[Trade : Gift] Lorcan X Paddle - (Courtship)

Lorcan X Paddle - (Courtship)

Writing by: Lil Monster

Da gallery: https://www.deviantart.com/xxinsanenightmarexx/gallery

Word count: 1,000+

Walls of bubbles peaked out of a large swamp pound with a tail that skimmed the surface of the water before diving down again before blowing bubbles up to the surface, with two eyes peaking out when Lorcan needed air after all the bubble blowing he had been doing. He was creating a nesting area for a particular female atop, she was his potential partner for this year's courting season and he wanted their bubble nest to be perfect for when she arrived at the swamp pound they had visited countless times over the years.

It was Paddle who would soon arrive slowly making her way across the swamps floor making squishing sounds as she waddled across the wet ground. She had been looking for Lorcan as she wanted to suggest them courting this season as she carried little shells in her bill to gift to Lorcan as he loved to collect them so she figured it would be a great gift for him when she went to ask. As she arrived at the swampy pound she noticed all the bubbles rising to the surface in which she spotted Lorcan who jumped through the water happily towards her due to arrival.

“Paddle! You finally made it, what took you so long I’ve been waiting” he said to her before splashing her with water playfully before resurfacing and blowing a bubble at her, in which Paddle let out a giggle before speaking. “I wanted to bring some of your favourite shells as a courting gift to you Lorcan” she said shyly, putting them down at the waters edge for him to inspect them in which he did before giving off a big smile. “wow thank you so much, I love them! Speaking of courting gifts I have my own to share” he said before urging her to come into the water.

Paddle nodded and slowly dipped into the water before following Lorcan who was over excited with joy to show her what he had been working on for them, it was a large bubble nest area that was covered in various bubbles he had made with his bill. It was thick and comfy hidden away In the deeper area of the pond. Paddle inspected it and smiled with joy as she was impressed with all the hard work that Lorcan did while he was waiting for her, it definitely beat her courtship gift but he didn’t seem to mind. The two explored together chasing one another in a series of dashes and swimming alongside side by side copying each other with almost like a dance-like agenda to their movements.

“I love it Lorcan, you must have worked to hard on this” she called out to him before heading towards the surface taking a deep breath once she popped her head out of the water followed by Lorcan who joined her on the side of the swamped in pond they would call home and raise their hatchlings in. Paddle looked back towards Lorcan before tackling him, her flipped behind her as they fell letting out laughs through their bills to one another.

“Whoa almost took me out Paddle, after all that work” he said teasing her before she leaned past him and took some water in her bill before spraying him in the face playfully, “hey the shells were hard to find as well! Just not as extravagant then what you did” she honked at him, the two clearly were ready to accept one another for the courtship season and Lorcan wouldn’t have it any other way. The two laid with one another nudging each other with their bills and Paddle explained her story on how she looked for his favourite shells to bring to him for a gift, in which Lorcan waited and listened happily just happy to enjoy Paddle's presence and that their courtship went so well.

Later in the day the two had decided they would add more bubbles to the nest as they both dove back into the swamped water and took turns blowing more bubbles with paddles being smaller and Lorcan’s being much larger. They were happy to spend the time together and prepare for when their hatchlings would arrive, the area needed to be perfect and well prepared for when that happened. Various seaweed was added into the bubbles by Paddle as she swam down plucking them with her bill and placing them where Lorcan would close them in with bubbles, it was to provide the two with camouflage from predators.

After hours of hard work from the two, their nesting area was complete. They could now rest and enjoy each other's company before their attention on one another would swap to their clutch. Paddle jumped out of the water before laying down exhausted from the nest building but she was content and joined by Lorcan it wasn’t as bad.

“Well that was a lot of work but I’m glad it was with you” Lorcan said, also relaxing now as he played with the shells he was gifted in his flippers before wrapping his tail around Paddle and letting out a content sigh “now just the waiting game!” He honked out in excitement. The two would be new parents and this would be their first clutch so it was a learning curve but it seemed they made a good match so far, and Paddle was ready for the arrival of the hatchlings but he was correct it was now the waiting game, the two would tend to their bubble nest for the next few days as they waited with Lorcan providing the two with food and other nutrients while Paddle would watch and protect the nest from others that got to close. 

Their bond continued to strengthen as well, with a well paired duo their hatchlings would have a better chance at survival which the two had no issues with. For now it was relax and await the arrival of little honks and small flippers into the new world and Lorcan and Paddle were ready.