They were moving south again, though her own pace was starting to slow them down. Her stomach wasn't massive yet but it was starting to get more and more noticeable. That and her frequent piss breaks.

She was always terrified Ultyr would be pissed by her slower pace. But she almost wanted to get her book out and tell him that its his fault for getting her pregnant before they had found what he wanted. Though she voted they go back to that island she had hid from him on, and they stay there until she was more travel ready. Not that Ultyr would accept that.

The group found themselves in a forest as the sun was sinking low. The brush and canopy creating a darkness inside that made her skin crawl. Definitely not her preferred hang out. Her paws were starting to feel raw from all the walking too. Just hopefully she could find a good spot to set up a temporary shelter and they could take a load off their paws. She could do with some sleep. Not that she figured it would be good sleep.

"Hear"

coded by NachoMumma

This was as good a place as any for their rest. Thought something about the woods was a little unnerving. Just a little more south and they'll reach the hot springs again. He had noticed the girl had been lagging a bit more than usual, it confirmed for him that she had indeed fallen pregnant. They needed to find the Judilans to help her, and hopefully, they'll also have his Angel as well.

He stopped their little group and lifted his nose to the air as they came to a small circle of stones, vines, and roots. It had an easy lookout point and seemed fairly defensible with only two points of entry in roughly the same area.

"Here is good." His paws were also starting to feel raw. He had caught a rabbit earlier on their trek and placed it aside for whoever was hungry first. He hopped up on the large stone and peered around them. Keeping an eye on Gany and Lai, it felt good to finally have another. They had trekked long and hard since Gany had joined them. It didn't make for much talk between them as yet. He would keep watch while the others took care of setting up camp.

"speech"

coded by NachoMumma

"Do Not Enter" is written on the doorway Why can't everyone just go away? Keeping pace with the others was easier than he thought it would've been, though he mainly focused on keeping up beside Lailah with her shorter legs and slowed pace. It made him feel like a protector in a way, though he highly doubted she needed that considering the other half of this traveling party. So whether or not he felt like a guard on duty, he busied himself with learning the plants of this region as they passed them, after all, he didn't have to stay as close as Lailah did. Sometimes slipping away if something caught his eye before coming back to join up again. That was how he was keeping his mouth shut easily though, the bundle of peppermint he had found on one of those little look-arounds, not for himself but for the quiet woman. At least this way he couldn't stick his foot in his mouth and press buttons for the moment.Just for the moment though. There was some irritation at the fact Ultyr was hiking a pregnant woman through the woods and mountains on this trip, and he would be voicing it once he could talk again. Ganymede was pulled out of his thoughts though when he noticed the sun dipping behind the canopy ahead of them, the darkness inside felt like it would be suffocating if he was honest and it had his hackles raising underneath the pelt across his back. There was no falter in his following after Ult and Lai however, the darkness here drove him to keep closer to them than he normally would. Once they found the circle of stones, and Ultyr seemed to approve, he found a good spot to drop the pelt onto the ground with the peppermint leaves on top of it before giving himself a good stretch. Once he was stranding he glanced at the rabbit before over at Lailah. "You should eat and rest, I'll take care of setting everything up here while conqueror dearest keeps watch up there." There was no heat to his words, unlike when they first met and he was full of biting remarks. Moving off to find things for a small fire to be lit while also keeping his eyes open for anything that could be useful. Walk, "Talk", Think, ’Others Speaking’ Except you, you can stay.

She had her eye on the prize, which was moving further south, towards the last place they had scented the weird familiar smells. But all it took to stop her was for Ultyr to do exactly as he had. Paired with the words as they came upon the small stone circle she was easily made to slow to a stop. "Here is good." she was about to turn and start working on setting things up when another statement had her looking at their newest companion. "You should eat and rest, I'll take care of setting everything up here while conqueror dearest keeps watch up there." a blink was the answer and a look towards Ultyr.

She was the slave here. Yeah she had noticed how Gany had been guarding her, but still wasn't it her job to treat the royals here like they were royals? A glance to the rabbit. She was kind of hungry for sure, but she was used to eating on command at this point. It wasn't hers until she was told it was. The words used for Ultyr were ignored by her as well.

With a final decision and determination she moved towards the woods past the rabbit. If Ultyr told her to stop she would but until then she should do as he expected still. She wasn't some fragile dame. She'd endured a lot under Archnemes and she wouldn't make someone do her job. She needed to get a fire going and see to Ultyr's needs before she could relax. And now with Gany she kind of wondered if Ultyr expected her to see to his needs as well. It wouldn't shock her to be honest. She was after all just a lowly slave born of peasants.

"Hear"

coded by NachoMumma

As they had traveled Ultyr had tried not to notice Gany's subtle slipping away. Though Lailah probably would have picked up that whenever Gany was out of sight Ultyr's fur along his shoulders would stiffen and his pace would subtly slow until the slender youth was in sight again. He had a Morningstar in his grasp, but he had promised Gany could leave if he wanted to. It irked the God-Prince to no end. He didn't know that every time Gany was out of sight whether it was him leaving them or not. He was mildly grateful for the silent trek though.

