They headed back to their room, leaving their new guest to sleep. As they neared their den however, he saw the door to their cave was open. He was sure he had closed that on the way through.. He stepped forward, pushing it shut. Catching the scent of… was that bear? A soft growl lipped past him, and he pushed in front of Ignita, heading into their room.

There, curled up on their bedding was a tiny black figure. Pressed so tightly into a ball you couldn’t tell where it started or ended. Basilisk lowered his head in a threatening posture, a growl slipping through. “Larimer, scout for its parents.” He ordered. It seemed too young to have come this far alone. As he spoke, it lifted its head. Displaying a shockingly familiar blue marking across one of its eyes.

"Basilisk"

Lost in her thoughts, Ignita missed the signs of the door open. She pulled up short as she heard Basilisk growl softly and then push his way in front of her. She flinched and stepped back wincing as her stretched side pressed against the cavern wall.

She watched him dash into their room with an aggressive step and she hung back for a breath, then peered inside at what had set him off. She heard his command to the wyrm and she ducked as Larimer flew overhead to do as he bid.

With the word "parents," Ignita's curiosity overwhelmed her caution, as usual, and she pushed her way into the room. The small bundle of dark fur looked up at them both.

"Awww... Little sweetheart! Bas, it's just a baby bear!" She waddled into the nest and sniffed the baby. Barely 4 months old. "I wonder if its mama got caught in the blight." Gossy did say something about rabid bears nearby.

"Poor thing." The bear called out in fear at the sudden intrusion of personal space. "It's alright little one." She backed off and sat heavily with a huff into the nest.

"Ignita"

Basilisk may enter her threads without warning.

Moving slowly, he prowled into the room and stopped when the bear raised its head. The Markings were much closer to that of his Grandfather than even his own. Just a baby? They didn’t know why it was there, or where its parents were. Though he wasn’t sure how yet, he couldn’t help but wonder if this was some sort of trap.

He twitched his ears at Ignita’s words, and growled again as she moved forward, but he didn’t stop her. A baby that young couldn’t do too much damage before he stopped it. It was its parents he was concerned about now.

Ignita backed off, and the little bear sniffed the air. “I’ve never seen markings like that on a bear before.” Basilisk said. He wouldn’t admit it, but was a little freaked out at seeing the mark of his family line on a baby bear in their den. Larimar returned then, landing on his back, and shaking her head. Nothing, no sign. He’d have a better look in the morning.


"Basilisk"

She lay down next to the bear. A warm smile on her lips, cooing at it to come closer.
"I won't hurt you, come here." She told it quietly. The markings were striking, that was for sure. She wondered if the little one had a scratch there and the fur grew back like that.

As the bear grew bolder and came within reach Ignita softly pulled into her arms and began to it like she would a pup. It seemed to relax into her care.

"There now, see?" She hummed softly, the bear settling into her warmth. She looked up at Bas, stalking like a tiger in a cage, eyeing the ursine child like it was bomb.

"Guess he's ours now." She chuckled at Basilisk. "Our brood is due any day now, what's one more, my Love?" She asked cheekily. Wrapping her paws around the babe and holding it close to her chest. She batted her golden eyes at him, how could he resist?

"Speech"

Basilisk didn't move closer yet, watching the bear and Ignita interact. It was young enough to still be small, even beside Ignita. He was sure it would outgrow her one day. Was this really wise? But his grandfather had claimed a bear. Wylans had a bear that followed him around. White as the snow. That this bear would come, right before their children were born… Sometimes these things happened. Perhaps it would choose one of their children. 


He sighed as Ignita battered her eyes at him. Rolling his own. But her swollen belly was a stark reminder of what was to come. How was he to deny her a small comfort? “Very well then.” He agreed, stepping forward and sitting beside his fiance. She would be his wife by now, if this blight hadn't struck.