-set after both of rhyme's drinking threads- Her night with Rhyme was only a short while ago but already something was different about the tiny healer. Whether it was the glow or the constant happiness, she couldn't be bothered to feel any inkling of the fear she once had in her life. Of course she hadn't spoken with Rhyme yet about what she suspected might be, but of course her symptoms could also be confused with worms, or even a stomach flu. Though she had felt this feeling once before in her life, so she wasn't confused about it. She expected Rhyme might be happy to learn of this outcome, but there was also a worry he wouldn't be. She was stretching her legs right now, basil and alma joining her. Neither dared ride on her though, Basil was hard pressed to take his eyes from her and move more than five feet from her. She had only just told the two of them her suspicions this morning and neither questioned it. It was now afternoon and she figured Rhyme would be out on his patrol with Shaye at this point. She walked close to the border for only a few moments as she wandered aimlessly. Alma stayed close and walked beside her. Tana's scent had already changed, though it was minute if one knew her usual scent one would know. She figured it would only be a matter of days before Rhyme took notice. She was already having the morning sickness though so maybe less time. speech action

Rhyme was indeed on patrol, but not with Shaye. He tried to ignore the nagging feeling at the back of his head whenever he thought of her, and tried to keep his thoughts on Tana instead. Spending the night with her had been a more than pleasant experience, maybe their growing relationship wouldn’t crash and burn like he had been so fearful of happening. She was so much happier these days, though he could tell she wasn’t feeling very well. Imperia noticed the symptoms much more quickly than he had, but he could have swore the raven was part hawk with how good an eye she had. Either that or he didn’t pay close enough attention.

As he patrolled though he’d eventually circle his thoughts back to his duties. The possibility of someone having followed Epitaph at their border. He always crossed the border of the thicket with much more focus on his surroundings. He had two more sets of eyes with him too, Imperia took her usual place in the sky, and Solitude rode on his shoulder. The white raven was growing fast now that he had a steady supply of food. He rivaled the older raven in wing span, but he still hadn’t grown into his beak.


Rhyme relaxed a little now, climbing up into the plains. He stretched as he loped along, shaking himself of the heavy feelings that covered him in the thicket. Solitude flapped his alabaster wings to keep his balance, and called out lazily indicating the sighting of another wolf. Rhyme focused his gaze again and caught sight of Tana with her two primate companions walking along the edge of the territory. Rhyme hurried his gait, curious about what the three of them were up to. "You’re not looking for me are you?" He finally asked as he came to a stop beside them. He tilted his head curiously, not certain what the terms of their relationship were, and didn’t think to offer any affections in greeting.

""

She was in the middle of her walk when The heavy paws of Rhyme resounded. Her ears perked and she couldn't keep the smile from her face. She hadn't expected him to come this way nor had she been looking for him but his prescience was no less appreciated. She padded towards him then and basil was quick to put his watchful eyes on the male. He figured Tana would spill it soon and there was a warning there. Basil did not want to watch her cower again. Alma followed close to Tana and with a bound leaped up Rhyme's legs, settling herself beside Solitude quietly. Tana leaned up and placed a small kiss on Rhyme's nose, before she went on to answer him. "No, b-but I'm g-glad y-you f-found us." It was sort of hard for her not to Stutter but she knew it was getting better. She knew his ravens might see the minute differences but did he? Did she want to tell him right now though? She decided quickly to judge his mood and see if he might of seen the differences before she told him. Better safe than sorry with the way he tended to worry. speech action

Rhyme was quick to catch Basil’s eye as he gave him a curious look, Rhyme wondered what it could be about when he saw Tana’s bright smile. He didn’t think she would have been able to grin so brightly, but living in Abaven was good for her, and it seemed their night by the rapids had done her good. What he found even more odd was the sudden presence of Alma climbing up his leg. He might have jumped if he hadn’t been expecting her when she leapt towards his leg. She made herself comfortable by Solitude’s alabaster feathers.

He did manage to lean down enough that Tana could reach and kiss his nose lightly. He smiled at the gesture and the tingle that ran down his spine. He perked his ears towards her as she denied having been looking for him. Seemed she didn’t need an escort outside the borders.

His attention was drawn to Imperia as she came to land on the ground beside them, or really Tana. The ebony raven cocked her head at Tana and peered at her curiously for a long moment. Rhyme was too perplexed with the odd behavior of their companions to notice any difference in Tana besides her confidence and bright smile. "What are doing, Imperia?"

