<95 - The Next Day>

	Lyrah closed her eyes and tried to steady her breathing.  The hands of the troll druid next to her glowed with green light, hovering them over her belly as she laid upon the soft grass.  Drenan could only watch as the druid worked, until finally the magic disappeared and a smile crossed his tusked face.  "It be real darn early, but all ya signs be pointin' ta havin' a littel one.  Congratulations, Lyrah."

	The shaman beamed as she sat upright, exchanging smiles with Drenan as she reached out to hug him.  "Thank you, Archdruid Za'do.  This is wonderful news!"

	"So it be, but ya wanna be careful now.  Ya only be five weeks along, and t'ings like babies can be tentative at best."  The troll's expression turned serious as he opened a hip pouch and pulled out a string of six vials.  "Ya be takin' one sip out of t'ree vials every day.  Move on ta da next t'ree aftah da first run out.  Dey should last ya until ya second trimestah, and ya should be in da clear."

	Lyrah inspected the vials curiously.  "I can do that.  Will that help with the puking?"

	"Ohohohohoho!  No.  I got ano'da vial dat might help, but it ain't guaranteed."

	Lyrah brushed a few strands of hair from her eyes and smiled.  "Well, I think I can handle it then.  Is there anything else I should know?"

	The troll rose from his crouch and began to stow away the rest of his tools.  "Don't be doin' not'in dangerous.  Dat means no fightin', fallin', or anyt'ing dat could injure ya belly.  Keep t'ings like coffee to a minimum, and no smokin' of any kind.  No druggy stuff period, fo' dat mattah."

	Drenan reached down to help Lyrah back to her hooves, and the two embraced happily once more.  "And what about, y'know..." Lyrah added bashfully, making a circle with two fingers and sticking a finger from her other hand through the circle a few times.

	Za'do laughed again.  "Go ta town!  But don't do not'ing ya don't feel comfy wit'.  Aftah a while, it ain't gonna be comfy layin' on ya belly or ya back, so as long as ya be on ya side, ya be fine."

	Clear relief settled over Lyrah's face, and with a few bows of appreciation the tauren couple left the Archdruid's glade...

	... and straight into a pair of disgruntled-looking, worgen druids.

	Lyrah took a cautious step back, but Drenan did not hesitate to step in front of her to stare down the worgen.  "Pardon us.  Is there a problem?"

	The female worgen cleared her throat, though her voice was no less gravelly.  "Mr. Lighthand, is it?"

	"It is."

	"As we thought."  The brown-furred druidess paused to inhale sharply through her nose before continuing.  "Forgive me for the eavesdropping, but first, we would like to congratulate you two regarding your upcoming bundle of joy, despite the unusual circumstances of its conception."

	Drenan and Lyrah both tensed up at this.  "What are you implying?" Drenan rumbled.

	The worgen's eyes went wide, and her hands came up defensively.  "O-oh!  Nothing!  Forgive me, no, that's- that was unrelated to why we came to you two.  I meant the compliment in earnest."

	"Then speak your piece," Drenan returned flatly, knowing full well that the true issue couldn't be pleasant.

	The female worgen sighed, but the male worgen next to her touched her shoulder and spoke instead.  "Look, sir, ma'am, we have no personal qualms with either of you, but some of the other druids have been expressing... complaints about your behavior."

	Lyrah's ears drooped at this, but she quickly walked up beside her father and gave his hand a squeeze.  "Complaints about what?"

	This caused both worgen to shift uncomfortably, but the female mustered enough gumption to speak again.  "Well, after the wedding yesterday, no less than four druids reported to the Circle that Drenan... exposed himself during the ceremony."

	"And Lyrah, too," the male worgen added.  "We understand it was only for a few moments, but it was enough to prompt them to come forward."

	"And since then," the druidess continued, "Several others near your home have spoken up with some noise complaints from the past few months."

	Lyrah appeared to deflate, but Drenan held firm.  "They should have come directly to us," Drenan rumbled.

	"Perhaps, but you are not druids," the female stated.  "It is difficult to approach outsiders no matter how long they have stayed with us."  Here, sincere pain crossed the canine faces of both worgen.  "But the number of complaints has been too high.  We're sorry, but I'm afraid we must ask you two to leave the Moonglade."

	Both father and daughter exchanged grave-looking glances, and with a deep sigh Drenan added, "Very well.  We have known that this was a temporary home.  We will forever be grateful for our time here, and it saddens us that we must leave."

	"It comforts us all to hear it," the male worgen said and bowed his head.  "We have already informed Archdruid Shele of this matter, as we know you are close friends with her.  She will be seeing you off tonight.  We wish you well in your travels, Mr. Lighthand, Ms. Lighthand."  And with that, the worgen pair turned away and hurried off to parts unknown.

	Lyrah took a deep inhale, then exhaled sharply and let her lips flap with the exasperated sigh.  "Fuck.  I'm really sorry, Dad.  This was all my fault."

	Drenan shook his head and cupped her chin to look up at him.  "Do not be sorry.  This was inevitable, sweetheart.  And we really should pick up our search again anyway.  We will need a new home before our family grows too big for the road."

	His comment sent Lyrah's heart fluttering, and she couldn't hide her smile as she rested her head against her father's chest.  "Yeah... but I bet Shele's all sorts of upset right now.

	"Mmh," Drenan grunted in agreement as the two began to walk together, making their way slowly toward Shele's home.  "There is only one way to know for sure."