How much a fool could he be? What happened last night? Blue opened his eyes slowly, feeling the weight on Blackberry's head on his. He didn't move, but his eyes wandered to the tap of Blackberry's belly. Sure enough, he spied the edge of a little green glowing gem sitting inside. He hadn't dreamt it.

Blackberry hadn't rejected him. But she was injured when all that happened. And as far as Blue could tell, she was only kind and let kind emotion seep through when she was heavily injured. How would she react today? Would she berate hi and hok and hiss at him for being a fool, and destroy the children? Or would she smile and let things be the way they were last night?

Blue wasn't sure. Blackberry was a wildcard indeed. For now, though, he'd enjoy her presence and just rest. Blue closed his eyes, not drifting off to sleep, but just enjoying the moment of peace.


___________________________________________________________

"Can’t you tell?"
We’re all mad here.

tags: @Blackberry
notes: here

Blackberry slowly came into consciousness, incredibly sore all over. Her head, at least, was completely clear now, the venom having run its course, but her entire body was weak from its effects. However, she was feeling considerably better then the night before. She couldn't really remember what happened at first, which was why she was mildly confused as to why her head was resting on Blueberry.

Her eyes blinked awake and she looked down, careful not to move in case he would wake. Sure enough, it was Blueberry beneath her, his gem looking strange and different. It was...flat.

And then the events of the night before hit her like a rock. The stones and the life. She suddenly became very aware of a pressure against her stomach. Without thinking, she whipped her head off of Blueberry's neck and looked down, raising herself enough to see. A jolt when through her stomach at the sight of the three eggs.

She didn't know what to feel. There was so much clashing in her head. Anger and rage and the madness pierced into the gentleness that Blueberry had woven into her psyche. It demanded she destroy them or leave them behind, reject, hate, forget. She had a mission already - bring terror, bring vengeance. Pay back everyone that had wronged her and hurt her. But it was different now. The good part was stronger. The love and care, both for Blueberry and for the gems beneath her feathers. She felt the responsibility weighing down on her shoulders. What it meant and what it would come to mean.

The feeling suddenly overwhelmed her and she staggered back from the two, her heart beginning to race. Her breath came in short pants as she tried to comprehend exactly how this was going to change things. Everything was going to change. She was going to be a mother. <"I'm going to be a mother..."

She looked down at Blueberry and realized that there was a new word for him. Not an ally, not a tool, not even a friend. "A mate," she breathed, "I have a mate."

What could she do about this? How was she supposed to think about this? She had never once cared for anyone, especially not in this way. Perhaps she cared for Blueberry before, but only now did she fully realize it. She shivered as she tried to wrap her head around the emotions that were alien to her body. She didn't know what to do.



___________________________________________________________

"Heroes always get remembered."
But you know legends never die.

tags: @Blueberry
notes:

Blue felt Blackberry wake up. Well, more like run away. And then came the breathy words. They were going to be parents. And... and they were mates? No. They couldn't be. They were partners, killers. Killers didn't have mates. That was impossible. But if Blackberry said they were, than Blue would happily accept the title.

The moose opened his eyes and yawned, pretending he had just woken up. He looked up at the bewildered goose, his eyes shining brightly. "H-hi Blackberry. You okay?" He asked, his voice soft and sleepy. She seemed scared.

And Blue understood why. What if they messed up? What if they got their kids killed in a battle? What if they lived lives of pain? Blue worried about the obvious things. But what was going through Blackberry's mind? He had no clue.


___________________________________________________________

"Can’t you tell?"
We’re all mad here.

tags: @Blackberry
notes: here

Blackberry just stared at Blueberry, as if the question was obvious. Of course she was not okay! She was totally confused, conflicted, and absolutely terrified. She could fight lions and dragons and kill innocent creatures without feeling remorse. But this...this was a whole different game.

But first, she had to calm down. She tried to control her breathing, keeping it steady, lower her heart rate or else she wouldn't think clearly. Usually she was okay with this, as thinking clearly in the heat of battle usually didn't get her anywhere. Also it wasn't as much fun. But this was not a typical battle. She couldn't win this with a few well-placed attacks.

It took a few minutes and she paced silently while she did this, taking deep breaths and slowing her body down. She released all of the extra energy in her steps and gave her head a few shakes. Finally, once she was back to normal, she found it easier to sort through her emotions.

First, she was angry. Angry that she had exposed her weakness and let Blueberry take advantage of it. Now, they were weighed down by the future of parenthood. Blackberry might be savage, but she wouldn't abandon those that shared her blood, especially children. Second, was pure joy. She had realized her emotions and created three beautiful, perfect things that would one day become creatures to love and protect. Three, intrigue. Three children sharing her blood. More opportunity to wreak havoc, more of her and Blueberry to fight those that deserve their wrath. A family of blood, taking down all in their path.

Those three fought each other, fought fervently for what should be kept and expressed.

Finally, she turned to Blueberry, her gaze soft and her head clear. She knew what she was going to say and she knew what Blueberry was thinking. That she was back to anger and hate. That she wouldn't love the gems in the nest that they had made together. But, somehow, the love and emotion was still within her. "I know what you're thinking. Don't you worry, those are our children. We will raise them and love them and teach them. Perhaps they shall one day know the joy of battle and death...no, they shall certainly know this pleasure." Yes, of that she was certain. Their children would not be raised without fighting in their blood.

She nodded, mostly to herself. <"Yes, our children. They will be perfect. Together, the caves will be ours."



___________________________________________________________

"Heroes always get remembered."
But you know legends never die.

tags: @Blueberry
notes:

Blue was absolutely terrified. What would she do? She was pacing, she wasn't speaking. Did she hate him for what he did? Did she want to murder the children? Did she want to hurt them all? What was Blackberry thinking? What was she feeling?

