07-23-2019, 07:19 PM
The time had come when Lethy first felt that shudder of pain coarse through her body. It had not been all that painful in comparison to when she had lost her first foal. She had time to settle down, making sure Popinjay was somewhere safe in the mess of woods. She was not convinced she would stay there of course, her spirit often took her away from places Lethy had told her to stay and she rolled her eyes at the thought. She had found a quiet spot tucked amongst a den of fallen trees. The ground was soft and laced with new spring growth.
She had taken some time to eat before the minutes or hours of labor she was about to endure, all the while her stomache clenched in tight, uncomfortable contractions. She would grit her teeth, bareing through the pain until it passed. Her body was preparing to bring life into the world. She was not filled with anxiety and despair this time. She could feel the foal moving between contractions, confirmation that it was still well and alive. This alone made the labor bareable.
Eventually she settled down laying upon the ground. The coolness of it was a relief against her sweat slicked body. The contraction had started to come faster, giving her little time to recuperate between each body cramp.
It had been hours since the first contraction had come. She did not know if Raed would make an appearance, she assumed he wouldn't. He was probably wondering around some god forsaken part of Beqanna totally oblivious of the fact that she was in this moment having their baby. For the first time she felt angry at him to some degree. She knew it was completely irrational, because she knew when they had become intimate that that was who he was and excepted it. It was just the labor that was making her irrational but that did not stop her from feeling the way she did. As another contraction shook her body she bit down hard, she could taste blood lace her mouth as she waited for the contraction to pass.
When it had gone she wondered if Aten was nearby or would come to her side at any point. She found relief in the fact that she knew if not now, later he would be here for her and her foal, as well as Popinjay.
It was almost time.
She could feel the pressure of her child dropping into the birthing canal. It was the most uncomfortable feeling she had experienced. It was sharp and heavy. Her breathing, controlled thus far, became ragged and came and went as it pleased.
Biting down and muffling her moans of pain did not suffice anymore. As the last few contractions hit she left herself go, letting her body do the work it needed. Her voices echoed between the trees as the pressure between her hind legs pushed and broke free.
Her amatheyst eyes, now clouded over in tears of pain searched behind her as the sack of life slid from her body. The pain of birth leaving her just as quickly as she went to her foal, releasing him from the contraption of birth.
He was beautiful. A small golden and chocolate dipped boy, like herself, with traces of brilliant blues like his father. She licked at him, cleaning him of birth. Her eyes now filled with tears of joy as her lips trailed his sides feeling his lungs expand and retract with the breath of life.
She pushed herself to her hooves, exhausted from labor but filled with a new found energy in the life before her. She reached down to the small boy nudging him to stand on wobbly legs. His blue and amethyst eyes blinked her in as she lipped his brown and blue forelock. My boy. My Owin. she whispered to him.
He watched her with curious eyes. It was a good thing the sun was dimmed by the shadow of the trees, making it easier for his newborn eyes to adjust. First he could see what everything for what it was, material things, then suddenly it was as if everything shifted. He could see where his mother was, the blood pulsing through her body pushing off a very high heat signature and then he could see the small animals gathered amongst the ground and in the trees, even those in hiding. It didn't last long as his vision returned to normal. Soon memories flooded his tiny mind, this must be the woman he had sensed in that dark place. And I am hers. Her Owin. My mother. His mind traveled to Aten, a name he had heard many times in his head. He knew he was not his father, but still just as important he suspected. Popinjay was another that coaxed his mind alot while in womb, she was knew but held a special place in Lethy's mind like himself. Raed was last to come to mind, his father, he wondered like his mother if he would meet him. As his mother helped him to his wobbly legs, his tail flicked back and forth in comfort and joy as she tangled her lips in his forelock and quickly took to her tit, filling his belly with goodness. forget me not; but never remember Lethy 
@[Popinjay]
@[Raed]
@[Aten]
Idk who all wants to meet Owin but here he is! Yay!
