Rammaq

Indigo Piebald/Blue Paint/Peach Thylacine Spiral Plague Common
Joining up with a clan in it's early stage beats having to fight for scraps alone.

"This is a small clan, a lot smaller than I expected." He began, twisting around himself to make room for her on the nest. She joined him, sitting down on the opposite side.

"With you there's six. What did he tell you?" She asked.

"That you were looking for new members, and that he had a female searching for a mate. It's weird to have someone else choose your mate for you isn't it?" Rammaq replied.

Auron clearly meant to leave explanations up to her.

"It is. But you don't have to help me raise them if you don't want to." Galina said, leaving him an out.

"I can! I mean to stay, it'd be odd for them not to know I'm their father. Unless you'd rather they not?" Rammaq smiled and ducked his head. Was it imposing to insist on being involved in raising a nest he helped bring about?

"I want children for the clan." She replied, "It'll be for the best that you don't get too attached, at least at first. They'll need to be tested." Galina stated.

"Tested for what?"

"Battle prowess. We're intending to overtake a rival faction. Our benefactor's relatives. That Spiral, his family." She sighed, that sounded bad. "This doesn't have to be a romantic thing. I'll keep them... if you like, until the time comes."
He seemed to steel his nerves at that, taking a breath he shook his head.

"No. If we're doing this together, I'll help. I can teach our kids too, and if some will die, then you'll need my support."

Rammaq made loops in the air above the nest, tail lashing against the ceiling. ust looking at him was making Galina feel worse. Closing her eyes she took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly. The eggs rocked toward her, one tumbling onto it's side.

Rammaq dived down to right it, as she lunged to do the same. As their claws brushed the shell split with a loud crack, and their first child tumbled out.

How could she sleep at a time like this?!

Rammaq dived, landing at his mates side, squinting in the soft orange light, he watched her face, frowning even now in her sleep.

She survived it, but only her. No one in the clan knew anything about the others who took the trial with her, and she never spoke of them. Were they her siblings? Friends? Did she miss them?

What happened to them? Could he live with himself if one of his children was forgotten when the other lived on?

No.

This was his favorite place in the lair.
The high walls of the cave shaded a small sitting area. The floor was lined with woven reed mats surrounding a small lake. Beyond it was a small grove of trees, boughs now bare as the Riot approaches. The crisp night air was chilly.

Rammaq picked a mat and laid down on his side, the cool surface did little to quite his thoughts.

It was so early. Would they be angry with him? He was being so childish, they would be fine!

The night buzzed with the cries of bugs. How long had he been waiting?

Suddenly he was too warm. He grasped the end of his mask in his claws, before twisting it up and over his head. Tossing it aside, he took to the air and flew to the water's edge.

Landing, he dunked his head in the water, attempting to cool his nerves.
He never saw it coming.