not the future i expected

When she’d first seen the dark woman she’d had a grin splayed across her delicate features, like she was keeping a secret only she knew. It was a charming look, really, a look of genuine happiness that made Kiyo feel a sadness deep in her chest when it was gone. She much preferred the happy look of others, if only to steal some of it for herself as selfish as it was. The woman was an empath, that much had been apparent from an early age, therefore what others felt, she felt innately as if it were her own. Their sorrows, their pain, their anger, all of it diffused from them unto her, at times seeming more of a curse than a blessing. Therefore, she tried to keep things bright as best she could.

The grin had been replaced with a look of surprise and displeasure before melting into some more akin to gentle reproach. She wasn’t sure why until the woman spoke, naming herself an Empress and that she ‘had no condition’ before Kiyo realized her folly. Not only had she improperly greeted a monarch, she’d also outed something quite important that she had no idea about. The former Iga matriarch was quick to bow her head low in apology, the lichen across her antlers drooping forward like a veil. “My apologies, my lady. I was unaware of your position...in both manners,” she offered, her head coming back up. But, now that the cat was out of the bag she couldn’t very well put it back. Therefore, she continued with gentle prodding. “I do pray I don’t seem too forward in asking, but have you...known someone intimately...within the past month’s time?” It was a rather rude question, she was quite aware, from someone who she didn’t yet know, and she would think she’d react in much the same manner if asked such a line of questioning, but it was from a good place in her heart. The first few months of a pregnancy were critical to the health of the pups and any unnecessary hardship could well produce a miscarriage.