The Morning After

Oribella awoke in Poppy's Arms. An uncommon occurrence as Poppy would normally prepare breakfast for Oribella before she woke. But after last night Poppy's body needed to recover.

Her shifting and stretching didn't wake the bear of a man, so Oribella decided to seak out Starlight and tell her the news!

She first cleaned herself up from last night's escapades, before getting dressed in her boots, tube dress and coat. The weather was slowly warning up. The snow was melting and damp rains were slowly starting. But it was still chilly enough to bundle up.

Oribella could barely see her new Spousal Mark. It was above her left breast, over her heart. She smiled when she looked at it. A cute round head of a bear, the same shade of brown as Poppy's eyes. Oribella hoped to use Starlight's viewing bowl to get a better look at it. She reached Starlight's chambers with no problems.

"Starlight? It's Oribella, may I come in?"

"Yes sweetie, do come in!"

When she entered Starlight's quarters Oribella was pleased to find that River was visiting, she was able to share the news with both of them at the same time... But Oribella got distracted by Baby Abigail.

"OH! LOOK HOW BIG SHE'S GROWN!" Abigail had grown like bamboo since Oribella's first time seeing the little girl.

"Do you remember Oribella, Abigail?" River leaned Abigail's head to better see Oribella, the baby had the same stunning eyes as River! Abigail cooed and grunted and reached out for Oribella.

"She remembers you!" Starlight cheered

"Take off your coat," River insisted, "it'll be easier for you to hold her."

"Speaking of..." Oribella stretched her dress over her mark so she could reveal it all at once, "I have something to show you both!"

Starlight and River new what was about to happen, they had been supporting and pushing for months now. But at the same time they were both so surprised! Was it all real? Did Poppy really find happiness?

Oribella shed the coat, pulled down the left side of her dress to expose her spousal mark and smiled. The room was silent for a moment. Starlight and River were so full of emotion they could barely breathe!

Finally Oribella broke the silence, "may I use your viewing bowl, Starlight?"

Starlight was happily tearing up and nodded in approval. Oribella now had a much better view of her mark. It really looked like Poppy! His color, and his shape. More accurately, the round shape of his mark reflected how Oribella saw him.

It's true that Poppy was powerful. He's strong fighter and a skilled hunter. However those qualities were second in Oribella's view of Poppy. When Oribella looked at Poppy's she saw a man who held her gently, put her desires above his own, and truly loved her.

"So how was it?" River asked.

Oribella blushed "Do- do you really want to know the.... urm.... details?"

"No, I mean did it hurt?" River chuckled, "when I took my first spouse it was painful at first."

"It wasn't painful at all," Oribella replied, "I was... very satisfied." Her smile grew as she gazed into the viewing pool.

"I ought to head back," Oribella announced, "I left Poppy asleep. I'd hate for him to worry about me if I'm not there when he wakes!"

Starlight and River said their Goodbyes and Oribella made her way back towards her quarters. Oribella wore her coat in the halls and briskly walked to save time.

As Oribella made her way to the bottom of the stairs she was suddenly face to face with Bailey! She was actually at eye level with him, as he was several steps lower than her.

"Rossi!" Bailey smiled but he looked distracted, surprised even, "it's good to see you again."

"Oh, Good morning, Bailey..." Oribella tightened coat around herself. She didn't want to believe Bailey would hurt her, but she couldn't be sure how he would react to Poppy's spousal mark.

"I ought to keep going," Oribella sputtered, "Poppy is waiting for me."

Bailey nodded and stepped aside. He watched his beloved hurriedly make her way down the corridor, his heart heavy. When she finally left his view Bailey slammed the side of his fist against the stone wall. The force was enough to draw blood.

"She smells like him..." Bailey thought. "She doesn't smell like herself! How recently did Poppy...." Bailey would have to work faster and harder than he already had been if he wanted Oribella to take him before she had her first cubs... With Poppy of all males!

Back in the room Oribella woke up Poppy with kisses on his cheek and forehead. He stirred and grabbed Oribella, pulled her in close and promptly fell back asleep. Oribella chuckled with how cute Poppy was acting.

After a long while of being held, Oribella was about to drift off herself. However someone was at the entrance to their room...

"Poppy!" It was Bailey, "The Bear King wants to speak to you!"

Poppy sat up, and spoke in a groggy voice "speak with me about what?"

"It concerns your living quarters." Bailey answered. "He also wants to speak with Rossi."

"Oh... I know what this is about." Poppy turned to Oribella, "I'm so sorry I didn't tell you before. Last night, it all happened to suddenly, I shouldn't have waited to tell you."

"Out with it, Poppy!" Oribella squirmed, "you're making me nervous!"

"I'm sorry! It's just... we have to move." Poppy averted his eyes from Oribella. "The King was only allowing us to stay here because you didn't have any spouses... Now that you've fully accepted me we have to find a new place to live."

Oribella's face lit up. She liked living with Poppy but their room was cramped and small. She enjoyed the branches of Ancient One and the female's bath house but she wanted a proper house for herself and Poppy!

"Let's go say goodbye to The Bear King then! We can pack up out things and start looking for a place to live!" Oribella was bouncing with her new wave of energy, "you promised to take me to the Ram Village! Maybe they have a vacant house we can trade for!"

Poppy smiled "sure, we can look there first. With how you process wool you might be able to teach THEM a thing or two!"

"You can talk details later," Bailey enviously urged the two to get moving, "don't keep the Bear King waiting!"

Bailey guided Oribella and Poppy to the Bear King's throne room. Oribella was nervous for some reason. With how Bailey was acting combined with the fact she'd only ever exchanged names with King Joseph... She wasn't sure what to expect.