The large buck uncoiled himself from his resting place. Eyes illuminated, almost star-like, as he awoke. The dusk air had only the faintest nip to it but he seemed entranced, lost in his thoughts, and hardly noticed.
Fall had quite the matter at hoof. He had met someone.
A strong, fierce, beautiful doe whom he admired greatly. It wasn't often that he connected so quickly with another Kin but their connection had been like wildfire.

She was expecting.
He was going to be a father for the first time in his life.

For a mother to his first children, he couldn't have asked for better. He was confident their brood would be strong and smart. Beautiful as Tomb.
He chuckled. A low, almost growling sound.

Getting to his hooves to set off he shook his pelt free of the earth. The plumes of dust exploded and drifted slowly in the night like a fine mist.
He wanted more for them. His children.
Fall took care of the things he treasured, be they material possessions or Kin.

He wanted them to have the best.

The swamp felt calm as he departed the cave and stepped into the night. The kind of evening that would bring kin out from the depths of sleep just to enjoy it.
Spring was right around the corner. You could feel it in your bones.
Yawning, the buck gazed up at the stars.

What a beautiful sight.

Fireflies in full bloom.

@Ruriska

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As the season’s turned, winter giving way to spring, the wasps of the Swamp began to leave their hibernation. Being both kin and wasp, Swarm didn’t necessarily have to spend her whole winter in slumber but she did pass it quietly, resting often, the cold making her sleepy.

She was also a guardian and she refused to stray far from where Brother and Sister were resting. Not even the call of expectant parents, the task the MotherFather had given her, was enough to drag her away.

Not until the duo finally began to rouse.

Only then did Swarm finally heed the call, stepping away from the hollow where they had wintered and onwards, day passing into night. She walked as a Kimeti mare, her wasp form still drowsy, fireflies making way, flitting around her like an honorary guard.

She saw the buck with his twined antlers and made a low sound, a thoughtful him like the beating of insect wings.

The stars winked at him from their velvety bed and he smiled. The night was beautiful.
He inhaled deeply and savored the sweet air. Likely a night-blooming flowers perfume.

The sound of a hum snapped him from his intoxication. His ears upright, pointing this way and that to track it.
It sounded like a wasp. He'd not had many encounters with the creatures but he knew they could be very short-tempered if agitated.

He wasn't about to test his own knowledge to prove or disprove this fact.

A soft glow. There. In the night among so many fireflies.
But these were bigger, a brighter yellow, and soon he could pick out the shape of a mare.
"Who's out there?"
He called, his voice calm. Eyes narrowed to try to focus harder on the stranger lurking just at the edge of sight.

@Ruriska

The dark of her coat blended with the night, making her bright eyes and her striking yellow stripes almost disembodied as she stepped forward to meet his questioning voice.

She didn’t answer the question with words, she simply moved towards him and then stopped, her wasp for a shadow at her side, winking in and out of existence. It was always there, close beneath the skin.

Who she was didn’t matter and what she was was clearly obvious.

“You are to be a father,” she told him. “I have been sent to bless them.”

Never one to mince words, she was straight to the point. If he asked for something in particular, she might oblige. Otherwise she would simply do her job and leave.

@Kinu

Fall felt a little foolish, squinting like he was half-blind into the night. As she finally melted into view he was taken aback. An Ascended kin. He'd heard about them but had never seen one before. She was an intense presence and he felt strange. There was a hum in the air that was almost soothing.

“You are to be a father,” she told him. “I have been sent to bless them.”

The words startled the large buck. She knew. He wasn't going to ask how. He had a feeling it was beyond him.

"Y-yes, that is true. And I am humbled by your blessing. Thank you."

He wasn't sure how this whole thing worked. Did he just ask? Ask for anything? What if it were rude to just assume he could make demands? He figured honesty was the best policy in this case.

"I'm not sure what to ask for. I just want the best for my children."

Simple. Fall was a greedy sort, he liked his treasures and had a pile of them hidden in a cave that he had cultivated and protected his whole life. But he also knew not to be demanding. Especially when he was being offered a gift.

@Ruriska

In her experience so far, there seemed to be two main approaches when faced with blessing. They would either ask for everything or they would humbly ask for anything. She was glad he was the latter.

A little bit of respect went a long way. She had no time for kin if they didn’t offer the bare minimum.

“Very well,” she said. “May they be born healthy and strong, and grow to know themselves well.” That last one had been the journey that she had struggled with the most and it pleased her to give others a little boost in the right direction.

“That will suffice.” It wasn’t a question but she waited anyway, still as the night, watching the buck.

@Kinu

Crickets echoed in the night as the buck watched her. He was unmoving. Calm. That air of awe still clung to him while she spoke. It wasn't every day you met a Legendary.

Healthy and strong. A great start to their lives.
The last part made him pause.
What a gift that would be for them. To know themselves well.
He honestly wished he'd been blessed with that foresight in his youth.
He knew himself well enough now but the road had been long.

"Thank you for your generosity." The words were soft, quiet, and almost a growl. Not out of hostility, but simply the timber of his voice. "You have my gratitude."

His head dipped toward the earth in a show of respect and he turned to leave. In his chest, he felt the warmth of hope blossoming.
Hope that his children now had the best start they possibly could.
The safety, health, and happiness of his offspring were his greatest treasure after all.

@Ruriska (Sorry for the delay. Spoons... went... ploop. xD <3)