Sayuri_Nitta
It had been a long time since Ardia had last seen Sheridan..since their quiet moments together. Ardia had a feeling that their 'joinings' had actually led to something this time, her appetite had grown, and she was sure she was gaining weight around her middle. Dory had in fact remarked on it, not in a thoughtless way, but in a 'cant remember what size you were' way. Ardia drank deeply from the stream she was standing by then looked at herself once more. If it wasnt foals..then it was fat...but when did fat move? She was sure she felt kicking from within for a time now, but hadnt want to admit she was pregnant until she saw her mate.
She wished Sheridan was around, but didnt know when he would return from his mountain home.
She wished Sheridan was around, but didnt know when he would return from his mountain home.
Shariea
Sheridan's ears flicked back and forth as his hooves beat steadily upon the forest path. Finally he found he was able to tear himself free and go to meet his love. His heart ached for the sight of her, and his dream teased him with her gentle smile. His ebony tail streamed like a fan fare behind him, as his strong hoves drove him foward.
As he reached the vally basin he slowed his thundering pace down to a gental trot. His proud head held high, and that smile that shined from his very soul, only resevered for Ardia, shined happily upon his face. He rounded the corner to where the stream trickled through the valley, hoping that she would be here, relshing the shade from the spring sun.
And there she was, like a vision of etheral beauty. And yet, Something was differnt about her. She bore a glow that he'd never seen before, and this only made her more of a goddess in his eyes. He glided to her side and nuzzled against her neck. "Hello My Dear.." he said softly, his tenor voice holding back a soft chuckle.
As he reached the vally basin he slowed his thundering pace down to a gental trot. His proud head held high, and that smile that shined from his very soul, only resevered for Ardia, shined happily upon his face. He rounded the corner to where the stream trickled through the valley, hoping that she would be here, relshing the shade from the spring sun.
And there she was, like a vision of etheral beauty. And yet, Something was differnt about her. She bore a glow that he'd never seen before, and this only made her more of a goddess in his eyes. He glided to her side and nuzzled against her neck. "Hello My Dear.." he said softly, his tenor voice holding back a soft chuckle.
Sayuri_Nitta
'What did I say about making me jump..' Ardia mock scolded, flicking her ears with amusement.
'Hello Sheridan,' she lipped his neck, her mouth and nose filled with the very familiar taste and scent of her mate.
'I am glad you are returned.' she said with emphasis, turning a little to show her fuller figure, rounder belly.
'I think you might have left something when you went home last.'
'Hello Sheridan,' she lipped his neck, her mouth and nose filled with the very familiar taste and scent of her mate.
'I am glad you are returned.' she said with emphasis, turning a little to show her fuller figure, rounder belly.
'I think you might have left something when you went home last.'
Shariea
Sherdian chuckled as she scolded him, yet again for scaring her. "its not my falut I become so entraced by your beauty that you call to me as a siren and I slip Sliently to your side. " He said, chuckling all the while. His deep brown eyes washed over her as she turned to show off her fuller looking stomach. That wasnt just winter weight or retained water. Sherdian blinked once then twice before looking up at his graceful mates face. "You're?" He sputtered, quite in shock.
They had been talking about the idea of becoming parents, but this..seemed all to sudden. Never the less, a swelling since of pride and happiness bubbled up inside of him and he gave a joyous whicker.
Rearing up on his hind legs he pawed at the sky, telling everyone and everything how happy he was. When again his hooves touched the sun warmed soil his eyes gleamed with joy. Speachless, he could do nothing more tha stare at her, and when he found he couldnt do that anymore he returned to her loving side and nipped lightly at her mane.
They had been talking about the idea of becoming parents, but this..seemed all to sudden. Never the less, a swelling since of pride and happiness bubbled up inside of him and he gave a joyous whicker.
Rearing up on his hind legs he pawed at the sky, telling everyone and everything how happy he was. When again his hooves touched the sun warmed soil his eyes gleamed with joy. Speachless, he could do nothing more tha stare at her, and when he found he couldnt do that anymore he returned to her loving side and nipped lightly at her mane.
Sayuri_Nitta
Ardia sidestepped neatly when Sheridan reared up in his joy. Not that she thought he would hurt her, but if he misjudged the size of her belly..she didnt want to risk a knock of any kind.
'Yes...you're going to be a father my love.' she closed her eyes a moment as the foals within - she thought it might be more then one from the amount of movement she was feeling - kicked out then quieted again.
'It's a good thing then?'
Frankly she had been worried - and what if he thought another was their father? Sheridan was away so much, but she had been careful to stick around the human's teepee, and not lend to anyone gossiping.
'Yes...you're going to be a father my love.' she closed her eyes a moment as the foals within - she thought it might be more then one from the amount of movement she was feeling - kicked out then quieted again.
'It's a good thing then?'
