Blood from Stone [AU]

[GamesMaster]

He reaches his paw down to stroke her belly gently. "Of course. You've been so accommodating to my family, my Tribe -- how could I do anything else?"

[Bethany]

Bethany laughs softly, a layer of pain in it. "That didn't seem to stop... sorry. Guess I'm a little mopey. Hormones maybe." She makes a face. "I still worry about... about being a mother. But I don't regret it happened, not anymore."

[GamesMaster]

You ever did? He knows better than to ask. "I'm glad," he says, smiling. "Have you been reading that book my father lent you?"

[Bethany]

"I'm on my sixth read through," Beth replies with a laugh. "I read it twice, then when through and took notes on the third. Twice more after to make sure I have it down and now I'm trying to see if I can recall how each chapter goes in detail after reading just the first page. I figure another note read and then two more should be enough to really sink it deep."

[GamesMaster]

"Does it still seem... acceptable? To go through with the ceremony?"

[Bethany]

Beth's face softens and she reaches up to cup his cheek. "Yes. I'll admit some of it seems... not bad but irrelevant? The hunting stuff mostly, and the 'struggle to prove one's prowess' stuff is a bit... well, it explains a lot of the posturing in Cattown. But the idea of family, the sanctity of Tribe? That I love. It's an interesting blend of ideas really." She grins a little. "I'd not made a study of any but the Heptad in depth before. I can really see how the theory that racial and minor gods are all multi creations that are just claimed by a single deity gained ground. Bharnoral is like a blend of Uryll- obviously- and Naugrix with a few hints of Bastion's family and Zanon's perfection."

[GamesMaster]

He nods. "I don't think it's that, it's more that... the Heptad are concepts, ideals, while racial deities are more like mortals. They have to be, in order to make us. So they're more well-rounded."

[Bethany]

She winks at him, pleased that she can discuss things like this with her mate. "Still a bit of Keeper in you, huh?"

[GamesMaster]

He blushes just a little, hunching his shoulders. "Just a bit. It's... I'm not sorry I took up the stole, but sometimes I wonder if it'd be easier if I'd continued on the path to Keeper-dom."

[Bethany]

Beth leans over to kiss his cheek. "Easier... probably. You're far too... well, nice to truly thrive in politics. You're learning well and do just fine, but it doesn't suit your soul like being Keeper would have, I think."

[GamesMaster]

He makes a face. "Can you still love me, even though I'm a terrible politician?" he teases.

[Bethany]

"Of course, my love," Beth says softly. "Even if you were terrible, which you aren't." She stops there, giving him a slightly worried look.

[GamesMaster]

"Oh good," he says, with a teasing smile. "Then I'll be able to find the courage to continue along this twisty, rocky road."

[Bethany]

"Is... is there something... I can help with? You seem..."

[GamesMaster]

"Hmm?" He blinks. "No, I'm just teasing. It's actually fine."