She didn't bother crying about her situation.

Before she would have wept. She would have pouted silently in a corner somewhere. She would have burst into hysterics. Eden tried to be rational despite the position she was in. New life grew in her. She always assumed her first litter would be with someone she loved - or was that a fairytale she told herself? Ignis was no prince charming. He made it quite clear about his stance. Called her "loose", that she had slept with someone else just to spite him.

But these were his pups.

She didn't bother trying to change his mind. She walked to the Cavern again, eyes downcast as her steps became heavy. Eden didn't know why she was there. Most of her time was spent on the beach these days, enjoying the weather. She only came to this place to find somewhere to sleep. Her thin belly was a bit round, and she would be showing soon enough. No matter how many pups were born, it was up to her to shield them and give them love. If Ignis didn't want responsibility, she would not pressure him for it.

Eden walked until her paws hurt, carefully sitting down near the entrance to her last den site. Since she spent the night with the red man, she had taken a spot in his den. They were not a pair, but considering the situation, they both found themselves in before the news... Well, suffice to say she was too upset to be around Ignis. She found another spot to sleep, reeling at the loneliness. Movement - or shadows - caught her eye. It was nearly dark out save for the stars. She bristled, wrapping a protective paw against her belly. "Who's there?" she called out.

"Speech"

AS HER OWNER...
ignis praetor is allowed in any thread, even ones marked private
baelfire, diablo, rivin and aresenn are also allowed due to being her children

Rexx was showing more and more independence each day, crossing the boundaries his parents attempted to place for his and his littermates’ safety. Well, mostly his father, anyways, as he was the one showing the most eagerness in puppy raising. His mother, on the other hand, gave off the vibe of someone who wanted little to do with her children except flr the bare minimum. Could little Rexx tell the difference, of course, from the affection he received from either of them? Sure. But he didn’t pay much mind to it. He was fed and sheltered, and for the most part, doted on by the pack. That was about as much as he knew and as much as he cared for so far in his young life. And wrestling with Scald, and harrassing Flurry, of course. Still, such activities proved to be rather boring day after day, and he wanted to venture out into the other reaches of the Pirates’ territory.

The tusked boy had heard of the cavern, having seen some of its jagged entrance while playing on the beach. Hos father warned him not to go into it, at least, not until he was with another adult. The cavern’s twosts and turns weren’t the best playground for a child, but Rexx didn’t really pay much attention to these silly rules and words. Blah, blah, blah. Curiosity won, and as soon as his siblings and parents were fast asleep, the pup slipped out into the night, creeping into the cavern and slinking behind the staggered rocks and mighty walls. Needless to say, he was surpised that it was bathed in moonlight, so it was easy to see where he was going. He scoffed as he picked his way over the cave’s uneven floor, marveling at its wonders. Finally, an interesting adventure! Before he ventured any further, a figure slipped into the entrance, someone of the pack but whom he didn’t recognize. Tilting his head, the bulky boy squinted and noticed it was a female wolf, small and slim. Her belly looked a bit weird, but he thought nothing of it. What did a pup know about pregnancy and all that icky stuff, anyways? Feeling a bit mischevious, and oblivious to the woman’s emotional suffering, the child scampered behind a set of rocks, waiting for her to approach his pile. As soon as the woman would walk past where he crouched, the tusked child would jump out behind her, yelling "BOO! Gotcha!" He giggled, hoping she had a scare. But even if he was a bit bratty, his scare was all in good fun. He liked meeting new people! Who was this lady, and would he play with her? He waited to see her response, nub tail wagging and tusked teeth showing in a wide grin.

Not expecting anyone she didn't know, Eden gave a startled gasp. It was foolish to think someone in the Plunder would come looking for her when only a handful knew of her existence so far. Or was it the lack of adults? She could swear there were more pups than adults in the Plunder. She felt her heart pounding in her chest and willed it to stop. It was just a pup - one of Gilgamesh's if she had to guess. Considering the coloration...

