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 Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 9:49 am
 Every pearl, every woven line of enchanted wicker was committed to to memory by heart. She'd looked over each and every one countless times over the past weeks. Checking for signs of life, making sure not a single one of her precious baskets had a spot on them. As protective mothers went, Zahraa' seemed to be channeling the instincts of a lioness. Once placed in the low lying nest she'd built on a large, flat bolder she'd barely left their side, and only a tiny trusted few were allowed near. Though one in particular wasn't as welcomed, traditions baring, as she'd have liked.
The three pale baskets were gathered close within the woven ring of twigs and collected trinkets, bells, beads and feathers, and the harpy commander was curled on her side along them. White chin resting the lid of the honey and rose colored one. Half asleep, she was watching the sisters and males as they mingled about through half lidded eyes. Feathered mane laying softly along ears and neck. The picture of maternal ease. She could hear the beats of each tiny heart, feel the warmth radiating from within, and knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that the babies within were healthy and strong.
Nothing could have shattered the perfect image. Nothing, but..
A thump. From within the honey toned basket. Like the kick of a tiny foot against the woven lid. It made the mare start, jerking her head up to look down at the trio of babes with concern. Another thump followed the first, though from the white basket this time, then the rose bottomed one. Bumps and thumps punctuating the quiet of the afternoon, first once every minute or so, but they were growing in pace.
"Cabriole.." Was he near? He had to be, he never strayed far. It wasn't often a male of the flock was privy to the emergence of their babies.
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Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 5:09 pm
Cabiole was indeed nearby, eyes closed as he sang softly in latin to the eagle in the tree, simply enjoying a small duet with the bird. However it cut short as he heard Zahraa' call for him through the brushes, and he stood, stretching a bit, "Coming.."
He pushed his way through the shrubbery, rolling his shoulders as Siciliana flew down from her branch and landed on his spine, wings folding as she peered over his shoulder, "What is i-" the honey colored stallion blinked, eyes widening as he realized what was going on. It was a month after his one year anniversary from being captured by Zahraa', and had grown to know much about the flocks culture, "... They're about to be born... I'm... Am I allowed to be here?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 8:48 pm
Was he? Perhaps not, but right that moment she didn't care. All that mattered to the harpy mare, as the baskets shifted and stirred restlessly, was the well being of the babes. It was luck only that placed her precious Cabriole so close at this time, not planning, and she wasn't going to chase him off now. "It doesn't matter." She breathed, nose lowering to within an inch of the pale top of the white one, eyes going wide. "You're here now, stay and witness it."
A familiar purr had leaked into the young mare's voice, and it would be clear to anyone that she was excited, proud, pleased. Filled to the brim with cycling emotions. All that waiting, all that hard work, and now, only minutes away, it would all pay off. She would see her babies, their babies for the first time.
Pray to the mother my sweet. Pray they are strong." Zahraa' turned a meaningful look up to the eagle perched on her mate's back. The spirits traveled through her, if anyone could carry their prays to the great mother, it was Siciliana.
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Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 10:58 am
Cabriole nodded, watching carefully as they bumped and wiggled, occasionally emitting a vocal noise. He poked his nose close to one of them, pondering nipping the edge of the basket lip to loosen the seal a bit, as his father had done for him and his sisters, allowing them to keep their baskets to carry their items in. Sniffing at it, he tried to figure out the gender, only getting the musky scent of child and basket in his nostrals -- much as Cuauhcoatl had taught them, it was impossible to tell gender by scent at such a young age, one would have to sex their offspring visually after birth.
His studies and pondering cut short as he jerked his head back suddenly with a chiming jangling of jingling bells as a ebony claws raked its way through the roof of the one he was investigating. At least they now knew at least one of the kids took something from the mothers side.