As for Blue, it was a whirlwind of emotion. Fear, joy, anxiety, anger, and excitement had all balled up into one hectic ball of emotion and now bounced around inside him. Fear of being a horrible father. The joy that he had children, and a... a mate. Anxiety about Blackberry's reaction. Anger that he wasn't more dominant and aggressive and that he didn't demand an answer. Excitement for what was to come, for what would be his children.

Finally, she spoke. Words like we and our came from her beak, sending jolts through the moose's body. Love That word again. The one he had faintly heard Blackberry tell him as they drifted off to sleep the night prior. The one that sent electric pangs of joy and pure happiness through him. The word that meant everything to him.

"Yes, ours. And they will be strong and perfect and glorious and wonderfully terrifying, just like you." Blue breathed before he even realized it. What had he just said? Blue froze, his gaze directed at Blackberry, not daring to blink.


___________________________________________________________

"Can’t you tell?"
We’re all mad here.

tags: @Blackberry
notes: here

Blueberry's words stroked the madness within her and the anger died away, to be replaced with hunger and pride. She raised her head and the claws on her stomach flexed. "Yes," she hissed, "They will taste blood and they will know the exhilaration of battle. The caves will tremble before us! We will attack and pillage and destroy together! A family, bound by blood and by our lust for battle." It was a glorious image, a wonderful thing to imagine. Her and Blueberry, with three shadowy figures at their side, facing the shadow and demons that had torn her apart. Destroying everything in their path.

Blackberry had never felt this feeling before. Ever since she was a hatchling, she had known that she would be alone. And for a while, she was alone. But now...she would never be alone and she was oddly okay with it. With Blueberry and their three children, she could never ever be alone again.

It seemed that that was too much for the madness. It surged again and, suddenly, she felt her body react once more. The welling of emotions began to beat at each other again. She turned away from Blueberry and faced the three gems on the ground. She stepped forward and softly poked at one of the ones glowing softly green. What would they be like? What would they look like? How would she react? She had no idea and it brought her uncommon fear.



___________________________________________________________

"Heroes always get remembered."
But you know legends never die.

tags: @Blueberry
notes:

Blue grinned. He was very surprised at Blackberry's response. He knew how hard it must be, to accept what had been done. But she had. And they were making the best out of it. They were making plans already for their family. Family. Yes. They would be a family.

Blue gazed lovingly at the small gems. "They will love battle, just as much as you an I. They will be perfect." Blue repeated, so proud of the unhatched creatures already. He moved his eyes to Blackberry, wondering what she was thinking. She was a wild card. One minute, a hot mess of anger and bloodlust, and the next she was being peaceful and kind and, dare he say, loving. Perhaps the children would be like that too.



___________________________________________________________

"Can’t you tell?"
We’re all mad here.

tags: @Blackberry
notes: here

Reseda was just leaving Polaris, feeling much better then she had before when she heard voices up ahead. Two strange voices, a hoarse one and a smooth one. Perhaps two that she could observe, learn from, perhaps persuade to join her side. But she couldn't interrupt them. No, she would hide for now. Listen. Watch. Be silent.

As she walked on forwards, growing slower to muffle her foosteps, the color on her scales rippled until they blended in with the cave behind her. She crept carefully forward, completely invisible, until the two came into sight. Her eyes widened as she realized who she was seeing. It was the goose, the one she had seen torn apart by the deep one over a cycle ago. But she looked very different. More ferocious, dangerous. That was interesting. Obviously, these two would not be her friends. She had seen the goose's disposition before and she had no intention of trying to align herself with it. There was no point. The goose would not listen to her cool reason.

She, instead, she sat herself a little way away from them and listened closely, waiting for a time to react.

"Living with myself."
Nothing but lies.


tags:
notes:

Perhaps they would be perfect, just as Blueberry said. But, staring at them now, Blackberry was uncertain. Everything was uncertain. She had never known this before, never experienced this before. It was so uncommon in her body that she was starting to feel sick. Not regretful, not at all. She wanted these children, she was happy for them. But the amount of deep emotion coursing through her body right not was completely overwhelming her senses.

She couldn't stay here or else she felt she would explode. She had to go somewhere, alone, away from Blueberry.

She turned to the moose, her face blank. "Blueberry, I love you and I love our children. But I need to leave for a little while, alone. It's too much right now..." her beak snapped as anger surged within her. The claws on her stomach were pressed tight together as she thought of Hell again and her journey for vengeance. "I thought that the only important thing was getting revenge, paying back those that wronged me, those that hurt me. And that's important, but now these three...and you...they're more important. I need to be alone and think for a little while. Don't worry, I'll be back soon."

Without another word, she turned towards Polaris and padded away, each step away from the four most meaningful things in her life getting harder and harder. But, eventually, she passed through the beginning of Polaris and found it much easier to move.

*exit, for now



___________________________________________________________

"Heroes always get remembered."
But you know legends never die.

tags: @Blueberry
notes:

Blueberry smiled warmly at his mate, before her feautures changed as she spoke. She loved him, but she needed to go. Why? Blackberry explained it, but Blue still didn't understand. If she loeved them, wy would she leave? Blue knew that she'd be back, Blackberry always came back, but he didn't want her to leave him again so soon. It worried him.

"I love you too, Blackberry. Please return safe." Blue whispered as his goose walked off, each step sending a pang through him. He souldn't have told her anything. He could tell how much it hurt her. But he was happy now, and Blackberry was too, or so Blueberry hoped.

He sighed, resting his massive head on his children softly, cooing and humming to them, waiting for Blackberry's return. He wanted the best for them. All of them.

___________________________________________________________

"Can’t you tell?"
We’re all mad here.

tags: @Reseda
notes: here