""

Tana was oblivious to the look Basil gave Rhyme, if she could of seen it she might of asked him to not do that to Rhyme. He had become more than just a friend to her and she wouldn't of wanted him to be under such looks. Had she still had her tail she might of been wagging it a mile a minute. She was very happy to have this development in her life. The sound of Imperia landing beside her had her turning her head to the raven as Rhyme asked her what she was doing. He sounded perplexed and she turned her head back in his direction. She twisted a little before seating herself careful not to disturb her stomach and the life growing within too much. Alma patted Rhyme's side as she spoke up to the man. "Congratulations Rhyme."Basil looked less than impressed. He was sure it wasn't sinking in just yet either. "Take a good whiff, genius." Basil's harsher voice landed him a look from Tana that said she didn't like how he was being. He was a rude little bugger that was for certain. She gave a sigh though and turned back to Rhyme to see if the alpha took offense or what he or his companions might say. speech action

Suddenly they were all looking his direction, he could feel Alma and Solitude's eyes from behind. Basil was staring daggers into him and even Imperia turned to look his way. Even Tana looked his way with her sightless face. Alma's soft touch registered only slightly more than her words. He knew he was going to have to deal with consequences but now he was just being willfully ignorant. He took Basil's advice and leaned in close to Tana and breathed in her usual lavender scent, but then he realized the difference. Alma's words began to make sense. Rhyme was speechless. "Tana..?" He questioned her, but his voice made obvious he knew the answer they all were looking for. Imperia made a loud approving crack and returned to the sky. Rhyme stood with his jaw on the floor unsure how to feel. Excited at first, but then more worried than anything. How was Tana going to survive giving birth to his offspring?

Their companions were almost putting him on the spot. It took them almost spelling it out for him but he got it. He spoke her name and she just nodded in answer as if to affirm that he truly was going to be a daddy. She smiled as basil walked away and Imperia flew off. He was left then with just her, Alma, and solitude. She didn't know where his train of thought went but she hoped it was okay. 


He was quiet and she wasn't sure if that was good or bad. "Rhyme? D-don't be m-mad p-please?" she assumed the thought probably upset him. After all he had said he wanted kids but he never said he wanted them with her. She wasn't sure what she would do if he wanted her to get rid of them, but she knew she couldn't do that.

Tana nodded in affirmation, and Rhyme really did accept the knowledge if not the logistics. She shouldn't have gotten pregnant at this time of year, they'd only been together once. He didn't want to explain them away, but his worry and anxiety for Tana increased as the silence between them continued. He was lost in his own thoughts when Tana uttered his name, her pleading tone drawing him out of his own world. How could he be mad? He was just as responsible as she was, maybe even more.

Rhyme dropped to the ground, his belly brushing the grass as he looked at his paws. He had mentioned he wanted to raise a couple of children, but now that the reality weighed upon him it seemed so much different. "I'm not mad, I promise." he muttered, stretching further so his paws touched her toes. He wasn't sure how to offer any more affection. "I'm worried." He managed to go on, offering her what he really thought. "There are so many 'ifs" the anxiety was obvious in his voice as he raises his gaze back to her form. Other than the shift in her scent she didn't look like she was carrying pups yet.

It took her words and he finally snapped out of it enough to speak. His movement caused Alma to hop from his back, startled by his sudden movement. His paws touched hers and she did her best to keep her head in the direction she believed was his face. She let go of a breath she wasn't aware that she had been holding in. So he wasn't mad. He went on to explain further. 


Worried? What was there to be worried about? "A-about w-what? W-what 'ifs'?" she really didn't get it. What was there to worry all that much about? They were just babies, they couldn't hurt anyone and even though he wasn't exclusively hers she doubted anyone would be mad so long as he did want them.

Solitude flapped his wings at the unexpected movement and laboriously took to the air to join Imperia. The two of them had become near inseparable besides when they took patrols. Their flight patterns together seemed more and more like a dance as the days went by. Rhyme hadn't meant to disturb Alma, but his head was doing loop-de-loops better than Imperia above them. Tana was pregnant, by him, by complete surprise.