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Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 12:25 pm
A gasp followed the chime of bells as Cabriole pulled back from the baskets. white eyes widening at the tiny, ebony claw that'd just torn through the wicker. One, at least, had taken from her side, and she felt almost dizzy with excitement. "They're coming.." Voice was soft, breathy, as she belly crawled along the edge of the baskets. Nose dropping to press against the fractured wicker. Sniffing at the struggling babe within as if she could get some clue.
There was more sounds of breaking twigs as another tiny foot punched through the edge of the pink and white basket, this time a hoof. The bi colored crest of the Harpy's mane deflated, but only slightly. She'd have loved if all her children could have taken after her where feet were concerned. To be restricted to the ground.. No matter, this babe would be loved as well. "Little ones," she cooed. Rolling up onto her own feet so she could step around to Cabriole's side, leaning against his side as she watched. For a while now the artificial womb of the basket had been divine. Warm, comfortable, and safe. But over the last week the little colt had begun to feel decidedly cramped within in little wicker world. He no longer fit, and eventually an over whelming urge to escape had won over. At first he'd only squirmed, but through the walls of basket he could hear his siblings moving along as well. It fueled him on further, until a tiny white hoof finally broke through the wall.
As he pulled his foot back light flooded the basket, and the tiny foal flinched, cowering away from this unfamiliar thing. But when it did nothing but glow softly he turned back to it curiously. Dainty nose poking out of the opening, sniffing.
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Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 3:54 pm
Smiling slightly, Cabriole shifted his attentions to the nose poking out of the basket, not quite trusting his nose to the scritching claws of the other two baskets, and murmured soft comforting words to the foal inside, licking him across the tip of the nose, "I know... You're having a harder time then your siblings with just hooves.."
He cooed softly before nibbling gently on the edge of the basket, bracing it with his hooves to peel away at the top, tugging at it with his teeth until the lid snapped loose and lifted, and dropped to the side after it exposed the rosey faced foal, smiling down at them affectionately, hoping the best for the fairly normal looking and beautiful foal, musing at how the child had his eyes.
Within his own nest, the young foal inside chewed on the edges of the opening he made, wriggling his head back and forth as he chomped on it, momentarily perplexed, unsure of how he managed to get as far as he had, and a little worn by his flailing. He needed a short break so the foal remained on his back, tugging at the basket's lid with his teeth and claws dug in for a better grip of it.
Smiling softly, Cabriole shifted his attention to the other two baskets, noting the tugging actions of the third basket, listening to the crackle of the wicker. He made a soft noise, ears quirked slightly as he opening looked over the situation, trying to figure out which foal could use the most help and how to without possibly losing an eye to a flailing claw.
The mostly white basket, he concluded, would be the most difficult, the claws holding the lid down and could possibly hurt the child while messing with it, so he shifted to better access the colorful basket and how to aid the ivory clawed foal within.
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Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 4:20 pm
 The little foal had no idea how her siblings were doing, or even that she had siblings. Everything she knew had been part of the little wicker basket world so far, though the sounds and smells from outside were certainly starting to intrigue her. Till now, she'd been fairly quiet, content to curl up and nap in the warmth of her basket, but something in her finally moved, screeched for freedom. A half-whinny half-trill that cracked somewhere in the middle, her first cry, shot out her newly developed throat and the little filly snorted within her basket, poking her ivory claw through daintily out the side of the basket as if testing the air.
Scratching methodically at the top of the basket with her other three claws, her nose popped out the top, and she sniffed the new air. Seemed alright enough. A jingle of......SOMETHING caught her attention, and an ear popped up out the top, angling towards Cabriole and his bells. The filly did not know who, or even WHAT, her father was, nor did she understand the natural attraction to the sound he made. It simply was there. She decided she simply must have it.
The pink and honey nose tried pushing up on the basket, but she found herself without the immediate muscles to do so, and with her fourth claw stuck awkwardly out the side of the basket, she couldn't maneuver herself any better. Her ears flicked and she made another half-trill of annoyance at her plight.
