Deathbelle had been absolutely itching to do something, and Lucretia liked to indulge her patients when she could. Tell of a strange festival had arrived by way of some loners skirting Ashen's borders. After they had been thoroughly interrogated, Luce thought that the event sounded like the perfect activity to shepherd her pregnant Empress to. It would be lighthearted and provide some kind of stimulation without being too physically strenuous.

Although she had heard rumors of a race, she would try and make sure Belle did not participate - admittedly, the thought of her attempting to flat-out run in her current state was somewhat amusing, but very, very bad for the growing litter - and so it was decidedly not funny at all. "See? We can watch the festivities, relax, and perhaps win a few... prizes?" Luce said quizzically, still unsure how this whole thing operated. They had been provided with some gourds that had fine holes in them, just big enough to emit some light if they were to capture a firefly within.

Awkwardly, she picked up the gourd in her mouth and tried to drop it over some nearby fireflies. They had swarmed the island now that night had fallen, creating a rather fantastic backdrop to this odd little gathering. "Come on, dear, why don't you try?" Dear? I really am spending all my time with her.

the Empress had indeed felt like she was going a little stir crazy, already she was sick of the restrictions her sister was placing upon her pregnant body. She was over half way through the pregnancy and she didn’t particularly feel like it was fully warranted. Yeah she was starting to get big, but she could pretty much do everything she had been before the pregnancy. Luce was just over reacting. She invited Zee along as well, after the thunderstorm she thought it appropriate to bring her handmaiden along. Also more subtly to keep her occupied on herself instead of Seer. Lucretia banished thoughts of the two of them from her mind as she mentioned relaxing and prizes. Belle ‘hmm’d’ softly as her sister picked up her own gourd and Belle grabbed another. The Empress giggled at her sister and took her try as she offered. With graceful motions for her pregnant form Deathbelle copied Luce’s movements while her short eared owl ushered the glowing bugs with its wings. "Oh, I think I’ve got one!" She squealed much more excitedly than an Empress should have. "Speech"

Zee looked on as her Empress and Shaman did their best to catch fireflies, soft happy squeals echoing out to easily touch her ears. A cautious smile came onto her face at their excitement, and Zee leaned down to gently grab the container she'd been given and stride quietly up to the pair. "Mind if I join you?" The slave asked softly, giving a small bow to both Deathbelle and Luce each in turn. They looked like they were having a wonderful time, and she took a moment to admire the way her empress' encumbered frame still managed to hold enough majesty to be intimidating. A firefly flew past her face then, and before the pair had time to give their response Zee eagerly stepped forward, waving the gourd around wildly in the air to hopefully catch the speedy thing.   "Speech" "Thinking" "You."

Luce laughed, thrilled that the Empress was enjoying herself. With the pregnancy so far along, it had been harder and harder to bring a smile to her face. There was something else going on - an internal struggle between her affections for all of her suitors, Luce thought, but perhaps something else lurked beneath the surface that she was unaware of. Although it was a smaller component (to Lucretia) of the big picture, it was important to keep a positive outlook and tend to your mental health during a pregnancy as well. The laughter Luce was able to coax out of her sister was a welcome reprieve.

Which was why she had objected to Zee tagging along. Luce would have liked more private time with her sister, but the slave girl made Belle happy, that much was undeniable. Lucretia would tolerate a great deal if it brought Deathbelle joy. "Of course, dear," she replied, going in for another firefly catch. Did Belle know about Sirius' strange confession? If Lucretia knew anything, it was that Belle was not good at sharing. Would she go so far as to get between the happiness of her slaves? Probably.

She caught at least three of the little bugs in her jar when Zee drew closer. Deathbelle smiled brightly as she rushed to catch her first firefly and Luce invited her with them cordially. Her sister hadn’t been excited about her handmaid following along behind them, but had acquiesced before Belle could offer a counter argument. She enjoyed Zee’s presence, and who didn’t want a foot rub on command?

Deathbelle stretched her limbs, her bright lilac gaze glittered in the moonlight as she searched for her next catch. She enjoyed the easy quiet that passed between them as they focused on the festival’s activity. ”Oh!” The Empress exclaimed suddenly, her eyes shifting to her abdomen. Even through her thickening fur she could see the movement now. ”They’re excited about the fireflies too.” The Klein royal felt like she was a pup again herself. Her world was innocent for the night.

Again Belle aimed to grasp hold of a few bugs as the short-eared owl ushered them to her gourd.

Zee's smile widened as Luce agreed to her participation. She felt more fondly for the Klein healer since she'd rushed to their den and healed her injuries. It did seem she was hiding some sort of dislike, but Zee dismissed it as the attitude a master would naturally have of a slave. Regardless, she was here to relax and have a good time and so she pushed the thoughts from her mind. Deathbelle's exclamation startled her then, and her head whirled - missing a firefly entirely - to face the Empress with concern. Though joy was upon the royal wolf's face, and she explained that the pups within her were enjoying themselves too. Zee let herself relax, a soft laugh pulling from her maw. "They are going to have so many happy memories before they're even born. What a wondrous time for a festival." She chimed pleasantly before turning back to the cluster of light bugs. With the gourd firmly grasped in her jaws, she swung her head again at the fireflies and tried to collect a few more. "Speech" "Thinking" "You."

