nestle had been in their nest. And she didn't care. It was warm, soft, and comfortable. Her companion was so sweet and loving and she to her. The little zikwa never wanted this bond to end. But, when she woke this time, the comfortable nest was interrupted by discomfort.

Delicate Bones twitched an ear in thought. Her eyes widened when she recalled a certain flower amongst their dinner several nights ago. Things were different that night. Still lovely, but different. That's when she put the pieces together. Her eyes sparkled a little in the nearly pitch dark alcove with the thought. Surely, she couldn't keep this to herself though, and they would need some help.

The young zikwa nuzzled her nose against Nestle's, admiring the twitching of her large ears as she slept. "Wake up, lovely," she hummed quietly, trying to rouse the sleeping zikwa she was entwined with.

[Owlsomniac]

Nestle blinks sleepily, her ears twitching before she turns her head and smiles as her nose brushes Delicate Bones'. She can't imagine a more perfect way to wake, and cuddles closer to her companions warmth. "Good morning, my sweet one. Or is it evening?"

She laughs softly. They've been here together for some time, but it doesn't matter. She really wouldn't rather be anywhere else. Something is different, though. She can tell by the look in Delicate's eyes, and there's an almost, but not quite, imperceptible thrum of tension in the other doe's twitching tail.

"What is it, dearest? Are you hungry? I can gather some more of those berries you like..."

[lilacfishie]

Delicate Bones laughed lightly at Nestle's joke. In the very sparse light, she met the other doe's eyes, and could tell that Nestle knew something was up. The idea of more of those tasty berries was very compelling, she had to admit. Maybe even more so, given the news. It seemed like the more her mind focused on what was happening, the bigger her torso felt. She knew that wasn't actually the case, but it was a strange feeling nonetheless.

Well, she couldn't keep Nestle waiting while she thought in circles to herself. Delicate Bones adjusted her legs a bit and looked down at her midsection, which rounded out a little more than her usual lithe frame. "I think..." she started, almost scared to say it out loud and solidify that it was real. "I think we might need a bigger nest," she said, a bit sheepishly. In hindsight, she knew there was probably a better way to say that. But she was so happy that all the words jumbled together.

She just hoped Nestle shared the same feelings. Delicate Bones' ears and tail twitched a little as she tilted her head to meet her eyes again.

[Owlsomniac]

It takes Nestle a moment to understand what Delicate is trying to say, but when she does her eyes widen and she gasps. A surge of feeling rushes through her - excitement, nerves, and pure affection for the doe curled against her. "R.. Really?"

She spends some time nuzzling her mate's cheek and nose, her belly, and making soft sounds of excited wonder. "We're going to be mothers..."

As much as she would love to laze in the nest all day, however, Nestle realizes there are now a number of things they need to do. First, she gathers more berries - and considers the best materials with which to expand their nest. As she thinks, Nestle remembers a story she'd heard once from another kin about a mare who supposedly lives not far from their own cave - somewhere near the foot of the mountains in the northern part of the swamp.

Nestle can hardly contain her excitement as the idea takes root and blooms inside of her. Not only has she been fortunate enough to have met the cutest, most precious, most lovely, beautiful doe...(she goes on like that for awhile in her own head, smiling to herself, her big ears occasionally twitching with excited nerves) - but she's also now going to have a family with said lovely doe.

When she returns with several full branches laden heavily with sweet, tart, berries, Nestle meets Delicate Bones' gaze with a smile, and a twinkle in her own eyes.

"There's supposedly a mare near here," she starts, her words a little rushed in her excitement. "I want to see if I can find her. Maybe..she can give us some advice, you know. A blessing. I'll look for some soft grass and thinks to start lining the nest, too. Oh I'm just --" she pauses to catch her breath and smiles, before trotting over to plant a sweet kiss atop Delicate's even sweeter nose. "I'm so happy," she finishes softly.

"I won't be gone very long though.. I promise."

[lilacfishie]

Delicate Bones was almost relieved when she saw the same rollercoaster of emotions whirl on Nestle's face. She wasn't alone in being almost overwhelmed in the Everything that was ahead of them now. Then, the whirlwind following made everything feel new all over again. Each nuzzle and and smile was somehow warmer and brighter. They cuddled closer and laughed more.

