Hanako didn't know what to do and the uncertainty of it all was smothering her, making it hard to breathe as she dashed through the long grass. Her thoughts were messy and scattered, growing wildly out of control no matter how much she struggled to trim them back. This wasn't supposed to happen, it shouldn't have, and yet she recognised the signs for what they were and knew it to be the truth. Undeniable, and as real as the little lives that were now growing inside of her.

Hiccuping with tears streaming down her face, she slowed to a walk. Unable to go any further without running the risk of making herself ill, she simply slumped down onto her haunches, uncaring of the mud that stained the white of her coat. She just didn't- she didn't know what to do. What she was supposed to do or even what she wanted. That was usually such an easy question to answer, the response dancing on the tip of her tongue as she pretended to think about it. But not here and now. Not when so much was at stake.

She didn't even like the idea of children and always considered it to be too much work for not enough gain but- It was hard to say, to even put a paw on how she really felt about it. It was all too much, all at once and dealing with it alone wasn't something she could manage. Felt it already spilling out of her grip and making a right mess out of the Armada and her family.

Tipping her head back, she let out a wobbly call for Azure as she remained where she was. Hidden in the long grass, like a dirty secret.

"speech"

The wobbly little call of his soon-to-be wife perked the behemoth's ears in panic and Azure did not hesitate to abandon the route of his patrol to find her. His companions too needed no command nor instruction, each breaking off from the Fatalis heir at their own pace to rush ahead toward the koi-wolf who treated them with kindness. Bean - being slow as fuck - leaped onto Azure's tail to hitch a ride and as the direwolf eventually neared the origin of the call, spring boarded off of him and into the long grasses to search her out.   The lack of intruders, metallic scents of blood, and even the absence of fire lately was a good sign and Azure allowed his defenses to relax as he pushed through the grass toward where she hid. The whole scenario was reminiscent of that day so long ago when Chimera had set her to tears, and Azure hoped this was not a situation where he'd need to go off and abandon his new post two days after Sirius granted it to him to fight for Hana's honor. "Hanako?" He called out hesitantly, pushing aside blades of grass with his head as he explored the plains. "Are you okay?" The nearby chitter of his fisher alerted him to change directions, and when he navigated toward the sound he found Hana - alive and uninjured - plopped down in the mud and Bean riding upon her head. "What happened?" Seeing Hana covered in mud was oddly more unusual then seeing her covered in her own vomit, and Azure stretched out a paw to her to help her to her feet while he waited an explanation. "Speech"

Azure's companions were quick to find her, emerging through the grass with worried eyes searching her form. To no one's surprise, Bean took it upon himself to clamber up onto Hanako, his little paws kneading at her fur as he did his damnedest to try and soothe her in the only way he knew how. Aka physical comfort. But it wasn't enough, it just couldn't be right now.

Azure called out for her and Hanako made a soft humming sound in the back of her throat, just about loud enough to hear from where he approached. Her throat felt tight, uncertainty forming a vice grip around the words she ought to say. The news she needed to share. She had no idea where to start or what he'd even think, whether he'd be mad and assume this was sort of trick. Like she'd been a devious little bitch and planned this from the start.

She leaned into his touch, breathing still choppy and rough as she allowed him to support her. To greedily feel his touch before he might shove her away, back into the mud. Some might say that's where she belonged.

"I'm okay I just-" She exhaled sharply, puffing out a lungful of air as Bean slid down her spine and made himself comfortable against her side. Just there in case she needed him. "You know I haven't been feeling well, just so tired all the time so I spoke to one of the medics and...I'm pregnant." And then her words came through in a rush, smushing together so fast her brain had a hard time translating them into speech.  "I don't know how, I was still taking the medicine Sedna gave me. It was supposed to stop this."

Azure wasn't quite sure what to say, and the concerned expression upon his face faded into something much more blank and confused as she rattled on. A part of him wanted to vehemently deny it - it wasn't possible nor did it make sense, right? - but as he thought back to how tired, different, and just generally out-of-it his mate had been feeling lately, it started to fit together into something that was undeniable. He said nothing for a moment, merely standing holding Hana against him absently and taking it all in. Az recalled her words again and again, and then suddenly he knew exactly who was to blame. Azure tipped back his head and called a commanding howl toward the healer whom Hanako called friend. He would hear it from her mouth directly, and if the answer wasn't sufficiently logical for Az he'd drag Sedna all the way to Sirius with him and insist the healer admit fault so this rule break would not blow back on him. The direwolf hadn't yet let the meaning of the situation sink in, and likely wouldn't until he was satisfied with the damage control. "Speech"

Hanako knew he wouldn't break out into celebration or even a smile, but she'd faintly hoped for something a little better than this. Blank silence, his gaze so far away she couldn't even make out what he was looking for. She sniffed, a lump hardening in her throat as she scrambled for a fix, something to nudge him in a better direction. There was an offer she ought to make, one Sedna had mentioned in case the unexpected came to pass but-did it really have to come to that? And why did the thought bother her so much? Like she was going to burst into tears at any moment, the floodgates groaning from the strain.

