The beginning of forever; Aten, Kalil Birthing

[Izora Lethia]

Spring had come to Taiga's woods and with the birth of new growth came the birth of Lethy and Aten's new one. She had hunkered down onto a thick blanket of moss and needles. This birth had been the quickest and easiest of all her labors so far. It happened with in a matter of minutes once the hard contractions hit. Everything felt natural this time and her anxiety remained in check the entire time while Aten remain close.

Beside her lay a soft golden boy. He was slightly darker than his father, though most of that could be contributed to the wash down that she had done to the sweet, handsome boy. She smiled at him softly as he stared up at her, she wanted to wait until Aten was close to name him. 

forget me not; but never remember

Lethy

@[Aten]

[Aten]

Following the melting of the snow and Beqanna's transformation into spring once more, Aten had continuously done his best to try and remain close to Lethia as often as he could. But he was keeping something from her, a secret... he didn't want to hurt her, he knew he would need time.

He'd put himself in this predicament, going off to the Mountain... but to this sun, he convinced himself he had done it for a higher purpose, a just one, even if the fairies had deemed him unworthy for doing so the first few times he'd gone there. This last time had been the stroke of luck he needed, and the stallion now had to deal with something changing inside him other than the seasons stirring his blood.

This new gift he'd been fortunate enough to receive, he didn't find it intimidating, but he did worry that he would end up hurting some horse he cared about, especially Lethia and her foals. So he devoted what time he could to training, to learning more about the abilities this gift had granted him. He'd discovered a myriad... his hooves could change... his coat would shift... he could breathe something from his mouth unlike anything he'd ever seen before...

Aten knew he couldn't let his fear control him. It had been worrisome at first, but as time went on and the stallion learned to control his gift, he began to realize that at times, he didn't need to control it. He needed to let it flow with his instinct, for it knew what to do. He worked to release himself from the fear that he would hurt others... or he would only be hesitant to use his gifts, which in the future could make or break a life-threatening situation.

He'd pushed himself quite far yesterday, to the point that even his mouth was starting to feel the strain, something he couldn't afford or he wouldn't be able to eat. So he took a day to rest, and lucky for him, at least he wouldn't have to worry about being far when a certain time of the season came.

As the size of Lethia's belly grew over the winter season, Aten remained close to her side. He was there to provide what she needed, but mostly the company she liked if both Popinjay and Owin were off on their own. Every time Aten did have to leave, guilt flooded him, but that couldn't be helped. Now that she was due any day now though, he was happy that he could remain in Taiga.

Aten had been grazing by Lethia that day when she moved off to a covering nearby that she had made comfortable for when she would foal. As soon as she started moving toward it, Aten followed, but only for a few strides so that he was within easy reach of the covering. He settled in to graze and waited patiently, letting Turul know how the mare was doing when the falcon reached out following his hunt.

A rustle in the bushes immediately drew the stallion's attention, and he moved so he was facing the sound in case it was something that could be a danger to Lethia and her foal. The leaves shifted so the creature could come out, and when Aten saw it, despite his initial instincts telling him to beware, he only stared at the creature with curiosity.

Even though it was definitely much smaller than it's big cat counterparts, the little feline currently staring at the golden stallion could be just as fierce and capable due to years of survival and evolution. Known by others of it's species as a marbled cat, the feline stood at one and a half feet in height at it's shoulder with a tail nearly as long as it's body stretching behind it. Spots decorated it's coat like it had been caught in a black snow blizzard, with tinges of creamy white and ochre brown in between them. It's body turned some shades lighter the further down it's leg fur the coloring got, with it's underbelly and inside of the legs a shade lighter than the cream coloring on it's back. It had two back lines periodically broken that ran from the back of it's skull to right above it's eyes, and three small black thin lines that were in line with it's whiskers. It's golden eyes were sharp and calculating, but watched Aten with an unnatural softness that told the stallion this predator didn't mean him harm.

Aten and the feline had no common language with each other, but Aten felt there was something different about this creature. Something about the way it watched him, the way it was just near him. It reminded him of Turul, when they had first interacted before realizing they could communicate.

Aten had chased the feline off at first, but when it kept coming back, he realized it had to be for a reason. Now just to figure it out.

Some more time passed before Aten felt the change in the air. Things were quiet... the stallion turned his head, his nostrils expanding as he took in a large breath of air. He hesitated for a minute before starting to walk toward the covering where Lethia had disappeared, being sure to approach carefully so he wouldn't startle her.

