As the weather begins to turn, so too does High Times' body. She has grown rather round these last few months, and walks with more of a waddle. Sometimes she has very strange dreams, and wakes up with her insides feeling strange and squirmy.
She is pregnant, of course, though having never before been a mother, nor having been raised by one, she does not really understand what she is going through. Instinct guides her more than sense, and so it is perhaps very lucky that she runs into the mare when she does.
"Don't eat that!"
High Times startles, her teeth nearly grazing the top of the strange looking mushroom. It looks tasty.
Hush steps forward and shoos the pregnant acha back with an exasperated look, her small round ears twitching.
"Really... What were you thinking?" Her voice is soft but surprisingly husky, and High Times stares at her brightly glowing eyes and soft ears and fluffy tail and makes a sound of appreciation.
But wait - she's been asked a question. "Er... I'm hungry?"
"It's poison. Are you trying to kill yourself and your children?"
Children? The acha scrunches her face in confusion. "... What?"
Hush blinks, and cocks her head, though her fierce expression softens a little. "Oh... Well surely you realize, I mean -- you *do* realize...?"
High Times only stares expectantly until the mare sighs.
"Did your mother never teach you about this?" Hush asks, gently.
"Oh, I didn't have a mother. Or I suppose I do, or did? But I never met her. Why? What are you talking about? Also if I can't eat the mushroom do you have any food? I'm really hungry." High Times looks hopefully at the zikwa, her eyes wide and gormless.
Taking pity, Hush tilts her head toward the direction of her own den, "... Come along this way. I'll feed you and perhaps explain a few things along the way.."
---------
Some time later, a cry of surprise and understanding scares a small flock of birds away from Hush's den as High Times realizes she's not simply grown fat, but rather the eggs and sacs within her are her children, soon to be born. She thinks of frog eggs and wonders about their strange metamorphosis, and if it will be anything like that. She shares her thoughts and Hush looks mildly concerned, and then thoughtful.
"Yes, I suppose, actually....a little like that. Only you will want to find a safe place to birth them. *Not* in the water," she adds sternly as the doe's gaze drifts toward the stream running past her den.
"Maybe I can have them here!" High Times exclaims, and Hush's eyes widen in surprise.
"Er...--"
"It's so nice and warm and there's so much good food and *you're* nice and warm, too. Please? Please please pleeeeeeeaaaase? I'll be so good you won't even notice!"
Hush highly doubts that, but at the same time.... Well, it's been awhile since she's had any little ones around and more importantly she finds herself highly concerned for the likelihood that this doe will know what to do when the time comes. A little guidance is what she's here for, after all...
"Very well, but--"
"Yay!!"
*But*," Hush says, and High Times stares at her smiling like an over eager puppy, "...ah, nevermind."
Shaking get head, the mare smiles faintly to herself.
"May your children be as full of life as their mother," and more quietly, she adds, "and far more bright."
