Jaxxon

She was starting to get irritated with being pregnant. She simply wanted it to be over at this point, with the discomfort growing. The puppies moved a lot now, and kicked at her every which way. She knew there were multiples, and could not help but wonder how many were in there. By her guess, it was three or four.

Azalea lay in the den that Jaxxon had gifted her, among the furs. She had her stash of herbs nearby, and she could not help but think of Setemhotep and the open offer to go to Satriya. The threat of Jaxxon’s brother coming back loomed in her head, and it wasn’t like she had a lot to think about or do right now. Was this really the safe place to be?

Generally, Azalea was rather care free, but this issue really…burned into her mind. She never thought herself as a mother or particularly caring, but already she felt a fierce protective instinct over them and they are not even born yet. Azalea grunted as she groomed her front paws. What the hell had she gotten herself into? It was probably only a few suns before the pups would be here…and Jaxxon seemed rather busy.

Skill: Brewmaster.

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Azalea

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He had his affairs in order... Kinda...

He wasn't sleeping well, he wasn't eating well, he wasn't coping. He paced the borders on almost a daily basis, eyes searching outwards for the male he hoped and dreaded would come home. Part of him was full of trepidation, hoping he would never return and the male could spend his life with his pets, their children and perhaps Kaida... Shit he needed to pay her a visit sometime he was in the forest... Part of his dreaded that meeting too... What would she think of him now?

Part of him was begging for his brother to come home. Be back in his arms once more for them to live their lives out in elation and happiness... Though a piece of the Huntsman knew that life would never be a reality, even if he came home...

Sighing the male swayed on his stomach and he sat in a sphynx like position in his den, staring out drunkenly into the dusky night. Dulcie was off doing his own thing and Saga was doing hers. He was alone with his thoughts and he didn't like the dizzying whirlwind of swirling words that he could practically see twirling in front of his vision as it whisked around in circles.

He needed to get out...

His thoughts finally landed on something else... Someone... Azalea... He rose to his large paws, nabbing one of the extra furs he'd had laying around the male set out to trip and tumble his way down the mountain to the den he'd given her. It took him a little while but he made it in one piece, not without stubbing his toes a few times, and stopped outside her home. Placing the fur at his feet the male let out a friendly chuff.

Jaxxon pulled himself up into a more regal position, though he couldn't help but slouch a bit with the fermented berries coursing through his veins, his tail curled over his haunches and he waved it in a personable manner to greet her when she either beckoned him forth or came out to greet him. Either was possible as he knew she was getting very close to her birthing day and he knew when pregnant females got close to their time they got cranky and irritable... Jaxxon didn't blame them, he wouldn't like carrying around a bunch of heavy bowling balls in his uterus, if he had one, either... He'd want that shit out as soon as possible...

Her fur stands on edge. It is that feeling one gets when one knows that they are no longer alone. Her ears hear something in the distance, and currently, Azalea trusts no one here other than perhaps Jaxxon. She stops mid-groom, paw next to her mouth as she freezes to listen closely, muscles at the ready to defend herself. Her lips pull back some in a threatening smile as someone comes to the mouth of the den.

Her poison green eyes focus in as something drops at their feet, and it is none other than Jaxxon. Her paws lowers, and her body relaxes, with the threat in her smile fading away to a normal smile. His scent comes to her then, and the smell of those berries touches her nostrils. Ugh. Well, at least he is here.

”Ah, Jaxxon, come in, lay next to me,” she said slyly, patting the spot next to her with a single blood red paw. Her tail lightly taps on the ground behind her against the soft furs. It sure was comfortable here, at least she had that. However, she knew this place had many eyes and ears, and she wanted that privacy. ”Did you come alone?” she asked sweetly, tilting her head as she awaited his approach.

Skill:

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Azalea

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Her response to his greeting was more than warm. Inviting the large man inside Jaxxon nodded in thanks and lifted the brown groundhog pelt in his jowls delicately. As he lifted his head the man slipped himself inside her shadows. Honeyed eyes glanced over her pregnant form with a hint of anxiety dancing in them as he smiled nervously around the skin in his mouth. Placing the pelt at her paws the Huntsman came to lay beside her, his eyes lingering on the skin piece, keeping an inch of two between them for her comfort.

He didn't know where she wanted him placed, against her body or just close enough for comfort, but he played it safe and kept himself within the proximity of her body heat, inches away from mingling fur, but far enough away that she could easily shift away for more space.

