"But the dream, the echo, slips from him as quickly as he had found it and as consciousness comes to him (a slap and not the gentle waves of oceanic tides), it dissolves entirely. His muscles relax as the cold claims him again, as the numbness sets in, and when his grey eyes open, there’s nothing but the faint after burn of a dream often trod and never remembered." --Brigade, written by Laura
11-08-2015, 02:24 AM (This post was last modified: 11-08-2015, 02:24 AM by Fennick.)
Fennick was having a hard day. First of all, he had become king in a storm of responsibility that made his head hurt, and second of all he was very soon to be a father. He wasn’t sure one man could endure such a sudden increase in responsibility. It didn’t seem fair really, to except him to function intelligently when the sky was bound to come crashing down on him at any moment. He looked around anxiously for Hestia, either to see the baby, if it had been born, or to harass its mother mercilessly about how she was feeling and if she needed anything if it wasn’t.
Fennick wasn’t sure how to go about ruling or fathering, and he was trying very hard to hide that fact. If anyone found out how unqualified he was for either position they would probably expel him from his home as a fraud. The tattoo beneath his eye burned at the very thought. At least Gallows would be around to laugh at him mercilessly and pick up the pieces.
The large stallion nickered, and while he intended the sound to seem deep, masculine, and self assured, it came out as a little frantic. Hell, people were bound to realize he had no idea what he was doing sooner or later. He trusted Hestia not to tell anyone in the meantime. The idea that she might think less of him, for handling responsibility as well as a new born baby handled a stack of expensive china, had occurred to him. The reluctant king scowled a little at the idea. One moment at a time. He needed to handle things one moment at a time.
((OOC: @[Tiny], I hope you don't mind that I did a thing. I got excited If you want to play out the birth that's cool, if not you can just say she was already born, and feel free to play Eona in your post. I'll respond with her after. ))
11-20-2015, 08:02 PM (This post was last modified: 11-20-2015, 08:10 PM by Hestia.)
the cat and the fiddle
It is time for the mare to come out of hiding. She had lost her birthing fat, her body had changed slightly, she felt strange, almost you could say older. But that in and of itself was not the word. For ageless as she was, old was a concept that had engrained itself in her being. This time though there was pain, there was a difference to it, almost that age was taking a physical toll on her.
She would never look the same, her innocence claimed, her body transfomed by the wonderous growth of being a mother. She was experiencing the world as a new being. Finding a new reason for living, protective as she was, she had taken a few weeks of isolation wandering around the meadow until she had found herself on the ground in pain. A new pain, a new life, a new desire blossoming before her very eyes.
Leafy orbs sparkle at the site of such a tiny bundle. Now she understood, now she knew why her mother had been the way she was. Finally for the first time in Hestia's life there was a spark of warmth growing softly inside of her. Yes Fennick had tapped that part of her, but it wasn't until she saw this new child that she fully grasped the world.
Getting up the mare licked the little one clean, nuzzling it in joy encouraging it to learn, whispering sweet nothings in its ears. Eona She whispers to the child, carressing her with her hot breath. She could only hope that the filly would grow with wisdom, and learn with strength. She could only hope for the best for this new creation, but that hope was enough for her. Guiding the child to her source of nutrition the mare decided to take a few months of privacy with her offspring. Maybe it was selfish of her, maybe she should allow Fennick to see the result of their newly developed affection, but she was going to be selfish this time, maybe next time she would allow him to be present for the birthing, but this time. The black creature wanted these few moments to be all hers. No one would understand the need she felt, the nurturing new sensations that were developing.
Finally it comes time for her to return to the Valley, guiding the little one along the way, finally to meet Fennick. With a smile she nugdes him eyes bright with delight and pride She's beautiful She whispers to him rubbing herself into his neck.
It was strange, how a moment could change your entire life. Fennick had not been ready for it, but when it had happened the moment hit him like a tidal wave, leaving him gaping and staggering. Somehow, it was not an unpleasant sensation, though part of him felt ill every time he considered his new responsibilities.
