Once it was confirmed that Rava was expecting and after seeing the state that Venom was in he immediately got to work on a larger, more substantial den for them within the borders of Ashen. He knew he would have to spend more and more time here at least until things settled down again and he couldn't keep asking Rava to travel back and forth with him so that he could keep an eye on her and her wellbeing when she had very quickly begun to show the signs of her pregnancy. It was obvious that it was either going to be a large litter or their children were going to be quite large like him and Void or maybe even both. A part of him felt guilty for having her carry their pups for them when she was so small, but he was also so incredibly excited to have her be a part of this journey with them.

The den he originally showed to Rava had been dug out into a much more spacious den with a shelf dug into the back wall and a large, plush bed that was more than big enough for the three of them and the pups that would join them sooner rather than later. It still wasn't as fleshed out or as grand as the home he had created for them in the hot springs, but it was more than enough for them to move here at least through Rava's pregnancy and until the world calmed down again. Although if he could manage to get Abaven's alpha to agree to let Void leave so that he could join Ashen as well... Maybe he would spend more time creating them a more permanent home here. He had already been spending most nights here with Rava so she wouldn't be alone, only going to their home by the hot springs to visit with Void before they both went their separate ways again. That wasn't the way he wanted to live his life with his husband, especially not when they had pups on the way.

He returned back to the den among the pale trees of the forest after another patrol with a rabbit dangling from his jaws. Rava was easy to spot among the nearly white trees, her black and red coloring standing out like a beacon between the trees. A little smile pulled at his lips as he looked at her, walking over to where she was resting and placing the rabbit in front of her before nuzzling affectionately between her ears. "How are you feeling, my little apple?" he questioned with a chuckle. With her red coloring and the way her stomach and sides had become so round the little nickname had come easily. He came to lay beside her while she had her lunch, his tail curling protectively around her smaller frame.

Plague Abraxas-Destruction

Rava couldn’t believe she was pregnant. She knew that before anything happened she should have told Plague what happened to her in the past. Those memories plagued her as the days went by. The cinnamon sugar woman had conceived once before, when she was much much younger. Had she even been two yet at that point? She couldn’t remember but losing that litter had changed her whole life. Part of her wondered where she would be if those puppies had survived, and part of her asked if she had truly wanted them to be born into that world.

Her anxiety remained high now, as she slowly progressed into her pregnancy. The roundness of her belly already noticeable, which was far from surprising considering what their fathers looked like. Rava knew she had many trials before her in accepting this decision, but every time she saw Plague or Void’s face light up in her presence she knew it was the right one. Now that travel was becoming a little more difficult Rava was moved more permanently into the pack.

She would have been sunning when Plague came to find her, but it was more like mooning as she basked in the light of the full moon. Her silvery eyes shifted to find Plague’s form. She wasn’t adorned in her cloak as she usually was so he had full sight of her and quickly brought her his gift and the affection she had come to crave. Part of her felt like she was intruding on his marriage to Void, but the other part assured her that she had found a special place with both of them. She leaned into Plague’s affection and smiled at the meal he brought for her.

With his greeting came her new nickname, which only solidified her place at his side. Rava knew there was nowhere else she belonged but right here nestled into his side. ”Round,” she chuckled softly and found herself nuzzling into his neck, her meal forgotten. There was only one time before that she had felt this loved, but after much work, effort, and patience Plague was rewarded with Rava’s affection in return. ”How are you, Plague?” Did she give him a pet name to go by? She hadn’t spent many nights away from him since he had first invited her to his bed. Her heart belonged to him and Void now, but that didn’t mean the path was clear.

While he spoke Rava’s attention shifted to the rabbit as she began to skin and start to enjoy it.

Plague grinned and chuckled at the response he got of simply feeling "round" and decided there probably wasn't a better descriptor she could have used. It also told him she was in good spirits and there was at least nothing painful or bothersome other than the large shape her body had begun to take so he could be content in that. He was hopeful that her pregnancy would go smoothly all the way to the end, but if there were any complications that came up he at least knew she was here with Ashen's healers just a brief call away. She was his top priority while they waited for these pups to enter the world and even after they came he imagined that she would still hold an extremely important part of his life—right next to Void and Venom. He didn't have a lot of wolves he considered that important, but the few that he had he held close and did whatever he could to keep them safe.

