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 Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 6:26 am
 The tri-colored mare paced back and forth in front of a small patch of trees, stopping occasionally to paw at the soft earth with her hoof. She couldn’t explain why, but over the past several days she had been growing more and more restless, even losing her appetite. That was quite something, considering how much the mare’s appetite had grown during the course of her pregnancy. Not to mention she was carrying quite a load by this point. Brajan was still being as patient and caring as always, even though her constant fretting about was starting to get on her own nerves. “Brajan,” Natsuhi called softly, trotting over to her mate’s side and laying her head on his back. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me lately. I don’t feel quite like myself.” All she knew was that she was inexplicably anxious, and that for some reason or another she kept feeling the need to dig small holes.
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Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 7:28 pm
 Curled up in a soft patch of grass, Brajan dozed lightly, an ear twitching as he dreamed. Muttering softly, he seemed to be damning thieving squirrels beneath his breath. His utterings were, for the moment, lost on the grasses around him. He'd been up for several days now with Natsuhi. She'd been fidgeting. It made him nervous, wonder if something was wrong. But it was likely nothing. Nothing to worry on, at least. So he hoped. He cracked an eye as he felt her head on his back. Yawning, he forced himself awake. "Natsu?" He looked up to her, green eyes glittering in the light. "You're still feeling ill...? Perhaps you should rest... let's head back."
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Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 8:33 pm
Natsuhi sighed and shook her head lightly. "It's not really ill, it's just... not right." She let out a soft whuffle and resumed her previous pacing. The mare cast an apologetic smile to her mate. "I'm sorry to have woken you up, it's just-" Her sentence was abruptly cut off as a sharp pain flashed through her abdomen, causing her to gasp. She glanced down at her swollen stomach before turning a worried gaze back on her mate. She cringed as yet another spasm passed through. "Brajan?" Natsuhi called in alarm. "What's going on?" Being both raised alone and a first-time mother, the glowy female had no idea of the pains or symptoms of labor. For all she knew, something could be wrong with the babies, which frightened her a bit.
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Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 9:13 pm
Brajan paused, eyes widening. He was about to tell her that it was nothing, that she was welcome to wake him with anything she needed. Especially now when she was so vulnerable. But as the first pang struck her, the words evaporated on his tongue. He was up in a solid motion, moving for her side. "Natsuhi, lie down." Trying hard to stave off panic, he nuzzled her throat encouragingly. "I'll be right here." Still, the nervousness ate at him. Was something wrong? Was it time? Or was it something else entirely?
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Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 9:27 pm
Although she wanted to move closer to one of the earlier holes she had made, she nodded quietly and followed Brajan's advice, lying down. The mare tried not to panic as another wave of pain came, this time a bit stronger. "Brajan- the eggs!" she implored, voice cracking a bit. "Are they going to be alright?!" It wasn't normally like her to panic, but she honestly had no idea what was going on and feared for the unborn lives inside of her. If something were to happen to them... she didn't know what she would do.
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 7:21 am
The stallion cringed lightly, going down just before her. "I don't know. Shhh, shhh." Nuzzling beneath her chin, he bit back the panic welling in his own chest. "Try to relax. What happens will happen..." And if something happened to the eggs, at least she would still be here. He cringed inwardly. That likely wasn't the best comfort right now.
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 7:39 am
Natsuhi took in a few deep breaths to try to calm herself down before laying her head down against her mate for comfort. "I'm so sorry," she whispered, eyes clenching closed as another contraction came.
They spent several long hours like that, Natsuhi trying to keep from breaking down and Brajan supporting her the whole time. The contractions continued to grow stronger and the mare let out an occasional pained whinny as a result. Eventually, however, the first of the eggs finally came. And then another, and finally a small time later, the last one made it's way into the world.The mare was completely exhausted by this point, as well as quite a bit hungry. Still, she tended to her eggs affectionately, making a makeshift nest for them were they were so that they wouldn't have to be moved very much. "Brajan," she said weakly, a small smile on her face. "Thank you... for everything. It would have been too much to bare without you."
