"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
You Should Keep In Mind, There Is Nothing Better I Do Than Revenge.
The contraction began within the night, she was fast asleep when she felt them. Violent little kids quite like Waylan, she already knew that she had been expecting a little boy it was quite obvious when the kicks were harsh and painful unlike how her first child was like.
Instincts took over, as she lay on her side upon the stone floor of the cave. She cringed at each painful kick, causing her body to tremble with each coming contraction being worse and worse. Soon her urge to get the child out was mere panic, it had been about four hours now and the child hadn't been born.
That's when she knew something was wrong, ever so wrong. "Zayn...." her vocals trailed off as she croaked his name in the slightest hint of despair. Beads of sweat dripped down her swollen belly as she continued to follow through with instinct until it took every bit of her strength, only to find the child by her rump.
She lay there quietly her sides heaving, as she slowly lifted herself up. Her legs tucked under her body, she had little strength to even move herself even close to the child. In little triumph the dark chocolate mare shifted her body so she was facing the damp child, his legs sprawled about and ebony and white coat visible. He was a sabaino like his father of course, no red eyes for what she could tell the boy was ordinary thankfully.
Gently grooming his coat she awaited for the pale mane to show himself, for his beady red eyes to examine the child.
The twins had been quite a surprise, albeit a very welcome surprise. His little brood of children has gone from three to five in the space of one night. And spring isn’t even over yet.
He seeks out Becca when he knows her time is close, though he waits until he is fairly certain the whole process is over with. He still remembers her hostility last season, and while he has no problem putting her in her place, he has no desire to get the child mixed up in the mess. The caverns are far too small to fight safely in.
But, when he is certain she is done, he makes his way to the cave mouth and enters.
It takes a moment for his eyes to adjust to the darkness within, but when they do, he is pleased. Becca lies in the dirt, sides heaving in exertion, and a small black and white shape lies at her side. Another colt. Another son! No red eyes, but that doesn’t matter.
Zayn feels fit to crow, but he keeps his outward enthusiasm to a minimum. Five sons now! Five sons, and one daughter! He has the makings of quite the brood!
His eyes return to Becca, for the first time noticing how weak she appears to be. She’d been far more feisty after giving birth to Waylan - trying to warn him out of the cave - but this time she appears to barely have the strength to keep herself upright on the ground. “Are you quite alright?” Not that he truly cares about her wellbeing, but she’s given him two fine sons. It would be a shame if she were to keel over from the effort of the second son. Not to mention the fact that the boy will need her milk for months to come. “Another handsome boy, to your credit. What have you named him?”
You Should Keep In Mind, There Is Nothing Better I Do Than Revenge.
She finds his presence comforting for some strange unexplainable reason. She meets his gaze, her nostrils flaring with exhaustion. The dark chocolate women watched the stallion with little protective manner over the child, besides her having little strength to merely speak of stand up the girl continued to groom her son's coat clean.
"I'm not alright.... I can hardly stand, how will he nurse?" She spoke in a whisper her voice softened and gentle. As she continued to caress her black and white boy. "He has no name." She answered faintly, truly she hadn't even thought of a name for the boy. All she thought about is how he would be able to nurse. She was aware of other mare's within the herd land that had children like herself but it would be pitiful and pathetic to just drop her own son upon another.
Shifting her body weight the mare nudged the little colt, encouraging him to stand even though she lay like him. Glancing towards Zayn the girl didn't speak, the colt just wouldnMt see to move. It's dark chocolate eyes batting around as it curiously looked about. He was quite a peculiar thing, not necessary intelligent in the slightest manner button try again he was just a babe.
A sweet little babe in fact, compared to the fight the little thing had within her womb she found him ever so darling. The dormant boy lay beside her barrel, her sides heaved as she nudged him once more but it was no use the little fella was quite like a mule, stubborn... Or was it simply because she was just to weak to shove the boy over and help him up?
She’s not hostile, much to his surprise. Becca even almost seems … pleased, to have him there. He’s not sure what’s giving him that impression, but he can’t shake the feeling. Very odd. Perhaps she’s just growing used to him?
Her evident weakness is concerning though. She admits that she can hardly stand and his golden head cocks to the side as he thinks. “Well, we’ll just have to work on getting you strong enough to let him nurse.” He doesn’t mind bringing food into her if it’s for the sake of his son, and she has easy access to water thanks to the pool in the cave. “But, if it comes to it, I’m sure one of the other mares would be willing to let him nurse.” Nixie, most likely. The pink mare is rather timid and unlikely to disagree. And Kodaline already has two children to feed - a third would be excessive.
“No name …” He’s once again surprised - Becca had made sure to claim that honour for herself with their first son. Since she’s still showing no hostility, Zayn reaches down to nuzzle the boy’s little dark head. “How about Oli?” Nothing special as far as names go, but they need something to call the boy.
Becca nudges at the child again and Zayn steps back, watching expectantly. The boy seems pleased to stay right where he is, but he needs to stand soon, needs to take his first steps. Zayn’s red eyes travel to Becca, encouraging her to nudge again, before returning to the boy. “Come on Oli, up on your feet.”
![[Image: untitled_drawing_by_caninevulpes-d9e6vik.png]](http://orig01.deviantart.net/18ab/f/2015/297/7/9/untitled_drawing_by_caninevulpes-d9e6vik.png)
