[B] Ahead (Champion x True Strength x Swarm)

[Ryuukishin]

[imgright]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/images/amorpheous/champion_uncert.png[/imgright]It was a bright summer day when she realized it. She had been sitting with True Strength, taking shade beneath the tree. She remembered leaning against him despite the heat, bumping his chin with her nose, breaking the news. She remembered his warmth. His smile.

Now, they were looking for a blessing. It was still too early to show, but she knew legendaries relied on more than physical signs alone.

"Maybe it's like a sixth sense." She was rambling to True Strength as she maneuvered over a particularly thick root. "Like how Dragonslayer always knows where the holes are, and how to fall into them."

[Wyrm]

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

"Mmn." True Strength hummed an amused response, keeping a watchful eye on Champion's feet. He didn't think that she would trip - he knew well how agile the doe was. It was more to keep track of the situation, to make sure that if something did happen, he'd be able to help. He made sure to carefully step over the root himself, and tilted his head her way in a silent, but warm encouragement to continue.

He himself didn't have much thoughts on what abilities legendarily did or did not have, but he would happily listen to her thoughts on it until the sun set. Not that it was at all a bother. He remembered the indignant squacks that Dragonslayer would let out as he crashed into another mishap, and smiled.

[Ruriska]

[imgleft]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... ncert2.png[/imgleft] It was very much like a sixth sense, Swarm agreed; the conversation reaching her in the mangrove branches above the pair. Explaining the feeling was almost impossible but it was a sense of being in a wrong place or a right place.

When she knew there was a blessing to give, her heart thrummed with the need to be elsewhere until she had found them and performed her duty.

Now there was no such need. Her target had come to her.

As they passed by, Swarm got her wings moving with a droning hum. Her heavy body swung out of the branches, antennae pointed forward. She buzzed. A greeting, of sorts. It didn’t occur to her to shift back to her Kimeti form. Not yet.

She was a big wasp, a loud wasp, hovering behind them with glowing eyes that glowering regardless of what emotion she was feeling.

@Ryuukishin
@Wyrm

[Ryuukishin]

The first time Champion had met a legendary, she had tried to cave the caiman's head in. The second time, she had romped and raced with the sand dog and, perhaps, had not been the picture of decorum when faced with such a cute puppy wuppy. This time, she recognized the giant wasp for what it was.

She circled to face her, head held high and nose proffered as a potential landing spot. "Hello! Are you—achoo!"

@Wyrm
@Ruriska
(THANK YOUUU!! The snot of gratitude!!)

[Wyrm]

True Strength did not like insects. Perhaps it was his mountain roots talking, but if there was one aspect of the swamp he could truly live without, it was the bugs. When Champion had told him about the giant wasps, he felt reasonably doubtful that they, in fact, existed.

Being proven wrong was always unpleasant, but especially when you were confronted with the reality of truly gargantuan insects with frightfully long stingers.

Having quickly made the rational decision that the best strategy was a swift retreat, True Strength was unhappily surprised when his companion instead decided to approach the wasp. As the buck was attempting to think of a plan that would save her from the giant wasp, Champion greeted the wasp and let out a rather loud sneeze. True Strength froze in place, head outstretched towards Champion's tail.

@Ruriska
@Ryuukishin

[Ruriska]

[imgleft]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... ncert3.png[/imgleft]It was a big sneeze.

The wasp hovered in front of the Acha, mandibles moving, abdomen curled forward... and a big glob of snot on her head.

Swarm lowered herself to the ground, dropped heavily and then casually began cleaning, front legs taking turns wiping away the gift Champion had given her. She paused once to look up at the Acha as if to say ‘look at this mess’ and then continued until it was gone.

“Are you unwell?” She asked, very suddenly a mare, though many similarities remained.

Her gaze flicked past the doe to eye the strong looking buck behind her. He seemed protective and she respected that sort of devotion.

@Ryuukishin
@Wyrm

[Ryuukishin]

Tragically, this wasn't the first time Champion was faced with a kin covered in unfortunate fluids—and with their incoming offspring, it likely wouldn't be the last. By habit, she made to hook it under a foreleg and deliver a few brisk strokes... only to find a substantially larger mare in its place.

A blink; then, a wide smile. She backed up to leave the mare room and leaned reassuringly against True Strength's broad shoulder. It was her first time searching with her partner, and she was comforted by his presence.

"Just a bit ticklish," she admitted, her smile expressing mortification and amusement in equal measure. "I'm so, so sorry about that."

She was not quite as tall, but she peered up at the mare's head regardless to look for any missed spots, trying to keep her grimace strictly internal. She hadn't attempted to trample the mare to the ground, or run circles with her... so a fine introduction considering her track record, but, perhaps, not a common story she would share over the fire.

@Wyrm
@Ruriska

[Wyrm]

The shift was so sudden and natural that True Strength did not find it alarming. His unnecessary grab turned into a fond nuzzle. Though not frightened by the black mare, he was a bit unnerved. Unlike giant wasps, he never truly doubted the existence of legendaries - too prominent were they in the goings-on of the Swamp. But as they say - knowing and seeing were different things.

The buck bent his head in a brief, but genuine gesture of respect, nuzzling Champion once again as she leaned on him. He was there as support, first and foremost, and his partner had the situation well in hand.

Besides, any kin, legendary or not, was better than a giant wasp.


@Ruriska
@Ryuukishin

[Ruriska]

“No harm has been done,” Swarm assured the doe, though a few little goopy spots remained. But as a doe who regularly hunted and found herself covered in various substances, a little bit of snot was hardly something to fuss over.

They were a nice pair, she thought as she watched the buck nuzzle the Acha. It made her miss Dapper Mantis, though she had only just seen him that morning.

“You’re pregnant,” she confirmed, just in case either of them was questioning her reason for being there, though she suspected they knew. There was no waiting for a response nor did she ask them what they might have wanted for a blessing. That wasn’t her way.

“May the MotherFather grant them strength and endurance, to be ever vigilant and protective.” She hummed, a buzzing sort of sound from her throat. “And maybe not too ticklish.”

@Ryuukishin
@Wyrm

[Ryuukishin]

"Oh, thank you!" Champion's eyes glowed, releasing the tension she did not know she had until it was gone. She had borne children many times now and thought she had no worries left to feel—but though it became easier, she supposed it was never easy.

"I hope the Motherfather watches after you also... from sneezes, at least!"

@Wyrm
@Ruriska

((I have kept this tab open for the two years it took for me to tag. :) Thank you so much for the blessing!!))