Frankly she had been worried - and what if he thought another was their father? Sheridan was away so much, but she had been careful to stick around the human's teepee, and not lend to anyone gossiping.
Shariea
Sheridan smiled, his joy kept seeping from his every movement. His tail lashed the ground as he nickered. "Of corse its a good thing. We've been talking about it for awhile now...I just hadnt thought anything would come of it so quickly..." He sighed lightly and nuzzled against his love. Never would he have thought so ill of her as to second guess the foals liniage. He knew that he was their sire, and that Ardia would never do anything to put that in jepordy.
Lightly he nipped against her mane, whispering into her ear. "We're going to be parents..."
Lightly he nipped against her mane, whispering into her ear. "We're going to be parents..."
Sayuri_Nitta
'Yes...and maybe soon,' Ardia flicked her ears as the foal(s?) swam about in her womb, kicking hard enough to be felt if Sheridan pressed his nose on her rounded belly.
'I didn't think it would either,' she clipped slowly away from the stream, pausing a few steps away. She grazed for a moment, then settled onto chewing a mouthful for a while.
'I'm glad you are happy...the human has been weaving the baskets, but I wouldnt want them raised without their father.'
'I didn't think it would either,' she clipped slowly away from the stream, pausing a few steps away. She grazed for a moment, then settled onto chewing a mouthful for a while.
'I'm glad you are happy...the human has been weaving the baskets, but I wouldnt want them raised without their father.'
Shariea
Sheridan lightly presses his nose against her swollen stomach, and felt with delight the kicking hooves of his young. He sweeled with loving pride and followed after Ardia as she moved towards the stream. "Im sorry I left you for so long.." he refelcted quietly, sadened by the thought that he hadnt been with her when she'd found out. He closed his eyes for but a moment, and felt again the pressing hooves, flittering movement within his love. Whickering softly he raised his head and rubbed against her cheak. "I wont leave you now....not like this. This is not a burdon but a mircial and you wont have to deal with it alone. "
Sayuri_Nitta
(( she moved away from the stream actually XD ))
Ardia smiled as their soon-to-born happily kicked out at Sheridan..although it was a little uncomfortable.
'I know you have ties elsewhere, I've always known. But when I realised it was foals...and not merely me getting fat from too many fruits, I was a little sad that you werent here for me to tell.'
Ardia smiled as their soon-to-born happily kicked out at Sheridan..although it was a little uncomfortable.
'I know you have ties elsewhere, I've always known. But when I realised it was foals...and not merely me getting fat from too many fruits, I was a little sad that you werent here for me to tell.'
Shariea
(( Bah, Mis-read, XD Im suffering from the hicups so yeah screen gets bumpy now and then. <.< ))
Sheridan nodded and nuzzled against his lover. "I Understand. I wish my ties would not keep me gone as often or as long as they have. I am here now, and I will be for awhile. Let us relish that and not dwell on the past. I'm sorry that I wasnt here for you to tell then, But at lest I am now by your side. How long have you known M'love?"
Sheridan nodded and nuzzled against his lover. "I Understand. I wish my ties would not keep me gone as often or as long as they have. I am here now, and I will be for awhile. Let us relish that and not dwell on the past. I'm sorry that I wasnt here for you to tell then, But at lest I am now by your side. How long have you known M'love?"
Sayuri_Nitta
'A while,' Ardia flicked her tail, swatting away a fly that kept alighting on her side. Her skin twitched as another one landed and tickled a nerve.
'Let us move further into the shade..' she suggested and moved off again, only stopping under a stand of trees. The flies were less here and she let out a long breath.
'I know you're here now..I just missed you is all,' she spoke again once he had rejoined her side.
'Let us move further into the shade..' she suggested and moved off again, only stopping under a stand of trees. The flies were less here and she let out a long breath.
'I know you're here now..I just missed you is all,' she spoke again once he had rejoined her side.
Shariea
Sheridan followed her into the shade of the trees, the dapples sunlight raining down upon them. He sighed softly. "Im sorry I left you alone during this. Had I known I would have flown to your side. " He nuzzled against her again, expressing his sorrow. "What do you think they'll be like?" He asked her, in an attempt to change the topic to something they both could look forward to.
Sayuri_Nitta
Ardia leaned on a trunk gingerly, trying not to press the foals into her but also not trusting her legs too much right now. She was feeling weary suddenly, but restless as well. Could it be nearing the time? If it was she would need to make her way back to the Village.
She nickered softly.
'I don't know..' she said, glancing at Sheridan.
'I'm sure they will be wonderful, big foals.'
She nickered softly.
'I don't know..' she said, glancing at Sheridan.
'I'm sure they will be wonderful, big foals.'