Ultyr watched out of the corner of his eye how the Judilans interacted while setting up the camp, his slave girl dutifully looking at him for confirmation about her tasks before assuming her typical duties. He wondered where the biting tone had gone in Gany's throat. Was he rethinking how Ultyr was inevitably treating his servant? Ultyr was a benevolent god, though he had succumbed to his mortal half when the girl had tried to play a prank, he regretted that mortal reaction. It had tainted her devotion to him he knew.

"Girl," He rumbled his voice toward her, calling her back, still unaware of her true name, "Let him set up the camp. You will eat." His gaze never left the shifting shadows of the vines beyond their camp. Making sure they were truly vines and not snakes or predators intending to cause his little party grief.

"Ganymede..." He said, his gaze finding the boy's shining pale lavender eyes in the growing darkness, "Stay close." He said nodding for Gany to continue on his chore, also ignoring the remark he had made about Ultyr. Ignoring how he wanted to see those eyes a little longer. He returned his burning gaze to their surrounds, perking his ears to a whisper on the wind knocking a few branches together. He didn't like this forest one bit, but it seemed the danger was merely shadows and fog.

"Do Not Enter" is written on the doorway Why can't everyone just go away? Ganymede was no stranger to setting up a camp to stay in for a time, usually the one to set up the camp for the slaver that had held him for so long. So falling back into old habits was easy enough, or it would be if the blatant ignoring of what he had said didn't raise his hackles as he fought to brush those emotions aside. Instead, focusing on peeling some of the bark off one of the further out trees, and gathering up some fried moss as well to act as a bed for the spark to come. There was still the nibble of irritation and almost anger of not getting a rise or response from either of the others, he didn't like it at all. Lailah had ignored him and looked to Ultyr simply to eat and rest when eating should been a given right without being asked for and rest was needed for someone who was carrying. Then he was told to keep close as if he couldn't handle himself against some vines when there was no one else out there. There was no one else out here, right? Bah, what did he care. The young prince bared his teeth around the bundle of wood and moss he carried back to the makeshift camp, entirely unused to feeling this way as he glared up the rock at Ultyr. He didn't bother opening his mouth again as he dropped the wood furthest from his pelt bed to settle and make a fire closer to where Lailah was. Better to focus on keeping her semi-comfortable, and with fall settling in warmth would start being more and more needed. It took a moment to make the ring of rocks contain the spot where the little blaze would go, paws working to smash rock against rock and alight the moss. Feeding and tending to it for a moment before trudging back to his pelt and the pile of mint leaves there, purple eyes narrowed as he settled down and set about sorting out the poorly ones to be used to rub on sore paw pads and keeping the better ones for the others to chew if they felt sick. Ganymede spared glances between Lailah and Ultyr now and again as he worked, keeping an eye on them before he finally caved and opened his mouth. "If you're tired of feeling sick, or your feet hurting, these can help. Chew them or grind them up to put on any cracks or sore spots on your paw pads, His paws pushed the piles of mint leaves to the front of his pelt and mostly out of his own space. Or in Lailah’s case, chew them to stop that awful nausea I’m sure keeps making itself known." He at least managed to keep his tone even and neutral, hiding those bitter emotions even if he wasn't sure why it was there, Other than feeling like an ignored child and not the prince that he had been raised to be. Thoughts and feelings that were better kept to himself if he was honest. It was likely just a product of the anxiety the creeping night brought on, the feeling that everything was closing in on him was so much worse here. Walk, "Talk", Think, ’Others Speaking’ Except you, you can stay.

Just as she was about to start collecting fire wood her attention was called back by the deeper voice of Ultyr. "Girl," her head snapped back to him and a small wag went to her tail at his acknowledgement of her. "Let him set up the camp. You will eat." oh. Okay. She moved back and grabbed the rabbit before moving to settle in a spot on the ground beside the other's skin blanket. She was careful not to disturb the pelt and to not rub her own stench all over it. It might be a sensory thing as to why Ganymede kept it, and she wouldn't want to disturb that.

She started to work on chewing on a foot intent on saving it. Maybe she could make it into a necklace for Ultyr and he could have some good luck. She was in love with her master after all. She honestly wasn't too hungry though. More tired than anything. Maybe it was all the nausea from being pregnant.

She looked to the spotted male as he worked. A press of her ears. She still wasn't certain about him. Was she supposed to follow his orders like she did Ultyr's? The wood brought back and she paused her chewing to grab a shiny stone she had been keeping from her satchel. A smile as she offered it to him. Then he spoke. "If you're tired of feeling sick, or your feet hurting, these can help. Chew them or grind them up to put on any cracks or sore spots on your paw pads," a look at the leaves that were pushed to her. A sniff and she pulled her head back. Shock coloring her face. Mint? Wasnt that the plant? A reach for her book as she listened to the second bit from the male. "Or in Lailah’s case, chew them to stop that awful nausea I’m sure keeps making itself known." a dainty lick and she had one in her mouth. Ultyr could stop her if he liked but she definitely didn't want the sick feeling anymore. A small question write in the book and placed between her and Ganymede. Mint leaves right? she could remember enough of her classes but faces and wolves were blurred. It was still weird to know this man knew her before and that he knew her name.

