Bad Weather, Good Company

Walk | Talk | Think

If she didn't know any better, she thought he might have been a bit nervous about answering her. His smile certainly hinted at it though she supposed in the dark she could have been wrong. Somewhere thunder rumbled unaccompanied by lightning, but in the quiet confinement of the den Ashtoreth heard Leon's answer clear and listened patiently, feeling him tiptoe a little as if avoiding a direct answer. Her smile only twitched upward at a corner, wondering if it had been intentional to draw out more of an anticipation from her or if he truly meant to evade all explanations after all. But after a moment, he answered.

A family. She should have anticipated that, had a little she thought, but it still took her by surprise. Was that all? A family? Her smile widened a little, almost amused, as she considered this new side to the Lead Warrior that she had never really given thought to, the side of him that wished to be a husband and father. But no matter which way she looked at it, it somehow fit. She could actually see him in that role, spending his free time with his beloved mate, doing little things to make her smile, caring for his children, teaching them as they grew, all around being a wonderful family man. He could do it. She had every faith in it.

But considering how well he would fill such a position Ash was suddenly stung by the inadequacies she thought to have when it came to family. She had doubts, strong doubts, in her ability to play that role, particularly of mother. The thought of kids, of young pups depending on her for their livelihood made her nervous, made her question whether she could take care of them and raise them properly. Such a responsibility, those little lives would be, in comparison to the single one she had as a hunter. But Leon could do it. Of that she was certain.

Somewhere during the little trail her thoughts had taken, she had stopped smiling, but she managed a little airy laugh when he had finished. A family, he had said, a wife and kids. Ashtoreth answered him, but she could not meet his eyes. "You're not...worried?" she asked, her voice lacking the typical jesting tone, weighed down by honest feeling instead. Unsure of herself, she forced herself to drag her eyes up and meet his, attempting not to show exactly what was on her mind but fearful that she was failing. "About doing it wrong?" It felt like the wrong thing to say now that she had, and she was sorry there was no way to take it back. Certainly doubt was not what the ever optimistic Leon wished to hear about. And feeling as if she had spoken too much, too close to home for comfort, her gold and purple eyes drifted down and away again, a silly, rueful smile slipping over her face to cover her blunder. "It's a big responsibility. A family."