The birth had been excruciating. But she made it. Alive. Barely. She lay in the den, her sides somewhat deflated and her fresh new brood of tiny wriggling little ones pressed close to her. It had been a few days and Ignita was finally starting to recover enough and feeling like she could handle being alone with her brood for longer periods. Bas was busy with duties and he would take Pluto with him occasionally but he wasn't divulging much to her about it. She knew he was secretly giddy about her being tucked away from the pack. But she hated being on her own. Not when there were things to think about, to do, to discover, to explore! But her babies were now her discovery and adventure. Discovering their little personalities was a wonder. Who knew each child could be so different?

The fresh furs were comfortable as she languished against them. But her mind had started to get bored again, the tiny babies were not so much of an adventure as of yet, they simply eat, sleep, and needed cleaning. It was a full-time job with five of them but there were now many moments where she still had nothing to do. And she was hungry. Again.

She sent her little golden possum companion out of the den to fetch someone to her.

"Jamie"||"Iskandor"||"Citadel"||"Selene"||"Balrog"||"Ignita"||"Basilisk"

Yara Grey

Yara was patrolling the outskirts of the Col, her keen eyes scanning on the horizon for any signs of threats or intruders. The beckon from her mistress' companion made her head turn towards the possum before looking past them to the door of the den where Ignita had been resting with her new brood.

Without a second thought, Yara altered her course, moving swiftly but silently through the Col. As she approached the den, she began to think about what Ignita might need. Her mistress was resourceful but also restless, and Yara knew she would want more than just company.

Food. Ignita would be hungry, no doubt. Fresh meat, something tender and easy to digest after her ordeal. Yara sniffed the air, catching the scent of a nearby herd. A few moments later, she had felled a young deer, the flesh still warm. She quickly prepared a portion, wrapping it in thick leaves and then carrying it within her jaws.

Water. Yara knew the streams nearby could be cold and refreshing, perfect for the new mother. She stopped by one of the cleanest streams she knew, using a hollowed-out tusk to scoop up enough water for Ignita to drink from when she got back. A hollowed out log had been formed into a cap, and leather used for the strap that held around her neck.

Comfort. The fresh furs in Ignita's den were good, but Yara had noticed a spot nearby where soft grasses grew in abundance. She gathered a bundle, thinking extra bedding beneath the furs might help keep Ignita and the pups cozy, and tucked it away beneath the strap of her makeshift canteen.

With everything collected, Yara made her way to the den, her heart pounding with anticipation. As she approached the entrance, she dropped the deer meat gently by the door and tapped gently upon it with her claws.

"I am here, Ignita, if you need me," she said softly, her voice filled with both respect and concern. "I've brought you something to eat and drink, and a little extra comfort for you and the pups. Is there anything else you need?" Yara waited, her posture relaxed but alert, ready to serve in whichever way Ignita required. She knew how important it was for Ignita to feel secure and comfortable, especially with so many things going on both inside and outside her den.

"Speech."

CODE BY SIN

Idalia was taking her sweet ass time. She wanted to get up and roam and find out how far that glowing worm colony went and how big those tunnels were! The only thing she had to keep her company besides little wriggling bundles of joy was her charcoal and papers. But she was already bored of sketching.

Finally, she heard a soft tapping on the door, and the songbird's, Yara's, voice came through. She sighed, it wasn't who she wanted, but she might as well, she wanted Bas, she always wanted Bas. But she also needed to keep tabs on the others and Yara was technically her own slave. She should help her fit in with the pack as long as she wasn't making googoo eyes at the warlord.

She lifted her voice, "Come in Yara!" She replied and took a moment to catch her breath. A few of the babes, not quite opened their eyes yet lifted their little noses. Once the door was opened, she called out, "Watch the board on the doorway. They're not moving yet, but they will soon!" She said lightly, gathering one of the little nuggets closer to her.

Her own movements were relegated to be minimal. Her mouth started to water as she scented the fresh kill.
"Oh is that why it took so long? Thank you, Yara!" She greeted cheerfully as her eyes laid on the items of comfort and care. She really needed to pull her jealous head out of the sand. The girl was certainly doing her very best here and Ignita needed to set aside her trepidations and paranoia.

"Ignita"

Basilisk may enter her threads without warning.

Yara Grey

Yara slipped into the den once she was granted permission, carefully stepping over the board at the entrance as Ignita had warned. Her eyes immediately fell on the small, wriggling bundles at Ignita's side, their tiny noses twitching in curiosity. A soft smile touched Yara's lips, but she quickly refocused her attention on her mistress.

"Of course, Consort Ignita," Yara replied, her voice respectful and warm. She could sense the undercurrent of impatience within Ignita's tone but knew better than to address it directly. Instead, she gently set the food and water down within easy reach of the new mother, her movements slow and precise.