The female questioned if he came alone and Jaxxon nodded. I wouldn't bring anybody to your home without you meeting them first... And as far as I have heard you haven't met many of my wolves yet... Jaxxon murmured, finally turning his gaze to meet her own. Poison seeped into the honey as he melted into her viridescent pools. I brought you this... Jaxx murmured softly to her as he nudged the pelt towards her with his brown nose, his eyes never leaving her own as the man bent his head in front of her, For the birth... For the babies... He near whispered, his voice a hushed breath from his ocher lips.

Jaxxon might have been terrified for the future of Azalea and their babies but he was a devoted father. He wanted to do better for his babies than just "being there" like he was last time. Whether or not they were illegitimate or not that didn't matter. What mattered was they came from him and it was his job to protect them and their mother. He was currently in a drunken state of confusion. He wanted to protect them and provide for the and be there for them... But he knew what their future might hold...

He appeared happy to come in, and laid a respectful distance from her. Close, but not too close. That worked for her. They were not mates or anything of the like, and without the touch of heat, Azalea was not as prone to such closeness. She looks down at the new pelt and continues to grin, pulling it close to her and laying her paws upon it. A nice little gift.

”Very respectful of you, Jaxxon. I appreciate that,” she said nicely with a nod, looking into his honey touched eyes. ”The little ones will like it I think…never had little ones before so I can’t say for sure,” she admitted, knowing this was her first and probably only litter. She never intended to have any, but she was surprised how strong instinct was. It almost pissed her off, knowing parts of her controlled her and SHE didn’t control IT.

Her face shifted to something serious, and Azalea had a naturally deadly look to her when her face was resting, let alone serious. Her own voice matched his whisper, and her poison eyes narrowed, not leaving his for a second. ”Tell me Jaxxon, am I the only one, or are the other pregnant ones yours too? Don’t worry, dear, I care not, I wish only to know who shares blood so that they do not…mingle in unsavory ways, you understand? Since no one will know who the father of these are,” she whispered with a pause, hoping he understood what she meant. There is much difficulty in raising puppies, let alone ensuring they don’t breed with their unknown siblings in the future.

Skill:

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Azalea

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She thanked him and he smiled a little bashfully, turning his head down a touch as he lowered his eyes and let out a low chuckle. She noted she never had had little ones to know if they'd like it and Jaxxon nodded with another amused chuckle, turning his eyes back to meet her own. They will... Mine did when they were little... Jaxx murmured with a slow blink.

He watched her face shift into a more serious look and he almost shuddered under the deadly glance she threw at him. Her eyes narrowed and they pierced into his own. She lowered her voice and spoke questions of him that he shifted uncomfortably before answering.

Yes... Saga and Dulcie both... Delta isn't, she's Amon's from what I heard... The beast spoke, his own voice a lowered hush. They'll figure it out eventually I think... I'll be here with them sometimes if you'll allow... Polly isn't stupid... Jaxxon mumbled, his eyes still locked onto her own, he lowered his lids slightly and knitted his eyes together as if to solidify his words.

I... I don't want to be absent... I want them to know my name... He merely whimpered under the influence of his berry buddies rushing through his veins, affecting his self control, affecting the looseness of his lips.

She tilted her head some. It appears he has done this before, which is a good thing. Azalea nods in response, and knew to keep their particular fur close for when the little ones are next to her belly after birth.

She is intense with her listening, and it was obvious that she hung onto every word. There are two others, and she considered this fact. How many puppies could this be for her to keep an eye on? She wouldn’t be able to tell her own children the truth because of this brother threat. She wonder though…”Are you claiming them as yours publicly? I know these will not be, but…you spoke of your brother…” she mentioned, blinking a few times slowly.

”Will the others be threatened if your brother comes back as well?” she asked, not totally sure what the deal was with his brother. She knew he had disappeared, and knew from a prior comment that his brother would kill the puppies if he came back and thought they were Jaxxon’s. Azalea’s solution was that they were not his, and no one could prove otherwise…especially since she was not a wolf of the pack when it happened. But the others? Really, she was just trying to piece together how everything would go down if the brother came back…and who may be friend or who may be foe.

”You do not want to be absent, and yet, being present brings them the risk of DEATH if your brother comes back?” she states, still in a whisper but perhaps a bit louder than before. There is a bit of sting to her voice at the end, obviously questioning the true safety of their children. ”Would you fight your brother to the death for your children?” she asked harshly…partly asking the question to herself. Would she fight Amaryllis if she came back and was jealous of her children, deciding to kill them? She knew that Amaryllis would never…but what if she did try? Could she bring herself to kill her sister…her own self over her children? She…she didn’t know the answer. But she wanted to know his answer, she wanted to see his reaction. She had to know as much as she could.

