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 Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 9:47 pm
He nodded, thinking it over. The whole life sounded rather...lonely. "And nanny was a natural rank for you, being as you are so good with pups..." he finished, and kept his eyes on the flowers as he spoke, to avoid the awkwardness of his compliment. "If it were a fitting rank for a male, I might have chosen that life for myself..."
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Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 10:03 pm
Seraphin laughed lightly. "Let's face it, I'm no warrior. But I do enjoy taking care of others, be it young pups, elderly wolves or the sick. So nanny the perfect rank for me." His next statement was quite expected. She had seen the way he cared for Patroclus after he was freed from that hole, it was clear that Iosef was good with pups. "I know that you care deeply for the pups in this pack. You are good with them." Glancing at him she sat quietly for a few moments. "Do you ever think you will have pups of your own?" And then feeling as if she perhaps shouldn't have asked that question she looked away somewhat embarrassed.
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Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 10:10 pm
"I...don't know," he said, his gaze now fixated upon the wild roses. Alkaia had wanted pups; she had wanted many things, that he had been unable to give her. "I hope so. I want a family of my own," he said, amazed at himself for being so open with her -- but then, there was something inviting about her, something disarming. "To see my daughters grow to become great warriors, to become...to earn my worth, through my children."
He chanced a sidelong glance at her, forcing his eyes away from the earth below. "And you? I'm surprised that you have none of your own, in truth."
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Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 10:18 pm
A smile crossed her maw. Of course he would want a family of his own. But she wondered how often slaves fathered pups within the pack. It was one of many things that Seraphin was yet to learn about her new home. She knew that both Penthesilea and Thealia had breed with wolves from outside the pack, thought the Queen's consort did end up becoming back of the pack in the end.
At his question Seraphin half nodded. "I do wish to have a family one day." Glancing at her paws she spoke again. "And I guess I don't have any yet because I had yet to meet the right male who could give me a family." And then she raised her eyes and looked at him, a hint of a smile on her maw.
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Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 10:26 pm
"Well, I'm sure that will not be the case for long," he said, comfortingly -- and then noted the expression that crossed her maw. Something did an uneasy flip in his gut, and he regarded her curiously, not sure if he had properly understood her offer, and, of course, unsure of how he could possibly respond to such a thing.
The light in her eyes reminded him forcibly of the light in another wolf's eyes, a lifetime ago.
It's a gift, he thought, against his will. A second chance. An opportunity to make things right...to live a normal life...to have everything that you wanted.
But that was getting ahead of himself. Desperately ahead of himself. Swallowing back his slow-bubbling terror, he said, "...There's not many slaves to pick from now, for consorts," he said, tentatively. "But we have an ally, a close neighbor -- that provided my sister with her mate, and a father for Thealia's pups as well."
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Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 10:38 pm
Did he understand what she had been hinting at? It seemed so by his reply. He was quite cute when nervous, and she could tell he was very much so at this point. Seraphin knew slaves weren't treated all that well here so Iosef was not used to the kind words and gestures she often showed him. She had been about to say something when he spoke again. Wait. Was he suggesting for her to look elsewhere for a mate? In this ally pack. Guess he didn't understand after all.
"I'm sure the other pack has some wonderful wolves in it." She began and then paused, trying to muster some courage to say what she wanted to next. "But I am content with my choices for a consort here." Perhaps he would understand now. For most of the slaves were still pups or adolescents and the other fully grown slave she barely knew other than hearing the whispers of the other sisters.
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Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 10:55 pm
He actually glanced over his shoulder, as if to just verify that she must be speaking about him.
But it was obvious. He swallowed again, and trembled slightly, not entirely sure what to do with this knowledge. Oh god...would she be wanting him to make a first move?
He hoped, if she noticed the trembling in his extremities, that she would chalk it up to excitement.
"...Oh," he said, and met her eyes uncertainly. It was a gift, he repeated to himself. He had waited all his life for a chance to make things right...to be normal...to fulfill his duty....and now here was his chance.
Again he was struck by the gentleness of her, the softness. A part of him was drawn to her, like a moth to the flame...perhaps not an attraction per se, but a recognition of a certain similarity with her...a part of her, so like himself, that drew him close. If he could love anyone...perhaps he could love her.
