[imgleft]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... ncert3.png[/imgleft] Spring was turning into Summer, and today for the first time the temperature had gone from a little cool and abundant with flowers to truly sunny and warm.

The Seelie were in charge at this time of the year, and the tribe spun between feast to play to celebration. There was fresh meat, hives full of honey, berries of several varieties, and tender shoots which made for good grazing.

Stalker had started the morning early, taking inventory for the meal and entertainment scheduled later in the evening. Since his ascension, his duties with the tribe had not changed overly, but as it went, Stalker was happy. He could never remember being so happy. His ability to aid King had improved dramatically. He was able to slink in and out of crowds without notice. And best of all, with the discovery of a unique plant and after many years, he and King had been able to sire a clutch that was their own and no one else's.

As the day wore on, the heat grew, and everyone dissipated to find the shade of dens or trees. They idled away the hours chatting or weaving flower garlands.

Stalker was not at all difficult to find. He was down near the river, looking over the various fish stored in makeshift traps where they would stay fresh until later on.

Ferns was uncharacteristically nervous.

He usually was so calculated and careful about taking risks, but the buck who believed he was from another world and the moonlit spring night had let him into some state of madness, and Ferns had eaten that weird plant, and, well. He had had clutches before, of course, but these sacs felt especially precious and vulnerable, and the usually cool and contemptuous buck had become quite the worrier, fretting over them in the safe spot he had found for them, and being even more standoffish towards his fellow courtiers than usual.

Someone had suggested he seek blessing from the tribe’s newest legendary, and on finding suitable guards for his clutch, Ferns left the cool and braved the midday heat, following a series of “I think he was with” and “oh he just went to-“s before finally arriving at the river, where he spotted Stalker checking fish traps. The dark buck was sweltering in the heat, and trotted down to the water to dip his hooves to cool off, nodding respectfully to the legendary buck.

There were a lot of reserves that were easy to count. Decorations. Dead things. Plants. Live fish were not particularly. Stalker knew exactly how many mouths to expect, plus 5% in case of additional guests, and even if he could gather up a number a small fish and a large fish were also different matters, plus eels and various crabs. Some of the smallest ones would also need releasing. So far it was 10 to be returned, 22 small, 25 medium, 8 large, 12 various. Stalker went to check the next trap, but stopped when he saw he had company.

The doe was distinctive. Stalker recognised her, in fact.

"Ferns," he said. "What news? Nothing disastrous, I hope."

There was often some disaster or another brewing. Some days the tribe felt like chaos incarnate.

Ferns tapped his hoof awkwardly. He usually tried to avoid being in a position of owing anyone anything, but he was facing parenthood again, quite soon after his previous clutch, and this time the clutch felt more his responsibility than ever. He quite enjoyed the effects of the flowers, usually, but it was leading him to fret about this clutch. Or perhaps he was just becoming soft. Either way, he eventually worked his way around to telling Stalker.

“I’m having another clutch,” he announced abruptly, “and they. Uh. You know-“ he gestured to his body, clearly more feminine than usual, feeling the embarrassment mounting. “I was hoping you could… I mean since you’re-“ the usually suave and smooth talking kin was fumbling his words, but it didn’t take much to see that he wasn’t the only one who had undergone physiological change recently. Stalker had transformed quite fantastically as well. Ferns hoped that his usual devious personality and even pricklier side wouldn’t dissuade the other buck from helping him.