[PRP] Laying Down the Law (Bast'ion x Yhe)

[Krysin]

Mistakes had been made, but she could no longer allow herself to think of her actions as mistakes. For the sake of the life that was coming, she had to be better than herself. It would not be easy, but nothing ever seemed to be for her. The cubs' father was weak, so in his place she had to be strong and through her strength encourage him to be better. It was a monumental task. She had been stuck with Bast'ion long enough to know his ways and his many weaknesses. Responsibility had never been his strongest attribute. Over time Bast'ion had seemed to master running away from his problems.

It just so happened that Yhe was not someone he could run from. He had captured her and made her his thrall - there was no escape for him if he hoped to return home to his den.

He had been absent for a while, though not nearly as long as he usually was. Yhe wasn't sure if it was because of her influence, or that his vikings were just short and successful. Whatever the case was, he had been gone long enough that by the time he made it back Yhe's condition was... obvious. It had taken her a while to accept the consequences of her actions, and it was even more difficult when she was helping to take care of Bast'ion's current cubs. There were so many already, and she was about to add more to the horde.

The elegant lioness sighed and brushed away those dark thoughts of her weaknesses. She had to get over it with cubs on the way. They would be here soon, so it was fortunate that Bast'ion made his return before their arrival. She made her way back to the family dens where she suspected to find him. Word travelled quickly within the pride when certain groups returned from their viking, and so she knew Bast'ion would be around.

Walking into the den, she spied Bast'ion and spoke quickly, "We need to talk. Follow me." She wasn't about to have this conversation in front of his family. It was likely one of his cubs had already spilled the beans, but that hardly mattered. This was a conversation that needed to happen between them to dictate how Yhe would handle his relationship with their cubs.

Alpaca Chobi

 

[Krysin]

She led them away from the family dens, unable to tame the frantic whirl of thoughts flashing through her brain. A lot of things had gone wrong, but perhaps... something had gone right? Yhe couldn't explain it to herself yet, and a part of her realized that a lot of the future relied on Bast'ion alone. Yhe would do anything and everything for the sake of the cubs growing in her belly, and she wanted to be convinced that Bast'ion would do the same.

"Okay," she sucked in a soft, calming breath and turned to face Bast'ion. She sat down, her posture perfect despite the slight roundness of her belly. Her tail curled around her legs, and when her eyes fixed on them they were almost apprehensive. Now that she was here alone with him she struggled to find the words to say. She knew what needed to be said, but could not figure out how to say it.

"I am pregnant. They are your's... and I just needed to talk to you because I understand... if you don't want them. I know you have plenty of children already, and I know commitment isn't really your style. But, I want to ask for it. I want to ask you, Bast'ion, to help me raise our cubs." She raised one delicate paw, begging him for a moment of silence while she gathered her thoughts. This could probably come out all wrong if she was not careful. "I just want to know if you want to be invested in... this. Because, if you do, then I will do everything in my power to support you with our family. If you do not, I understand, and I will raise them with my own strength without your presence as a father."

She frowned, hoping that he would not mistake her words for unnecessary cruelty. Yhe was not trying to shove him away, rather she was trying to support him in whatever decision he made whether it benefited her or not.

Alpaca Chobi

 

[Krysin]

She was surprised at first, honestly and genuinely surprised that he was interested in their cubs. Not only that, but that he was interested in her. For a moment all she could do was stare at him with a bewildered look upon her face. Yhe had suspected him to want little to do with her cubs. Furthermore, she thought he still felt as if she was some sort of trophy he had managed to collect. They had a moment together, yes, but she wasn't sure it would have had any lasting impact. She had begun to doubt that she could make him change for the better. Then, there he was, providing a glimmer of hope that she latched onto instantly for fear of losing sight of it.

A smile appeared on her face, gentle and relieved, her expression soft and tender. If he was willing to put forth the effort, she would to. Teaming up together, they'd be able to figure things out. Sure, things weren't perfect or ideal. In the back of her mind rang true the thought that she was just a thrall forced into a pride that did not hold her ideology and beliefs. But, despite all that... she could figure things out. Yhe had to, for the sake of her cubs and perhaps herself.