When Aten was within eyesight, he lowered his head, eyes lighting up when he saw Lethia and the little golden bundle next to her. The colt, something Aten would learn when he got closer, was a few shades darker than his sire, even with the wash down Lethia had given him to clean him up some. Aten had a good feeling he knew which side of his family that came from, if it hadn't from Lethia's.

He stared at the pair of them for a time before walking over to join them, watching Lethia to see how she would react. The covering was slightly too small for him to get in, but he could see in just fine when he lowered his head. He smiled at the mare, his voice catching in his throat before he managed to get something out.

"He is wonderful Lethia... you did well..." he complimented her, his eyes not leaving her except for when he would glance at the colt. "Have you chosen a name for him?"

Aten knew that the feline from earlier had followed him, for he could smell him nearby, but he was too focused on the mare and colt to see where the small feline had gone. Of course the feline was not here to hurt them, Aten figured, but he did not know for sure, nor did Lethia. So the feline stayed back, watching the family from it's spot in the trees and waiting for the colt to come out from under it's cover so it could go investigate.

@[Izora Lethia]

[Izora Lethia]

Lethia’s dark purple eyes watched Aten, from the comfort of cover, watching her and watching their son. Relief spread through her body as she say the pride that touched the corners of his eyes and floated on his voice. She stood up then helping the boy, who was much quieter than Owin had been, get to his feet as well. After a few times her golden boy stood proudly with legs sprawled wide to steady himself as they made their way from the covering.

Lethia touched Aten’s face softly, she had been grateful that he had kept her and the baby strong and healthy through the winter. No matter what she needed he had been there to tend to her, usually. There were days and nights it seemed that he would be gone for hours at a time and when he’d return he smelled slightly of burning. Her amethyst eyes would follow him as he’d leave and watch with curiosity as he’d return. There seemed to be something going on, something she did not think he was quite ready to tell her about.

As her mind wandered over these thoughts and the thousands of possibilities, good and bad. Aten’s most current question rang loudly against the front of her mind. Have you chosen a name for him? Her eyes wandered to the amber-golden child that had found his way to her underside and then back to his father. Lethia knew if he took after his father he would be kind, loyal, understanding, and a good friend.

Good friend.

There was a word from Lethia’s past like that she had learned from her adoptive mother that meant just that. Kalil. A soft smile makes its way to her lips as the fond memory of her mother dances across the thought. Kalil. she whispered in soft tones as if this moment right here could be ruined by the chaos of the real world. It means good friend. she said looking at Aten. If he’s anything like his sire, that’s exactly what he will be. she stroked her velvety lips against his neck. Though you are much more to me than that.

The boy, Kalil, gently pushed his way through Lethia’s legs to inspect his father who was much, much taller. His eyes gleamed bright as a smile toppled his lips, milk dripping from their drunken corners, and whiskers.     

forget me not; but never remember

Lethy

[Aten]

Aten's eyes were filled with pride in his mate and their new colt, watching as Lethia stood before looking down at her colt as he attempted to stand to. Despite being a bit wobbly, and a stumble or two, he managed to get up without falling over, his long limbs spread in a fashion to help him maintain his balance.

The golden stallion stepped back as Lethia and the colt left the cover of their resting place, the colt wobbling out after Lethia. Aten stepped up again to meet the beautiful mare, a rumble leaving his chest as he felt the delicate skin of her muzzle touch his face. He whiskered at her and blew air from his nostrils as he moved his own head to run his muzzle along her cheek and crest as they expressed their love for one another.

Aten's blood began to boil as the instincts of a stallion burned within him, but he suppressed them so he could enjoy the moment they were in. He knew Lethia might have questions as to why, despite the care he'd shown for her and the colt during the winter while he grew in his dam's belly, he had been gone for periods of time without any real explanation.

Lethia soon had an answer for Aten's question, informing him of the colt's name that she had chosen. The name rolled off her tongue with a pleasant tone, his heart beating firmly in his chest. The stallion smiled and nuzzled the mare's neck and withers as she spoke of why she'd chosen the name.

"And you are much more to me than a friend too," he told her. "I am happy that I have found a place by your side."

The colt decided to make his presence known again, pushing through Lethia's front legs to get a good look at Aten. The stallion smiled and lowered his head to let Kalil investigate, watching as the colt's milk-covered lips came closer to his own muzzle and sniffed in a few times to catch his scent.

