By the time that spring rolled around, Nalia was torn between two states of mind: anxiety to get the foal out of her belly, and fear at realizing she would soon be responsible for the life of a little creature that she had no idea how to raise yet.
Sure, seeing the other mares in the Field with the foals helped to give her an idea, and she had knowledge of what her own dam taught her when she was young, but raising a little one all on her own was quite nerveracking. Nalia could only think of the bad situations that could happen, most of them her being a failure to provide for and protect the foal. Would she be a good dam to her colt or filly? Would she be able to help him or her grow into a healthy grown horse with the ability to go out into Beqanna and live his or her own life?
Would they eventually leave her side one day, and never return, like Nalia had done with her own dam? The filly, soon to be a mare, wasn't sure what was worse. She tried to push the negative thoughts out of her head by taking a stroll down by the beach, thinking of how happy Ardashir would be to finally meet their little one. Of course, those thoughts sooned turned negative too. Would the white stallion be happy with their foal? Would he be a good sire to the little one, teach him or her what Nalia couldn't and help the foal find his or her place in the kingdom should he or she decide to stay?
There were too many negatives and not enough positives in Nalia's mind. Every positive thought she tried to have was soon overcome by a negative one. She thought about how the little one would look as it got older, if it would resemble Nalia herself or Ardashir more. That thought sooned turned to worrying about the foal's health. Would it be healthy, with four legs and a tail? Would it be able to walk like a normal foal should, or would it take longer to find it's purchase and get it's hooves on the ground?
Nalia was overcome with anxiety by the time late afternoon rolled around to the point that, by the time she was close to the forest where her small resting place was, she thought that feeling liquid drip down and off her hocks was a trick of her mind. But then she felt a pain tear through her stomach, and knew it was not anything normal. She'd felt sickness in her belly before, from eating a bad plant, but it had been nothing compared to this. This was a solid pain, like she'd been kicked by a draft horse in the stomach, and it almost brought her to her knees.
The filly, pushed by instinct, headed for her resting place in the trees, stepping through until she came across the small area thick with brush and trees. It provided a good shelter from the wind and overhang to keep her dry from the rain, and it was tall and large enough that even Ardashir could fit inside. Resting herself under the brush, taking in a deep breath as another wave of pain struck her in the gut, Nalia began to pace in a circle, her nostrils flared and body starting to crest with sweat from the strain of the beginning of the birth.
For a good portion of the afternoon until the sun was starting to set, the filly kept up a continuous cycle. With only the occasional laying down to rest, Nalia would pace for a few minutes, take a break, breath through another contraction, then pick it up again. By the time she felt her body was ready, her legs were sore and hot from the effort to keep her going. Her body was now lined with sweat and her ice encrusted mane was frigid against her warm neck.
A strange feeling crept up onto her dock, and the filly lifted her tail, something in her gut telling her she had to lay down. Folding her front legs, the filly all but collapsed, only stopping herself from hitting her belly on the ground since she was already in enough pain. Letting out a whinny of pain, Nalia rolled herself over so she was on her side, her abdomen blowing out whenever she took in a huge breath.
Flicking her tail to get it out of the way, the filly felt another wave of pain, and this time, focusing her strength, she pushed, feeling the muscles near the read of her abdomen contract in the process. At first, she didn't feel anything different, until one push gave her an odd sensation near her hindquarters. A few more pushes and it became more intense, and the longer this went on, the more Nalia was beginning to realize. By now, she was in a great deal of pain, but she gave one final push, and the strange feeling in her hindquarters disappeared. More liquid came and soaked her buttocks underneath her tail before the pain seemed to disappear as rapidly as it had first appeared, and for a moment, Nalia lay there, her nostrils flared and chest heaving.
A tiny squeal from behind her puzzled the mare, making her wonder what it was, before the reality of the situation hit her full force. Although she was tired, the mare lifted her head and hoisted her weight so she could lay on her belly, turning her head to look near her dock.
Laying on the grass behind her, before the amazement of her eyes, was a tiny foal, it's coat wet and dark due to the sac it had broken through on it's own to begin breathing. It's little body was shaking from the new environment it was now exposed to, it's chest growing and shrinking rapidly with each tiny breath.