This was probably the first time Ultyr was hearing it too. But she only had a soft smile for the fact it was hers and it was on someone's lips.

"Hear"

coded by NachoMumma

Ultyr was largely immobile save for his ears radio dishing in different directions and his head turning to follow the distractions. He determined that yes, they were so far alone. There was no other scent, no other strange sounds that were not just unfamiliar forest. He made sure of it. They should be able to sleep fairly well tonight.

He lounges on the rock then, already warmed from his scouting, watching as Ganymede gathers the fixings for a fire and the girl works on severing the rabbit's foot. He notices the subtle tension in the lad but he doesn't know him well enough yet to read him beyond that. What had gotten under his skin? Or was he always this way?

His ear perked up particularly as Ganymede nosed a pile of mint and then...

"Lailah?" He spoke with surprise. He slipped off his scouting rock and brought his large head close to the youthful boy at first. His gaze penetrating the silver pinks with intensity. Fact-checking before he then loomed over Lailah's tiny frame.

"I told you we would find your name... Lailah." He purred slowly and tenderly circled his nose around her left ear.

"You're more than useful Ganymede- " He mentioned turning his attention to the Morningstar, "Mint? I wouldn't have thought to use that on cracked pads. You're a healer?" He asked, flopping down onto the ground around His Petite Lailah.

He grabbed a few leaves with his large paws and rubbed them together, "A paw... Lailah." He commanded, tasting her name again. He would start to rub the mint leaves into her pads gently in small circles.

"speech"

coded by NachoMumma

"Do Not Enter" is written on the doorway Why can't everyone just go away? There was no complaint as Lailah came and settled near him, nails combing through the fur of the pelt under him hard enough to cause a small wrinkle before he smoothed it back out. At least the bastard was useful now, even if it was only to act as a cape or bed. He kept this up, causing wrinkles or pulls and then smoothing over them again to flatten them while he quietly watched Lailah chew off the foot of the rabbit trapped between her dainty paws. Standing again he took the given flint rock to start the fire, turning it over and over again before smacking the shining surface against one of the duller rocks he had used to circle in a small space for it. The first try produced sparks but nothing else noteworthy, the second try however caused the moss and thin bark strips and lit them up. The blaze quickly ate its way into the smaller branches before Ganymede set about feeding it a few larger ones, making sure to not smother the flames. Once it was sufficient enough he went and flopped back down on his pelt, taking care to not send mint leaves everywhere. Tension still kept his muscles tight, ears flicking or rotating to listen to the almost too-quiet forest. Everything felt too much like it was closing but it would be fine. It was the book suddenly between them that had his head craning down to look at what Lailah had written, knowing once it was there that she likely had a question. Mint leaves right? scrawled in the book had him nodding, lifting his head to answer the question in full before he suddenly realized there was a looming figure a whole lot closer now. That earthen dark head was almost too close to his as Ultyr looked at him. "Did you never think to ask her name? Ah yes, that's right, god-king’s don't ask do they." Ganymede grumbled, turning slightly to keep more of his side to the pair as he picked through the pile of worse-for-wear leaves left behind. Taking them up and crushing them between his pads to release any oils they had, intent on taking care of his aching feet for the night. "For all intents and purposes, it should be peppermint. A hybrid between watermint and spearmint. But I don't have that out here and no time to worry about finding and hybridizing them. So for the moment, regular mint will have to do. It’ll soothe and calm the skin, and in Lailah’s case it'll help with the morning sickness I'm sure she’s been dealing with." Plants have always been a fascination with him, he had been so excited about them since he was younger, always underfoot in the gardens. Ganymede did take note, eyes flickering to the pair quietly before going back to his self-care. At least he was taking care of her now, better than what this bastard had done, his nails found the fur of the pelt again, and much better than what the actual demon king had done. "I'm hardly a healer yet, just learning and using what I was taught in my lessons while I had them. What about you, were you ever given any lessons when you were younger? Like how pregnant women shouldn't be marched through the woods for hours at a time?" The first question was genuine, keeping that lilting tone, the second however was a dig. A jab. His tone instead took up that biting, vaguely playful albeit sharp, ring to it. Walk, "Talk", Think, ’Others Speaking’ Except you, you can stay.

The shadow looming over them should startle, should unsettle her but it didn't. With the sound of the paws and everything and the scent that hit her nose from him, she knew it was Ultyr. He probably wanted to know what she was writing. Her eyes stayed on Ganymede though. And as he was about to give her the answer Ultyr was speaking her name. "Lailah?" A look with a smile thrown back to him. Delicate but also filled with love for the massive brute. "Did you never think to ask her name? Ah yes, that's right, god-king’s don't ask do they." She pressed her ears from the prod at Ultyr's pride and title.

