---

He had been strong for her, in the wake of Golde's uncertainty Hexx remained the stone sentry. Perched and ready to weather any storm, but beneath the surface of his stoic expression Hexx was certain he might be the storm. A tangle of uncertainty plagued him even though it never broke the surface it lived behind those steeled eyes.

Doubt.

It ate him alive beside a stark numbness since Golde had told him that he was going to a father. His own hadn't exactly been the shining example of a father figure, but it was all he knew. And Hexx knew only one thing for certain ─ he would not be his father. As certain as he was, he still knew he wasn't fit to be a dad. He was cold, void of expression and emotional capacity. He loved; he felt, but he couldn't share those things well with others. And children he at least thought needed emotional connection; a warmth he didn't possess.

The soldier let a silent breath push past his nose, blinking he made his way toward the communal center of Frostfang - looking for Tiberii.


❝ speech ❞
notes; for Tiberii backdated to shortly after he found out

Skill:

---

She stepped forth from the depths of her den, rolling her broad shoulders as she pressed her way into the early morning sun. The chill of winter lingered in the air, but the promise of spring lingered just around the corner. Tiberii would inhale deeply, taking in the sharp scents of the snowy morning and flicking her ears forward ... listening.

Citrine eyes would blink, and the softness of a missile would touch her face as she realized all was quiet. And she would relax, stretching each of her limbs and breathing life into the muscles as she rolled the stiffness of sleep away. She rolled her tongue over her lips, lightly smacking them as she began to power up her brain for the day.

Hexx's presence did not break the silence, for the man was but a piece of the shadow itself.

But Tiberii would turn her head, eyeing him as he approached, his stance steadied by intent.

Part of her wondered if she should be concerned ... but she couldn't quite tell if this was his normal grumpy face or a grumpier-grumpy-face. Oi, g'mornin, Hexx, she called to him, waving her tail and turning her body to meet him. Everythin' alright? There was an edge to her voice, a sense of worry that passed through her like the hiss of steam.

---

skill; n/a
notes; n/a

---

"Oi, g'mornin, Hexx," a dip of his head would naturally find her as Tiberii greeted him. "Everythin' alright?" he was never one for beating around the bush, direct and to the point had always been his way. And today was no different, silver eyes drifting away from Tiberii. To something else, to somewhere else perhaps. ❝ I'm going to be a father ❞ he rumbled, monotone voice never faltering even against the storm that brewed deep within.

❝ Golde is pregnant. ❞ the soldier added, blinking as he turned his eyes back on his friend, he thought for a moment speaking the words aloud felt strange.

But he didn't hesitate to add his concern into the mix. ❝ I'm not sure I know how to connect with children ❞ there was a slight tilt of his head as if contemplating the idea. To be frank he wasn't sure if Tiberii knew either, but she was at least more emotionally inclined than he was.


❝ speech ❞

Skill:

---

In Hexx's response, Tiberii prepared herself for many things. He could have said almost anything to her, and she would not have flinched. Her smile would not have wavered. And yet ... at the bottom of the list was — ❝I'm going to be a father.❞ And her smile, previously unfaltering, would twitch.

A father?

Who was the mother?

Revelation was a blessing to the unknowing.

Huh?

She didn't realize she'd said it, for her mind flashed. It flickered back to that week prior, where she'd aboslutely pressed Golde into submission, thinking that the tiny golden female was just slacking. That she was getting ... chubby. Golde had just ... wanted training, right?

Oh gods.

Oh strange land of Mythris.

Oh NO.

Hexx would never. Never. Never learn of this.

HUH? She repeated it at full volume, honking into Hexx's face before taking a half-step backward and hushing herself. Golde? You? Father? The words poured out of her mouth before she could systematically clamp it shut. There were a few moments were she clearly was biting her tongue, her lip pursed and her ears half-delicately folded back. Hexx, she'd start again ...

... softer, this time.

She'd have to just ... gently forget about the potential brain damage.

That's ... that's amazin' news, really, she'd honk, shifting her feet beneath her. I think, she'd begin, pondering Hexx's question ... I think you be herself, ya? Ya treat them the way ya wanted yer father ta treat ya. She'd eye him, knowing this was heavy. Not tha way ya want society ta do it ... ya know?? She thought about Hexx's dad. She thought about her own dad, and it made her eyes darken ... heavy ... almost with tears.

It made her frown.

She knew Tiberius was never coming back.

And yet ...

... No matter what, they're gonna love ya.

---

skill; n/a
notes; n/a

---

"Huh?" Hexx blinked, ears swiveling back only slightly.

And he waited.

"HUH?"

...and waited.

"Golde? You? Father?" ─ was she ok?

He was beginning to question if Tiberii was upset by the news as she sputtered and seemed to short circuit. "Hexx," he blinked, trying to understand her reaction. "That's ... that's amazin' news, really," ❝ You could have fooled me, ❞ he mused. It was intended to be...a joke? A playful comment? But nothing about Hexx's voice was playful. "I think," he listened. "I think you be herself, ya? Ya treat them the way ya wanted yer father ta treat ya." there she was, seemed like Tiberii was back. "Not tha way ya want society ta do it ... ya know??" he...believed he understood.

"No matter what, they're gonna love ya." those words stirred something in him, it made his chest tighten and a ball form in the base of his throat. Both ears came back this time. ❝ ...thank you, Tiberii ❞ he rumbled. ❝ I don't know that I'm ready, but ─ I ❞ he swallowed.

there was a long pause, too long, his eyes shifting away from Tiberii's; it felt odd to say it out loud to someone other than Golde in the secrecy of their privacy ❝ I love her, ❞

❝ speech ❞

Skill:

---

"You could have fooled me."

Tiberii laughed, grinning in that awkwardly endearing way she had. Sorry, she started, flicking her ears. Slow processin', she added as an excuse, vehemently deciding that now was most definitely not the right time to tell Hexx that she'd nearly flattened the mother of his children.

But the bull would soften, settling into the warmth of happiness blossoming in her chest. Her grin would round at the edges, becoming less intense and more genuine as she regarded her friend with a warm, yellow gaze. She watched as his ears pulled back at her words, and she realized that in these moments, this was the most vulnerable she had ever seen him.

Hexx was a man made of granite and steel. A warrior, forged in the fire of a cruel past and an even crueler father. But now ... now he was a father. A partner. A protector of more than just the wolves of Dawnbreak, but of his own legacy that he was creating.

It was a new step forward.

Tiberii would slowly move her shoulder forward, pressing it against his own in a silent form of camaraderie.

"I love her," he would say, his gaze twisting away from hers. But Tiberii would remain there, giving him some moments of grace and silence, but offering strength with her presence by his side. Not sure ya can ever be ready, she mused, turning her gaze toward him a bit. Can just hope that none of yer kids have a head like mine, she joked lightly, raising a brow.

For a moment, it was quiet, and Tiberii felt a wave of her own emotion roll over her. Love is everythin' ya need, she offered after a few moments.

An' ya got all of Dawnbreak ta help when things — she corrected herself quickly —if things go sideways. She cupped her ears toward him. Yer my family now, too, alrigh'? All of ya. All jokes were aside now and she hoped her sincerity would shine through.

---