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 Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 2:08 pm
The pains had started earlier, but as the night grew on into the lights of sunrise, she knew she was in full blown labor. Her sides heaved as she whined softly, oh she'd known pain but this was something else.
She fanned herself with her wings as she panted, where was Balrog? She thought as she looked around. They were coming, and no one not even she was about to stop them, she had nested a nice little patch of heaven for herself in their foaling grounds. She glanced around once more, before calling out for him.."Balrog..." She pinned her ears back as another wave of pain stabbed her sides.
Oh yes, they were coming with great need to be free..She was so proud already.
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 2:28 pm
Balrog heard Anemone's voice clear on the still winter morning. It had been a cold, cloudless night. The air was still and even small noises carried far. The entire mountain seemed to be holding its breath, waiting for something to occur.
Balrog lifted his head and pricked his ears. He heard her voice, strained, scared. And he knew what time it was. The sleep washed away from him as if he had been doused with a bucket of cold water. He was on his feet and flying towards the mare.
She wasn't far - the foaling grounds were in the middle of the territory - sheltered and protected by ridges. An oasis among the rocks that was very difficult to get to on foot.
"Anemone!" He breathed as he landed. He could see her panting, sweating despite the cold. "Is it time? Shall I fetch the shaman??"
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:26 pm
As he landed, she felt a bit more at ease. With a nod of her head she let a small smile crack through as she gritted through the pain, "Yes its time.." She lowered her head and rubbed her muzzle against the side of her hooves as another contraction raced through her.
"Please fetch the shaman...N-nothing can happen to them." She was worried that she'd mess up somehow. New to the whole birthing process, she'd heard stories of mares getting up and racing away through the pair, their foal dangling to their death. She didnt want that to happen..
She wished silently that her father was there, but Balrog would have most likely protested to the unicorn being on his lands.
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:38 pm
Balrog gave her a reassuring nuzzle. Despite the drama with her and StormWild, Balrog was brimming with pride. His foals were coming.
"You are strong, Anemone. You will be a fantastic mother for our children. And you will make it through this." His voice was its familiar rumble, but thick with reassurance.
He paused for a moment more, poised, wings open as he looked over the birthing mare before taking to the skies again. Kamiki Ahawi's teepee was close - and the proximity to their foaling grounds was no accident. She had assisted more than one mare of his herd through the grueling process that Balrog could barely stand to watch. And her baskets were always expertly woven, and not once had they lost a foal due to an improper basket.
The stallion arrived at the edge of her teepee, not minding the noisy touchdown with his hurry, and began pawing at the flap of the teepee, whinnying insistantly.
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:45 pm
Kamiki heard the deep rumble of the black stallion outside her teepee. She had seen the new swollen mares around the land and made her plans accordingly. She called a reassurance to Balrog and swiftly retrieved the three baskets she had prepared. She gave them a quick once-over to make sure everything was good and exited the teepee, placing a reassuring hand on his neck.
In the distance, as they left, Stormwild peered out from her thicket next to the teepee. Her ears folded back against her head, she watched her beloved Balrog lead her away. Against her better judgement, she followed several lengths behind.
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:51 pm
Balrog tossed his head, obviously anxious, but not trying to shake Kamiki's hand from his neck. He nosed her, encouraging her to walk quickly by his side as he began to lead her towards the foaling grounds, despite the fact that she had visited many times before. In his haste, Balrog was oblivious to the shadow that followed behind them.
It took a while longer longer to get back to Anemone than it did to travel to the shaman's teepee now that Balrog was walking. It reminded him, in the corner of his mind, how pitiful the groundbound soquili were - having to walk everywhere, move slowly, navigating steep passes or thick woods. This was not the way of those who ruled the skies.
Eventually, the woods opened up again to the foaling grounds and Balrog nosed Kamiki forward before joining Anemone to see how she was doing.
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:03 pm
Anemone hadnt ever really dealt with humans before, her father had a favored human but Anemone hadnt really decided what she thought or felt for them.
Seeing the young woman with Balrog eased her mind a little, though her ears perked forward as her bright eyes danced with a mingle of excitement and pain. There were two new scents, Anemones eyes darted away from the woman shifting to the shadows, she wasnt sure who was out there, she let out a snort as she shifted.