There were days Fennick thought that he would spend the rest of his life feeling slightly ill.
It didn’t seem possible, but that feeling, that sick to your stomach with worry feeling, was also somehow surrounded with joy. It was something of a mystery, how you could feel like you were about to implode and explode at the same time. That it what Fennick felt when he saw Hestia and his daughter. His daughter. He repeated the words over, and over in his head, trying to make sense of them.
The great black stallion approached the mare and the filly slowly, as if he was worried he might not be allowed. He was worried the filly would look at him and instantly know that he wasn’t perfect, that he wasn’t cut out to be someone’s papa. He was worried that Hestia would look at him and think that he wasn’t good enough, that she had made a mistake.
The big stallion felt like an utter fool, and yet he couldn’t help himself, he kept looking back and forth between them as if he had never seen anything like them in his entire life, as if he could hardly imagine a world in which they existed. Thankfully, Hestia spoke first, and with something to do, some direction to go in, he sighed out the breath he had been holding in a big, relieved whoosh.
“Yes, beautiful.” Okay, so it wasn’t the most articulate of things to say, it was, however, something. Another second passed and he tried again.
“I think she gets that from you.” Of that there was little doubt. Fennick would call himself many things, but beautiful was not one of them. The fact that their daughter had not melted yet, or turned to stone, meant that she was not like him. The Valley king considered that to be a very good thing.
Slowly, like the breaking of dawn, Fennick began to believe he might not explode after all. His body relaxed, his shoulder’s slumped, and he even worked up the courage to ruffle his daughter’s hair. He did so gently, as his muzzle was nearly the size of her whole crown. He moved a little closer to Hestia and offered her a lopsided smile.
“You know what this means, don’t you?” He paused for dramatic effect then started up again.
“You’re stuck with me.” His eyes glinted playfully, and he snorted loudly in her ear, as if to demonstrate how truly tragic it was to have Fennick determined to follow you about.
She had just had the strangest dream the night before, it left her sleepy and a little disconserted. You could say she was a little grumpy too, after all she IS almost ready to have another child as well. So as she is spending time with Fennick and their daughter, she is also swollen to practically bursting. Sidling up along side her new mate is a little more difficult then before, and possibly a little embarrasing for her. Her eyes grow a little large, and soften with apology. You could catch a little bit of hope, and the proud twinkle of being a parent in there as well.
Her midnight hide blends into his coat, along with their daughters. The discomfort of a cramp in her side makes her shift her weight slightly. He makes a comment about their daughter, and if she could, Hestia would flush with the heat she could feel building under her skin. She grins back at him, I think she gets the looks from you. She looks down for a moment, then looks back into his eyes, speaking to him in a soft tone. With a nudge to his shoulder she shifts a again with a small grunt this time.
Attempting to hide her discomfort, she pastes the smile on tightly. They were getting a little sharper, and she could feel the prickle in the back of her mind telling her that this was the same thing she felt with her daughter. Well that would be embarrasing to do in front of him. She didn't want to show weakness of any kind, and having a child in front of him? What would he think of her then?
She could feel the emotional panic rising within her, it is expected, and not at all welcome. He speaks again, in a jovial manner, and she stays silent incouraging him to go on. When he does she giggles a little, her heart fluttering as he tells her that she is stuck with him. She couldn't ever say that being stuck with him would be a bad thing in her mind, if anything it made it easier for her to know that his eye wouldn't be wandering to the other overly active females.
She would never ever admit that she was a jealous sort of woman, but secretly she was very possessive. Another cramp hits her this time her muscle squeezes under her skin and her knees weaken, she shifts again this time leaning into a little bit. Breathless her voice shakes I dont have any objections to that. Taking a deep breath she closes her eyes. No no no not yet. And just as she thinks this, she feels her water break. Eyes fly open in embarrasment, what about their daughter? She wasn't sure this was the best thing for the little one to see, but then again she had watched her own mother give birth on many occasions.
