"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
Their journey from the Beach has been long but she has enjoyed their new found friendship that has evolved. Through the challenges they faced together their bond has strengthened. Aurora knows that good things are hard to come by, and even harder to hold onto...
Alerted to the dangers of their world now they proceed with caution. He seems confused at her explanation of where her magic came from. She simply nods as if that would make it more understandable. The precious lives that grow inside her stir more frequently now. Jack had asked when abouts they will make their appearance and though she is unsure it cannot be long now. Spring was a season of rebirth and renewal, often sparking the mass arrival of new life. Birds were singing their love choruses in the treetop, squirrels chased each other through the bushes, and spotted fawns joined their mother's while browsing on the fresh green grasses of the Meadow. It was a peaceful place with the best grazing of all the lands.
Her pace has slowed since leaving the Beach. The added weight she carries taking a toll on her strength. She still questions how healing Jack hadn't caused her more weakness in her than it had. Perhaps the adrenaline of the situation had something to do with it. When he expresses his concern for her having helped him she shakes her head while replying, "Nonsense! You saved me from being bitten. It was the least I could do."
As they break from the treeline of the river and step into the large meadow, the cloudy skies hide the position of the sun. They are dark and ominous today, threatening rain. She pauses briefly to take in the area, making sure they are not close to any other groupings that gather here. In her condition she'd rather keep her distance, for now. "How does your leg feel Jack," she asks her companion. "We can rest over there for a bit if you'd like," her eyes spot a lone tree not far from them and she points her muzzle to it after she makes the suggestion. That may be a good shelter in case it should start raining as they rest she thinks.
Jack's journey has been long and full of challenges, but now he feels fulfilled, thanks to Aurora. She has been a constant companion and friend, always by his side, and he couldn't be more grateful. As they walk through the Meadow, a light, gentle spring breeze blows through Jack's mane and tail, tickling his ears and reminding him of the beauty of nature. He takes a deep breath, filling his lungs with the fresh, crisp air, pushing out the last remnants of winter.
It's a magical time of the year, with new life springing up all around them. Babies are being born, and everywhere they look, there are fawns frolicking by their mothers and birds chirping in the trees. It's a time of hope and renewal, and Jack feels his heart fill with joy.
As they walk, Aurora moves a little slower than usual, but Jack understands why. She's carrying two babies inside her, and every bite of grass brings them closer to their arrival. Jack looks at her with concern, but she smiles and reassures him that she's managing. He knows it hasn't been easy for her, but he's grateful for her strength and resilience.
Jack still feels the effects of the venom coursing through his body, but thanks to Aurora's healing powers, he's alive and well. He knows he wouldn't have made it this far without her. He thinks back to the day they met, when the fairies led them to each other, and he knows it was fate that brought them together.
As they approach a tree line, Aurora points ahead, and Jack nods. He knows what he needs to do. He walks ahead, scouting out the area to make sure it's safe and protected for them in case the babies decide to make their arrival. He feels a sense of responsibility to keep Aurora and her unborn foals safe, and he'll do whatever it takes to protect them. After all, she did say sooner rather than later...
She smiles kindly as Jack escorts her to the tree. Her slow pace allows him to scout ahead and assure the areas safety before she arrives. The added mass taking up the cavity space inside her causes her breathing to shallow. Eventually though she reaches the tree and presses her body up against it. The support is much appreciated as she catches her breath.
Her tail flicks the flies from her legs. Now with the warmer weather they are become more irritating. She snorts as she shakes her mane to relieve her ears of the pests. Looking to the area around the tree she considers if she would be able to get back up if she lays down. It isn't more of a moment in thought when she begins to hear the faint pattering of rain drops on the leaves above them. She looks up at the canopy above that sheltered them. "Well, looks like we will be getting some spring rain after all," she says, her voice soft with only mild annoyance. Pregnancy was definitely taking a toll on her mood.
03-18-2024, 10:07 AM (This post was last modified: 03-18-2024, 10:10 AM by Jack in the Box.)
Jack, a majestic stallion, stood watchful in a field with Aurora, a heavily pregnant mare, by his side. The area seemed safe, and Jack felt a sense of responsibility towards Aurora and her unborn babies. As Aurora waddled up to a nearby tree and leaned against it, Jack noticed her discomfort and the frequent changes in her mood. He wanted to help her feel better, but he knew that all he could do was wait it out.
Jack nickered softly to Aurora and the unborn babies, trying to reassure her that everything would be alright. As the rain started to fall, Jack's back began to moisten. He stood guard by Aurora, allowing her to rest as much as possible. His head hung low, resting but on guard in case of an emergency.
The rain picked up, and Jack's coat became saturated. His mane and tail hung low from the weight of the rain pulling it down. Even though he was drenched, Jack smiled and chuckled softly at Aurora's comment. "It's refreshing," he said, shaking the coat of rain that draped him onto the drenched ground beneath their hooves.
