After the new born pups had grown up a few months and were no longer completely dependent upon a mother's breast for their nourishment, it was time to begin training once more. However, Hathor wanted to check her son's status once more. And something happened on his way to her, it was Iska, she was standing in front of the door.
The expression plastered upon her face would have betrayed her feelings if she had been trying to hide them, though, trying to hide one's feelings from Shurry was almost equally difficult as successfully conning a deity.
"Shurry I…" She started unable to continue speaking as a frog nested in her throat, she was worried about what might happen being this close to him, yet nothing happened… He was waiting. "I saw what happened, I understand now. You can't do it, not because you don't love me, but for a much deeper reason, one rooted so deep into your soul it can not be removed." She continued, not knowing exactly what she was saying. "Even so, I'll ask you again, to give me a baby. You don't need to marry me, I just want a child, to have your child." Her words echoed, through the whole of the familia, and at the worst of times too… To her it felt like her words fell upon ears unwilling to listen. Yet she took a few steps closer to Shurry, completely banking on the familiarity of her scent as a good person, with a sense of love sparkling from deep within her eyes. "I love you."
Shurry remained silent, staring into Iska's eyes. He was beyond confused by the utter turmoil in his head. On the one hand he could see his mother basically asking for him to make a move, which would temporarily lift the restriction she personally put on him. He didn't want this, and his expression clearly displayed that. However, Iska wasn't giving up.
"I want to help you recover more than you already have." She grew daring and placed a hand on his cheek. "I'm not saying Ardee's done a bad job. She does have limits."
Shurry's brow raised, in curiosity. "Limits?"
"For you to truly overcome what happened to you, it isn't enough to find women to love." She shook her head, and placed her other palm over his heart. "Even though this powerful heart has fiercely loved them with its all. You have yet to truly face your fears, to conquer them."
"You mean, if I am to truly rid myself of my torment, I must shatter that which I fear? And in this case, it would be to fiercely make love with an amazoness I share a truly mutual love with. Of which only three live in such a capacity. Ilta, my sister-in-law through my marriage with Ardee. Oxlene, my aunt figure who's proclaimed her own forbearance to have intercourse." He paused, and focused on Iska, his pupils dilating like a predator having found his prey. "Then finally, the last one, would be you."
"Of the two of us who've committed to being active, I am the closest to you." She leaned in and pushed up, balancing on her tip toes. All thanks to her level 7 status making it terribly easy… "I've been waiting for a long time."
"That's still too much. And you misunderstand something." Shurry said, grabbing her arms and forcing her to stand normally, then leaned in to make it abundantly clear. "Whatever happens, no one can ever recover from such fate. I still have moments when I run to my mother, curl up into a ball shivering. It creeps up on me, just like it would anyone else." He said, now for the first time ever, showing that pain he felt, clear as day in his eyes.
The two stood there for a long moment, Iska realizing that the pain really was just as deep as the gods had said, and she bit her lip to hold from crying as her heart broke. She felt like in that gaze, she wasn't loved by her closest male friend. Then Shurry straightened up, returning to his normal self.
"I love my family, familia, and of course, I love my friends." He paused, knowing exactly what she was feeling, then he pointed towards her center mass. "That includes you." He added, letting that sink in for a moment. "However, making love to you is out of the question-" He stopped once he was interrupted.
"Just once?"
"No."
Finally, after what became the biggest scene in the familia history, Astraea stepped in. "Iska, you should stop now. I know you love him, but I fear you misunderstand the depths of what you ask for."
"No, I understand Lady Astraea. If I can manage this, then my other sisters will have a much higher chance. And what's more it will really stick it to that one goddess he just sent back." She said with a knowing grin.
Shurry twitched at the thought of doing that, it actually made him falter into thinking about it… Ardee saw this and smirked in return.
"Shurry, why don't we table this discussion for another time. We have a lot of work to do in preparation for the fight ahead."
"Indeed. Though, I'd like to resolve this now if at all possible. The less things on my mind when fighting that monstrosity, the better." He said, looking at his gathering of wives. "What say you? Should I entertain the idea, and deal with the consequences of my seed traveling far, or should I keep it with you?"
"I think I know what you're thinking." Neze answered.
"I'm almost certain I know what you want to do." Rose voiced her own words.
"Do what you want, I wouldn't mind making that whore Ishtar roll around in anger at all that's happened only to see you did it with one you actually love." Alfia added in her own idea, with an oddly long speech.
"Well, I know you won't love them in the same way you love us." Ardee said.
"Hmm, Iska, survive the battle with the One Eyed Black Dragon, and I'll promise to give it proper consideration. However, for the moment there's no longer any time to waste. So, begin preparing for the expedition, we're heading down. I'm going to run you through the ringer big time." He smirked, and then disappeared into the private room.