Fennick, though he routinely tried his best, wouldn’t be called very aware even by his best of friends. He had a hard time relating to to himself, much less anyone else, and so he was, perhaps, not in the best position to sympathize with Hestia.
He did, however, feel a strange warm glow at the sight of her, her expanding belly, and his little daughter. They were a family, a strange, awkward family thanks to Fennick, but a family none the less. He ran his muzzle along Hestia’s belly, trying to feel the baby moving. After a moment he glanced back at her, and finally even the daft Valley King realized that something might be amiss. His brow furrowed in concern.
“Now, don’t take this the wrong way…” Fennick trailed off, for though he was very daft even he had heard that you weren’t supposed to say offensive things to pregnant women. He continued anyways, hoping he wouldn’t live to regret it.
“You face, you kind of look like you swallowed a lemon.” Fennick winced a little, for a it came out a lot worse than he meant it to. She simply looked uncomfortable, but was trying to hide it. He shifted again, and puffed affectionately into her ear. After a moment the stallion coughed a little, and tried his best to recover.
“What I meant to say is, are you quite alright?” That, had indeed, been what he had meant to say. It simply hadn’t come out right.
Though Eona was young, she was old enough to understand that her father was a fool. No, she didn’t mean it like that, he had his good qualities. He was remarkably tall, and he could turn into any number of useful things, he himself was just rather useless. The little girl rolled her eyes dramatically when her father spoke, stupid insinuating that her mother looked like she swallowed a lemon.
She marched up, her little hooves stamping furiously against the soil, and but her father directly on his shoulder. The stallion jumped, then looked down at his little daughter and melted a little. Even with her teeth wrapped around his shoulder she seemed perfect.
Eona nodded her approval when her father amended his statement to her mother. However, despite the stupidity of the comment, he hadn’t been entirely wrong. Mother did look a little off. Eona peered at her with curiosity, then realization dawned. The filly raced up to Hestia and looked up at her excited.
“Ma!” Eona squeaked.
“Is it time?” Eona had been waiting for this moment with anticipation. She couldn’t boss around Mother, she couldn’t boss around Father, she could, however, boss around a little sibling. With great power came great possibility. Eona was excited.
she blinks as he makes his comment. I suppose I have. She attempts to smile through the pain, with a chortle at the deft attempt. As their daughter found her ever present pride and temper. Hestia's own pride swells in her chest. They indeed had a legacy to be proud of. She would always be a part of the two kingdoms, Amazons and Valley, now she is able to watch her daughter carry on the heritage of the Amazons into the Valley. there couldn't exist a better moment then that one.
She was every bit the fine combed woman that Hestia had hoped that she would grow up to be. with manners, and pride, even the sharp witty tongue. She already knew this prodigy would prove to be the best at what ever she chose to do. Her muzzle extends to them both as her body contracts once more. With a nod of her head, she takes a deep breath. Yes dear I do believe so.
She circles, prancing on the ground to loosen it a little before the pains drop her to her knees. It wasn't as bad as the first time, though this time didn't feel quite right either. The mare could feel the energy draining from her. Every push coming with bloody pain. She grunts her teeth reaching to her stomach at the feel of a contraction. Taking a few breathes she pushes with her abdominal muscles, her hips feeling as if about to split. Its another push, sweaty limbs kicking at the ground attempting to turn herself to a more comfortable position.
Finally the child slips from her womb, and its with a shaky breath she pulls her knees under her, urging herself to stand. Turning to the new life she looks up at fennick sheepishly. Well I guess you get to meet both at once.
Her eyes flit over the child assessing it. Making sure that it was healthy. Nuzzling the new life, she begins to lick it clean. Nudging it to its feet. When she notices its a boy, well she pauses for a minute taken aback. Well this was a little pecular, new ground that she didn't know quite how to trample. She had thought that after Eona it would get easier, apperantly not. What in the name of the Fairies was she to do with a boy?
