He had the burden; masked in his ebony cloak. The summer heat was far from pleasing,and his color seemed to draw the warmth into his body. He had been patrolling and it was currently mid afternoon. For once not one rouge had found there way towards his empire, and Vaughan felt the need to take every advantage that he could to rest. Pacing towards a large boulder, the brute would lay next to it, hoping the shade will cool his rising temperature. With a sigh he'd lie on his back before getting uncomfortable and shifting to his side, his tounge hanging out while panting as if he'd been shot. He hoped to speak to raisa soon, about those he felt worthy to rise up in ranks and the recent problems of rouges finding it acceptable to walk upon there lands. That and... He was super excited to see if she had a fat child.

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Raisa felt more than liberated since her birth. It had only been several days, and while it was hard to tear herself from the pups, she had to stretch her legs before her fidgeting ended up smushing one. Not to mention with Virgil and her own children there, the space was more than cramped. The thought of her love brought a stupid smile to her face, and she almost didn't notice coming upon Vaughan, sprawled out with a decided lack of elegance. It was entirely her fault too, seeing as he was the reason she'd left the den in the first place. "There you are!" Raisa minced her way forward, banner up and waving with glee. She hadn't seen the male for quite some time now, and had missed his easy presence. "The deed is done, as I'm sure you can see!" She was excited purely by the knowledge that he too would be overjoyed. She waited expectantly, breath baited, to see how the man would react. "Talk" "You" Think

He relaxed under the blanket of mid afternoon, enjoying staring at all the clouds with their different shapes. One kinda looked like a hippo, which kinda made Vaughan chuckle a little. His whole posture was relaxed, until a shadow disturbed the streaming light that was hitting softly against his masculine face. Her sweet words hit him first, and just like that he was up, straight and ready for conversation. Raisa! Its been quite some time since the ebony man had seen her, and it felt good to embrace her company again. " Here i am! All dusty just for you" He'd chuckle, but he really was dusty by laying on the floor. He'd shake his thick pelt, his hyper mode turning into a more happy and calm one. " You gave birth? And i wasnt there? Was it chaotic? Did they all live?" He didnt realise all the questions that spewed out of his silken lips, but his curiosity was rather huge. " Im glad to see you again, the borders have been full with new wolves wishing to join while you where to pregnant to move withought hurting yourself." He didnt get the chance to see her while she was on the verge of exploding, and he could only imagine her belly was close to the floor, so with that in mind Vau felt the need to give a more helping hand.

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Raisa chuckled at her friend's hurried questions. He seemed a strange mixture of elated and horribly anxious, which appeared an interesting combination. Raisa rolled her eyes and displayed her fangs with a broad smile, mincing forward a few steps so that she might nudge his shoulder with her own. "Such a worrywort, you old maid, you," she would joke with good humor. She sobered a bit after, of course, remembering that the event had in fact been a terrible ordeal. She settled in, wondering how best to phrase it all. "Though, you might say it was... chaotic. I wasn't the only fae there to give birth. Virgil, alphess of Olympus, fell to her maternity first and I came at her call. You might say I panicked," she admitted with an airy, aloof tone, trying to play off the way she had lost her cool. "I believe it brought about my own labor, as I too birthed not long after. But, we all survived." She smiled, thinking of her own children, and her love's awaiting her back within the garden. Yet, something ate at her. Something had felt... off, since. It was strange being a mother, now. Terrifying, actually. She might not admit it to anything but the darkest depths of her mind, but she desperately craved her friends company now. Perhaps he would be able to make her feel normal once more. "Talk" "You" Think

He would sit patiently and listen, gobsmacked that he wasnt there on the day to congratulate. Her sense of humor wouldn't fade though, joking on how he's a worrisome maid. Though in many ways that was true. He always worried if his old friend was in pain, a sort of protectiveness that always overwhelmed him from an early age when they where just pups. That and the last time the Ebony kingdom fell down it took him forever to find her again. He would tilt his head innocently, " A maid? am i atleast a pretty one?" He'd chuckle before thinking about how chaotic it must of been. Not just one queen, but TWO. " So... The one time i wasnt around i missed the event of the year!" How bad was it? Was Raisa dealing with her first litter well? " How are the children, are you happy being a new mother of... 5?" Vaughan has heard it can be rather stressful to be a mother for the first time. But not always, he's also heard it can be the best thing in someones life. " Im always here if you need me, ya know. If you want to spend more time with the children i dont mind doing a little extra for the kingdom" He'd nod enthusiastically, afterall Ebony needs to stay thriving. " Im excited to meet them all."

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Vau's joke brought a bright smile to the woman's lips and she laughed. "The prettiest maid in all the land! You are truly the queen of love and beauty, darling." She allowed herself another laugh before tilting her head up to scan the autumn sky. It was pale blue, crisp, and weak with the fall of the season. Raisa could feel that a long, cold winter lay ahead of them. It hit her hard, as it had been doing for quite some time now, that Ebony had grown larger than she ever could have hoped. She was responsible for all of them, and now for her children too. She found herself praying more often than usual, that the gods would spare her infant pack from the worst of what the turning season might offer. "Oh, it was quite the event," she said by way of response to her friend's next question. "And actually, your efforts towards the kingdom is why I've sought you out. That and your wonderful company, of course." She allowed herself another chuckle, before sobering and locking the man in a soft gaze. "I've noticed how much you've been doing, Vaughan. The pack really looks up to you, and you're a good leader. I mean to name you Ebon Master, if you'd have the rank. Should anything befall me, I would like to see you take up the banner in my stead." It was a large weight to place on him, she knew, and a sudden one as well. She wouldn't be surprised if he needed a while to consider, or had any questions. In truth she was prepared for anything, and waited in silence to hear his response. "Talk" "You" Think

He'd chuckle, taking the whole situation light heartedly. " If i was a woman i then im sure we'd both be concerned" He'd smile, knowing this would be a hair flick moment. The conversation soon turned over, though it got Vaughan intrigued to what she had to say. It was good to know Raisa acknowledged his efforts towards the kingdom. His gaze would lock upon her, triangular ears perked. " Master..." He fell silent, it was a lot of responsibility but he knew it'd be worth it. Afterall if the queen wished to have time of Vau was happy to know she trusted him to keep everything in order. " Of course Raisa! Im happy to know you trust me, i wouldnt let you down." His tail would flick by his heels before continueing. " Though i do hope you wont fall..." he would nod slowly, glad to know she's secured everything in case anything drastic did happen.

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Raisa felt her affection for the man swell up in her chest, into her throat. It choked her, but it was hardly an unpleasant sensation. A burden lifted off of her shoulders, and she felt as though it was a bit easier to breath. She smiled, and nodded slowly. It was not her way, of course, to show overt outward affection or even gratitude, but she hoped her old friend would understand nonetheless. "Thank you, Vaughan. And I hope for the same, but the gods are infinitely wily," she said, her voice tinged with a dry sense of humor. The gods, and her demons too, seemed ever conspiring against the woman. Oh, she tried to be strong, but sometimes it still wasn't enough. She knew though, that with a strong foundation beneath her, and a trustworthy band of advisers to support her, Raisa would leave a legacy for her children to be proud of. That was most important, after all. It was strange how her focus had shifted since the birth of her children. Where once all that had mattered was the here and now, which packs they were allied with, the season, the rogues on her borders, now she was beginning to look ahead. How would their fellow packs behave when her daughter Valeriya came into the throne? What would the seasons bring them in the years to come? And how could she leave her mark in such a way as to make it easier for them? She sighed. "Are we strong, Vau? Strong enough, like we planned for?" "Talk" "You" Think