Shariea
Sherdian frowed at the sudden weary look that crosses his loves face. Her weight shifted to let her lean against the trunk and he furrowed his brows. Even her soft voice as she spoke sounded strained. Worry clouded his face and he lightly nudged her, and then a thought. How long had he been gone from her side? Surely it wasnt time for the foals yet...when he'd just found out. Whickering gently he softly pressed her. "Are you alright? Is..It time already?" He felt a deep pang of sorrow...He'd left her alone to long, sure he was here now but she'd been left the length of the pregancy to worry. His brow remained furrowed as he looked at her strained features.
Sayuri_Nitta
'I didnt think it would be so soon,' Ardia said quietly. The kicking had stopped; had the foals been moving down in preparation for foaling? Sweat broke out on her pelt, and she turned, ashamed as she felt a leaking sensation just below her tail.
'I don't want to alarm you..' she whispered, her eyes flat back.
'But I think it might be a good idea to head back to the Village.'
'I don't want to alarm you..' she whispered, her eyes flat back.
'But I think it might be a good idea to head back to the Village.'
Shariea
Sherdian's ears flicked back and forth an a mask of worry clouded his face. Her words were ment to be comforting, but he found them hardly so. His tail lashed against the ground as he moved quickly to your side. "lean against me if we have to. I'll travle as slow or fast as you can..." He didnt know what to do to help her, all in all he was very lost. His foals where on the way, and his love was in pain. What would happen if they didnt make it to the safty of the village? Soquili foals where to weak when they where born, which is why the two leggers placed them in the protective baskets... If they didnt make it to the village the foals would be with out that.
Sherdian grunted and pushed all those negative thoughts from his mind. "everything will be fine." he said assuringly.
Sherdian grunted and pushed all those negative thoughts from his mind. "everything will be fine." he said assuringly.
Sayuri_Nitta
Ardia just wanted to lay down right where they were but she knew that wasnt a good idea. The smell of the birthing fluids could carry to a predator...who knew what was out there waiting for a frail foal to snatch away? She blew hard through her nose, blowing hard as she moved, bumping against Sheridan.
Why had she wandered so far from the Village? As they crept closer, a faintly rippling pain hit her and she paused...no not yet...not till they got amongst the human's, not till she reached the human Kaliska, her teepee and the waiting baskets.
Why had she wandered so far from the Village? As they crept closer, a faintly rippling pain hit her and she paused...no not yet...not till they got amongst the human's, not till she reached the human Kaliska, her teepee and the waiting baskets.
Shariea
Sheridan huffed lightly, his ears pressed back against his head as Ardia pressed against him in a painful spazim. He wanted desperiatly to help her through her labor pains, but the need to get to the safty of the teepee's was a driving force. He nudged her gently and pleeded with her kindly to continue even though he knew every fiber of her being would be trying to make her halt.
"We're not too far off, we can make it if we keep a strong pace..."he tried to tell her reasuringly. His tail lashed against the ground, why hadnt he come to see her sooner. Perhaps if he had been here they wouldnt be in such a rush now. His children and his love where both at risk and he couldnt bare that feeling. "Hurry, Please..I know it hurts but we have to press on."
"We're not too far off, we can make it if we keep a strong pace..."he tried to tell her reasuringly. His tail lashed against the ground, why hadnt he come to see her sooner. Perhaps if he had been here they wouldnt be in such a rush now. His children and his love where both at risk and he couldnt bare that feeling. "Hurry, Please..I know it hurts but we have to press on."
Sayuri_Nitta
Ardia's ears remained flat against her head as the walked at a pace. She let out a quiet snort at his words; he knew it hurt? She didnt see how...but she knew it was the discomfort making her think like this and held her tongue.
Finally they reached the outskirts of the Village, and Ardia circled around, heading for Kaliska's teepee which was on the edge of the Village, backed by trees. Ardia whinnied loudly and Kaliska came hurrying out of the teepee, quickly noting her rolling eyes and sweat covered pelt. Kaliska motioned Ardia to the place where she had put down dried grass, branches tied into a shelter. The mare walked under the branches, and knelt carefully before laying down.
Finally they reached the outskirts of the Village, and Ardia circled around, heading for Kaliska's teepee which was on the edge of the Village, backed by trees. Ardia whinnied loudly and Kaliska came hurrying out of the teepee, quickly noting her rolling eyes and sweat covered pelt. Kaliska motioned Ardia to the place where she had put down dried grass, branches tied into a shelter. The mare walked under the branches, and knelt carefully before laying down.
Shariea
Sheridan walked with Ardia closely, fighting back all doubts and fears that crossed his mind. He had no idea that what he had said had stuck a nerve with her, after all he was only trying to be encorageing. He smiled as the village came in sight. "Just a bit more..." He nickered softly as they cirlced around the village to where Ardia's two legger had made shelter for her. Sheridan stood back out of the way of the shelter, for even as he wanted to be near her he knew that this was something she had to do on her own. Nervously he pawed at the ground, beside the teepee, well within sight of his love, for he didnt truely want to leave her side.