Without even pulling away or moving more muscles than necessary, Azure called out for the Archer, demanding she shake a leg and get here sooner rather than later. Hanako knew what was going to happen and understood where he was coming from, to an extent. Whether on purpose or not they'd broken one of the Armada's rules and it just wouldn't do to have another strike against his name. But at the same time it wasn't Sedna's fault and throwing her under the bus didn't sit quite right with Hanako. Amongst other things.

"Az please." She barely managed, desperate to do some damage control.  "You know I'd never do anything to jeopardise your position. We can sort this out, it's not her fault." She whined softly, like a dog who'd been kicked for getting in the way.

It didn't take a genius to tell that the hormonal, pregnant woman was likely not pleased by his reaction but Azure was already doing everything he could to resist exploding upon her. She'd never felt the bite of his teeth but he'd hurt her enough in the past and there was no part of him willing to risk losing her - not now, especially not while she carried his children. "Hana." His words were clipped, holding back. "My father just approached me about taking on more responsibility, training for the throne I may one day inherit." He gritted his teeth, hating the situation he was thrust into. "I've two strikes upon me already, how do you think our very strict warlord will accept an unapproved litter, when our pack is near-full to bursting as it is?" Az turned his head to meet her gaze as she whined, his ears pulling back to his skull. "Let's.. just see what Sedna has to say." He murmured in reply. All the Heir could imagine was the disappointment that would be in his father's eyes, the belief that Azure willingly disobeyed a core pack law, and what it might come to if the ultimatum was given between his children and his desired future. He set his eyes upon the plains, willing Sedna into existence right now while he was still able to stand up straight. "Speech"

The summons was unexpected, and Sedna gave Otis a look as he dropped the last of the gathered mushrooms onto the skin she was going to use to haul them back home. She still wasn't quite sure what they were, so she wiped her tail blade clean and her opossum wiped his paws clean on the grass and scrambled onto her back. Chips could watch the mushrooms, while they went to see what was going on. "Don' eat 'em," she warned the bird, an almost pleading tone in her voice. She wasn't sure what they were yet.

It was actually the first time she had officially met the adversary heir outside of a meeting, so her eyes were narrowed in suspicion from the start. It wasn't hard to spot Hanako as she got closer, the scent hitting her like a punch in the face. Her head tipped in confusion, that blend hadn't failed in all the years of her life and many more before that. It was abundantly clear from her friends face that she already knew what was going on, so why had her boyfriend summoned her. "What happened 'ere then?" The only logical explanation would be that Hana had missed a dose, but based on the amount she was doling out she knew that wasn't the case. Maybe it had something to do with all the giant and mutated wolves getting around here? Or maybe it was something more.

"speech".

I've got no doubt that the only way out of this thriller
is if I am a killer too

Hanako fidgeted as the urge to flee fluttered down to her paws, as if this was a fate she could run away from. Fortunately- or unfortunately rather, as it didn't give her much time to think- Sedna soon arrived on the scene. With her clever eyes and nose it was obvious she'd put two and two together, that she was only asking as a means of opening the floor. Or in other words, she wanted to know why Azure had called for her specifically. This could go wrong in far too many ways to count, no one was at fault here, nor did Hanako want it to come to anything drastic but she knew it might. With Azure there was always a risk of that, he was not a man of half measures, only decisive actions.

"Sedna. I took it like you told me to, didn't miss a dose. And it's not your fault but-" Well look at her. Smell her. She didn't even know what she wanted to ask, they had options for sure but...she couldn't bring herself to say it. "Azure just wants...to talk."She wasn't really sure just yet and despite how much she ached to do damage control, she knew she shouldn't put words in his mouth.

Sedna finally arrived and Azure - while previously with a lot he wanted to say - felt his arguments begin to fall away. He sighed and stiffened as she spoke her question. Thankfully Hana stepped in to give a not-quite full reply because Azure's first instinct was to argue against the healer's competence if she couldn't even determine what she had been called for. Now that he knew what it was he was smelling, Az couldn't get the scent out of his head. "That's exactly what I wanted to ask you, the one who was in charge of preventing this." He replied briskly. "I need to know how this happened, and who is at fault." While, technically yes, Az was entirely and one-hundred-percent at fault, the issue was still quite out of his paws about 10 minutes after conception. "Did you fuck up the prescription, or did Hana fail to follow directions?" He tried to keep himself calm and collected, but the bite was returning to his words - though thankfully, as of yet directed entirely toward the healer and softening slightly as he referred to his fiancé. Hana had already tried to talk him down, obviously concerned at what he may do to her friend the healer. He sighed once more, offering a bit more in explanation that while he knew wouldn't forgive his anger, might soften the blow. "I need something to bring to my father, this is against his laws." "Speech"

