E was different lately.
Blue noticed the steady weight gain and growing belly. No longer was her partner lean and streamline. Rather, her garnet scaled mate was rounded at the belly, extending to her knees.
It was a worrying change, and Blue was unsure what to think.
Her mate was gaining weight, and growing.
E was more hungry, and ravenous in demanding food. Yet, when she fed her fill, at times, she would become sick, and vomit.
E did not feel like hunting.
She did not feel like wandering.
She just began to lay there.
Blue then noticed her mate began nesting—building a nest with leaves, moss and grasses.
It was a not so subtle change, and one that made Blue realize something—E was gravid.
Her mate was pregnant.
But who the father was—Blue did not know, nor care.
That did not matter.
No, that did not matter at all.
Being a good mate did.
Blue rested her head upon E's swollen belly, nuzzling and purring against the cream colored scales of her mate. The former Beta's grey head fluttered up and down softly to the rhythm of her partner's breathing. Her amber eyes were closed behind grey scaled lids.
She felt E shift, and soon felt the tender brush of a warm snout and moist breath dance along her skin. A soft flick of E's tongue in a light kiss tickled her cheek.
Ever so slightly did one of Blue's golden eyes crack open. Her chin rubbed against her mate's belly.
Blue may not have been the blood mother, nor blood father, but she already loved the eggs inside of her partner.
Because E's eggs were not just E's eggs.
They were their eggs.
Their babies.
And that was all that mattered.