He smiled then, his violet eyes shimmering slightly with a thousand untold emotions. He felt he should say something, but couldn't think of what she would expect him to say. Then, deciding it would be safer simply to act, he closed the gap between them and nosed her, gently, upon her cheek beneath her ear.
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Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 11:06 pm
As he glanced over his shoulder she did the same, suddenly worried that someone might see them here. But to her relief there was no one there and her gaze returned to Iosef, giving him a look that told him not to worry. Noting the slight shaking of his legs she wondered if his nerves were getting the best or him of if it was a bit of excitement seeping through.
As he drew closer she held her breath, feeling almost unsure about it but knowing that it was just her own nerves making her feel that way. His nose on her cheek was gentle and she finally exhaled the breath she had been holding. She returned his nuzzle with one of her own, and softly ran her tongue across his cheek near the base of his muzzle. Seraphin was at a lose for words at the moment, so she just sat quietly leaning lightly against him. She knew it would be hard on them to go through with this, only because of the pack rules, but somehow they would make it work. They would find time within their busy schedule to spend together, probably out here where they were away from the prying eyes of the pack. Where they could just be two wolves who cared for each other and understand their needs.
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Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 11:40 pm
"This..." he started, as he leaned against her, his senses temporarily overwhelmed by the sheer closeness of another wolf, "...this is...very nice," he said, at length, and ducked his head in embarrassment that he could think of nothing better to say. Iosef, always a cool head in a crisis, always with a solution to any problem placed before him, was thoroughly at a loss for words.
He hoped she couldn't hear the terrified, exhilirated thumping of his heart as their bodies pressed against each other in silence. Thinking of nothing better to do, having no precedence for this before, he lay his chin atop her head, and tried his best to savor the moment.
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Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 11:20 am
His fur was soft and warm to touch, causing her to snuggle in a bit more. "Mhmm." Was about all she could say in response to him. It's not that she didn't agree with what he was saying, Seraphin was just still very much at a loss for words right now. Closing her eyes as he rested his chin atop her head Seraphin let out a content sigh. As happy as she was right now Seraphin's mind was racing. Were there any certain things that needed to be done in acquiring a male to be ones partner? Would the Queen need to approve of this decision? Would Iosef get in trouble over this? Sheraphin hoped not, for the last thing she wanted was for her actions to affect Iosef negatively.
It was hard to tell just how long the two of them had been sitting there. Perhaps a few minutes, maybe even longer. When Seraphin finally opened her eyes she was once again greeted with the sight of the field of wild flowers. Iosef's body was pulled closely to hers and then she glanced towards the sky. Her heart skipped a beat. The sun had moved a great distance and Seraphin now worried that she would be late to her nanny duties or that Iosef would get in trouble for not attending to his own. "Oh my." She said suddenly as she slipped her head away from his. "I didn't realize how late in the afternoon it was." A small amount of panic was beginning to set in. "We better head back before anyone notices us missing. I don't want us to get in trouble for ignoring our duties." Slowly she pulled herself away from him, but then paused and looked up at him. "I'm really glad you took me here today Iosef. I hope that we can come here again sometime soon."
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Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 11:37 am
He had to admit he was relieved when she pulled away -- not that he didn't enjoy her company, but he was grateful that she didn't expect anything from him just yet. He would have to play this by ear...and move slowly...and not screw anything up this time.
"You're right...we'd best be heading back," he agreed, rising back to his paws. "Here...the stairs to get out are nestled back in that corner, there." He nodded toward the back wall. "You'll have to go out first, and I'll follow."
He smiled then, because he agreed with her, and was relieved of it. "Of course. I'll bring you here anytime, m'lady. As work permits, of course." And then he smiled a deeper smile -- happy to have met another wolf as dedicated to her job.
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Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 11:55 am
Standing Seraphin gave her fur a light shake to smooth it out once more, before glancing in the direction he had indicated. She moved carefully so as to not bump into him as she began to climb her way down the outcropping. When she finally reached the bottom Seraphin waiting for Iosef to make it down as well. She smiled to him, gave him a soft bump with her nose and suggested that they part ways here. Best for the sisters to not see them together for now, as it could cause problems. Seraphin glanced back once as she padded away, catching one last glimpse of Iosef before disappearing into the trees, hoping that she was not late for her duties.
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