The little zikwa's eyes widened with delight at the veritable feast Nestle brought back to the nest. Those would make excellent snacks for the both of them for a while. Or, well, for the group of them? The concept excited her all over again. She rested her head on Nestle and daydreamed a bit about what their little babies would look like until her ears perked when Nestle spoke up again.

She'd only heard vague rumors about mares and stags with such gifts from the Motherfather. Delicate Bones didn't think she'd ever encountered any of them. What a treat to have one come and visit them to help with their little family, then! She returned the kiss on the nose to her lovely, amazing, incredible mate and her eyes sparkled again.

"I'll be right here, come home quickly," she murmured into Nestle's fur before watching as she trotted off.

[Owlsomniac]

Nestle seeks out the mare she's heard of in stories. Both she and Delicate Bones are first time parents, and while there's no doubt in Nestle's mind that Delicate will be an amazing mother, she wants to give their new family every possible chance.

Thoughts of Delicate Bones make her smile and sigh with affection, and -- "Oh my!"

Startled, she jumps, and blinks at the small black creature that has jumped in her path. A mongoose! It stares at her with glowing red eyes, a curious intensity to its gaze.

"Oh - hello there. I'm sorry, I don't have any treats to give you. I'm looking for a mare that lives in the area. I wonder if you've seen her, not that you could tell me if you did." She laughs, and moves to continue forward, but the mongoose follows her a few steps before it melts away to shadow, the shape of it stretching and solidify before her eyes. It happens so quickly, and seamlessly, that all she can do is gape in surprise.

"But... You... you're the mare?! Oh my... oh I didn't realize." Flustered, and shocked, Nestle can feel her cheeks heat with embarrassment. If course she's heard stories of the shape-shifting abilities the legendary kin have, but to see it herself is quite something.

Hush laughs softly at the reaction, her expression kind, her small fuzzy ears twitching with amusement. "I'm sorry if I startled you. I was on the hunt when I felt the call and found you here in my backyard."

"Oh, well... I was looking for you. You see, my...er, mate and I - we're expecting and I.. we've never.. " her heart is beating so fast. Now that she's actually in front of the mare, her usual shy manner is coming out full force. Even the tips of her ears are red!

"Ahhh... I think I understand, young one. It's alright. You know, I'm a mother myself, and I remember the feeling of being newly expectant quite well. Perhaps you can tell me about this partner of yours and I'll walk you home?"

And that is how Nestle finds herself back at the little cave she and Delicate Bones share, with Hush at her side. She's been gone several hours, but it's still light out when she returns. Even so, she's quite tired.

"Darling? I'm back." Nestle calls out softly, leading the way in. She gestures with one hoof delicately toward the warm, comfy, nest she and her mate have built and spent the last several weeks cocooned in. In fact, she steps forward to nuzzles Delicate's cheek before settling in right next to her once more while Hush watches with a look of nostalgic warmth in her own eyes.

"Hush, this is Delicate Bones. Isn't she lovely?"

Hush smiles, "Very. It's a pleasure to meet you," she says softly, her quiet, husky, voice sincere. "Your mate is quite taken with you--" and she chuckles softly as Nestle squirms just a little and ducks her head against Delicate Bones' neck. "I'm sure your children will be very blessed with such sweet mothers."

[lilacfishie]

Delicate Bones watched as Nestle trotted away, keeping her eyes trained on her mate until the darkness swept their form away. Now that she was alone, she looked around at their nest. It had been...weeks since she was last by herself. But now there was so much rushing through her mind that she couldn't even be that upset about it! Of course she missed Nestle the moment she left, but wouldn't it be nice to spruce up the place while she was gone?

The little zikwa toddled to her feet, wondering how the roundness in her middle snuck up on her so fast. Thinking back, she did recall some strange feelings that she'd written off. Now it all made sense. Stretching a leg out to give one of her rounded ears a good itch, she looked around at all that could be done. Quickly, she was off to the races to make things a little more tidy. Not only would it be sweet to freshen things up for Nestle, but they might be expecting company if her clever, kind, thoughtful partner's plan worked.

Delicate dragged a frond with her tail across the chamber to catch any coarse dirt or little bits of branches from their berry feasting. She swept it out the entrance and scraped some of the thick moss on the wall to shore up some of the more worn spots in their nest. All the moving around tired her out very quickly, and she soon found herself curled back up in the freshly tidied space. While she waited, she snacked on a few of the berries she'd pulled from the branches and placed in a rock they'd found with a bit of a dip in it.