She wanted to raise them right - she wanted them to be good and kind despite the cruelties of the world.

"Okay," she breathed the word with a gentle chuckle, flashing upon a briefly coy smile. "We can do this, I know we can." She stepped up to him, and pressed her paw against his chest. "If you falter, I'll straighten you out," Yhe told him confidently.

He wasn't perfect, but neither was she. That was okay, too, so long as they tried to get better.

"Now, I may not look like it, but the cubs will be here soon." Yhe suspected there was not many of them, but that was fine with her. She couldn't imagine chasing after more cubs than she already did now. "And I want to be focused on them for a while, so you'll have to pardon me if it seems like I'm neglecting my regular... chores." Yhe spent a lot of time wrangling his children, but for the next few weeks she'd be very preoccupied with her own.

If Bast'ion didn't call in for back up, he was going to get a crash course in full time parenting. Sure, there was Zerrin and Rana around, but it usually took all three of them to keep things under control.

Alpaca Chobi

 

[Krysin]

"I do not think there are many, otherwise I would be quite ungainly by now," Yhe mused aloud. She had no younger siblings, nor had she witnessed anyone give birth before. She wasn't sure how much longer she had until the cubs arrived, but she had a feeling the time was nearly upon her. The elegant lioness felt ready for their cubs now that she had spoken with Bast'ion. Now that she was sure of Bast'ion's support, she felt perhaps like motherhood would not be so terribly.

Sure, she was just a thrall and had been captured against her will, but she still hoped that she could find peace in her life. These cubs could very well be the answer to her grief, the light at the end of the tunnel. It was reassuring that she was no longer going to travel down that tunnel alone. How well they would fare in the future was a mystery, but for the first time in a long time... she was hopeful.

"You'll be fine," she reassured him with a gentle laugh after sensing how nervous he seemed. "I'm still here to help you, and you've got Zerrin and Rana. Both of them will be there to help you, so you aren't alone in this." It was so easy now to believe that he would be there for her and the cubs. He seemed so hopeful, even excited by the news. It made her think that her actions were perhaps not that much of a mistake at all.

Alpaca Chobi

 

[Krysin]

Yhe honestly did not know what to expect with childbirth, and the idea of him being there to support her was almost embarrassing. She didn't expect it to be an entirely pleasant experience - after all she had to get these cubs out of her one way or another. Would he even want to be there for that? "Oh, I don't think so. I should be able to get my meals. The cubs would be in little danger here so it wouldn't be terrible to leave them alone while I go get some food." In the rogue lands, females had no choice but to leave their young behind to hunt.

She wanted to be pampered, but she was too strong-willed to allow herself to be. "I... don't know, honestly. I think it'll be pretty uncomfortable for me in general, and probably for you to witness?" Yhe was going to be a first time mother, and as such she had little idea of what to expect. She just didn't think... it would be sunshine and roses when she went into labor.

"Unless you really want to be there, I think I can do it on my own just fine. I'll let you know as soon as they arrive so that you can see them," she promised with a small smile. Silently, she was hoping for daughters. Bast'ion already had so many, but she wanted little girls to raise to be like herself. She suspected this pride could have a bad influence if she allowed it, and boys seemed to be harder to wrangle.

Alpaca Chobi

 

[Krysin]

"I imagine if you left for any period of time you'd miss the birth, so that's wise," she told him with an amused smile. Secretly she could admit that the change in his behavior was adorable. He seemed excited and happy, and those emotions rubbed off so easily onto her. She wanted desperately to be that way too despite being in an environment that clearly did not suit her. Yhe was a fish out of water in the Stormborn.

"Thank you, Bast'ion," she told him honestly. Standing up, she stepped over to him to nudge her nose gently against his own. "Let's get back to the den before the cubs start to wonder where we went off to." It wasn't as if they had been gone that long, but Yhe was a natural worrier. She half-expected the brood to wander off without all hands on deck in keeping an eye on them.

Offering Bast'ion one last smile, Yhe walked past him and led the way back to his den.

Alpaca Chobi

I think this is a good place to wrap it! <3