Aten breathed out to let Kalil adjust, moving his head some after to smell the colt's neck. He felt the colt's nervousness and so moved away once he'd memorized Kalil's scent, watching to see what the foal would do next.

A moment passed however where Aten again forgot to realize the small predatory cat had followed him to Izora's foaling area. The marbled cat climbed down into some lower branches, his eyes still trained on the colt. At this point, Aten smelled something unfamiliar, and turned his head, seeing the shadow of an animal moving through the tree branches.

The marbled cat made it's way down until it was on a branch low to the ground, but just high enough to be out of Aten's reach. It watched the horses, but focused on Kalil, something Aten noticed by glancing in the direction the cat was.

His eyes went to the colt at Lethia's side, that strange feeling returning to his gut. He suddenly had an urge to ask Lethia a question, "Lethia, have you ever seen that cat before?"

@[Izora Lethia]

[Izora Lethia]

Lethy's attention had drifted back to the her new babe beneath her, her lips finding his forelock thinking he could use just a bit more cleaning when Aten's question had caught her attention. Her amethyst eyes peered up at him and then followed his gaze. There not far off was a smaller, marbled feline watching her son from the nearby tree. Her head cocked to the side taking it in for a moment. Her nostrils flared softly as she took in its scent before turning her attention cautiously back to Aten.

There was something familiar about the way the cat watched them but the feline itself was ccompletely unfamiliar. No, I don't think I've ever seen it. she said softly as her brows dipped in question at Aten. Have you?

forget me not; but never remember

Lethy

@[Aten]

[Aten]

Aten shook his head to Lethia's question, "Not since before three days ago. It's been hanging around me, I noticed. It never got close to me, but the way it used to watch me..."

The golden stallion's eyes were on the marbled cat as it finally seemed to get over whatever was holding it back and make it's way down to the ground from it's branch. When it did so, the feline walked calmly toward the three horses, it's gait calm but poised and smooth like despite not hunting, it was on the prowl.

The feline did not make a sound as it got close, it's gaze going over all three horses. It's eyes were focused, calm, but there was a searching that Aten recognized when he and Turul used to look at each other when first understanding their bond. The searching look remained even after the feline's eyes became focused on Kalil again, something that had already happened several times.

Aten went back over the feline's actions, realizing that even though it would look at Aten and Lethia on occasion, it always went back to the newborn foal at the mare's side. The stallion's thoughts swam for a while before an idea formed in his mind, something that Lethia might consider crazy and dangerous, but then again, that was half of Aten's bachelorhood while living in the Forest and during his first year back in Taiga.

Stepping behind Kalil, the stallion gently nosed the colt's rump to encourage him to step forward. Kalil squealed at the action, obviously not very happy, but Aten just looked at his son calmly, hoping he would understand. The colt stomped a front hoof in protest, but Aten just nosed him forward again, the colt's stubbornness no match for the stallion's strength.

The feline tilted it's head when it heard the colt squeal, but other than that, showed no reaction. When Aten finally got Kalil within a few yards' distance of the feline, he left the colt alone to see what he would do. Kalil looked toward the stallion, then back at the feline. He repeated this action again before deciding to investigate, having been intrigued by the feline from when he first saw it.

Kalil's steps forward were careful, observing, but the feline showed no signs of moving. It stood there calmly, watching Kalil, almost excitedly now that the colt was coming closer. When Kalil was within reach, he lowered his tiny head and stretched his neck out to smell the feline, his muzzle twitching as his nostrils inhaled the feline's scent.

The feline, meanwhile, did the same, it's much tinier nose twitching back and forth like a rabbit's. When they had enough time to become accustomed to each other's scents, Kalil shuffled his front hooves, not sure of what to do. The feline made the first move, walking toward Kalil and rubbing itself against his front leg. When it had done so, the feline's hind legs gathered under it's body and propelled it upward, easily landing on the colt's back.

Kalil was understandably shaken by this, but something in his gut told him he didn't need to be afraid. He turned his head around and sniffed the cat again, the feline purring as it sat upon the colt's back. A moment of silence passed before a tiny smile appeared on Kalil's lips and he squealed with happiness, giving a foal buck and trotting in a circle as the feline managed to hang on.

Aten, having fought back any negative action to see what would happen, watched with intrigue, and then smiled at his son's positivity. He glanced at Lethia, "I guess that mystery was solved."

@[Izora Lethia]