She didn't sound near as concerned as he felt, though their size difference was often on his mind. Tana sounded surprised and asked what he was so caught up about. He really didn't want to heap his concerns on her, he knew stress was the opposite of what she needed. He wanted her reassurance though. "What if something happens, what if they're too big for you, what if a healer can't get to you in time?" the words spilled from his lips like he never intended. They had a long way to go before birth, would he be able to keep her safe until then? All at once the world seemed much more dangerous and threatening. Hope was there too though, he had the beginnings of his own family right in front of him.

She listened as he let his worries be aired. She honestly hadn't thought of those what ifs, but worrying about that now would only be worse. "And w-what if the s-sky f-falls? Or the m-moon turns p-pink?" she was gentle but there was humor in her voice. She leaned her head down to his and nuzzled his cheek gently before using her nose to lift his chin a little if he allowed. She might not be able to see but she had a general idea about his features. "w-worrying a-about it now w-will o-only m-make you m-miserable Rhyme.... we c-can t-take this one d-day at a t-time."


She did her best to reassure him that everything would be fine. Honestly the only thing that might help more was promising him things. "I-I'll s-stay c-close to the t-tree, and t-take Basil w-with me if I go a-anywhere. As f-for a h-healer, V-Vail and S-Shaye l-live n-near us. I-if n-not I am c-certain t-theres a-another t-that can h-help. A-and I c-can h-have one of t-them c-check t-the p-pups w-weekly." she gave him a gentle smile and aimed to kiss him on his nose. In her mind everything would be fine, she had been a mother once before.

His job was to worry, as alpha he needed to worry about those underneath him. That same instinct was tenfold when it came to someone he really cared for like Tana. he hadn't completely appreciated her company, even after their most intimate moments. Especially now he could feel his heart grow for her as she comforted him. He tried to smile as she offered comfort in a ridiculous form. What if the sky fell and or the moon turned pink? There was nothing he could do at that moment, and she was right. They would continue on day by day. He huffed heavily, feeling like his worries were shrugged off as impossible.

Tana went on though, doing her best to actually calm his fears. She spelled out all of the steps she would take to keep their children safe. Their children. Rhyme Imperialis: father. With no planning and no preparation. He tried not to huff again at the overwhelming feelings but tried to relax into Tana's reassuring kiss. He tried to adopt her attitude of everything was going to be okay. "Thanks for reassuring me," he chuckled softly as he tried to make his voice sound convincing. "I don't think I'll relax until.. Until they're here." He added the last bit in a quieter voice. He was going to be a father.

She hadn't shrugged off his worries but she didn't want him stressing out over things right now. She knew how dangerous this pregnancy could become, it was the same with every woman who became pregnant. Pups could get stuck on the way out, they could be still born. They could even cause hemorrhaging but the way Tana saw it was, if it was meant to be it would be. If she died to keep her children alive then she would be doing what she was supposed to. Only one of them needed to be worried though. 


He went on again. She dipped her head to give him a wordless your welcome. Then he said something that made her sigh. He really needed to learn how to relax. Maybe this time without alcohol though. "w-walk w-with me? M-maybe it w-will h-help you r-relax." maybe if she showed him she was perfectly capable he might relax.

If he hadn't been so focused on his own worries Rhyme would have realized that Tana was just putting on a brave face for him. She had been studying with Vail she would have been acutely aware of the danger she and their unborn pups were in. She had been through pregnancy before, at least she had a bit of experience. Tana knew more ways the pregnancy could go wrong too, and if he knew what was going through her mind he would have been more thankful to her for the whimsical what ifs.

He grumbled softly at her suggestion but knew that where she was going was for his benefit. Seeking alcohol to ease his mind would only lead to roads best left untraveled, however easy seeking the bottle might seem compared to the turmoil of sobriety. When you stopped drinking your problems were still there. Maybe going for a walk wouldn't be so bad. He felt like a pouting toddler as he stood up, trying to regain a bit of his composure. He never would have guess this was where he and that tiny frightened woman would be in the difference of the fall season. "A walk sounds nice." Rhyme managed to say, sure the physical activity would do his mind good. Though as he thought about it more he only worried more specifically. Was Tana going to be alright walking around, how much was too much? He shook himself of the flow of questions that started in again. One foot in front of the other. He was going to be a father.

She wasn't about to air her own worries or knowledge about pregnancy, Rhyme was under enough stress. Both with being an alpha and with the new development of fatherhood. Perhaps she shouldn't have sprung this upon him but then he might of been upset that she didn't tell him sooner. 