Did Ganymede want to fight all the time? She really hoped not. The almost purr from Ultyr's next words had her tail thumping quickly at the almost praise like sound of it and his nose circling her ear. "I told you we would find your name... Lailah." She didn't mind. In fact it felt nice to have the feeling of doing something good bubble up inside her. Her left closing briefly to the happy feeling of being noticed by Ultyr. She was basically a dog to his whims, but she didn't mind. "You're more than useful Ganymede- " The turning of his attention to Gany had her still thumping her tail, but her own attention turned back to the spotted male completely. Her question not forgotten. "For all intents and purposes, it should be peppermint. A hybrid between watermint and spearmint. But I don't have that out here and no time to worry about finding and hybridizing them. So for the moment, regular mint will have to do. It’ll soothe and calm the skin, and in Lailah’s case it'll help with the morning sickness I'm sure she’s been dealing with." She nodded a bit at his words. Good knowledge to have. She would need to make note of it when she was allowed to. She swallowed down the leaf before nosing the rabbit to sit between her and Ganymede, the intention of sharing clearly there as she went back to eating from it and chewing a fluffy foot off. "Mint? I wouldn't have thought to use that on cracked pads. You're a healer?" A look to Gany for the answer to Ultyr's question as she chewed more on that leg. Her teeth weren't the best she knew so it took a moment to chew off. Though once the foot was off she was moving it to her bag for later. Best to save it for the jewelry piece she planned. Then she was digging into the actual leg. "A paw... Lailah." The scent of the mint was definitely soothing. and the command was met with a willingness to please. A thumping of her tail and a handing of her paw. Trust in the earthen male completely given freely.

"I'm hardly a healer yet, just learning and using what I was taught in my lessons while I had them. What about you, were you ever given any lessons when you were younger? Like how pregnant women shouldn't be marched through the woods for hours at a time?" The answer Gany gave caused her ears to pin again and her blue eye to widen and look in his direction. Panic that he was trying Ultyr's patience once more. A look then sent between Ultyr and Ganymede. If they were gonna fight she definitely didn't want it over her or with her between them.

"Hear"

coded by NachoMumma

He smirked as Ganymede grumbled, "I had gotten too comfortable with not knowing by the time I got her the book and supplies." He admitted. Because he alone procured her sketchbook and supplies, of course. As if they didn't just happen by them and he let her have it. He held the small girl's chin for a breath as she looked up at him with her tender gaze. Ah yes, there it was... That look of pure devotion was back in her once sorrowful eyes. He needed to be more careful with his anger. Or else that glorious look might fade from her eyes at him again.

He looked over at Ganymede as he regaled them about the hybridization of mints with a soft smirk. The boy was highly knowledgeable about plants! Good. And it seemed like he was a talker. Even better.

He gently rubbed the little woman's tender and sore pads with the mint leaves. Gently massaging in small circles into her foot. He gently picks up her other paw and takes another fresh few leaves but pauses as his brow furrows from Gany's jab. With a slightly darkened gaze, he turned his nose to the youth.

"She is in more danger out here by ourselves. It's why I'm driving us to find your siblings where we scented them further south. I'm hoping they'll be able to assist in the birth if she needs it." His tone was low as if he was reminding the boy that Ultyr had a plan with a hint of warning, "I can't go and take back what is mine without an army." He went back to soothing her pads, he couldn't leave her on her own for longer than a hunt, that's a great way to lose her. And he was not keen on losing anything more that was his.

"I spent my early years surrounded by muted slaves and strict tutors. I was the holy prince going to take the throne, of course, I was given lessons. None of them were about childrearing or the ways of women, we had midwife slaves for that." He bit back a sneer. Schooling his mask to keep it neutral. He let her treated paw back to the ground and then slowly ran his paw over her hip to gently take on of her back legs and massage the pads of that foot. He was enjoying treating her, like taking care of your favorite weapon.