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Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 8:15 pm
While Cabriole assisted foal with hooves out of his basket(a son, she had a son. A beautiful son!), Zahraa' turned her attention to the honey and rose basket, tapping a claw against the dainty white talons that were poking from the weave. She saw the nose, and it made her chuckle softly as she watched. Then a tiny ear appeared, turning to train on the sound of Cabriole's bells. "Barely of this world, and already fixed on your trinkets, my sweet." She smoothed her cheek along that of her mate's before returning to the basket they'd both turned their attentions on.
Armed with her own sharp claws, the mare had no worry of loosing an eye to the talons of her offspring, and she pressed the tip of one ebony claw to the side of the colorful basket, dragging it along it's surface to split the wicker, freeing the baby within, revealing a beautiful little filly. Zahraa' froze as she looked at the wee little girl, breath catching in her throat before escaping in a joyful trill. A daughter! She had a beautiful little daughter!
Only one more basket remained, and she could see a little mouth chomping away at the edges of the wicker womb. "Someone wants out." Did she aid them as well? Or let them work their way out alone. They had already done such a god job of it.
The world outside his basket smelled wonderful, and the little fol took a moment or two to simply enjoy this new sensation. Then suddenly warmth and moisture. It was enough to make him jerk back with a startled cry, though he returned his nose to the small hole almost immediately. It had been odd, but not unpleasant, nor painful.
Seconds later the lid peeled away and flooded the colt in brightness. Causing him to flinch, shutting his eyes against the glare so he was peering up at the honey stallion through squinted pink eyes. Was that his father? Blinking, he slowly grew accustomed to the brightness, and when it no longer stung his eyes he took a moment to glance around himself from where he still sat in his basket. There were two others beside him, one pale and one colorful. The latter of which was being torn open by a large white mare. His mother.
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Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2011 3:05 pm
Cabriole gave a bit of a soft smirk at the little girl, noting to himself that the flocks female population would be pleased at the introduction of another sister. At least one of his children would be able to grow into someone of respect and power within the flock.
Unlike the poor hooved colt. At least he knew most knew not to abuse any of Zahraa's possessions, which would include them all. Interactions will be limited, if at all, between him and his children after this point..
A pang hit his heart and he decided to focus on the foal remaining in its basket, which was making some rather interesting crackling noises.
Talon's tightened around aging, dried wicker, crushing the no longer protective material, pushing against the roof as he stripped another piece off with his teeth, pausing as he tried to spit out the piece, which was stuck slightly to his tongue, bland and flavorless.
Lowering his nose to the basket to investigate, the popping noise climaxed into a loud crack as little clawed fists, full of crushed basket reeds crashed out from the basket, one of them popping their honey colored father firmly on the nose with matching colored knuckles. Cabriole jerked his head back once more, wiggling his nose a bit and snorting, "quite a bit of fight in them, isn't there?"
Stretching his legs for the first time into air, the foal blinked, peeking out of the slobbered on hole, and made a chirruping noise as he wiggled his toes. He then flailed a bit, finding that he was still strapped in the basket, until it flopped over onto its side.
It didn't take long for him to suddenly be on wobbly legs, his head and body still trapped in the basket, and start trying to walk his way out of the basket, making big awkward steps, kicking at his stomach a little to try and get it loose or step out of it, shaking his legs and falling over yet again onto his side, making a noise of frustration.
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Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2011 8:19 pm
As the little filly tumbled out of her basket with her mothers help, she shook her head, freeing it of the last clinging bits of basket. Blinking her pupiless eyes for the first time, she unhappily noticed how bright it was out here. She squawked upwards at the source of the offending light as if to say 'hey. hey you, shut it off up there', before trying to shakily stand on her spindly legs. The result was a clumsy tumble, as her mother's happy trill surprised her, catching the filly off guard. Blinking again, her attention turned to the female, cocking her head to the side, wondering what she should do. The mare sounded sort of like her OWN cry she'd made only moments before.