She stood up again as he agreed to walk with her. She then waited until Alma had a hand on her leg and turned to walk in the direction he had been moving originally. They might as well let him check the borders at the same time. Two birds with one stone. She was doing this for his own benefit, becoming an alcoholic could lead to things best left alone. 


She almost wanted to unload her own fears on him but doing so could only hurt him. "W-which h-healers d-do you t-trust m-most?" she started walking hoping that walking and talking it out would help him to calm himself about this. "S-should we t-tell Shaye?" would shaye be upset with them for their carelessness?

His mind had completely been taken away from his previous engagement, patrolling the border. Of course being told you were expecting pups would take most wolves from normal thoughts. Rhyme was happy to follow Tana along the border. He focused on his feet and the lands beyond even as the smaller she wolf began to distract him with questions. Who did he trust most? He didn't even have to think about that, his mother. Shaye had asked if Rhythm would appear if Vail needed her assistance, and Rhyme had no doubt she would be eager to help with the birth of her grandchildren.

Shaye... Rhyme tried not to think of his alpha partner since she had run off that morning. He was beginning to worry about her despite his efforts and had debated about sending Solitude to find her. Thinking of her brought about flashbacks that he wasn't sure he wanted to remember and he tried to focus on Tana.

"My mother, Rhythm." he answered the first question. Oh he was going to have to tell her and Valentine, and he tried really hard not to think about the latter of the two's reactions. "And Shaye would want to know." Would she really though? As an alpha she needed to know, but was he ready to look her in the eye again? How did she feel about him starting a little family with Tana, it seemed like she had given her blessing... But then. He really had to stop drinking. "I guess my mother won't be able to see you very often. Vail is your mentor, I trust her to keep an eye on them too." He mentioned as they walked, soothing himself of his worries by walking the border and talking about precautions.

She listened for his answers as they walked. The walk would do them both good, him to give him something else to do but worry, and her to ensure that, so long as she stayed on it, she would have the strength and energy to push the lives she was growing out into the world. He gave her a name and who she was. His mother, the grandmother of their children. She would definitely need to be asked to help when it came time to give birth. Of course tana would also need to meet her. 


She nodded though to show him she heard while she was deep in thought. Shaye would definitely need to be told, he even agreed with her on that. How much did he want to know about the dangers she faced now? Would he be able to look their pups in the eye and love them if she died giving birth to them? He said he would trust Vail as well. That was good since she lived close to them and seemed highly experienced in healing. 


She needed him to promise her something though. p-promise me that no m-matter w-what you will l-love them...." she needed to know for the future.

Rhyme’s imagination was doing plenty enough to worry him with out Tana adding in her own knowledge that might scare him further. Their little ones had a lot of hardship to get through before he had healthy mewling babes to meet. He had a lot of wolves to tell before they got here too, though with everything that could potentially happen he wondered if it would be better to wait. Heshook his head as Tana continued, her words surprising him slightly. He could hear the darker undertones of the statement. No matter what. Like what if she was the one who died during birth. He tried not to dwell on the thought, but he would make the promise to her. "I promise." Rhyme uttered as their paws continued to carry them forward. They were his, how would he not love them unconditionally? ""

He promised to love them no matter what and she nodded. It was only one of her many worries. She really did need to go see Vail soon. The healer would be better equipped to tell her how much was too much and would probably be able to tell them how many pups they would have eventually. The thought excited her. They were going to have a family, and her children were going to grow up free.

She then had another thought. What were they going to name them? How would she know what they looked like? Would they think she was hideous? "we n-need to d-dig a d-den u-under the t-tree.... the f-first s-snow w-will be h-here s-soon." she voiced the biggest thing that she had thought of to him though. The other stuff could be dealt with little by little.

He could see that Tana did have some anxiety with the utterance of her last question, and he felt a little better about his own. He really wasn’t going to relax until they were born. Actually he probably wasn’t going to relax again the rest of his life with little ones running about to keep him occupied with their safety. Tana seemed to settle just a bit as they walked on, and she managed to distract him with another item to worry about. Unlike himself the pups were going to need a safe place to be sheltered during the winter months. "You’re right." He went on to tell her. "I’ll help you dig it out." He couldn’t imagine how difficult digging a den would be with only three legs. He had fully intended on being close by, and he’d want it big enough he could slip inside to watch them. ""