"Do Not Enter" is written on the doorway Why can't everyone just go away? Ganymede had been so self soothing and massaging the oils from the leaves into his paw pads that he almost missed the few times Lailah pinned her ears. Almost, but not quite. The small female was too easily stressed, especially out here, and any signs of agitation had her fear apparently sparking. Though thoughts of Ultyr being better than Ayrn and his lackies had rattled around in his head before, helped by the knowledge he had given Lailah her book and was soothing her paw pads, his fur began to bristle. ’She is in more danger out here by ourselves. It's why I'm driving us to find your siblings where we scented them further south. I'm hoping they'll be able to assist in the birth if she needs it.’ Ganymede turned his head to look over his shoulder at the pair better. At least he was pressing them for a good reason, given Ultyr's size and Lailah's smaller stature there was a high chance for possible…complications. Though if she kept stressing out and panicking there would likely be some anyways. Sighing through his nose he let himself relax more, tension easing, as he looked down towards the rabbit with thoughts of eating. That was until the next few sentences. "I can't go and take back what is mine without an army.” Ganymede's eyes snapped back to Ultyr again, fur bristling along his shoulders and spine slowly. He was using Lailah to breed an army? Breed an army to try and take the throne his father had stolen in the first place. Using Lailah as a broodmare in the long run. His jaw clenched hard, working to stop himself from saying something absolutely stupid. His appetite was totally gone, stiffly standing up and setting the mint out of his way. He didn't want to deprive her of the herb when she needed it. "I spent my early years surrounded by muted slaves and strict tutors. I was the holy prince going to take the throne, of course, I was given lessons. None of them were about childrearing or the ways of women, we had midwife slaves for that.” The words only fanned his anger further, grabbing up the pelt from the ground to move where he planned to sleep. That sentence had hammered home how little Ultyr actually knew if he believed that those kinds of things were strictly for women and slaves. He wouldn't split from them, he needed them to find his siblings, but he didn't need to stay so close to either. Stalking away with his own ears pinned back against his skull. Words grumbled out low to keep them mostly to himself as he skulked almost out of the fire light. "Brutes, warlords, beasts. All the same, act like monsters. That title really is all yours and you fucking deserve it." He tossed the pelt down, settling on it with his back to the pair, genuinely trying to avoid causing any issues for Lai. He remembered what she had told him that first day, how she felt for Ultyr and that she cared for him. How he took better care of her then Aryn had, and Ganymede wanted to believe there was something better in there then what he had seen so far. But right now, all he saw was an arrogant asshole. Walk, "Talk", Think, ’Others Speaking’ Except you, you can stay.

"I had gotten too comfortable with not knowing by the time I got her the book and supplies." She guessed that was a good reason for not telling her to write her name. Though honestly she didn't mind, maybe he hadn't cared to find her true name. That was okay too. She wasn't a needy or self centered individual, never had been.

As he continued to soothe her paws she didn't fight him. No she instead basically crawled between his front paws and rolled so it was easy for him to do as he wanted to her feet. A trust that he wouldn't harm her hanging quietly in the air. Though there was still a raise to the guard hairs on her back. The tension was so thick between the two males, she could almost taste it in the air. It made her stomach feel sour. And stressed. She absolutely wished they would just get along, but she didn't figure her opinions here mattered. "She is in more danger out here by ourselves. It's why I'm driving us to find your siblings where we scented them further south. I'm hoping they'll be able to assist in the birth if she needs it." The reminder of her size and the danger in the world was met with a look down at the ground. She was a burden wasn't she?

The look from Ganymede went unmet as she kept her gaze on the ground. She wasn't even aware the other had looked at her and Ultyr. A sad breath taken in. How much was she slowing down Ultyr? How much did Ganymede resent her for being weak? Did Ganymede hate that she had become used to being a slave and content to let Ultyr be her master, if only so she could be close to the man she was in love with. Did Ganymede know that she understood how once she was useless and they had found Ultyr's lover that lai would be discarded like trash and she just hoped to enjoy the time she had with Ultyr while it lasted? She was a tool to be used and thrown away, she understood that.

The next words didn't even shock her. "I can't go and take back what is mine without an army.” She had come to understand a lot. That Ultyr was intent on dragging her back and that did scare her. But she wasn't in control of anything. Her head met the ground as she put her eyes on the fire. The rabbit forgotten and her hunger squelched in the tension, stress and subsequent sadness. She didn't look forward to the chain on her neck once more. She would be Aryn's plaything again, or Ultyr would make her his plaything and everything would go back to the way it was. The sound of Gany moving away was in her ear but the only attention she paid it was a cant of her head in the leaf litter and to watch as he settled away from them. His tension was visible. "I spent my early years surrounded by muted slaves and strict tutors. I was the holy prince going to take the throne, of course, I was given lessons. None of them were about childrearing or the ways of women, we had midwife slaves for that.” Ultyr gave them more truths and Lailah gave a sad but understanding smile to Ganymede.

Her world was in chains and in a cage. While the other didn't have that anymore. She could never speak for herself and was beaten into her submission to the royals of Archnemes. Ganymede had his voice and his freedom won from the slaver he carried on with him. They were separate worlds completely. While Ultyr's was a world that encased hers and kept hers in the dark. She'd never be anything bigger than a toy at the whim of a master.

The only words that came from Ganymede put her ears back, pinned against her head. "Brutes, warlords, beasts. All the same, act like monsters. That title really is all yours and you fucking deserve it."  She couldn't defend Ultyr. Ganymede was right about it. Ultyr was a murderer and a conqueror, him and his father had a beastial nature, she couldn't deny it. But at least Ultyr seemed to care that his slave was in a good enough shape to serve him.

A turn of her head from the two, yet she didn't move away from Ultyr. She knew better. She felt exhausted from emotions and the drama though.