Zee always had a pleasant word, and if anything, Luce was finding herself a tad bit jealous of this particular skill. Although talking with her siblings came naturally and easily, socializing with those outside of the family had never come easily to her. Perhaps she could carefully watch and copy her actions at a later date. Luce focused on another firefly as it blinked in and out of existence in front of her nose. She swiped at it, stumbling into her sister just in time to feel her stomach move.

Lucretia gasped aloud, crowding closer to Deathbelle's side. She placed her cheek lovingly at her sister's stomach, waiting with bated breath for another delightful internal squirm. "Oh, Belle, how wonderful..."

Suddenly Lucretia was at her side, and Belle chuckled softly as her sister’s light stumble turned into her seeking out the touch of her still unborn litter. ”It is,” she started warmly. ”But you’re going to make me miss my bugs!” She chuckled delightedly as Zee mentioned how much had already happened in their short existence. ”They certainly are,” she purred as she glanced in the handmaiden’s direction.

Belle teased Lucretia by attempting to steal her bug bag, laughing as she tried to guard two gourds while looking like a wolf watermelon. The picture was so amusing she fell back onto her haunches so she might gain her breath from laughing so hard. It took a good few minutes but she eventually calmed down enough to pay attention to the owl trying to help her usher more bugs into her own container.

Zee gasped quietly as Luce moved in to feel the unborn pups, her own feminine side wanting to rush up and press against the small moving bodies to feel their energy. However much she might have wanted to, the handmaiden respected that it was a very intimate family matter. The new Kleins needed to be protected fiercely, and if it was Zee in Belle's position she would not much like a slave to be that close to the developing pups - not that she'd ever dare harm a tuft of fur upon their heads. She knew she'd be allowed to sneak in some snuggles when they were born and she was set upon helping look after them. She turned from the moment so that she might not stare, and leaned down towards where some bugs were resting on the ground to usher some into her gourd quietly. "Speech" "Thinking" "You."

Luce laughed and relished the feeling of the puppies squirming within her Empress and sister. "Hush," she whispered, wagging her tail vigorously. "I'll give you all of my fireflies!" The moment felt as if it hung on a string, apart from the entire typical stream of reality. Would she one day carry puppies of her own? The thought seemed so far and distant from her current life. There was so much to do in Ashen. It would keep her plenty busy - certainly no time for a personal life of her own. Not that she wanted one. Or needed one. She delighted in the shared intimacy before stepping away, chuckling as Belle tried to take both of their gourds. "You already have extra help!" Luce said, gesturing to the stunning owl she had gifted her sister. She wrestled the gourd back then gave her sister some affectionate kisses on the cheek before attempting again to capture some fireflies.

Belle was having a great time, the bugs were bright and beautiful, and she was laughing. She was a care free pup again playing in the lush environment that the Klein Empire had once been. There were too many faces missing now, but she couldn’t dwell on them. She could only hope they looked on from wherever they were and smiled on her proudly.

Even though Luce mentioned giving her the fireflies she caught she protested when Belle took her gourd. ”I am the Empress, don’t I deserve all of the fireflies?” She giggled amusedly and eventually returned the container. The owl fluttered eagerly, ushering more lightning bugs towards her master. ”Zee? How many have you caught?” She asked happily as dainty paws brought her closer to the aqua marked woman before making another attempt on the bugs.

Zee's brows knitted with concentration and frustration, the whole affair was just becoming annoyingly hard. Deathbelle called to her, and her head whirled to look to her mistress. She let herself smile, a small laugh escaping as she did so. "My mouth is too small." The complaint was light and halfhearted. "I cannot fit more then one or two at a time! You both have so much more then me." Her gaze flitted to Deathbelle's jar and then to Luce's. Damn, if only they were strangers and she could pull off a thievery attempt. It was a competition after all, right? Another cluster of fireflies took flight beside her, and the small slave's jaws snapped wildly against the air as she struggled to catch them before they might escape. "Speech" "Thinking" "You."

Lucretia grabbed at another firefly, hoping to increase her count. This was a frustrating game - she could certainly agree with Zee's complaints. It seemed more like a game of luck than anything else, like an outside force was the one actually determining her success. "It's not so bad! Just pretend it's all a game of chance," Luce assured Zee, directing a friendly smile her way. She eyed Deathbelle's stash, glad to see that her Empress was finding success. It was important that things would go exactly Belle's way up until the labor. An embittered Deathbelle was one of the most difficult things she'd ever encountered. Please let her be happy, right up until the first contraction.

Even Zee seemed to get into the spirit as she played along easily and teased about having less of the bugs. ”Having an owl helps.” Belle mused as she looked back to Luce with a thankful smile. She loved her companion, and she was even better having come from her sister. She’d have to return the favor. They caught fireflies like it really was a game of chance. The golden marked night raptor purred softly and Belle’s attention was returned to her again so she might finally have enough fireflies to win this. With her gourd at the ready Belle moved her head with the owl’s wings to finish her catching expedition.

Zee's head turned at the mention of Belle's companion, and she murmured appreciatively as she watched it dive to collect more fire bugs. "Exceptionally helpful." She agreed, feeling suddenly more competitive. The other two seemed to be done - and they already had so much more then her - so Zee figured she'd make her last catch a good one. Knowing she could only try once more, she circled a nearby tree carefully to look for where a group of fireflies might cluster to rest. Her brows furrowed in concentration, and when she saw a cluster of four of the bugs in the same area, she grabbed her jar and moved forward to catch them. "Come here you little buggers!" She told them with determination. "Speech" "Thinking" "You."