"I thought you might need a little extra comfort too, so I bought some fresh grasses. They should help get the den cozy for you and the little ones," she added, placing the bundle of soft grasses near Ignita's bedding.

Yara then stepped back, giving Ignita space but staying close enough to assist with anything else that might be needed. "I'm here if you require anything. If there's anything on your mind, or something you'd like me to do, just say the word."

She paused, her yellow eyes noticing the way Ignita cradled one of the pups closer to herself. "They are beautiful, if I may say so. They will grow up strong just like their mother."

Yara knew her place, but she also knew the value of being attentive and useful. Ignita's approval was vital if she were going to be granted full membership into Armada. She was determined to earn that approval through her actions, no matter the underlying tensions there may be between them.

CODE BY SIN

Ignita couldn't help the tension in her shoulders tighten as Yara glanced at the babes, but she took in a breath to steady her nerves. It was just instinct. It was just paranoia. It was just impatience and hunger gnawing at her nerves.

She watched as Yara placed the accouterments of comfort and care around her, obviously being respectful and careful. It made her tilt her head, was Yara once trained as a slave? Ignita had not been, but the way Yara carried herself reminded Ignita of the servants of the desert palace. It was the way the servants spoke and walked around her mother. She didn't want to be like her cruel mother.

She looked away, mad at herself for putting Yara in this position of supplicating servitude. It must be a reaction from the meeting about the quarantine.
"You don't... have to call me that." Ignita said hesitantly, "Just Ignita is fine. One of the songbirds calls me a Lady if that's more comfortable." She fiddled with the fringe of a fur. Then pulled the meal closer to sink her teeth into it.

One of the squirming pups started to whine and she nosed it closer to her side to eat.
"Thank you, this one seems to never stop eating. He'll drink me dry if I let him." She mentioned with a soft smile through her own feast. Feeding five, and once six, was a lot on her little body, especially the Warlords brood.

"Just stay a moment while I finish this. Here-" She said as she dug in, finding herself ravenous. She tossed Yara a good sizable piece, she hated to eat alone while a servant watched. Having servants was... Not something she'll ever be accustomed to.

When Ignita was finished and thoroughly cleaned she leaned back satisfied with her meal.

"Why don't we get into teaching you some letters? Start you on your reading?" She mentioned. She already had paper and charcoal with her. It would be something to do for a while and sweep away the boredom.

"Speech"

Yara Grey

Yara caught the piece of meat Ignita tossed to her with a grateful nod, quickly settling down to eat. She appreciated the gesture, knowing it was a sign of Ignita's respect, despite the underlying tensions. As she ate, she couldn't help but notice the slight shift within Ignita. The offer to drop formal titles was unexpected, but Yara understood it was a gesture meant to bridge the gap between them. Why did Ignita want that, though?

"Thank you, Ignita," Yara replied softly, the name feeling foreign on her tongue but not unwelcome. It was an honor to be allowed such familiarity, and Yara took it to heart, determined to prove herself worthy of this trust.

She finished her meal quickly, keeping an eye on Ignita and the pups. The little one that had been whining earlier now seemed content, nestled close to his mother's side. Yara smiled at the sight, but her focus quickly returned to Ignita as she suggested teaching her letters.

Yara's ears perked up with interest. "I'd love to learn," she responded eagerly, her eyes brightening at the prospect. The chance to learn something new, especially something as valuable as reading, was not an opportunity she took lightly.

"I've always wanted to learn to read, but never had the chance," she admitted, "I'm ready whenever you are."

Yara moved a little closer, positioning herself where she could easily see the paper and charcoal that Ignita had with her. The idea of learning letters, of understanding the words that so often eluded her, filled Yara with a bit of brightness. This was more than just a lessonl it was a chance to connect with Ignita on a deeper level, to show that she was more than just a servant.

As she waited for Ignita to begin, Yara's tail gave a small, excited wag, a clear sign of her anticipation. She was ready to absorb everything Ignita had to each, eager to prove herself capable and worthy of this newfound trust she had given her.

"Speech."

CODE BY SIN

Ignita's preference over anything was as a teacher. She enjoyed sharing her knowledge to anyone who would listen. Not in a way as to flaunt it! No, she felt in her heart that knowledge was meant for everyone. The more knowledge someone had on something the better decisions and overall quality of life someone could obtain!

She pulled out the paper and laid it out before Yara. Adjusting her position. She scrawled a couple of letters down and started sounding them out to Yara.

"Each symbol corresponds to a sound. There are a few rules to reading that you'll learn eventually that can slightly change a sound in a word but ultimately we'll start with a few symbols at a time."

When Yara began to get the sounds down verbally, Ignita would hide the paper and scrawl out a symbol for Yara to guess.

The wriggling pups were still too young to play this game but she would be certain to teach every single one of them how to read.

"Speech"