Walking back towards Aurora, Jack asked her how she was doing, genuinely concerned for her well-being. He knew that pregnancy could be challenging, especially when the weather was not on their side.
These aren't her first foals, nor her first twins. She wonders briefly if her other children were alive and well, or had succumbed to time. Being a sort of immortal as she was, the sands of time affected her differently.
Jack stands like a soldier, brunting the weight of the earthy waters as he keeps watch. Her attitude towards the current weather lessens as he makes light of the situation. She shakes the water off, her pelt not affected as much since her gown of feathers has created a waterproof layer overtop of her.
He comes nearer, asking how she felt. She replies with a slight sigh, “I'm ok. Getting more uncomfortable with each day, but I'll make it through.” She looks out from under the trees canopy to find the rain lightening to a mist. The grey clouds began to break up and the sun dotted the landscape within the openings. This causes an ethereal wonder to appear in the sky. An arched band of mixed colors shining brilliantly above. “Look Jack! A *rainbow!” A childlike expression spreads across her face as she steps out into the *clover covered meadow. “When I was a child my mother told me of a tale that at the end of a rainbow is a pot of *gold. With some *luck you would find the pot and could make a wish,” she thinks of how fun it would be to go searching for it. Under current circumstances though she was in no condition to go chasing childhood stories. “Ah well, maybe another time,” she continues to look up to the sky in wonder…
The gentle spring breeze tousles her forelock, unblocking her view and revealing a *green and gold twinkle within the clover. “Look over there Jack! A fairy! I told you they were real,” she laughs as she waddles toward the now levitating sparkle. “Hello,” she says kindly. The tiny orb grew slightly, now taking more of a shape than before. Hi there, it replies. I heard your story of the pot of gold. I do not have gold but I have these. The tiny creature takes out two shamrocks and levitates them towards the pair. If you eat this *shamrock it will gift you something greater than gold! She looks to Jack and smiles before looking back to the fairy. “Oh thank you kind fairy for the gifts!” With that the fairy disintegrates, leaving the two four-leaved clovers floating before them…
03-18-2024, 03:49 PM (This post was last modified: 03-18-2024, 06:50 PM by Jack in the Box.)
Jack's worried expression softens as Aurora reassures him that she's okay. He breathes a sigh of relief and then, suddenly, his attention is captured by something she utters. The word 'rainbow'seems to ignite a sense of wonder in him. He raises his gaze and his eyes widen in amazement at the sight that greets him - a vibrant arc of colors stretching across the horizon. The colors are so vivid and intense: green, blue, and red hues blend seamlessly together, creating a breathtakingly beautiful display.
Jack is lost in the moment, his senses completely captivated by the stunning sight before him. But just as he begins to fully appreciate the rainbow, his attention is drawn back to Aurora, who has wandered off to the nearby meadow. He takes a deep breath of the fresh grass and savors the taste of the sweet clover he nibbles on. Suddenly, a flash of movement catches his eye and he turns to see a tiny gold fairy darting out from a nearby patch.
Curiosity piqued, Jack moves closer to the fairy, sniffing and nudging it playfully. The fairy seems to be holding out a small shamrock, which Jack takes gently in his teeth. Aurora begins to tell him the tale of the luck pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, and Jack listens intently as he grinds the shamrock into a pulp. As he finishes, the fairy disappears as quickly as it had appeared, leaving Jack with a sense of bewilderment. He shakes his head, trying to make sense of what had just happened, and then turns his attention back to the awe-inspiring rainbow, watching the colors dance across the sky.
Watching Jack eat the shamrock without question causes her to laugh. She had thought for sure there would be a pause and question in its edibility, various mechanics and possible side effects, but no he gobbles it down without a care. In the midst of her chuckling she took plucks the shamrock from the air and eats it. She looks about, waiting to see if she sees or feels something happening. Her neck curls to bring her left side into view, she looked the same. She turned to face Jack, she felt the same. Her eyes grazed over him, not finding anything remarkable happening. "Do you feel any different Jack," she questions. "I... I don't think I feel anything... hmmm... strange," she looks over again to the rainbow with indifference. "Oh well," she decides maybe the effects weren't instant and so she lowers her head to graze on the sweet clover.
The day is soon waning, so she returns to the tree they had sought shelter under earlier. She yawns tiredly, ending with a shake to her neck. Leaning against the tree she tries to settle down from the day's happenings, but she is restless. Her muzzle lowers to the ground as her nares flare and a snort is emitted into the cool evening air. She walks in circles, nose still to the ground. She pauses here and there, pawing at the grassy plain in annoyance. Her tail flicking in clear agitation. Circling once more she decides on a suitable spot to lay down. Her wings clamp tightly to her sides as her expanded mass lands awkwardly and with a thud. It was even less comfortable than she thought it'd be, but her legs couldn't take anymore standing...
