To say he was pleased was an understatement, and it was why he was out searching for a mare or a stag, even though it wasn't his preferred time of day to be wandering around. This, was worth coming out of his comfort zone for, in his opinion. This was to be his first taste of fatherhood, and he was looking forward to it.

"Honk." The swan had waddled its way into the path, and sat down right in front of the buck. Her glowing eyes peered up at the stranger, and she blinked.

"Honk."

The honking caught his attention and he stopped walking just as a swan walked into his path and then....sat....down??? He'd never seen a swan behave like that, or with glowing eyes.

He was curious and couldn't help but carefully lower himself down to the ground, staring at the swan with a fascinated expression from it's level. "Wow...never seen a swan with glowing eyes!" he breathed out in amazement.

The swan stopped and craned its head, almost as if it was thinking over what the buck had said. Then it gave a startled noise, and in the blink of an eye-



"I'm so sorry!" Roses in Bloom breathed, bowing her head. She gave the buck a nervous laugh, fidgeting in front of him.

"When I travel a long while, I lose track of whose skin I'm in! This should be a bit easier for us both, yes?"

He was still prone on the ground having been staring at the swan with interest when it shifted and he found himself looking up, and up, and up! at the mare which caused him to scramble back up to his hooves.

"Oh, oh wow that was so cool!" he gushed a little. This was a first for him, and he couldn't help his honest reactions.

"Yes, definitely easier. I would have just thought you were a cool swan with glowing eyes." he gave a sheepish laugh of his own. "This is a first for me, so I had no idea what to expect."

The buck’s excitement had Roses in Bloom giggling, a surprising sort of giddy at his awe. Being able to borrow the swan’s form had just sort of... become commonplace for her, really. But it was cool, wasn’t it? Maybe she’d need to take the time to remember how cool it was. Challenge Half Truth to a race, or something equally fun. The thoughts lasted but a fleeting moment, as there was a young buck in need of her assistance!

“Well. Apologies for any stress I might have caused, or any disappointment at not just being a very cool swan,” Rose offered with a giggle.

“But I believe you were in need of assistance, yes?”

"There's no stress, or disappointment!" he shook his head to dispel her worries. There was nothing disappointing at all about meeting the mare!

"Oh, yes I am!" he beamed a little. "I'm going to be a father!" he crowed happily. "My first children, so I guess I'm overly excited about....well everything right now."

He cleared his throat and attempted to sober up a little so he could talk a little calmer. "I was told I should find a stag or a mare, to bless her and the babies. I was thinking about it and well...is it too much to ask that it be an easy time for Night Bird? She's nice, and I don't want the pregnancy to be hard on her... but also I'd like it if the baby...or babies are full of compassion for others." he knew there was plenty he could have requested... for them to find beauty in all things related to the darkness like him... their happiness no matter what or who they chose... but compassion seemed a good one.