"Y-Yes" That he did "you did indeed" She turned properly from her startled position, lowering her paw. If she was going to be around children... She might as well get used to them. Her own demanded that attention, for their father probably wouldn't give them any! "but when you get bigger, it'll be harder to hide" Eden began "so you need to practice a lot while you can, then grow big and strong so you don't need to jump out at people."

She paused. "You'll give old ladies a fright" Eden smiled gently, thinking of Pyralis "or just me, I've met an old lady that's fiercer!" She giggled softly "I'm Eden, young one. What's your name? Is your father a man named Gilgamesh?" She wondered if the Pride had any idea his child was out and about without him.

"Speech"

AS HER OWNER...
ignis praetor is allowed in any thread, even ones marked private
baelfire, diablo, rivin and aresenn are also allowed due to being her children

Rexx beamed as he saw the woman gasp - he’d done it! He’d scared her good. What kind of pirate would he be if he couldn’t put a little fright into others, anyways? She confirmed it as she spoke, her voice soft and seemingly a little..sad. He tilted his head. The boy didn’t yet understand the concept of feeling sad over such grown-up ideas, and the heaviness that came with the woman’s situation. He was a little sad when his mom wouldn’t play with him - much less do anything besides the bare basics for him and his siblings - but he didn’t care in the end. He had a very loving dad - that was all that mattered to him. And his siblings! Like Scald, who was super fun to wrestle and explore with. She then said he should practice getting stronger instead of jumping out at people to scare them. He nodded eagerly, spreading his already bulking forelegs in a strong stance. He puffed out his chest, a mischevious smirk painting his tusked maw. "I got that down already! I’m big and strong already, like Dad, and I’m only gonna get bigger and stronger! I’ll scare anybody I want, then," He said proudly, his nub tail wagging again. He was growing, and probsbly wouldn’t reach the dire height of some of his siblings, but he’d for sure beat them in a game involving muscle and bulk. The small green lady went on to mention he;d give old ladies a fright, and upon mentioning the familiar elderly woman he grinned again and replied, "Oh, the coyote ball lady? Yeah, she’s fierce, alright! And she’s cool." He thought anyone who played games like coyote ball were cool in his book. It truly didn’t take much to impress him at his current age.

He shifted on his feet - his crystal spikes were coming in on his back, already pointed at the ends. They’d only get taller with age, just like sharp nubs, but they made his back spasm and ache at times. He flopped down on his butt with an ‘oof’ - not really caring to sit politely or whatever. She said her name was Eden, and he said back in his confident tone, "I’m Rexx!" He paused and added to her question about his father, “Yep, he’s my dad. Isn’t he super cool? I look almost just like him!” He was curious, so he then added, "Are you new here? Do you know my dad, too?" Rexx knew his dad, and mom, and siblings, and briefly met some of the other members of the pack. But he didn’t know this lady yet. So he wanted to know her, too, because he needed more playmates. Even if she wasn’t a pup.

Like his sister, Rexx was a flurry of questions. She tried her best to keep up with them. She chuckled at his logic before answering his inquiries. "Your father is strong, yes. You also look more like him than you think" the woman agreed with the pup, who seemed to idolize Gilgamesh. He shared the Sin's ego, but it was playful and not bullying "my name is Eden" she returned "it's good to meet you, Rexx."

But he had more questions. "Yes, I'm new. I joined back at the end of winter" Eden added "your father had a sprain; it was the first time we met" She sat down, aware of her growing belly that made her uncomfortable at times "I patched him up. He was well enough to fight in the raid, so I don't doubt he's still okay." She added for Rexx's benefit, in case the children were worried about Gilgamesh and their mother.

"I'm a healer; if you have little bruises or cuts, you can come to me, okay?"

"Speech"

AS HER OWNER...
ignis praetor is allowed in any thread, even ones marked private
baelfire, diablo, rivin and aresenn are also allowed due to being her children