"Hear"

coded by NachoMumma

Ultyr focused on his little slave's body and feet. Finding a stone between her pads he picked it out. His ear tracked Ganymede's movements as he spoke, ignoring the obvious tension beginning to build as he started putting the pieces together. His girl was... beginning to wilt? He lifted her leg up a little as if to pick her up but she was more limp than responsive. She was probably tired, he surmised, betting that his care of her pads was relaxing her.

His ear caught the muttered accusation as he lifted the last of Lailah's paws and worked the mint into her pads. He heaved a great sigh. His attention was fully on his girl now.

"I cannot expect someone such as Ganymede to understand the weight of leadership, nor God-hood. He probably would have been married off to a second son for an alliance at best if we had not come and conquered your lands." He spoke as he smoothed the fur over her foot. Her precious little flower was within reach. He brought a paw over her shoulder and drew a careful claw down her side.


-- a lil xx --

"Don't fret little kitten... Lailah" He rumbled, his nose pressed into her swollen abdomen. Soon it would be much larger with his brood. He brought that paw over her side and down to gently caress the space between her legs. Her subtle and brief reward for being so cooperative. He licked her ear and nudged his nose toward the half-forgotten rabbit. "Finish your meal and we can get some sleep." He commanded gently as he got up for one more patrol, perhaps leaving her wanting. Unriled in the face of Ganymede's grumbled words.

"speech"

coded by NachoMumma

"Do Not Enter" is written on the doorway Why can't everyone just go away? He was content to ignore Lailah and Ultyr, working to soothe his own frazzled nerves and the anger that sat in the front of his mind. It was better without them so close, easier to forget that he was sharing a camp with someone who saw slaves as property and as his god given right. Except that line of thinking right there brought the anger flooding back in, sitting doing nothing but letting him dwell. Which wouldn't work or he'd be awake the entire night with no sleep to speak of. He needed to do something to properly pull his mind away from the roil of ire and irritation that plagued him. ’Stay close.’ How about you go to hell. The thought of simply leaving and spending the night in the woods was strong, he didn't need to stay here in the camp. He had given Lailah what he could for the night, mint for her stomach and paws. He could absolutely handle himself, he wasn't a damsel in distress at the end of the day. Not a helpless thing, ever again. Attention is paid however, when he notices Ultyr is standing. Watching out of the corner of his eye so he can judge which way to go himself before hauling himself to his paws, a dull ache there reminding him how long they had traveled today. Regardless, he picked up his pelt to put over his shoulders and hummed quietly as he moved to slip out of the fire's light. Already he felt a little lighter at the idea of more space. Of not facing Lailah for the night, and not seeing what he easily could have become over time. He would never blame her, but she was a painful reminder none the less. Walk, "Talk", Think, ’Others Speaking’ Except you, you can stay.

She was like a dead weight, relaxing her body enough to let Ultyr do as he needed to. She was pliable like clay for his paws. Even as he lifted her leg higher she stayed relaxed. Her head stayed turned to the woods with an ear back to Ultyr as he spoke. "I cannot expect someone such as Ganymede to understand the weight of leadership, nor God-hood. He probably would have been married off to a second son for an alliance at best if we had not come and conquered your lands." He was right the motions of him massaging her paws was relaxing. But her ears pressed at his words. Did Ultyr understand anything else? Did he know how a heart worked? That he would hurt her one day soon and that she was powerless against it. A sad sigh from her nose was his response from her. Why was everything so difficult?

Her skin gave those trembling flicks as he drew his claw down her side. Her head shifted to his words next. "Don't fret little kitten... Lailah." His nose into her stomach was noted. Was he proud of the children that grew in her? Did he already love them as she did? Then he moved his paw between her legs, a breath of a sigh was given as she lifted her leg for him, expecting him to want more from her then just the brief touch. Her reaction was docile though compared to before. She wouldn't deny him but she wasn't into it at the moment. The tension and stress from today had worn her down, on top of the consistent walking from the day. Her head turned back to the fire so she could watch it flicker. The lick to her ear had her looking up to where his eyes were with a small smile while she dropped her leg.

"Finish your meal and we can get some sleep." Her gaze flicked to the rabbit. Did she have to? She didn't feel too hungry. No she felt tired and nauseous. A look and she could see Ganymede leaving in the opposite direction of Ultyr. Her ears pressed. Was she the problem? She rolled so she could grab the rabbit. Her eyes were watery. Hormones causing a flip of her emotions to want to make her cry. She hated this part.

She pulled herself to the rabbit and just to make Ultyr happy she dug in. She really didn't want to eat though. She made quick work of eating as much as she could before she stood again. Neither male was back yet. A snatch of another mint leaf to try to keep the nausea under control and she was swallowing it down fast before she moved to the pile of sticks and grabbing a few. A quick stoking of the fire then she was moving to a spot near enough for the warmth to warm her back.

A small circle and she was curled up with her half tail over her face. The tears allowed to flow freely then as she worked herself into relaxation and complete emotional numbness. Her eyes were closed and it wasn't long before she was sleeping. The fire was to her back as she sunk into the darkness of sleep. Truth be told she hated the darkness beyond camp.