He smiled happily as she returned his affections in the form of nuzzling into his neck and he once again found himself reflecting on just how far they had come together. Going from finding her locked away as a slave, poorly cared for and terrified of everything, to this warm, sweet woman pressed into his side and carrying his children. The path they had taken was unlike anything he had expected, but he loved the place they ended up at. When asked about how he was doing before she began skinning and enjoying her meal, he replied with a soft chuckle, "How can I be anything but good with you here?" She brought him so much joy and fulfillment just like Void did and made it easy for him to want to make room for her in his life and in his heart.

"I'll be even better once all of this sorts itself out," he added with a bit more truthfulness, tipping his head back a bit to look up at the large full moon overhead. He sincerely hoped that this terror that had gripped the world around them faded away by the time their children came into the world. He wanted their pups to know the sun, know peace and certainty that everything was going to be okay. He didn't want them to know... this. Whatever this was. He brought his emerald gaze back down to her with a soft sigh, giving her a smile. "I'm glad you're doing well," he told her with a tender nuzzle to her neck. "If anything starts bothering you just let me know. I'll have one of the healers come right away."

Plague Abraxas-Destruction

Plague and Void left her wanting for nothing as their children grew and developed within her. If her size was anything to go by they would be welcoming a big family in one way or another. Plague did everything in his power to put her at ease, fully aware of everything she was going through and would experience for these babies. There were healers to see her and so far they kept a good eye on her during development. She was relatively pain free, and comfortable.

Fat and happy. Something she never saw herself being, which was something Plague deserved to know. She was farther now than her very first pregnancy when she was young, and she had conceived much easier. Maybe it really did have to deal with how loved she felt beside Plague and Void versus the man she was given to as a wife.

He returned her answer pleasantly, hinting at his affection for her in the way he spoke. Doing better with her next to him. Plague was charming, and had such a good heart. Grateful couldn’t begin to describe how she felt about him now that they had been through so much together. ”I’ll let you know,” she promised him as she leaned affectionately into his side. She was more than comfortable around him now. He knew her better than any other wolf alive, and she shared affection with him and Void freely.

”I never thought that i could be this happy, Plague.” She told him softly, silver eyes falling to her dark paws as she clung to him tighter. ”I wasn’t born a slave, but as a girl I was considered property. I was sold young, to an older man who would see me bred quickly.” She hesitated, wondering if she was bringing up too much of her past. ”He accomplished his goal but, I don’t know.. My body wasn’t ready? I lost them.” Rava sighed softly and nuzzled against his shoulder. ”He sold me when I couldn’t conceive again.”

Plague looked at Rava with a bit of curiosity when she mentioned how she never thought she could be this happy. He felt similarly, but he wondered if there was anything in particular that would make her say that. He didn't ask, but after a moment she revealed a bit about her past that explained her feelings a bit better to him. There was something interesting to him about the fact that she wasn't born a slave, but instead treated as if she was property and eventually sold into slavery proper down the line. It made him wonder how many slaves had similar stories, how many women were stolen or sold or captured for the slave trade he had come to loathe.

Hearing how she had been treated, passed around as if she wasn't a living, breathing, cognizant being and as if her only worth was to be bred made his blood boil and a deep frown cross his lips. Maybe what infuriated him most was the fact that this man that was supposed to be her husband sold her off the moment that she wasn't able to produce children for him. This wonderful woman with the most beautiful, strong soul... How could he have just thrown her away? He wasn't exactly the biggest fan of arranged marriages as it was, only wanting a marriage to come from love and care for one another, but this situation she was placed in was quite possibly the worst case scenario he could have thought of.

As she leaned into him and nuzzled his shoulder he grit his teeth to keep his temper down, knowing that there was no fixing what had been done now and that all he could do was be here for her now and reassure her that the past was in the past. He lifted a paw to gently pull her head into his chest, shifting how he was laying to wrap her in his embrace as he held her and kissed across the top of her head tenderly. "I'm sorry that happened to you," he said softly, kissing each of her speckled ears. "Your worth is not tied to your ability to conceive. You are a beautiful, strong woman with more heart and spirit than anyone I have ever known." He leaned back enough to give her a soft smile, leaving a gentle brush of a kiss on her lips. "No matter what happens I'm always going to be here for you."

Plague Abraxas-Destruction