For a moment, a single moment, though it seemed to stretch on forever, Nalia could only watch the foal with her wide eyes, amazed at the sight before her. Finally, hearing the little one squeal again, the mare had a feeling she should do something to help the tiny creature. Unfolding her front legs, she threw her weight forward to stand, turning around to face the foal. She lowered her head, running her muzzle over the foal's wet coat, taking in it's scent before, as she'd often seen mares do, beginning to clean the foal off with her tongue.
Throughout the process of cleaning the foal, Nalia began to see it's coat color come to light. It's legs sported the markings Nalia had seen on her own dam and other horses in her former herd, even darker than the base color that stretched up to the little one's shoulders. The black legs stood out against it's dark caramel colored coat, puzzling Nalia. Her own dam had been a similar color to Nalia herself, as had her grandsire, according to Nalia's dam. She wondered where this tan color could've come from... maybe from Nalia's granddam? It was fully possible, and maybe the foal's color would darken as it aged. But it wasn't like Nalia cared; she thought the little one's color was unique and amazing.
Near the bottom of it's legs, the foal sported four white socks, it's front left much smaller than the others. It's back was lined with a dark stripe, it's muzzle looked like it had been dipped in black swamp water, and, lastly, a distinct white blaze mark that thinned out to a stripe and drifted off to the right ran down the little one's face.
It's eyes, Nalia could not yet tell what color they were, until she moved her head closer. For the time, the foal sported brown eyes, a dark warm in color, but Nalia had a sneaking suspicion that they'd turn out like the foal's sire's one day.
The foal whickered for it's dam's attention, and Nalia moved to stand near the foal's front end. The foal tilted it's head up to sniff the larger horse, Nalia returning the gesture by blowing air out of her nose. The foal kept it's muzzle close to Nalia's, inhaling the scent of it's dam, bumping Nalia's cheek as the mare licked more liquid off the foal's neck.
By the time the foal was dry, Nalia encouraged the little one to stand. Nudging it's flanks, the foal, at first, didn't seem to understand what it's dam wanted. After a few short minutes, getting a hold of itself, the foal began to try and stand, shifting it's legs to try and find purchase. Many of the first few tries, the foal even failed to get one leg under it's body, falling onto one side and laying there for a moment in a daze. Nalia would encourage the foal each time, standing over it and watching carefully until the foal was ready to try again.
Finally, seeming to get the hang of it's legs, the foal got all four under it, though not all at once. Throwing it's weight up onto it's front legs, the foal hoisted it's body off the ground, stumbling a stride or two forward and trying to get more weight on it's back legs. Unfortunately, it failed, falling over again into the ground. Nalia licked the foal to clean it from the dust and dirt, watching as it continued to try, accomplishing getting all four hooves on the ground and falling over a time or two again.
Then, it all seemed to click; the foal got all four hooves under and stood, spreading it's limbs out a bit wider to try and stay standing this time. Nalia moved over to help steady the little one, smiling at it's display. The foal lifted one hoof and took a tiny, shaky, step forward, moving it's weight to avoid falling over again. Nalia nickered to the foal in encouragement, walking a few strides away toward the tree line and calling to her little one.
The foal, whinnying for it's dam, tried to follow Nalia but only succeeded in falling over again. Nalia waited patiently for the foal to get to her side, smiling proudly when the foal managed to walk two solid strides at a time before stopping, thinking, and walking closer again. When it reached Nalia's side, the foal ran it's muzzle over it's dam's belly, Nalia turning her head back to nuzzle the little one. Giving it a nudge, Nalia turned her rump a bit to help the foal find her milk.
The little one didn't seem to have any trouble going for it's dam's milk though; with very little encouragment from Nalia, the foal nudged it's dam's underbelly before doing the same to the mare's udder, latching it's tiny teeth onto one of her teats and suckling hungrily at the milk. Nalia twitched at the rough treatment, stomping one of her back legs and swishing her tail to avoid doing anything else that would endanger the foal.
Watching her little one suckle, Nalia sniffed the foal's croup and searched for some critical information. Discovering what she needed to know, Nalia smiled brightly, excited to tell Ardashir, when he arrived, that he was the proud sire to a filly. Nalia turned her head to look around for a moment to make sure that she and the foal were safe, determing it was so after a few moments of peace and quiet. Although not a lot of grass was around the brush where Nalia made a home for her foal, it was enough to keep the mare preoccupied for a few moments before she moved past the tree line to graze. Lowering her head, Nalia picked at the grass, her ears up and alert as she felt the foal continue to drink her milk.