Sayuri_Nitta
The labour was long and painful; Kaliska often wiped Ardia's pelt with cool water to keep her from over-heating. Ardia lost track of time, but as the night birds began to call and her first foal pushed into the world, she regained a semblance of her self. The first was shown to her and she tenderly washed it a little before Kaliska cleaned it properly of the birthing fluids and placed it gently into a woven basket, sealing it with grass ties.
Ardia's eyes rolled back in her head as the contraction kept going and eventually another foal slithered into the world, was shown before being cleaned and secured into a second basket..
'Two foals,' she whispered, pleased beyond measure before...
'Another?' she panted, her sides heaving with exertion. She glanced at the hovering Sheridan before a contraction hit her again. Kaliska had only made a third basket just in case...she had heard that Soquili did sometimes have three foals, but had not thought that Ardia was showing enough for her to be one of those. The third, and final foal was bought into the world as the moon rose high in the sky and Ardia lay in exhausted silence as the third basket received its precious contents and was sealed with the grass ties. Kaliska arranged the baskets near to the mare and slipped away to leave the parents some time alone with their new family.
Ardia's eyes rolled back in her head as the contraction kept going and eventually another foal slithered into the world, was shown before being cleaned and secured into a second basket..
'Two foals,' she whispered, pleased beyond measure before...
'Another?' she panted, her sides heaving with exertion. She glanced at the hovering Sheridan before a contraction hit her again. Kaliska had only made a third basket just in case...she had heard that Soquili did sometimes have three foals, but had not thought that Ardia was showing enough for her to be one of those. The third, and final foal was bought into the world as the moon rose high in the sky and Ardia lay in exhausted silence as the third basket received its precious contents and was sealed with the grass ties. Kaliska arranged the baskets near to the mare and slipped away to leave the parents some time alone with their new family.
Shariea
Sheridan whickered softly from his distance spot, watching with a mix of worry for his love and excitement for the new born foals. The first one caught him by surprise, so wet and wriggly, creening as it cought its first breath. The two legger placed the little one in a basket before he had much time to look it over. His ears swivled back and forth as the soft muffled sounds from within the basket reached him. He wanted to nudge the basket to let it know he was there..he took a step forward pawing lightly at the ground.
As he took a step forward it seemed another foal was out and placed into the basket..two wonderful new borns. His eyes flicked to his love, laying down on her bed of straw. Her body still spazemed in pain and a sheen of sweat covered her like a blanket. He loved her now more than ever before, the mother of his children, willing to endure this pain for them. To bring new life into the world... Their children.
He couldnt understand why she still labored so, shouldnt there only be two children at the max? And yet the two legger still had an empty basket beside her. This was un heard of to him..and yet..recalling back some soquili had three children at a time..would they have three foals to look after.
As the moon light washed over the teepee and the shelter that Housed Ardia the final foal was placed into the basket and sealed shut. Sherdian whickered soothingly from his place to both Ardia and his children. How tiny they had been...the basket seemed more than large enough for them, But how they would grow before they came out.
He smiled and approched his love, nuzzling her softly. "we're parents." he said quietly, looking at the three most beautifull baskets he'd ever seen.
As he took a step forward it seemed another foal was out and placed into the basket..two wonderful new borns. His eyes flicked to his love, laying down on her bed of straw. Her body still spazemed in pain and a sheen of sweat covered her like a blanket. He loved her now more than ever before, the mother of his children, willing to endure this pain for them. To bring new life into the world... Their children.
He couldnt understand why she still labored so, shouldnt there only be two children at the max? And yet the two legger still had an empty basket beside her. This was un heard of to him..and yet..recalling back some soquili had three children at a time..would they have three foals to look after.
As the moon light washed over the teepee and the shelter that Housed Ardia the final foal was placed into the basket and sealed shut. Sherdian whickered soothingly from his place to both Ardia and his children. How tiny they had been...the basket seemed more than large enough for them, But how they would grow before they came out.
He smiled and approched his love, nuzzling her softly. "we're parents." he said quietly, looking at the three most beautifull baskets he'd ever seen.
Sayuri_Nitta
'Yes we are,' Ardia had managed to shift, resting in a more upright position, as she tried to regain her energy.
'They all looked beautiful,' she said sleepily. She wanted to rest a while, just looking at the baskets, but her eyes became heavy and she fell into sleep where she was, safe in the knowledge that the foals were secure, and Sheridan and Kaliska were keep a watch.
'They all looked beautiful,' she said sleepily. She wanted to rest a while, just looking at the baskets, but her eyes became heavy and she fell into sleep where she was, safe in the knowledge that the foals were secure, and Sheridan and Kaliska were keep a watch.
