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 Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 12:17 pm
 Eyes closed, head raised to the wind, tendrils of mane swept around Kindle's neck and face. She stood to her knees in relatively calm yet frigid ocean waters. But it felt good. The last several days, she'd been so hot. And itchy. Worse, it was hard to keep still, hard to stay in one place.
With a heavy sigh, she finally turned and headed into shore, wincing slightly as a stray wave caught her swollen belly. Exhaustion had settled in days ago, but she found herself unable to rest. Perhaps it was comfort. No matter how she laid, she felt the contents of her belly shifting. It was unpleasant, to say the least. She scanned the shoreline for Toshiro with a light smile. He'd stayed with her through it all, would stay with her. He would make an excellent father.
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 12:51 pm
 Toshiro smiled as he watched Kindle standing out in the water. The mare was certainly a fair sight to see. The past few days she had been having a difficult time settling down, but Toshiro could understand that to a degree. After all, it couldn't be very comfortable having small foals growing inside of you. Still, he couldn't help but worry for her just a little bit. He wondered vaguely to himself just how much more discomfort his mate would have to endure before the eggs finally came.
As the winged mare made her way back on shore, Toshiro trotted over to meet her. "It's a nice day, isn't it?" he said with a smile, nuzzling her affectionately. He really was fortunate to have found such a kind and beautiful mate, even if it hadn't started out under the best of circumstances.
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 4:28 pm
"Mmm, it is," she smiled as she met him, pressing her nose to his in turn. "You're alright, Toshiro?" She looked up at him curiously. He remained near her all the time now, and she loved it. She had long ago grown fond of his company.
Heaving a soft sigh, she glanced back to their shelter, a hint of longing there. But it was matched by the knowledge that if she returned, she would be up and out again in a few moments. Resting her head on his back, she closed her eyes tiredly.
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 4:36 pm
"Of course," the stallion replied, watching thoughtfully as she laid her head down on his back. "How about yourself? You look like you could do with some rest." Toshiro brushed her back affectionately with his tail, trying to help her relax a bit. She probably should lie down sometime soon.
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 4:44 pm
Kindle nodded slowly. "I don't feel so well. Perhaps I should." And then a cramp hit her, solid and sudden. Cringing, she bit back a whimper, her nostrils flaring with the effort. She took a slow step toward their shelter. Just get home. Just get home and it would all be fine.
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 4:53 pm
"Kindle? What's wrong?" Toshiro asked in mild alarm, not missing her sudden signs of pain. He gently nudged her forward, trying to help her get back to their shelter. "Are you alright?" Was it time already? It was hard to say, he had never actually seen any eggs being laid before. He just vaguely remembered hearing a few things about pregnancy in general.
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 5:03 pm
Gritting her teeth against the pain, she forced the words. "Hurts, Toshi..." Focus on walking. Stumbling, she righted herself, leaning into him as she paused a brief moment. A pang rolled through her, her stomach roiling. As it left, she moved again, slow. Once they arrived at their shelter, she collapsed on the grasses, her sides heaving.
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 5:10 pm
As soon as she was down on the ground Toshiro laid down next to her, nuzzling against her for support. "It'll be alright, Kindle, I'm here for you," he said softly, gently laying his tail across her heaving abdomen while continuing to nuzzle her. He couldn't help but worry a bit though. What if this wasn't that? What if there was another reason she was in pain? Whatever the case, he wasn't about to leave her side.
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 5:28 pm
With a terse jerk of her head that served as a nod, she pressed her face to his neck, gasping. Eyes closed tightly, she buried in him. "What's happening?"
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 5:37 pm
"I'm not sure," Toshiro answered honestly, continuing to stroke her comfortingly. "But I think the eggs may be coming." That was the only logical explanation he could come up with at this point.
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 6:02 pm
Kindle nodded shortly, her breath growing shallow as she fell silent, trying to ward off the pain. Whickering and whimpering, her body covered in a cold sweat, the day dragged on. Exhausted, she tried to rest her head, when suddenly, a shrill keening noise left her. Pawing blindly at the brush that served as their bedding, she closed her eyes, bearing down as the first of their eggs slid from her tired body.
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 6:14 pm
Toshiro was slightly startled by her sudden keening, but quickly reacted by whispering words of encouragement to his pained mate. When the egg slid out he gave her a loving lick on the cheek before looking over to make sure that it was in tact and undamaged. "Almost done, honey," he encouraged, gently moving the egg a small distance away with his tail, lest another one should fall on top. He had no idea how many more to expect though.
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 6:45 pm
Kindle nodded, her body tensed. With another push and a strained noise, the other dropped to the grasses. Drained, the mare lifted her head, then pushed herself up on shaky legs, tending the pair of eggs that now rested in the center of their tiny den. That must be it. It had to be it.
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 7:29 pm
Was it really over? Toshiro stood up after his mate and began gathering some of the leaves and grasses from their bedding to cover the newly laid eggs with. "Kindle, you should lay back down," he said gently. As much as he could understand her need to take care of the eggs, the mare needed some taking care of herself. After all, she could barely stand as it was. "I can take care of the rest from here."
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 7:32 pm
"In just a moment." She smiled up at him weakly. He was a good father. And more than that, a sweet mate. Always took care of her. She nuzzled the grasses around the eggs lovingly, then curled up just beside them, resting her head. "Thank you, Toshi..."
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