"Hear"

coded by NachoMumma

The sudden movements of Ganymede getting up brought his attention snapping back to the youth. He watched as the boy lifted his bed skin and stalked off. It felt like a hammer in his chest as he watched the sway of those spotted hips disappear into the darkness beyond their fire.

He promised. He promised he would let the boy leave as he wished but he couldn't help how one of his paws dug into the earth like kneading dough. The muscles in his cheek clenched as his firey gaze pierced through the gloom as if he could will the boy back. Ultyr had upset him, and suddenly he remembered that this was not some meeting with delegates playing kick the conversation under his will.

He drew in a slow breath, then huffed it out forcefully as he hopped onto the scouting rock he had been on before. His muscles aching from their exertion over the day. He hopped over the rock and into the darkness, attempting to circle their little campsite and ensure there wasn't anyone or anything else stalking in the shadows. He crossed Ganymede's trail and he paused, savoring the scent. Clenching his jaw again, running a claw over the footprint. He promised. Would Gany come back? Why was he so offended? Why did Ultyr care this much about it?

Another huff as he swung his head back to his task. Lumbering like a massive bear until he found himself back inside the circle of stones. Lailah was fast asleep.

He looked back to where Gany had disappeared then carefully and silently rifled through Lailah's pack. Fishing out her sketchbook. It wasn't the first time he had pulled it out and perused it for himself. The notes she would take and the doodles she did were her ways of communicating. He lingered on the one-sided conversation on one of the more recent pages. He had to keep himself from snorting out loud when he came across her description of her duties for his father. But then his brows furrow as the words continue. His paw brushes over the words, "lost love" then "He can be sweet and caring..." Was he sweet? Caring? His father had thrown Ultyr out because he had shown too much affection for his slave lover. Toting him everywhere, including him in important military conversations, turning to him like he was an advisor on occasion. Parading his lover like a trophy through the ballroom as the delegates pleaded for mercy with biting words and hidden meanings.

They had not found hide nor hair of his lover. Not since they landed here. A Morningstar or two, but not his Angel. He had to consider him dead.

He put the book away and looked over Lailah. The poor thing was riddled with scars, fragile and petite. He shouldn't have laughed when she called herself a cumbucket and punching bag even if it had been the truth. Her progeny would not be fit for valor, unfortunately. A farmer's daughter, more fit for... Oh... Was that made Gany so cross? Hm... What was a farmer's daughter to a prince in this land that knew them not? Where the prince held no holdings and no army?

He sighed then, and settled behind her, wrapping his large back legs around her minuscule body, tucking her protectively in his limbs before he laid his head down to sleep.

"Remember me, " I ask, "Remember me, " I sing. The woods were so dark outside that the protective ring of fire, it was almost suffocating as it began to press more around him as he disappeared into the dense undergrowth with careful steps. His ears rotated constantly, alert and listening intently for any signs of others or being followed. Space, he needed his space for the moment, and while he wouldn't leave them for too long he needed time to cool down. To gather his thoughts and sort himself out, to settle the awful gnawing feeling in his gut that had been persistent since they had first begun making camp for the night. Finding a spot not too far off from the camp, he patted down the plants around him and tucked his pelt bed up against a larger rock. He had some hope that maybe the sun and daylight would heat it but no, it was still fairly cold and offered no comfort. Ganymede’s sides heaved in a soft sigh as he leaned against it regardless, using it to ground himself better. His family had taught him well, better than the way he was acting, he was rude and disrespectful. It would be a lie if he said that didn't eat at him, they’d be disappointed in him. A whole year after everything had happened, a year since his family had been broken apart, and he could barely act like a Morningstar. What the hell was wrong with him… Bundling up on the pelt, he made himself as small as he could, folding long limbs and curling his body so he could hide his own face under his tail. A disgrace, he was a disgrace of a prince, after everything he let those bastards do to him, forgetting the manners and teachings of his family. The thoughts that plagued him made sleep come painfully slowly, and if he knew the nightmares that would chew on his subconscious, he likely would've just chosen to stay awake. ----Sometime In The Middle of the Night; CW For Mentions of SA—-- It was the feeling of paws on hips, pain and not pleasure coursing up from between his legs, teeth on fur and skin, the ringing of his crying voice as he screamed for mercy and for him to just get off of him, please gods, he didn't want it that finally forced Ganymede awake. Screaming. Body was shaking, eyes still foggy from sleep and unseeing as he scrambled to right himself. Where was he, where were they, were they coming to use him again? He didn't want it again. His limbs shaking so hard that they couldn't bear his weight, forcing him to crawl a few feet from the pelt to dry retch, only stomach bile coming up because of the emptiness of it. Gany had no idea where he was or where his captor was, he could only hope he hadn't woken him up. Oh if he had the beating would be brutal, and the thought of what came after as a punishment made him start heaving again. Air felt scarce, throat tightened up to the point he could only wheeze as he lay on the ground, he was going to die. He was going to die here with that monster just out of sight in the dark. Walk, "Talk", Think, ’Others Speaking’ Give me back my heart, you wingless thing.

