[Bless] Oh ... no, thank you. (Cold Crept In & Swarm)

[LOLLI qAq]

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... _lolli.png[/imgleft]
Cold Crept In moved carefully through the the water that came up to her knees. She didn't normally venture this far out into the wetlands near where she'd made her home, but she was craving the little fish that liked to escape the colder open waters by moving further into the reeds. The bright shade of her coat made her stand out amongst the fading greens and browns of the grasses around her, but she didn't care. Heavy in the mid-section or not, she'd fight any predator that came too close.

If only she could force herself to be as carefree about the new set of children she was expecting. Sure, she'd probably just drop them with their father only to visit them when she found herself missing his company. But that was still more times than she'd really like. Until she met the green buck that seemed to be her opposite in every way, she was convinced she'd never meet anyone she could stand to be around. Let alone talk to.

It was a shame that her fondness for him didn't extend to their children.

@Ruriska

[Ruriska]

As the doe made her careful way through the swamp water, there came a buzzing. The thrum of wings heralded the approach of three giant wasps. They came in low, with heavy abdomens and unreadable stares.

The middle and largest came to a halt and the others slowed with it, then all three simply hovered, watching the red doe.

@LOLLI qAq looks dumb because i can't find brother and sister's uncerts lmao

[LOLLI qAq]

Giant Wasps could be dangerous, and there three were ... Just staring at her. A mouthful of the tougher parts of the marshy grasses in her mouth Cold stared back passively.

"You can go around," she snorted at them. "Or over."

And then she went back to her gloomy chewing.

@Ruriska

[Ruriska]

[imgleft]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... ncert3.png[/imgleft]

They did not go around, or over. They stayed very much where they were, hovering in place, watching as she chewed.

Until finally, after what might have seemed like a very long time, the lead wasp flicked her antenna. As if dismissed, the other two drifted off. One alighted in the nearest mangrove and began cleaning and the other investigated a nearby log for a snack.

As for the giant black and gold female that was still focused on the red doe...

She shifted.

There now stood a mare in the reeds and water, barely a ripple from her presence, the echo of her wasp form still at her side. Swarm had the same unreadable expression as that of the wasp as she said, “you may ask for one blessing for your unborn children.” 

@LOLLI qAq

[LOLLI qAq]

Cold watched her uninvited dinner guests out of her periphery. She didn't understand the ways of wasps and neither did she want to.

And then largest of them changed and she understood.

"Oh."

The bright red doe finished chewing, took a swallow, and shrugged -

"I ask that these children be as self-sufficient as I have ever been."

And so much less clingy needy friendly as I find other kin to be, she thought to herself.

@Ruriska

[Ruriska]

Swarm was not one to judge the wishes of any parent but if she had been, self-sufficiency would have been a suitable choice. No one wanted their children to lack the necessary skills to survive. Even Swarm’s weakest child (sweet little Aphid) was capable enough to take care of herself.

“Very well,” the legendary nodded. “I will beseech the MotherFather for you. May they be as self-sufficient as their mother.” She added nothing else. It was exactly what the doe had requested.

There was no farewell. Swarm simply changed again; took on the comfortable skin of the wasp. This time she did go over and Brother and Sister followed, arching high over the doe’s head and off into the swamp.

@LOLLI qAq

[LOLLI qAq]

Green eyes watched the kimeti turn wasp again and the three of them take off. Once they were gone she looked at her broken reflection in the marshy waters, rolled her eyes, and muttered a "for Swamp's sake."

Then she went back to eating.

She wouldn't admit the weight she'd been carrying all day felt a touch lighter.

@Ruriska
Done! Thank you!  <3