07-25-2019, 07:32 PM
(This post was last modified: 07-25-2019, 07:37 PM by Popinjay.)
Popinjay most certainly did not stay where Lethy had left her, but wandered off, following the first sleepy insects of spring, and barely eating any of them. Really, it was only one, and she hadn't meant to do it, only she wondered what the pill bugs tasted like.
Not great.
The centipede hadn't tasted of anything because it rolled up into a wild ball and rolled away, startling her into a fit of bucking, after which she forgot the creatures entirely and took off running, weaving between the trees. Thus occupied, Lethy is left to her own devices for quite some time as she attends to the business of giving birth.
When at last the filly does stumble upon the new pair, she only looks on momentarily, watching from a small rise overlooking Lethy's den. This is not the first time that Popinjay has seen a newborn foal, or pregnant mare. Although she was born late in the season, there was at least one other foal born even later, and so she is not startled by the colt's dampness or gangliness, the sharp smell of amniotic fluid, the blood. She is not bothered by his ungainly movement, and she especially does not get near. She remembers the protective and jealous mares of her herd, the flying dirt and striking limbs when curious yearlings and other adolescents got too close.
No, she keeps well away as mother and son bond, returning to her wild tear through the woods with a laugh.
Popinjay She was not quite what you would call refined
Aten had decided to stay away from the Field and common areas around this time of year, whereas in times past, he would've meandered out there without a care since he was living the life of a bachelor stallion. He had no reason to fear the wrath of the mares who were watching over their newborn foals, he just made sure to give them space.
Like many stallions this time of year however, he did feel the burning instinct inside of him... the call to find the mares, with or without newborns, and make them into a herd... but Aten fought it. Every year, even when he was living as a bachelor, he resisted the burning call flowing through his veins. He just didn't feel ready to follow the same path his sire had, whether or not he had a lead mare, or one he loved above the rest...
Until he met Lethia. Aten had been struggling to name these feelings for some time now, since he'd never really been close enough to a mare to confirm that this was something more. Many seasons before, the stallion had felt something within him changing as his friendship with Jinju had developed the more time they spent together, but due to... certain circumstances, anything that could've developed beyond friendship was blown away like the sands of time.
Aten would always care for the dark colored mare, wherever she may be now, fondly remembering the fiery spark in her eyes... the pretty nature of her face, the proud way she carried herself...
But Lethia now had a special place in his heart as well, along with Turul, Popinjay, and Lethia's little one.
The golden mare had her own spark about life that was different from Jinju, so Aten would never have a reason to compare them. She had a sensitive nature and saw things through different eyes, something that was valuable to the stallion whenever he needed someone else's point of view. She provided support to any horse that needed it, and did not let her personal feelings get in the way. A famous example was how, disregarding how she felt towards Atem and his plight, or the new Taiga queen, she showed her loyalty to the kingdom and her friends.
This could prove to be... worrisome to Aten at times, since Lethia proved to be friends with both himself and the Taiga queen, but the stallion kept his own feelings out of this matter too.
As his thoughts drifted to the golden mare, he realized that he would also be meeting her little one rather soon. The stallion had settled into a grazing period with the mare and Popinjay earlier, the trio enjoying a fresh crop of spring grass in the northern area of Taiga where the growth was considerably thicker off to one side, then opened to a small meadow on the other. Lethia seemed to have preferred this area lately, and it was only after seeing the safety pockets some of the trees offered that he understood why.
After some time that morning, the mare had drifted away to be on her own. Aten did not need an explanation, he knew that it was soon to be her time. He gave her the space she desired and continued to graze, keeping an eye on Popinjay in the meantime. He'd grown fond of the little foal these past suns, as had Turul. When the falcon wasn't resting on the stallion's shoulders, he could often be seen nestled into Popinjay's much smaller withers and mane.
It was almost quite comical, the sight of the largest of his species bird of prey sitting on top of the tiny foal's back. But he was careful to keep his balance so the falcon wouldn't feel the need to dig his talons into Popinjay's sides just to stay upright.
