[Bles] Seeking Assurance (Flourish/Sky'sSecrets/Giveforward)

[Mika_Yumi]

Sky’s Secrets took a deep breath of air as he trotted through some grass at the edge of the path he and his companion were taking at through the swamp. He enjoyed the swishy sound and the feel of his legs lacing through the grass. This day just felt good. The sun was warm, the sky was blue, and he was going to be a dad. Little babies! Coming into his world! That he created with someone else!

He glanced over at Flourish, then took steps to move back onto the path beside her. He gently bumped against her shoulder a bit and gave her a cheerful smile. “Isn’t this exciting?” He couldn’t help that he was entirely enthralled. Any nerves that some might argue should be surfacing were hardly there, smothered in a cheerfulness that still overwhelmed him. He wasn’t sure if Flourish was as excited as he, or carrying the nerves that hadn’t fully hit him – he’d hardly checked in. He was a bit distracted with how delightful he thought it all was.

He turned his face up to glance at the sky, giving a sigh. He hoped they found one of the swamp’s chosen soon. That was the purpose of their journey, after all – though it was a beautiful day to search, which almost made him forget their purpose. Not entirely, though. He realized he probably wouldn’t find them staring at the sky, and looked back at the path before them before glancing aside and peering through the trees. “I certainly hope we’re getting close~”

G a b y

 

[gooberfeesh]

Flourish was…well, if she were being perfectly honest with herself, she was nervous. It wasn’t as though she didn’t want to have babies, for she’d always and surely wanted them - long before she could recall, even. She just never thought she’d be a mother so young. The pale-colored doe had crossed the threshold of adulthood not too long before her pregnancy began, but still. She knew that she was both old enough and responsible enough to reproduce. Perhaps her motherly instincts would kick in just before she and Sky’s Secrets little ones entered the world.

The lively feel of tiny hooves kicking along the insides of her belly had her smiling, at the very least. Privately, she wondered what sort of precious life would greet her and Sky’s Secrets, which ate away at the unease that had yet to relinquish its hold on her. “It is exciting,” she agreed softly, smiling at the cheerful Acha at her side. "Four eyes are better than two eyes, so as long as we're both searching together we should hopefully come across something soon."

anemosagkelos

 

[Mika_Yumi]

Flourish gave a reserved but positive answer, and Sky turned to offer a smile. She was so sweet. He just couldn’t get over how sweet she was. And so cute. She would be such a good mother, he just knew it. And he – well, he would try to be a good father. He hoped he would be a good father. He knew there might be some who thought he was a bit too young himself to be a good father already, but he would do his best. That was all anyone could do, really, but he thought it meant a heck of a lot more than many seemed to think…

The colorful buck nodded and turned to scan the nearby swamp yet again. He wasn’t even entirely sure what he was looking for – impressive eyes was all he’d really heard, and perhaps an awesome sort of air. He couldn’t really imagine what they might find. “Is there something in particular we should be looking for? I… I’ve never seen…” Somewhere nearby a songbird trilled. He shook his head a bit and looked to the other side of the path.

G a b y

 

[gooberfeesh]

So then, they were both severely inexperienced when it came to seeking out (and actually finding) higher powers. It made Flourish feel like less of a greenhorn who had no idea what they were doing, which was relieving. “I have a feeling we’ll know what we’re looking for when we see it. Um, if we see it, that is,” she mused. Her ears flickered at the melodic sound of a songbird, and her gaze, previously set on the path ahead, wandered to where Sky’s Secrets presently resided.

“If anything at all, we have pleasant company,” she added optimistically. The doe stopped walking for a second and craned her neck upward to stare into the canopy of leaves and branches above their heads; she hoped to see their unexpected visitor perched somewhere, but if the bird chose to remain hidden then that was okay, too.

anemosagkelos

 

[Mika_Yumi]

Sky’s Secrets glanced at Flourish and gave her a reassuring smile, tilting his head to offer her a nuzzle. “I’m sure that we’ll find what we’re looking for, eventually. It may take some time, but I’m sure that we are being looked after.” He glanced around at the swamp that he was somehow sure would lead them to what they hoped for, that would take care of them and their children, and gave a sure nod.