Well there was always Fennick, he could do the primary raising of the child, she was not a natural mother figure, and she felt that it was not of her doing that Eona had turned out so well. How would she do with a boy? What do you believe we should name him? Hestia looks up at Fennick, wondering if he would want to take part in the raising of the child. Ahhh the crazy hormones making her all gushy agian.
She giggles agian remembering his earlier statement now your doubly stuck with me. Yes, yes they were stuck with one another, and she couldn't be at all more happy about that. Loosing herself in kisses to his shoulder, she is suprised when a the child shimmers and in his stand a blade of grass is there. Oh my She looks at it a little baffled. What had happened? Was this child just as Fennick?
The all black family huddled together, well one was green now obviously, but that didn't change the facts. Grass or not the colt was just as black as the rest of them.
The world around him thrums, the gentle red hue of darkness. Water gurgles around him, and the drone of muffled voices excite the young thing. He kicks and opens his maw to announce his presence, but the world does not change. Time has no meaning, life in this warm shell was all he had known. When it finally comes crashing around him, the gurgling ends and the sufficating sensations of crushing walls push him from his limp position. he kicks and fights at the walls surrounding him, and his world goes back to how it had been, only this time there is no gurgling, just the steady beat of a heart. Once more the walls of his home squeeze around him.
The beating quickens, the thrumming becoming louder, overwhelmingly so. He searches with his nose to find extra room, finding that the slip in the walls around him seem to be partly the way to more room, or at least that is the dirrecting that the shoving and jostling seem to be bringing him.
It takes all of two hours for the colt to open his eyes to a bright world with strange gawky things hanging around him. *Blink* the world comes to focus, *Yawn* the faces take shape. The rustle of a tongue drags along his hide, and the sounds and smells take over his senses.
His muzzle extends to his sister, sniffing at her. The loving carress of his mother pauses and he swivels his head to the giant stallion peering at him. She begins again, this time the child shivers at the warmth it brings. He looks at his legs just as theirs and attempts to position them under him so that he too can look just like them. But unsteady as he is he lands on his face. Its so green the world around him, and his focus is trained on one thing, the wispy strands of green that had met his eyes when he had first slid from his mothers womb.
Fennick was many things, and could be many more. He wasn’t however, proud. Wether a fault of a virtue, Fennick didn’t easily fall to pride. He was far too contemplative, and in many ways, a natural worrier. Now, however, feel the emotion bloom and blossom in his chest. He had never been so proud, he had never experienced anything like this moment.
What had been fear for Hestia, and for the child, quickly melted away to a giddy elation at his sons birth. He reached for the colt and for Hestia, almost afraid to touch them, almost afraid that they were a dream that would disappear. But no, they didn’t disappear, they were real, they were his family.
Just as he was about to speak, just as he was about to choke out some emption laden words, the little boy disappear. Fennick sputtered, choked, let out a loud, horrified snort, then burst into laughter when he realized what had happened. The large stallion shook his head ruefully.
“Well!” He grinned roguishly at Hestia.
“This is going to be fun.” Yes, it would seem that the boy had inherited Fennick’s own unique gifts. The stallion shook his head. When Fennick slept he turned to stone, perhaps the boy would be the same? They could sleep side by side as statues, the Valley’s own gargoyles.
For her part, Eona looked at her father as if he had lost his mind. How could be be laughing? Her brother had just disappeared! She looked to her mother in alarm. Her mouth popped open, words threatened to spill out, and then she just shut it again and sighed. There was no point, clearly, they were all mad. Eona’s expression of horror melted away to something approaching fondness, and she huddled in close, enjoying the warmth of family around her, even if they were all mental.
If you want to play out the birth that's cool, if not you can just say she was already born, and feel free to play Eona in your post. I'll respond with her after. 
![[Image: 345k45w.jpg]](http://i65.tinypic.com/345k45w.jpg)
