[open] Better | Birthing

[Djinni]

Her attention flicks back to the boy as soon as she’d finished speaking to Orion, and she catches the way that his legs falter beneath him. It could be lack of practice, she knows, the weakness of a newborn. It could be hunger too, Djinni thinks. She is willing to bet it is that, especially with the uncertainty in his eyes, the way the tobiano colt looks toward the older man as though begging him to make a decision. The pretty mare offers the boy a smile, an expression as reassuring as she can manage. How won’t starve with her. She’ll keep him well-fed and protected while he is under her proverbial (sometimes) wing.

For a moment she is quiet, watching the grey stallion with those sea green eyes. The discouragement in his face is easy to gauge, and it is not long before he acknowledges the truth in what she has to say. She follows his gaze back to the black and white colt, waiting patiently as he mulls it all over.

“You may stay as long as you like.” Djinni tells Orion when he finally answers. And he can, though perhaps if it is overlong she’ll have to speak with Nayl. Djinni has already taken one of the Iron Queen’s men away to Sylva. She will be more careful if she ever does it again. The grullo mare turns her gaze back to the boy again, lowering her head to look level at him. “And the same goes for you too, Rhysand. You will always be welcome in Sylva.”

“Do you know the way to Sylva?” She asks the older male suddenly. Even as she speaks, her dainty muzzle is gesturing in the direction of the autumn woods on the distant mountain sides. Even from miles away, the autumnal red and gold of Sylva’s forest stands out. The central land is impossible to miss; most of Beqanna’s well-traveled paths pass near the border of the realm. The reason behind her question seems odd at first. Why would that matter? Wouldn’t she be showing them the way?

“I’m afraid I’m about to be rather busy.” All is made clear when she gestures to her pregnant belly. A wince of what must be pain crosses her pretty face; suggesting that her labor pains have begun. “If you don’t though, I could take us there…more quickly.” The way she lingers over the words, adds gravity to what she offers. It suggests magic, the kind that permeates most of Beqanna, the kind that isn’t ever truly seen. She doesn’t say the word aloud – Teleportation. Still, the meaning is clear and her offer sincere.