Soon enough, the familiar hoofbeats of her mate, with someone else behind, reached Delicate Bones' ears. She perked up immediately, excited to see Nestle again after a few hours. It felt much longer than it had actually been, if she was honest with herself. When her mate finally came into view, she smiled and happily returned the nuzzle.

The zikwa behind Nestle was...amazing. Their fluffy tail, cute ears, and captivating glowing eyes struck Delicate Bones immediately. Even if she'd never heard of kin blessed by the Motherfather before, she'd know that this zikwa was something special. She nodded her head in greeting as she listened to the two speak, her cheeks blushing pink at Nestle's praise.

"It's very nice to meet you as well," Delicate Bones chimed, eyes crinkling with her smile. "We're pretty attached," she said with a giggle and then continued more sincerely, "I really hope so." This was when some of the overwhelming feelings started to find their way back in Delicate Bones' mind. With a nervous flick of her ear, she looked anxiously first at Nestle, and then back to Hush. "We've never done this before," she started. "I really appreciate your help and would be very thankful for your blessing on our future babies," she declared, quietly, almost in a whisper. A serious topic amongst a very small group. Something precious.

[Owlsomniac]

"Do not worry," Hush says, smiling gently at the pair. "It would be my honor."

A strange but subtle energy fills the comfortable little cave, and the zikwa's presence seems, somehow, to grow. Hush steps forward then, and brushes her nose gently atop Nestle's, and then Delicate Bones', heads. "May your children know all the love their mothers share, and more. May they be safe and warm, wherever they may roam in future days to come."

As Hush steps back, the energy fades, and she is merely her fluffy self once more.

Nestle's eyes are wide and full of wonder, before she turns to her mate once more and nuzzles her most affectionately. Quietly, knowing her mate's sensitive ears will hear, she says, "I think we should ask her to stay, dearest... at least for the night."

[lilacfishie]

Delicate Bones' eyes sparkled in awe as she watched Hush swell with supernatural energy. She couldn't explain it, it's not like the zikwa in front of her got any bigger. Maybe it was her presence that grew. The mousy zikwa watched as she gently nuzzled Nestle and then held back a small gasp as Hush moved to her. The spot on her head where they touched felt warm, and maybe slightly tingly. She held her breath as she listened to the reverberating words coming from the, previously quite soft-spoken, zikwa before them.

The blessing made Delicate Bones' heart fill up with joy. She blinked back tears of both awe and joy as she felt the pressure of the room dissipate. When she opened her eyes once again, Hush was back to the "normal" form they'd seen her in. One of her sensitive ears twitched as Nestle spoke into her fur, and the lighter zikwa smiled with a hum of confirmation.

"Hush, thank you so much," Delicate Bones said, her tone full of gratitude. "We have some tasty berries here, and much more room now in our nest. It's clean and soft. Would you like to be our guest tonight?" she asked, passing a hoof over the empty space in their nest.

[Owlsomniac]

Hush smiles, very pleased indeed. She accepts the invitation with a bow of her head, and curls comfortably into the nest. Her great fluffy tail drapes over them all and soon the warmth and comfort has her feeling quite cozy and sleepy.

"Ahhh... What a lovely nest. Thank you," she says, because while she is normally rather solitary, moments like these are a very welcome exception.

Nestle hums a low note of contented pleasure, and wiggles just a little before letting out a tired sigh. Yes. Today has been a very good day.

As her eyes drift closed, Nestle tucks her head against Delicate Bones' side, and dreams of a future not too far off - a full nest, and little voices that fill their small cave and hearts. It's a very good dream.

[lilacfishie]

Delicate Bones had to suppress wiggling with delight when Hush snuggled in with them and draped her luxurious tail over the nest. It was so soft and the extra body in the next made everything even warmer and cozier. She snuggled down into a more comfortable position and rested her head on Nestle.

She was shocked at how much their day had changed from when they woke. They made a new friend, or at least she'd like to think so, who blessed them and their coming family! Delicate Bones blinked her eyes a few times and replied, "You're welcome any time." She hoped Hush might stick around so they could get to know her better, and maybe she could show them how to be mothers to the new little lives she was carrying.

It didn't take long at all for Delicate Bones to drift off. Her mind was filled with the possibilities of the future, and she couldn't wait to see those little faces when they finally came.