He grinned at her, “Indeed! I could search for weeks so long as it meant also spending time with you~” He hoped it wouldn’t take them so long, but he did adore the doe’s company. As she stopped to look above, he turned back and stopped as well, watching her as she watched the sky. It was a lovely picture, her light colors against the shade of the swamp – made even sweeter when the songbird they had heard flew down and settled on Flourish’s nose. It gave a lovely trill, intent on watching Flourish, and Sky was about to make a comment about her new friend until the bird slowly disappeared and he was startled by a voice behind him.

The colorful buck turned quickly and stared, wide-eyed, at the mare who had emerged. His inclination was to run, but as she began to speak and step closer, the fear in his chest eased. “Hello…” He slowly responded, a little unsure of himself, before the meaning of her comment fully hit him. “I—we—yes—“ he turned back to Flourish and excitedly hopped over to stand beside her and encourage her, “Yes, of course we are very excited!” The barely contained excitement behind his statement would probably be enough for the both of him, despite his attempts to keep himself calm. He glanced over and briefly pressed his nose to Flourish’s cheek in some strange attempt to keep himself grounded.

G a b y

 

[gooberfeesh]

The sudden and unexpected presence of the songbird landing on her nose had startled Flourish; her ears went flat against her skull and the yellow end of her tail fluffed up in alarm. But as the creature faded into nothingness and was replaced by a beautiful mare, she found her fear quickly evaporating. Flourish couldn’t quite find words as quickly or as confidently as Sky Secret’s did, but when she did her voice was shy.

“Thank you for finding us,” she said, giving her mate a reciprocative nuzzle. She knew how excited the Acha was about this, and truthfully so was she, but… I’m a little afraid, her heart whispered. I want to be a good mother.

anemosagkelos

 

[Mika_Yumi]

Flourish was meek in her response, but Sky knew she was excited. She had to be excited. She was just so reserved anyway, and, well, it was understandable that she would be timid coming up on motherhood. It was a big change. Oh, but she would be such a good mother, he knew she would!

The mare’s follow-up comment made the buck nod, almost as if responding for Flourish. Of course he was also scared, but not nearly to the point Flourish was. Perhaps they balanced each other well, his excitement and her fear. He hoped so, at least.

He turned back to her and gave a blink, “How…” He hadn’t entirely considered, he just… well, he had heard the rumors, he knew the stories, he just knew that she could help – right? He threw an almost startled glance back at Flourish before turning a bit sheepishly back to the mare. He wasn’t sure what to say and was feeling a bit embarrassed at his lack of preparedness.

G a b y

[ Sorry, friends, had a rough couple of days. x.x'; ]

 

[gooberfeesh]

Where Sky’s Secrets faltered in providing an answer, Flourish stepped up and attempted to convey the reason they’d been searching for the mare in the first place. “We were told that you could help us,” she said quietly. She had never been particularly good at introductions, let alone asking someone for assistance shortly after meeting them. It seemed rude, and she certainly hoped that the Legendary wouldn’t find it so. “We want our children to be happy and healthy. More than anything.”

anemosagkelos

 

[Mika_Yumi]

In lieu of Sky's usual chattiness, Flourish seemed to do much better supplying an answer, though the buck shared her feelings of awkwardness over asking for help so immediately upon introduction. Then again, wasn't that essentially the plan all along? Seeking a blessing was usually time sensitive and there wasn't typically a process to befriend a stag or mare before asking for a blessing, at least not that he'd heard of... though he may have heard that gifts could (or should) be exchanged, but he hadn't thought of that until just now.

But the lady before them seemed to expect nothing, at least that he could tell, which was a relief. She seemed very understanding and sweet, and he was quite glad for it. He was glad to know that happy and healthy were 'given'. Her prompting for more made his mind rush -- what else could he want for his children? His mind ran over a number of things -- speed, agility, kindness, strength, intelligence, intuition, there were so many things he could say. He tried to narrow the field...

"Kindness -- if they could be kind, like their mother," he gave a smile back at Flourish and paused before turning back to their new acquaintance, "and smart. I think... well, that's a good start." He nodded. It was at least as much as he could ask for, upon prompting. Though he thought now that perhaps he should have chosen one thing only, as he shuffled back to Flourish and looked to her for any other input...

G a b y