The home that love built

Artorias lifted his fire-toned eyes when Briar made a joking comment about the size of the pups she was growing, his gaze settling over her round belly with a look of pure love and happiness. He was empathetic to the strain Briar's body went through to grow their massive pups, especially since this would be her second time bearing a sizable litter of what would undoubtedly be large puppies, and he could never express to her how much he loved and appreciated her for what she gave of herself for their family. It was little acts of caring and love like this that he could do to show his Deer Girl just how much he loved her and valued and appreciated her. Moving his muzzle up from where he was brushing her tail, Artorias gently nuzzled and nudged her belly, hoping this pregnancy would go as easy for her as their first one had. "Well, when and if we have more, I promise I'll try to make a smaller litter with you next time," he joked back with her, knowing full well neither of them had any sort of control over the children they managed to produce. They both just came from very virile bloodlines, it seemed! Chuckling to himself, Art nuzzled and kissed her belly, then spoke gently against her skin to the puppies within her womb, "Take it easy on your Mom in there, you lot. She's doing so much for us right now."

Returning to his work of brushing out her beautiful flowing tail, Artorias did his best to detangle any knots he found with care and without hurting his beloved mate. Brush by brush, Briar's tail turned into that silky sash of fur that she ordinarily meticulously maintained it as when she wasn't quite so round. Once he had finished and he was satisfied with his work, the sapphire and onyx brute set the brush aside and grinned up at Briar, his tail wagging like a playful pup's as she encouraged him to continue complimenting her if he wished. Eyes flashing with sly fervor, Art gave her rump a playful nip before pulling his larger frame up to curl around hers once more, nuzzling and kissing at her pregnant belly before kissing his way up her side through the soft, thin fur of her underside. "You are the most beautiful, incredible, talented, intelligent, amazing fae in the entire world," he declared, each word broken by a pause so he could kiss some part of his Queen, one giant paw rubbing slowly over her hip and waist. "And you look even more like a goddess when your belly is full with our pups, bringing even more amazing little wolves into our family." Resting his head carefully on her side, Artorias grinned up at Briar, holding her gaze with his own so full of love, devotion, and joy. He was still behaving himself, but only barely, definitely tempted by their cuddling and closeness and the intimacy of this moment. But Briar had asked for cuddles and tail brushing only, and whatever his pregnant Queen said was what the Aegis did.

"Artorias & Briar Carpathius" | "Carpathian"