Speaking of the foal, she did not seem keen on staying in one place for long. Soon after Lethia left, the filly took off across the meadow grass. Since she wasn't far, Aten continued to graze, watching as the filly investigated something before erupting into a fit of bucks and kicks prior to taking off into the trees. Wondering if something had spooked her, or if this was just a game, Aten followed, allowing space between himself and the filly since he was only trying to watch her and not impede on the game she was playing.
Given his size, it was rather easy for the large stallion to keep up with Popinjay with minimal effort, his strides eating up the ground in an easy canter while Popinjay raced on ahead. She was gaining knowledge of the land's terrain rather quickly, weaving through the trees in an easy manner. Most likely the fact that she was young helped her to learn off instinct. Aten had taken a bit longer since he was older, and had to adapt thanks to his size, but he now moved through the trees as easily as the fish in the stream and the birds through the air.
The pair continued on before Popinjay stopped up ahead. Aten dug his hind hooves in to avoid running into her, the bark on the forest floor serving well to stop him in his tracks. He'd watched the path as they went along, and knew where Popinjay was headed, so when Aten looked up and spotted the mare and newborn foal at her side, he was struck, not from shock, but from happiness.
The little creature was still on the ground when the stallion and filly arrived, Lethia's tongue moving over its body to clean it up and help get it's blood flowing to provide it with the much needed body heat. Lethia hoisted herself up onto her hooves and nudged the foal to encourage it to stand. The foal took a bit of time to figure it's legs out, but eventually got up, it's limbs shaking from the effort before it seemed to settle down.
Lethia ran her lips through the foal's forelock and whispered something that Aten didn't hear. He just registered Popinjay racing off again through the trees, and in the back of his mind, nudged the link he shared with Turul to ask the falcon if he could keep an eye on Popinjay. He heard a faint affirmative reply before the stallion took a few steps in Lethia's direction, eyes on her in case her instincts took over and she wouldn't want him near the foal.
When he was within easy distance, Aten could make out more of the colt's - as he could now tell - features. He shared his dam's golden color and darker points, with traces of blue speckled throughout his coat, mane, and tail. The colt greedily moved back and began to suckle to get the food he needed, and Aten was careful to not get too close to avoid spooking him.
"It appears everything went well," Aten stated toward the mare. He gave her a gentle smile, "He is a fine one, fit and beautiful, like his dam. Have you chosen a name for him yet?"
@[Raed] @[Izora Lethia]
Owin removed himself from his mother after taking his fill. He had not stuffed himself full, but that was okay he could eat when ever he chose. He had sensed the mind of Popinjay standing above them looking down, keeping her distance and he frowned a moment. He was really looking forward to meeting the Popinjay that filled his mother's thoughts like be often did. Not long after he sensed the Aten. He had felt his mind more quite often while he was in his mothers womb. It was a kind mind, a strong mind, but also a gentle mind. His blue, purple eyes watched him curiously as he came closer. He looked bigger in person than in his mother's thoughts.
Owin. he squeaked his tail bobbing back and forth as a smile popped to his mouth. Aten. You are much bigger than I've seen. You don't have to hesitate, mom doesn't care. Do you, mom? he said excitedly as his eyes wondered to his mother's.
Lethy watched Aten with careful eyes. Not because she had any reservations about him being around Owin, but simply to gauge his reaction. Talking about a situation before it happens is much different than when that situation is staring you in the eyes. Especially when that situation can read your mind and your most valuable thoughts. A soft smile tugged at her lips, her eyes shined a shade brighter with the joy her heart was feeling in this moment. Owin was perfect, and having Aten here made this moment all the more perfect. No I don't mind. her voice rang softly across the very small opening, her eyes never leaving Aten's.