Skill:

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Azalea

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Yes, they're in danger as well... But with Nyra here there might be hope for the numbers their births bring... He hesitated before answering her first question of if he would be claiming them publicly. I... I won't deny they're mine if I'm asked but... For now I'm just a friendly face... Friends who had some benefits that went wrong... He chuckled, a small sparkle of hope in his sticky colored eyes. She bit at him, questions and pointed fingers he wasn't expecting.

I... I wouldn't... Honestly he couldn't... I couldn't... But with Nyra here... I doubt she would let him mindlessly slaughter good numbers... We need them and they can grow up to be strong packmates... If you decide to stay... He offered, his eyes averting her gaze as he drug on his words like a rake. He snorted a soft breath through his nostrils as he gazed out of the mouth of her den, his eyes avoiding hers, his body shifting away from her slightly as if worried about her response.

She listens carefully, and it appears his brother would show no mercy to anyone in this situation. Could his brother handle three angry mothers at once? Azalea is not even sure if she would stick around to find out. Yet he mentions Nyra, a woman of great stature and strength from what Azalea could tell, and it appears she would not allow it. It appears he would not deny being the father of the other pups…but for Azalea…

”You may not deny the others, but you best deny these. Not like they are going to inherit your land, title, or any of that pack nonsense anyway. Claiming mine brings them nothing be threat, and I will not tolerate it unless the threat goes away,” she said firmly, though a bit softer than her before questions.

In regards to his brother though, her eyes still did not leave his even though he averted his gaze. Azalea was relentless, her stare and form firm and confident. She felt for him, she did. Dare she admit it though? Part of her felt he was pathetic for not standing up to his brother if need be, and then again, being a twin herself…her face softens a bit…but just a bit.

”At least you tell the truth. You claim to want to protect them, but would not protect them from their greatest threat. My father would have DESTROYED anyone who dare threaten me and my sister. Anyone. Without hesitation. Without a second thought. My father MADE us who we are, and that is why I want to stay for them to know you but…” she dug in a bit, wanting to make sure HE understood the gravity of the situation.

”If your brother comes back, or there is a whiff of him coming back, I WILL leave. I have other options, and their protection is paramount. I do not have Nyra’s word that they will be protected against your brother, and could she bring them back to life if he killed them in the cover of darkness? I think not. If he returns, a friend has offered their protection. I will go to them if need be. I do not want this, but I will do what I must to protect them, you understand? I am giving them a chance to know you, but I will take them to safety first,” she said, leaning in a bit more close, her intense eyes still never leaving for a second. Her fur was pricked a bit, and she had a wild protective instinct showing in her face. Normally, she could be a bit more sly, a bit more gentle when needed…but her instinct was overriding her. Her words were harsher in her lecture than she would normally present them… god damn she hates these hormones. At least he knows exactly where she stands.

Skill:

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Azalea

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She snapped at him. Many words and his ears buzzed with the effort of trying to take it all in, but where his ears were buzzing, so was his brain. Shaking his head as if to clear it he furrowed his brows and whiffed a breath of air from his nose as if irritated. I expected nothing less... You do what you need to do to keep you all safe... I get it... He said sternly, his expression somber but also understanding with a hint of that frustration. I wouldn't try to stop you either... But luckily, right now, there hasn't been any sign or scent of Joxer... So so far y'all are safe here... The Einvald murmured, unmoving from his position but staring at her as she leaned forward.

With the way she was speaking he half expected her to snap out at him, but she seemed to hold a bit of self restraint and held herself back, which part of him was thankful for... The other part needed that pain, the release of endorphins that would push him past these dangerous looming thoughts and put him in a higher place. It wasn't always sexual either, part of the time he just enjoyed the feeling of being whisked away from his earthly problems.

But y'all are safe right now... And I can help... I'll stop by occasionally, drop off food, bring you furs if you need 'um... Pain medicine from El... Whatever you need, plus you can always call me... Jaxxon told Azalea, hopefully easing her mind just a tiny bit through everything. I... I don't expect Joxer to come back... Part of me thinks he died... His face dropped a little as his eyes softened slightly at the thought... A thought he didn't wish to have...