Pull The Pin: Save Your Grace

In a rare moment of spending time with her younger sister, Deimos had gone out on a hunt with Manea and her mate for most of the morning, the three of them focusing on bringing down some larger prey so pad out the food stores a bit. Now that summer was in full swing they weren't in nearly as bad of a place as they had been through the winter and parts of the spring, but their supplies had yet to really bounce back from the winter so it wouldn't hurt them to stock up a bit. Between the three of them they managed to bring down and carry back to moderately sized elk so all in all it was a fruitful day. While Manea and Alastor began to dress the prey animals so they could be prepared for drying, he decided to excuse himself so he could get back for dinner with his wife. Luckily for him the former Matriarch and Commander both had quite the affinity for Ikigai–as they should–so they were quick to dismiss him and nearly chased him away to go see to her.

With a chuckle he made the trip back across the island, pausing only long enough at the edge of the lake to wash off his face and paws from the hunt before he walked up the winding path to their home. After the many days and nights that they had spent attempting to start their journey of having a family together all through the spring he had waited and waited for Ikigai to finally tell him that she was expecting, but he also didn't dare ask. It almost felt that if he asked he might jinx them or ruin their chances. He had to hope and believe that if it was meant to happen then it would when the time was right. The Ancients had helped to bring Ikigai into his life for a reason–surely they would place the souls they were meant to bring into this world with them sooner or later. Still, it was forever a lingering thought on his mind and it was no different tonight as he walked into the den and was greeted with the delicious smell of the dinner Ikigai had been preparing.

A grin pulled at his lips as he quickly dropped off his bracers and dagger on a low table near the entrance of the den. "That smells amazing, my love. You spoil me." And she truly did every day of their lives, both in her actions and just from being a part of his life. Once he was out of his traveling gear, he went right to her with his focus only on her, lifting one of his large paws to her cheek as he brought her lips to his. Just as he pulled back from their kiss, he happened to catch something unusual in his peripheral vision, glancing up and past her a bit as he looked at the particularly large basket behind her.... with a jar of strawberries in it? His head tipped to the side with curiosity as he brought his gaze back down to hers with a silent question in his gaze.

"Deimos & Ikigai"