[imgleft]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... uncert.png[/imgleft] Evenstar had always thought that, between the two of them, she would be the one who'd have children first. But that was because she didn't think Pale Rook was the sort to ever have children.

But Pale Rook had gone and gotten children.

And he seemed happy.

It was disconcerting.

Not just that her brother seemed happy, which was in itself strange, but that he seemed happy to have children. She didn't even think her brother had ever seen the doe again, but he seemed perfectly content to raise the little foals by himself.

"They really are a joy," he'd laughed, contentedly, as his babies confusedly tumbled about him and chased their own tails, "you should try some, Evenstar. If you don't like it, I could give you a hoof with them. My little ones could always use some cousins."

Disconcerting.

Still, perhaps her brother's words had made her careless, because she'd met a handsome - really, incredibly handsome, and very arresting - buck, and one thing had led to another.

And then it had dawned upon her - well, Pale Rook didn't have to carry them, did he?! All of that was easy for him to say!!

She was starting to feel very, very heavy indeed.

[imgright]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... uncert.png[/imgright] Distant Thunder had cheerily wandered in-land for a leisure trek while his better and worse half was off on his actual Rise and Shine duties today, and was pleasantly sauntering along (for once) with a couple of just-ripe apples held by the stem in his mouth. A dutiful instinct led him about the hoof, and his sauntering turned towards a specific direction rather urgently.

He had upgraded to a short trot, apples teetering, when he saw a kin, luscious locks elegantly splayed down a shoulder. He made a little sulky noise - ah, it was those locks again! That blue, and that brown! Goodness.

"I've already handled this family," he grumbled very quietly and muffledly through the stems at the Motherfather, and started to meander away when he irritably still felt the pull.

Hey, hold on, his walnut brain said.

He turned back and looked again, peering past those locks...
Ah, no beard!
And the blue was on her rump, not her hair!

He murmured prayers and apologies as he hurriedly caught up (it wasn't very hard, pregnancy and all) with the doe, and tried to speak as clearly as possible through the apples, given (what he presumed was) her relative's (of some sort) hardness-of-hearing.

"Yes! You! Baby!"

Oh Swamp, it was one of those weirdo creepers who shouted inappropriate things at does minding their own business. Maybe he had a thing for pregnant does.

Evenstar shuffled away a little faster.

Her little shuffle was no match for Thunder's complete lack of social awareness, etiquette and powerful kiokote legs. With haste, he galloped over gallantly with cheerful steps and said with absolutely inappropriate-looking glee, "no I mean - baby! In you!"

Evenstar straight out screamed.

"Nononono," he exclaimed in great haste, trying to calm her down, "you already have one! Just like your brother! Except er - his was not in him."

He beamed at her desperately and helpfully, hoping that extra stalkery tidbit would make her feel better. Damn it all, he had a blessing to give! He was this close!

Evenstar screamed again. Did the depravity of this buck know no bounds?!

Then she turned tail and straight out ran.

"Wait but the baby! Babies!"

He called behind her as he started on his hooves, "you'll be fine! They'll be fine! Just let me give it to you!"

Now she was screaming and running at the same time. To a certain extent, the kiokote was also screaming and running. They were both screaming and running, as fast as they could (at least, she certainly was), but she could not outrun a screaming and running kiokote.

"You are too pregnant to be running so much," he did catch up, but at a mild distance, trying to speak his mind very loudly without crossing into screaming territory. My, how skittish this family was.

"Just - just let me bless you, you might yet need it."

Bless...you?

Oh.

"Why didn't you just say so?!" Evenstar snapped, finally cantering to a halt, "instead of saying all these weird, creepy things like 'You! Baby!' and 'let me give it to you!'"

Thunder was chastened by her unfortunately astute words. In his excitement, he had admittedly said some very weird, creepy things. This was a blessing he was not going to tell Tidings about.

Meekly, he offered, "I'm sorry."

Shuffling his limbs together modestly, he said, "perhaps there is something you want that I could convey to the Motherfather?"

Despite her irritation, his offer immediately set off a cavalcade of thoughts in her head. Foremost among these was, "May they be as attractive as their father," but Evenstar thought the better of actually saying it out loud.

Even the Motherfather may judge, she was pretty sure.

Close on its heels was, "May they be easy to carry."

She also decided not to say this out loud.

"Well, for them to be healthy, that's the most important thing," she said, instead, rather dutifully (and a little shame-faced), "and for them to grow up happy and strong. And, while you're at it, ask Her to grant me the fortitude to go through this and not mess them up, will you?"

He nodded with determination as he took it all in, then alarmingly and abruptly called out to the skies: "ALL-KNOWING MOTHERFATHER, HEAR YOUR CHILD'S PLEA! MAY HER OFFSPRING BE HEALTHY, AND TO GROW WITH HAPPINESS AND STRENGTH - AND MAY SHE KNOW THOSE JOYS, AS WELL!"

"You'll be just fine," he beamed, generously, "children are rather hard to mess up."

(Dear reader: it is very easy to mess kids up.)

END