Jack looks over, confused as to why she's laughing at him. "What?" he mumbles with a mouth full of shamrocks. He shakes his mane and nudges her muzzle playfully. "I feel normal," he says. Am I supposed to feel different?" He lowers his head and grazes beside her, keeping an eye on her and their surrounding environment, scanning for any threats.
He follows her to the trees in which they had recently been, and he notices she's a lot slower and more agitated. She spins in circles in one spot, the next, back to the first, and back to the second, and settles down on a third spot utterly different from the first two. Her body is a lot stiffer, and that does not go unnoticed. "Everything ok?" He asks as she thuds onto the hard ground. He steps close to her but keeps his distance to not bother her, in case this is when the babies do decide to join the world.
He nudges her before replying as she laughs. He could be so clueless sometimes. "It was a magical shamrock silly," again laughing with a slight snort before moving off to the tree to rest.
Even the thickness of the clover and grass did not cushion her discomfort as she tries to rest. She decides her legs curled under her just made it more uncomfortable, so she rolls onto her side, outstretching her legs. Her neck rubs along the ground, scratching at an itch she finds. Sprawled out across the meadow, her large protruding belly sticks up even more creating a mound of flesh and feather. She snorts in exhaustion, but her eyes do not close. Jack has come near and asks if she is ok. She pauses in thought of what to say. Physically she was uncomfortable, emotionally she was exhausted and mentally she just wanted to be done with the whole process. "I'm just..." her head rises and shifts her body again to being laying upright, "hot...?" Her liver chestnut coat was drenched in sweat, especially under her feathers so she knew it wasn't from the rain. Her breathing quickens trying to displace the heat from her body. Ivory legs fold under her as she heaves her heavy mass back up. It wasn't without great effort, and she finds herself stumbling a bit to regain balance. Her tail flicks to move air around her. Thankfully there was a light breeze to help. She begins pacing again, nose to the ground, pawing anxiously at the earth.
The crescent moon casts a gentle glow across the lands. She rises and falls many more times as the night progresses. She will not sleep tonight, and she guesses neither will her companion. Jack is near invisible in the darkness of night except for his white markings that reflect the light of the moon, so she knows he is there. Laboring was hard work, especially twins. Many things could go wrong, this she knows.
The first to arrive is a fiery red and white filly. It glows, very literally, in the night. Tiny flames scatter randomly across its body and for a moment Aurora is confused how such a thing does not burn itself. She decides magic is at play and eagerly licks the filly clean. But the work is not done. Labor continues but she does not pace any longer. She stands protectively near the filly until dawn is beginning to stretch across the skies. She starts to become nervous that the second foal hasn't arrived. That something is wrong...
Labor pains soon continue, and the urge comes over her finally to push once again. She breathes a slight sigh of relief that things seemed to progress again, but she is so very tired. She decides to lay near her newborn daughter, outstretching on her side. It was slightly more comfortable this time but even as exhausted as she was labor does not allow her to sleep. She pushes several more times before she feels the relief of pressure. Her energy is spent though and so she does not move. She does not rush to this foal to wake it, nor clean it off. She simply does not have the strength...
The foal, a colt, red and white like his sister, lays motionless. He is much smaller than his sister and lacking the flickering flames. His face is painted a ghostly white, something is almost sinister looking about it. The increasing light of the morning reveals that his coat, wet from the amnionic fluid, is grossly scarred with burn marks covering his near lifeless body. He needs help, and fast...
Jack looks at the chuckling Aurora as she mentions it was a magical shamrock. He tilts his head, confused. "It didn't taste any different than normal," He shakes his neck and returns to the pasture below him.
Night falls as he stands to watch like usual. However, it quickly became apparent that this night was different. Aurora is much more uncomfortable than normal as she gets up, lays down, and repeats this for a while. The moonlight shines directly on her feathers, causing an array of colors to dance against her heavily panting body.
He gives her space but stays and watches, curious to see what's happening with his companion. It becomes apparent as he watches the red and white filly join their party. His ears are perked, and he lowers his head to get a closer look; however, he keeps his distance. He isn't sure how to help or if there is a way to help the baby and Aurora.
A while later, he senses Aurora's anxiety, not quite knowing why. She goes back into straining and pushing, and he keeps his distance but is more protective over Mom and the fiery little girl who lies asleep by her. The next baby arrives, not like the last. This one is motionless, and so is his mother. He comes closer and gently nudges her. He nickers loudly to her to try to get some response. "Aurora? Your babies are here. Are you ok? You need to take care of them.." He nudges them firmly, confused as to why neither is moving; however, the filly is still squirming, trying to figure out the world.
AuroraElis