-------sometime in the middle of the night-------
She had let the darkness take her with the fire warming her backside and crackling behind her. When Ultyr joined her she had no response, just to curl in tighter. A protection for herself unconsciously, a habit when she slept that would likely never disappear. She shifted in her sleep, face muscles tensing and untensing. Dreams broke her darkness, but these were not new dreams. These were nightmares she had lived once. Screams, fire, the scent of blood, tang of death in the air. The fear in her dreams had her spinal fur on end in the waking world. She knew these dreams, but they would never not disturb her sleep. They were dreams she had had since she had become a slave, since that night.

The snarls in her sleep, the bite of pain in her pelt. She dreamed of it all. Memories from a time gone. She'd only had a few nights without dreams, they just were made worse under duress. The stress, the thoughts of being thrown away again had brought her nightmares to bite tonight. She was good at trying to hide her hurts though. Even when they brought her these nightmares. The scent of Ultyr, so close to his father's. The bite into her throat of the blade that rendered her speechless, the bite of him, the pain that followed. The sound of screams from her nightmares sounding in real life. Her body was trembling, as her hear shot up. Eyes wide and sides heaving. Tears streaming down her face. Her form lifting from the fear before looking for the source of the screams.

Was it in her dreams? Or was it in reality? Shit.... the acrid tang of piss and the sight of dying embers greeting her. Ultyr laying there had her backing away, mistaken for Aryn. Her job! She had fucked up and let the fire die! Shit, shit, SHIT! He was going to beat her good this time! Had she pissed on Aryn? Fuck he would make her wish she was dead. Fear of the man in front of her on her face, in her eye, her dead eye mirroring it with a cloud over it. The fact that it was Ultyr not dawning on her yet. A panicked look for the fuel, only to come up empty and with no marble floors.

Confusion at first, then a closing of her eyes. A recognition of the fact this was indeed not the palace, and there had been no clinking of chains. Then sides still heaving she opened her eyes and turned looking for their companion. Ultyr likely having already started his moving, her still riled and small form moving. Disregarding her bag and forgoing anything else. Where was Ganymede? Why had he screamed?

When she did find him he looked just as riled. A recognition of the look on his face, but her own fear hadn't settled yet either. She moved slowly, her form waddling to be beside Ganymede's before she turned and with a sad eye placed her hip against his as she laid there out of his heave puddle and laid her head on his. Her only way of comforting was her own presence. They had stolen her words, her name, and her courage. Time she guessed Ultyr saw the damage they had done fully. She had done her best to wake before him up until now and keep him from seeing her when she would wake from a nightmare. His father was a barbarian, and while she did love him even he had a part to play in this. She had gotten good at self soothing though. She had to, if Aryn had ever seen that fear of him in her waking state he might of made it worse, had once. She did ensure if he wanted a way out, wanted to run, Ganymede wasn't pinned by her head, her tiny form was gentle in every way.

"Hear"

coded by NachoMumma

-- CW suggestive SA--

Strange ephemeral visions. Stark white cloths billowing in on warm winds. The sound of water trickling like a leaky tap slowly grew into a torrential waterfall. A flash of red across his face, his heart pounding in the dark with nothing but himself for company. Silence. A small boyish voice called out, was that his own? He asked his father why she was crying... He showed him why. He showed him why. Ultyr cried. The smell of roses lifted his chin, a wash of water fell over his head as he sniffed. Silent faces surrounded him, but one warm one - one rosy one told him how holy he was. His father showed him why she screamed-

---

He jolted awake, paws splayed across the ground. His side was wet, his heart was racing. The small form of Lailah scrambled around in the dark for something. Where was Ganymede? He took off to where the scream had come from with a snarl. Thundering chocolate paws hammered the earth with his head low. He broke through the underbrush with his hackles raised, ready to rain hell on whoever touched the boy...

His breath heaved through his throat as his fiery eyes scanned the bushes, the smell of urine strong around him.

"Where? Who did it? What's going on?" He growled with his head high looking around for Gany's attacker. His tail was high with status and his muscles tense with strength. He rounded on the small form of Lailah following after him but gave her nothing but a warning growl. Didn't she know not to approach someone with a loaded gun?

There was no attacker. It became increasingly obvious that the woods had somehow entered their minds and brought their dreams forward. He watched as Lailah attempted to soothe Ganymede. From Ultyr's history with his Angel... Ultyr stepped back, finally reading the situation. He kept his gaze on the bushes, just in case anything else was attracted to the nightmare-breaking scream.

He gave the boy space, letting Lailah attempt to soothe him for a while before he sat with a neutral gaze. Or as neutral as he could muster with sleep sand in his eyes and the barest whisper of concern in the set of his brow and mouth.

"Are you all right? Dream?" He asked, the fury in his voice smoothed out into a more gentle rumble of his deep voice.