Brows drew down at the way Hana tip-toed around the matter at hand with Azure here, although she supposed some couples preferred to not rock the boat so to speak. Her mother and Celandine hadn’t been that sort by a long stretch though, and given half a chance, Sedna was more than happy to tip the whole thing clean over for a laugh. When Azure started with his hoity-toity tone, a smirk made its way to her face unbidden. who is at fault? The fuck sort of statement was that? "Well I didn’ fuck ‘er if that’s what yer insinuatin’," she decided to get in a bit of shit stirring while she could. "As ter how it happened, when a mummy wolf an’ a daddy wolf love each other very much… though really, I thought yer parents woulda gone over this by now…" the words were dripping with sarcasm and exasperation, why on earth would anyone be at fault in a situation like this? She was prepared for the heir to lash out at any moment so she dropped the act and got her serious face on. As serious as she could manage anyway.

"That blend ‘as been workin’ since before my grandma’s time an’ she was long dead an’ in th’ ground before I was born. She was takin’ it as told. Either yer balls are freakishly oversized as th’ rest o’ yer or there’s somethin’ fucky goin’ on. I’m happy ter say as much ter Sirius if yer want." She shrugged, another wicked smile crossing her face, flicking her tail so the blade strapped there caught the unnatural moonlight. "O’course if yer lookin’ fer a more permanent solution fer yerself, I’d only be happy to oblige." She had already told Hana there were options in cases like these. But that would be between the two of them, and not before they’d spoken to Sirius. There could be… complications in such matters.

"speech".

I've got no doubt that the only way out of this thriller
is if I am a killer too

Hanako shouldn't have been surprised by the dry witticisms that rolled from Sedna's tongue. It was just was so like her and to act otherwise would have been wrong, like someone doing a bad impression. But all things considered this wasn't really what Hanako wanted to hear and she knew Azure wouldn't take too kindly to her jabs either. He just didn't have it in him to let slights like this go unpunished and sure enough she felt him bristle, his eyes snapping into thin slits as his lips parted in a snarl. Hanako pressed her paw atop of his and applied a bit of pressure in a silent appeal to just let it slide this once. Please? For her.

Fortunately, Sedna went on to explain that the mixture she'd used was indeed trustworthy, that no one was at fault for the predicament they'd found themselves in. It was a relief to know Sedna was willing to have their back, surely it would lessen the blow and cast the blame in another direction. She glanced up at Azure, wondering if it was enough to appease him and their Warlord in turn.

As for her last suggestion, Hanako knew the Archer well enough to know she was throwing in one last poke. Just because she could. She made a face, brows furrowed. As if that was an option Azure would consider, a man's...well manhood was important. Even Hanako knew that.

"Thank you Sedna. This means a lot to me." And she meant it, wholeheartedly, deep in the pit of her churning stomch. Hanako didn't have many friends but she trusted Sedna with this and all else she might need the healer for. "Should we call Sirius now? Get it over and done with?" She looked to them both, unsure it the timing was right. Or if there would ever be a good time for this. Then again the less they hid this from Sirius the better it would look.

He probably shouldn't have been shocked by Sedna's very sassy replies, this was a friend of Hanako and if the koi-wolf took no shit, why would she befriend a wolf who was any different? Though even with that knowledge in the back of his head, Azure did not take her tone well in the slightest. His lips pulled back into a snarl and he moved to step forward towards her, before Hanako's paw came down upon his in a silent appeal. He growled audibly, but licking his lips put his teeth away and settled for staring daggers at the healer. Sedna tried to reassure him that the medicine worked as directed, and without any knowledge of healing Azure could not outright argue it. He wanted to accuse the older-then-dirt recipe of having faded in usefulness, but he had little idea of those things needed updating as years past and did not want to appear the idiot in the situation for asking. Her suggestion of a 'permanent solution' once more nearly edged out the titan's teeth, but he blew out a sigh to try and force out some of the misdirected anger. "No." Azure stated firmly, to both questions posed. "No permanent solutions, and I'll speak to my father about this myself." He knew Hana just wanted to help, but this was his responsibility. Sirius would either take the rule break better coming from his son and heir, or he'd be furious and would take it out on him alone. Either way, there was no way to drag Hana into harms way. He turned his head from the healer toward his fiance, seeking some sort of calm within her soft eyes. After a moment Az leaned in, offering her a gentle nuzzle against her cheek. "Bean will stay with you through.. all of this. If you need anything, please have him come get me." While he may not have been pleased by the situation bring thrust upon him, Hana was the pregnant one. Azure knew very little of pregnancy but he assumed it sucked, if watching his mother suffer it was enough experience to go on. He lingered with his head brushing against hers for a moment before turning back to the healer with renewed misdirected anger. "You." Azure's large head nodded briskly toward the healer. "This patient is your number one priority for now. Make sure her medical needs are seen to, and those of my children." With that said and done, he gave his fiancé a departing glance before moving to head back through the plains to set a meeting with the Warlord. "I'll let you know how it goes." -exit Azure- "Speech"