|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 1:34 pm
It had been almost three weeks since they had found their new home and work had been done on the cave to make it more homey. The spot beneath the willow had become their sleeping space for now, though, since the nights were clear and calm.
Hienna, however, had been going through some changes. Her attitude changed more quickly, back and forth, and she had definitely gained some more weight. Her eating habits had increased and tired more easily than before. It was actually starting to frustrate the mare because even if she wanted to help half the time she just lazed about.
It wasn't until the movement in her belly that she realized what exactly what was going on It had taken her forever to figure it out, actually, but now that she had... She was the happiest mare in existence. For now, she was waiting beneath the willow for her mate to return so she could tell him the news. She had sent him off to get some berries for her.
Raspberries. Which were hard to find currently but something she so very much wanted.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 1:42 pm
The one downside to their new home was that, grass aside, it was rather limited in foodstuffs. This wasn't to say that grass wasn't well and good on it's own, but once in a while you just wanted an apple or something to break the monotony.
And if you were Hienna lately, it was more than once in a while. She always seemed to be wanting fruit these days, and knew just how to convinve him to get it for her. Like today, for example, when she had decided she needed raspberries!
Oh well. Raspberries happened to be something he liked as well, so hunting for them had been no hardship. As it was, he was trotting back towards their little hollow, a leafy bundle of raspberries in his jaws.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 1:50 pm
Hienna brightened considerably when she saw Zaphiro coming up to their hideaway with the fruit, "Took you long enough!" she called teasingly, a twinkle in her eyes.
Now she had to find the most interesting way to tell him about their impending joy. Her head canted to the side and she nosed the ground, "Put them there please. And they're all mine. I'm eating for more than myself now."
And then she grinned. Brightly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 4:28 pm
Snorting a bit, Zaphiro trotted down the hillside with his precious bundle, plopping it down on the ground beside his mate. "Long enough my foot; do you have any idea how long it takes to even FIND raspberries this time of year? Next time I don't care HOW hungry for whatever you are, you can just go find it-"
He'd almost missed the last part of her comment; as usual, words were processed as a whole, not as individuals, so he was still addressing the earlier part of what she'd said when the last part clicked. And as soon as that clicked...
"Hie, what, exactly, are you saying. Are you..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 5:45 pm
Hienna giggled childishly and nodded her head, "I think so...I've been feeling more tired lately, more hungry, irritable...I'm sure you've realized THAT...I've put weight on and...And I felt them move..."
The mare was absolutely glowing. "Zaphiro, you're going to be a daddy."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 6:51 pm
It was amazing how fast things could happen, how rapidly life could change. For the past few years he'd basically been a lone roving Soquili, then a mere three months ago he'd met Hienna...
Now they were mates, had a dream residence...and were expecting foals!
A smile broke over Zaphiro's face, a smile blindingly radiant and a wee bit amazed. Silently, he dropped to the ground beside his mate and immeadaitely rested his face on her stomach, wanting to feel for himself the new life inside her that their love had created. "Foals...we're going to have FOALS!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 6:55 pm
The reaction warmed Hienna from head to hoof and she nodded again, "Yes! Foals! Us...I..I never thought this would ever happen...Not until I met you!" She looked down lovingly at her mate as his head went to her stomach. And, as though they knew what their father was waiting for, the foals shifted inside Hienna.
It was amazing and Hie half wondered if the entire thing was a dream or not.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 7:01 pm
Feeling the small movements beneath his cheek, Zaphiro's smile got even wider; turning his head, he gave his mate's stomach a tender nuzzle, then moved to nuzzle her as well. "I can't believe this is happening, Hie...first you, now this; I have to be the most fortunate stallion alive!"
And he felt that way, too; what wasn't to love about any of this? But that reminded him... "How are you feeling, anyway? Aside of the whole hungry, tired, irritable thing." This with another smile; he'd noticed the HUNGRY, at least, but not so much the other. Newly-mated obliviousness?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 7:04 pm
Hie returned the nuzzle lovingly, "I feel the same way. You are indeed fortunate." She teased him with a laugh and then closed her eyes, nestling close to him.
"I'm wonderful besides those things at the moment. Starved and wanting those raspberries though." Hie snickered and leaned her head down to grab at the berries with her mouth. Hers.
He could find his own later.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 7:15 pm
"Of course, because you could likely have had any guy out there. Hell, maybe you could have had ALL those guys out there, but instead you chose me."
A fact that he was still amazed and delighted by, to be honest; no matter how many time he cuddled her, how many mornings he woke up beside her, he still had to marvel that she had chosen him, that she was his mate.
He didn't even mind being elbowed away from the berries; after all, he'd eaten his fill earlier! Instead, he leaned back, resting his head on his forelegs and watched his mate. Though a question had occured to him...
"How far along are you, do you think?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 7:34 pm
Huh. She hadn't really thought about THAT.
"Huh...I started feeling like this maybe...6 weeks ago? So maybe 6 weeks, possibly 7. Time's flown, I can't really tell...Close to two months, definitely." She nodded then and looked over to Zaphiro, "How long do these things generally take?"
Yes. Hienna was clueless. It had been a miracle she figured it out at all.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 7:43 pm
...Wow. Blinking a bit, Zaphiro was soon struck by the humor of the situation; six weeks ago, possibly seven...that was about how long ago they'd become mates. Obviously they'd gotten started on their foals pretty early on, all things considered!
However, beyond the look of obvious amusement on his face he didn't address that, turning to her other question first. "Um...to be honest, I don't really know, Hie. But since you aren't really even showing yet...a bit longer?"
He'd never dealt with a pregnancy before, after all, but KNEW that the mares involved tended to get big.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 7:51 pm
"Sounds reasonable. I...Just don't know what to expect. At all. So I guess we are both going into this blindly..." She nuzzled at him tenderly and took another bite of raspberries. They were so good - Gods she had missed them! the tart, tangy explosion on her tongue...
"I'm just glad I have you to go through it WITH."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 7:55 pm
"Well...there's no way I'd let you go through this on your own, Hienna; I said as long as I was there for the begetting, I'd be there for the birthing; I was, so I will be."
He was smiling as he spoke, but something in what she was saying reminded him of something else. They WERE novices...
"Hie?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 7:57 pm
"Well, I should certainly hope so Zaphiro. As I said, I have to be able to yell at you for the agony." A wide smile was given before she tilted her head to the side to look at him.
"Yes, Zaphiro?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