She trilled back, high and clear, before shakily standing up again. She was still quite wobbly, but at least she was standing. Looking to the strange creature with legs and a basket over its head and body, she flicked her ears, deciding it had certainly not made the pretty sound earlier. Another foal to her other side, was sitting complacently in its basket, simply watching. That one seemed too quiet to make the pretty sound. Another jingle caught her attention, and she trilled again, assuming it was a sound the mare liked to hear, and maybe THAT would coax the jingly thing to appear?
Ears cocked towards Cabriole, and the little filly simply stared up at the stallion. In comparison to her, he was massive, and she craned her little neck up to look at him. One of his bells moved, and she almost stumbled with delight. So HE was the jingly-jangly thing! Looking to the mare, her ears laid back with a soft accompanying trill, instinctively knowing somehow to ask the female's permission before approaching the 'pretty jingly thing'.
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Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 11:51 am
A twitch of white eyes took in the second son, and a moment of pride made colorful plumage lift at the sight of those little dark claws. Children in general would have been loved, cherished. Children of her own blood, baring feathers and claws, that was a blessing from their great mother. Her prayers, her devotion, was right there at her feet. In regards to Cabriole's question she gave a little chirp, lipping at his cheek before speaking. "Yes, yes they do."
She chuckled as her one son flipped his little basket over with the thing still stuck on him, wobbling aorund with it stick clinging to his tiny body, but her attention was pulled back to the filly at that answering trill, and then another following the sound of Cab's bells. Blinking, she watched those pink ears lay back, familiar white eyes looking up at her as if asking permission. Well what else could she say? "Yes, go ahead." Her chin twitched in the stallions direction, and she even gave the filly a tiny nudge with one foot.
The hoofed colt was still sitting in his basket, and she turned to him, lowering her head to nuzzle along his forehead and cheek.
Pink eyes had been watching the honey colored stallion, though had drifted to each member of his family in turn as they did something interesting. The chirrups and trills of his mother and sister held particular interest for the small male, and with each lovely noise his ears swiveled forward before twitching back. He liked those sounds, they were pretty, comforting, and it made him smile. The delicate chime of bells that were coming from both his parents were also welcome, like music to his ears.
Shifting in his basket, he moved to take a questionable step out o the wicker when the mare turned to him, nuzzling along brow and cheek, and his tufted little stump of a tail wagged happily at the affection. Bumping his forehead against her cheek, he opened his mouth. Barking out a happy little chirp of his own. Apparently the hoofed child would be bilingual.
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Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2011 9:05 pm
Cabriole smiled a little, nuzzling against his daughter, chuckling a little at the stumbling antics of the kid still stuck in the basket, "I wish I had something to give you all -- from what I know of the old ways of at least my fathers parents, they would give bells to their children on the day of their first steps to protect them from danger. Perhaps, Zahraa'? You could help me remove what I have o-"
Siciliana huffed slightly, chirruping a bit and murmuring something in soquilian-latin before taking off from her bonded's back, swooping down first to snag the basket from the still trapped child in her claws, popping the seam of the lid with a powerful pull of talons, made for crushing monkeys and sloths in the canopies of the jungles, before lifting back to the tree's, rustling around in a hallow for something.
Watching her up, he smiled a little, "She has something I think stored for them.."
Squawking a bit in surprise as the basket opened up, the colt hesitated, freezing, before poking his head out, looking around a bit before flailing to get his legs loose from the lid and climbing out, shaking his body out to stretch himself, only to fall once more on his side.
Heart swelling in pride at his strong, healthy looking children, so eager and showing the bright spark of curiosity and drive so early on.
Sici, swept her way back down to them, clutching a bundle of ribboned bells she had stored away,one end of each one pecked loose from where they had been tied up to air from the scent of who set them out originally, giving the air of her having taken them away unwillingly from their owners. The Harpy eagle then dropped a few at Zahraa's feet. She was the mother, and if she wasnt the one to give them, the others might find it too much of a 'bond' with the father, a threat, possible... Or so their feathered friend worried.
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