Another day, another fire. Wooden Bones trotted through the swamp, looking this way and that for any branches or twigs that weren’t mostly submerged in water. Funny that, looking for fire wood in a swamp, but here he was. He’d managed to convince a kindly friend to lend him their salamander for a few days, to keep his darling warm and dry. That had he’d admit, been several more days than his friend had maybe expected but he hadn’t come looking for the useful lizard yet so Wooden supposed it was fine.

Incandescent had been feeling ill lately, spent most of her days moving about carefully and very little… Wooden was worried, at least she wasn’t losing weight, that was a relief, how sick could a kin really be when their belly was full and rounded? Maybe even more so than usual! Not that Wooden would risk telling her that, he wasn't an idiot. Wooden wasn’t sure honestly, but he tried to assure himself it was a good sign, he had to keep moral up for the both of them right now after all!

@Moonstone Dazzle

Another day, another blessing. It was easier to travel on wing- Roses in Bloom wondered if Half Truth felt the same for her hound form. She was going to have to ask her, when she returned home. The still night air was cool and pleasant, and Rose let the feeling of aid carry her. There was a kiokote by the fire, and the wings turned to hooves as Roses in Bloom touched down to the soil. She trotted over, looking over the fire.

"My, it's been some time since I've been at the fireside. Would you mind if I kept your company, for a while?"

Wooden Bones had only just convinced his borrowed fire starter to light up the admittedly rather soaked offering of wood piled into the fire pit. The poor salamander actually shivered and glared at Wooden before slithering into the centre and getting to work. the first hints of flame were just starting to arise under smoke when Wooden near jumped out of his skin as the mare’s voice.

“Motherfather! Sneak up on me like that and maybe we’ll both have a chance to see if there’s really more to this buck’s name than some wacky prebirth hallucination.” He exclaimed before regaining his usual relaxed composure, offering a lazy grin.

“Anyways, hello, my name’s Wooden Bones. And yes, of course! Join us, my mate, Incandescent, has gone for a wander but she should be back soon.”

Really taking a moment to look the graceful mare up and down, Wooden stilled for a beat before throwing his head back in laughter. “Tell me, did I just shout sacrilege directly into the face of one of our Motherfather’s chosen?”

@Moonstone Dazzle

At his exclamation, Roses in Bloom jumped, nearly out of her skin. The fur on her back stood on end and she took several moments to catch her breath. Her heart thundered traitorously in her chest, and it took all the strength in her body not to turn and run now. But his fear wasn’t reason to not keep him company, and when she was calmer, she let out a shaky sigh.

“Well! Well, alright. That’s a way to make sure these old bones are awake,” Roses in Bloom laughed shakily, lowering herself down by the fire. She took a moment more to drink it in, to appreciate the warmth with the cooking weather, and she gave the buck a quizzical look.

“Wooden Bones? Incandescent? Those names...” she murmured, tipping her head to the side. “I believe I have met a doe, in the past, who carried your young?”

Roses snorted a laugh.

“You might have. But these things do happen, I assure you. I mean. Not often, but. What’s a scare between friends? Especially considering you’re a father to be!”

“Did you really?” Wooden remarked thoughtfully, setting himself down by the fire as well, now that the work was done. The salamander glared at the buck from it’s place within the flames. “If I’m honest, I thought One Day More dreamed the whole encounter up, but it made her happy and she was carrying our babies so I wasn’t about to sow doubt. But here you are…”

“Wait. Father-to-be?” Wooden snapped his eyes away from the sulking salamander and towards Rose again. He spoke his next words in a bit of a daze. “I’m all the father I’m ever going to be, for whatever reason, Incandescent and I have never been able to conceive… but you’re here, and Incandescent has been- HOLY SMOKES!”

Wooden jumped to his feet. “SHE’S PREGNANT!”

"And you're here- you're here to bless our children? The second lot of them?" Wooden stared down at the mare with such intensity, he'd deny it later but he actually stared to tear up. "After all this time..."

@Moonstone Dazzle

"It's a bit odd, isn't it? If I'm honest with you," Roses leaned in, almost in a conspiratory fashion. Like they were to share some great secret together. Then again, it wasn't as though she had told many kin the feeling of ascension. To meet the MotherFather and behold them. So...

Well! What would it hurt?

"I really, really thought I had lost my mind when it happened. Waking up like this. There was this dream with a spi-" At the buck's alarm, Roses nearly startled again, but managed to keep laying down.  Roses in Bloom's thoughts eluded her then, left with giddy instead. No. This wasn't about her. This was about the lovely couple to be, their future progeny. And wasn't it a tremendous, joyous occasion? They had thought themselves barren. Here they were now, with children. Instead, she giggled, offering him a nod.

"I'm so, so glad to share this with you. It's... honestly. It makes me happier than you can know, bringing you this news." After a pause, the mare continued.

"Do you have anything you want for them? Your children-to-be?"

“Want for them?” Wooden was momentarily stumped, and sat back down. What more could he want than the gift of having them at all? “Honestly, we’ve raised five wonderful kids already, I know we can do it and I know they’ll be fine.”

He was quiet for a few moments longer, staring into the flames once again. He’d lost track of the salamander’s eyes now. This time when he came to his conclusion, he didn’t shout or startle. Wooden just looked aside at the mare with a crooked smile and serious eyes before speaking.

“I don’t suppose you can ensure Incandescent and the babes will all make it through this pregnancy safe and sound can you?” He was doubtful, even for one of the ascended, perhaps details like those were already set in stone.

“After so long with no luck… all I could want for them is health and a willingness to thrive, we can handle the rest.” He nodded confidently.

@Moonstone Dazzle

"You had five? Goodness gracious, that's a good first clutch!" Roses in Bloom giggled, feeling rather young with all the gossip and getting to sit around. It wasn't often she came back to kin she had offered her blessing to, and it was a nice change of pace. Roses in Bloom shifted to set more comfortably, figuring she would not be leaving too quickly. Why not let herself have this little break? Besides, Half-Truth was going to enjoy this story. Staying around meant that she got to have more to tell her love, had more to learn from.

"I will certainly offer my blessing to their health and their happiness. I can do that much," Roses in Bloom nodded, her smile turning more soft and wistful. It was such a kind, earnest wish. She loved that one more than anything. Her gaze went to the fire, and Roses in Bloom drank in the warmth, being in good company.

"I can honestly say I'm so happy for the both of you. This is a wonderful turn of events."