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 8:03 am
Brajan remained at her side, his heart sinking as he waited. It felt like torture, waiting. And there was little he could do, even if he knew what was happening. So instead, he rubbed and nuzzled and groomed his mate as she lay gasping, praying that it was at least of some comfort to her. He had never felt to helpless in all of his life. As the first egg emerged, falling to the ground, he pushed himself up, a soft sound of relief escaping him. And then a second, and a third.
As her attention turned to the eggs, he glanced at her, shaking his head gently as she spoke. "It was nothing, Natsuhi. Here." He turned to the trees, rising up on his hind legs. Ripping down mosses, he let them fall to the ground, then gathered them up a mouthful at a time. Placing them around the eggs, positioning them carefully with his hooves, he aided her in creating a makeshift nest.
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 8:24 am
 With the two of them working together, it didn't take very long to get the eggs covered and protected. Natsuhi laid down by her eggs again when they were finished, barely able to keep herself awake. While she hadn't eaten much at all in the past few days, right now the exhaustion from the labor process was winning out over her hunger. "I'm just going to rest a bit," she murred sleepily, laying her head down on the ground.
While the process had been long and painful, she was greatly relieved to find that their babies were unharmed. That had been her greatest source of stress during the delivery. "Aishiteru," Natsuhi mumbled to her mate, already half asleep by this point and not realizing she used the wrong tongue to convey her message.
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 10:24 am
Brajan's ear flicked lightly as he frowned, watching the mare worriedly. He dismissed her words as sleepy ramblings. Natsuhi was likely exhausted and half delirious with pain. Head bowed, he licked her cheek gently, then turned to the forests. He wouldn't go far, just to those berries a few yards away. Ripping off a few branches, he returned to their makeshift nest and deposited them a few yards away. He might have to worry about keeping some smaller animals away, but that shouldn't be difficult. He laid down gingerly at the opposite side of the nest, his head raised, ears perked as he sought out any sign or threat.
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Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 6:25 am
~Time Passes~
Natsuhi had to admit, it felt so nice to be able to move again. Everything had been so cumbersome while she had been pregnant, but now that she had laid her eggs she could finally be comfortable.
At the moment she was keeping a small lookout while Brajan grazed nearby. She wasn't really very worried about being attacked, but with eggs around they had to be a lot more careful. Even though she was acting as a lookout however, she couldn't help but to occasionally lower her head and nuzzle the eggs. What mother could resist?
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Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 10:29 am
Muzzle buried in lush grasses, Brajan ripped large bites. Lifting his head, he offered his mate a soft smile. She'd done wonderfully the last few days. And the guard duty... but that much couldn't be helped. Not now. They might damage the eggs if they moved them. And it's not like they could guard two nests and move three eggs simultaneously. He sighed softly. No, this was best for now. "You're hungry?"
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Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 10:44 am
Natsuhi caught his smile and smiled back. "I'm fine, thank you," she replied softly, her silvery voice reminiscent of a chime in the wind. "You need your strength as well." Casting a quick glance about first to make sure there were no nearby threats, she trotted over to his side to give him a brief affectionate nuzzle before walking back to the eggs. He was such a good mate, and he was certainly going to make an excellent father.
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Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:37 am
"You really should-," he paused, eyes drawn to the trio of eggs nestled together on the ground. He'd thought he saw movement. And there it was again. Abandoning his endeavor, he crossed to the three, pressing the grass flat around them as he eyed each for a few long moments.
"Did you see that?" His gaze never left the eggs, now laying motionless in the grass.
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Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 12:11 pm
Natsuhi gave a small nod before lowering her head back down to their level and giving each egg a small nudge. "So, which of you was wriggling around just now?" she said with a soft smile, a playful tone to her voice. "Is someone ready to come out?" Or perhaps one of the foals had simply been shifting around in their little home. Either way it was a bit exciting. It showed evidence of life.
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