Pain. By the gods was it annoying and humbling at the same time she thought, as she took a deep breath. "Shes safe?" she asked Balrog, her voice strong.
She was ready, more along the lines they were ready.
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:12 pm
Balrog took his place by Anemone's side, shifting uncomfortably from hoof to hoof. He never liked watching his part. Seeing the mares in this amount of discomfort, and there being nothing that he could do. They also tended to be moody and snappy during the process.
He nodded to Anemone. "She is safe. She has helped our herd many times before. Her medicine is strong." And more importantly, this woman had never tried to take or break any of the soquili of his herd. He had seen some around her teepee, but they were there willingly, unchained or tethered like some he had seen around villages when he had flown over. She respected the soquili but did not interfere unless her presence was sought for the pregnant or birthing mares.
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:19 pm
Kamiki made her way over to the panting mare, dipping a blanket into a pot of water and placing it over her neck. Labor was always a tricky thing, sometimes taking only minutes and others it was hours on end. She sat down and made herself as comfortable as she good, chanting comforting prayers to Anemone and setting out the baskets around her. She gave a worried look out into the woods near the clearing, knowing who was there, watching.
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 12:44 am
It was a straining few hours later, that three foals laid nestled in three little baskets by their mothers side. She was tired as she continued to nose, and nuzzle them proudly, her body was a bit weak from the onslaught of pain that the trio had been hell bent on causing her upon their arrival to the world.
With a huff of hair, she blew at her jagged bangs and sent a smile at Balrog. "Well, it seems we've furthered the cause, 3 times more.." She gave a slight dark laugh as she curled her lions tail around the baskets, the third and unknown scent still kept her on edge, her eyes darting into the shadows, a snort echoing out.
"Suppose I should linger much longer..Im sure your mate isnt pleased by this.." She smiled a bit but then took a breath and eyed the shaman slowly, she was greatful to the young woman. She reached out and nose her hand a bit, she was a bit reserved about humans.
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Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 11:53 am
Balrog was fixated on Anemone during the process, and was unaware of the other presence that lingered behind the treeline, even when the presence drifted away sometime after the birthing.
Balrog leaned down and nuzzled at the baskets proudly. Three foals. Anemone was a strong mother and had endured the birthing, and bore him three fine children. The shaman even seemed to think that they might all be sons, though it was too premature to know for certain at this point.
"You were very strong and brave, Anemone. Three foals!" His chest puffed out.
"And... why wouldn't you wish to stay here?" Balrog was caught offguard by Anemone's darkness. Certainly, Stormwild was not fond of this mare, to put it lightly. But she was the mother of his foals now. And they were the start of a new generation.
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Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 2:18 pm
"Aye, three foals...such beautiful strong spirits.." She fussed a bit over the baskets tenderly as any mother would. Keeping herself close to them, spring was peeking out, but winters chill was still clutched to the land.
She looked to Balrog fondly with a smile, "We both know it would be best if I didnt stay. Im willing to become a mother for the greater good, but Im not the kind of girl that lingers were shes not wanted." She teased him a bit with a grin.
Nosing a basket that seemed to hold her striped markings she could feel the strong will and firey spirit within, she looked to Balrog. "I think it would be best if one stayed with you, to further the cause here.." She nodded her head. "And the other two helped the cause with me, out there.." She tossed her mane.
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Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 5:55 pm
Balrog clenched his teeth, his jaw muscles bulging. He was obviously not happy with Anemone's announcement. "You should stay." He pressed. "I have the strength to look over you. To look over our sons." However, despite the fact that he pronounced these words, there was a tone to his rumbling voice that seemed to indicate that he already knew that he had lost the argument. Anemone knew she wasn't wanted. Balrog knew that as long as she was here, that Stormwild would be upset. And he DID care about the mare. she HAD given up a lot for him. Their last argument still stung him.
He heaved a sigh, rustling his wings.
"Anemone, you know I can't make you stay. I would very much like for you to. You impress me. You have such a vibrancy, such a spirit. And I am sure that our sons will carry that spirit with them. I would love to see you soaring with our herd and realizing our dream alongside me."
Balrog's nose rubbed gently against the firey basket that she had offered him. "He shall know strength... and a loving father."
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