Owin wobbled along to close the distance between him and Aten. He really was big. He stretched his small nose up at the large golden stallion. My mom is glad you're here and so am I he said ears cocked forward in curiosity.Though he had seen the man in his mother's thoughts and had seen his mother is Aten's both were different once he saw them with his own eyes, and now he wanted to smell. forget me not; but never remember Lethy
@[Raed]
@[Aten]
Well, this was certainly a surprise. A lot of foals Aten had seen weren't ready to talk this young, but here was this colt, already introducing himself by name? And showing no fear of the large golden stallion? Aten cracked a smile when Owin told him how big the stallion was and saying that Aten didn't need to mind his space around the mare and her foal.
Lethia's eyes met Aten's, her own shining with happiness at the circumstances surrounding her. She confirmed Owin's words that let Aten know he could come closer and investigate, her eyes locked onto the stallion's. Aten smiled at the mare before looking back at Twin, who was currently wobbling in his direction, still trying to figure his legs out. The foal told Aten how glad both he himself and Lethia were that Aten was here, stretching his nose up to try and find Aten's scent.
The stallion lowered his handsome head and blew air from his nostrils, investigating Owin's scent and letting the foal inhale his own. Committing Owin's smell to memory, Aten moved his muzzle closer so that, if Owin chose to, he could bump Aten's nose.
Aten glanced back up at Lethia, his eyes darkening with worry, "You are doing all right though? I imagine that this could not have been an easy undertaking for you."
@[Izora Lethia] @[Raed]
She watches them with gentle, tired eyes a smile reflecting the same on her face. She watched the exchange between the two and her heart swelled with an emotion she could only categorize as love. Owin found contact with Atens nose as his strong neck reached towards the colt, her colt.
When they were done with introductions his gaze returned to her a question falling from his lips. She always felt comfortable with Aten knowing how she was feeling with out her vocalizing it. She moved to close the space between her and the pair. Her long lashes closed for a brief moment as she inhaled deeply before her answer. I am well, Aten. I'm tired and famished, but I am good. No need to worry. she said softly reaching out to touch the crevasses of his cheek with her satin lips. Quickly her mind wandered to Popinjay, wondering if she was okay and had stayed out of trouble during her delivery.
Owin's ears swiveled towards his mother as the thought tumbled through his mind. Don't worry mom, Aten was looking after her the whole time. She stopped briefly but thought it best to leave us alone for the time being. he squeaked in her direction, eyes wide and bright. forget me not; but never remember Lethy
@[Aten]
Aten wasn't exactly pleased to hear that Lethia was so hungry and tired, but he didn't voice it. He stood as the mare closed the space between them, telling him not to worry as she ran her lips along the crevices of his cheek. A rumble slipped out of the stallion's chest, a soft nicker escaping his lips at the gentle contact. He wouldn't lie and say he didn't enjoy it; feeling Lethia's skin against his own, knowing she was so close, it made him quite happy.
The stallion heard Owin say something to his dam regarding Popinjay, but his attention was mostly on Lethia. He moved his own head and ran his muzzle down the crest of her slim, tapered neck, nibbling on her withers in a display of affectionate grooming.
"I may not have the medical knowledge that some other horses have," he began with a sheepish grin, "But there is enough I know to get by. There are some herbs that grow not too far from here; they have proven to relieve my fatigue and pain. They should do well enough to help your hunger and fatigue as well; would you like for me to fetch some?"
@[Izora Lethia] Terribly sorry for the wait; horse show craziness was crazy.
She leaned her neck away as he nibbled tenderly on her withers, opening up the delicate locating to his touch. She found herself accepting of his affection and finding herself wanting this to be a constant thing between the two.
She bowed her head as he retreated offering to get her some herbs to relieve her exhausted and aching body. She nodded in appreciation, I would love that, thank you. she said watching him with tender purple eyes. Maybe someday soon she would make her feelings known to Aten, if she was right she felt the same connection from him as well.
Her kids deserved to have a good role model around to teach them and support them. She believed Aten could be all of that now and in the future. She also deserved to have someone reliable and someone who cared about her well being, didnt she?
A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she watched Aten leave. Her knight in golden armour. forget me not; but never remember Lethy
@[Aten]
We can end this here if youd like <3
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