@[Ardashir]
Sure, seeing the other mares in the Field with the foals helped to give her an idea, and she had knowledge of what her own dam taught her when she was young, but raising a little one all on her own was quite nerveracking. Nalia could only think of the bad situations that could happen, most of them her being a failure to provide for and protect the foal. Would she be a good dam to her colt or filly? Would she be able to help him or her grow into a healthy grown horse with the ability to go out into Beqanna and live his or her own life?
Would they eventually leave her side one day, and never return, like Nalia had done with her own dam? The filly, soon to be a mare, wasn't sure what was worse. She tried to push the negative thoughts out of her head by taking a stroll down by the beach, thinking of how happy Ardashir would be to finally meet their little one. Of course, those thoughts sooned turned negative too. Would the white stallion be happy with their foal? Would he be a good sire to the little one, teach him or her what Nalia couldn't and help the foal find his or her place in the kingdom should he or she decide to stay?
There were too many negatives and not enough positives in Nalia's mind. Every positive thought she tried to have was soon overcome by a negative one. She thought about how the little one would look as it got older, if it would resemble Nalia herself or Ardashir more. That thought sooned turned to worrying about the foal's health. Would it be healthy, with four legs and a tail? Would it be able to walk like a normal foal should, or would it take longer to find it's purchase and get it's hooves on the ground?
Nalia was overcome with anxiety by the time late afternoon rolled around to the point that, by the time she was close to the forest where her small resting place was, she thought that feeling liquid drip down and off her hocks was a trick of her mind. But then she felt a pain tear through her stomach, and knew it was not anything normal. She'd felt sickness in her belly before, from eating a bad plant, but it had been nothing compared to this. This was a solid pain, like she'd been kicked by a draft horse in the stomach, and it almost brought her to her knees.
The filly, pushed by instinct, headed for her resting place in the trees, stepping through until she came across the small area thick with brush and trees. It provided a good shelter from the wind and overhang to keep her dry from the rain, and it was tall and large enough that even Ardashir could fit inside. Resting herself under the brush, taking in a deep breath as another wave of pain struck her in the gut, Nalia began to pace in a circle, her nostrils flared and body starting to crest with sweat from the strain of the beginning of the birth.
For a good portion of the afternoon until the sun was starting to set, the filly kept up a continuous cycle. With only the occasional laying down to rest, Nalia would pace for a few minutes, take a break, breath through another contraction, then pick it up again. By the time she felt her body was ready, her legs were sore and hot from the effort to keep her going. Her body was now lined with sweat and her ice encrusted mane was frigid against her warm neck.
A strange feeling crept up onto her dock, and the filly lifted her tail, something in her gut telling her she had to lay down. Folding her front legs, the filly all but collapsed, only stopping herself from hitting her belly on the ground since she was already in enough pain. Letting out a whinny of pain, Nalia rolled herself over so she was on her side, her abdomen blowing out whenever she took in a huge breath.
Flicking her tail to get it out of the way, the filly felt another wave of pain, and this time, focusing her strength, she pushed, feeling the muscles near the read of her abdomen contract in the process. At first, she didn't feel anything different, until one push gave her an odd sensation near her hindquarters. A few more pushes and it became more intense, and the longer this went on, the more Nalia was beginning to realize. By now, she was in a great deal of pain, but she gave one final push, and the strange feeling in her hindquarters disappeared. More liquid came and soaked her buttocks underneath her tail before the pain seemed to disappear as rapidly as it had first appeared, and for a moment, Nalia lay there, her nostrils flared and chest heaving.
A tiny squeal from behind her puzzled the mare, making her wonder what it was, before the reality of the situation hit her full force. Although she was tired, the mare lifted her head and hoisted her weight so she could lay on her belly, turning her head to look near her dock.
Laying on the grass behind her, before the amazement of her eyes, was a tiny foal, it's coat wet and dark due to the sac it had broken through on it's own to begin breathing. It's little body was shaking from the new environment it was now exposed to, it's chest growing and shrinking rapidly with each tiny breath.
For a moment, a single moment, though it seemed to stretch on forever, Nalia could only watch the foal with her wide eyes, amazed at the sight before her. Finally, hearing the little one squeal again, the mare had a feeling she should do something to help the tiny creature. Unfolding her front legs, she threw her weight forward to stand, turning around to face the foal. She lowered her head, running her muzzle over the foal's wet coat, taking in it's scent before, as she'd often seen mares do, beginning to clean the foal off with her tongue.
Throughout the process of cleaning the foal, Nalia began to see it's coat color come to light. It's legs sported the markings Nalia had seen on her own dam and other horses in her former herd, even darker than the base color that stretched up to the little one's shoulders. The black legs stood out against it's dark caramel colored coat, puzzling Nalia. Her own dam had been a similar color to Nalia herself, as had her grandsire, according to Nalia's dam. She wondered where this tan color could've come from... maybe from Nalia's granddam? It was fully possible, and maybe the foal's color would darken as it aged. But it wasn't like Nalia cared; she thought the little one's color was unique and amazing.
Near the bottom of it's legs, the foal sported four white socks, it's front left much smaller than the others. It's back was lined with a dark stripe, it's muzzle looked like it had been dipped in black swamp water, and, lastly, a distinct white blaze mark that thinned out to a stripe and drifted off to the right ran down the little one's face.
It's eyes, Nalia could not yet tell what color they were, until she moved her head closer. For the time, the foal sported brown eyes, a dark warm in color, but Nalia had a sneaking suspicion that they'd turn out like the foal's sire's one day.
The foal whickered for it's dam's attention, and Nalia moved to stand near the foal's front end. The foal tilted it's head up to sniff the larger horse, Nalia returning the gesture by blowing air out of her nose. The foal kept it's muzzle close to Nalia's, inhaling the scent of it's dam, bumping Nalia's cheek as the mare licked more liquid off the foal's neck.
By the time the foal was dry, Nalia encouraged the little one to stand. Nudging it's flanks, the foal, at first, didn't seem to understand what it's dam wanted. After a few short minutes, getting a hold of itself, the foal began to try and stand, shifting it's legs to try and find purchase. Many of the first few tries, the foal even failed to get one leg under it's body, falling onto one side and laying there for a moment in a daze. Nalia would encourage the foal each time, standing over it and watching carefully until the foal was ready to try again.
Finally, seeming to get the hang of it's legs, the foal got all four under it, though not all at once. Throwing it's weight up onto it's front legs, the foal hoisted it's body off the ground, stumbling a stride or two forward and trying to get more weight on it's back legs. Unfortunately, it failed, falling over again into the ground. Nalia licked the foal to clean it from the dust and dirt, watching as it continued to try, accomplishing getting all four hooves on the ground and falling over a time or two again.
Then, it all seemed to click; the foal got all four hooves under and stood, spreading it's limbs out a bit wider to try and stay standing this time. Nalia moved over to help steady the little one, smiling at it's display. The foal lifted one hoof and took a tiny, shaky, step forward, moving it's weight to avoid falling over again. Nalia nickered to the foal in encouragement, walking a few strides away toward the tree line and calling to her little one.
The foal, whinnying for it's dam, tried to follow Nalia but only succeeded in falling over again. Nalia waited patiently for the foal to get to her side, smiling proudly when the foal managed to walk two solid strides at a time before stopping, thinking, and walking closer again. When it reached Nalia's side, the foal ran it's muzzle over it's dam's belly, Nalia turning her head back to nuzzle the little one. Giving it a nudge, Nalia turned her rump a bit to help the foal find her milk.
The little one didn't seem to have any trouble going for it's dam's milk though; with very little encouragment from Nalia, the foal nudged it's dam's underbelly before doing the same to the mare's udder, latching it's tiny teeth onto one of her teats and suckling hungrily at the milk. Nalia twitched at the rough treatment, stomping one of her back legs and swishing her tail to avoid doing anything else that would endanger the foal.
Watching her little one suckle, Nalia sniffed the foal's croup and searched for some critical information. Discovering what she needed to know, Nalia smiled brightly, excited to tell Ardashir, when he arrived, that he was the proud sire to a filly. Nalia turned her head to look around for a moment to make sure that she and the foal were safe, determing it was so after a few moments of peace and quiet. Although not a lot of grass was around the brush where Nalia made a home for her foal, it was enough to keep the mare preoccupied for a few moments before she moved past the tree line to graze. Lowering her head, Nalia picked at the grass, her ears up and alert as she felt the foal continue to drink her milk.
@[Ardashir]