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 Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 5:10 pm
[will insert preggo pic whenever I receive it]
"Ooh!"
The soft, almost-whisper-like exclamation came from the brown Cerynei mare very suddenly: In fact, almost as suddenly as the gentle kick within her belly had.
Kanani smiled as the little one within her settled down and left her outwardly alone, once again. However, though there were no more kicks, she still had that filled sensation, the "too-full" feeling. But it was not unpleasant, indeed far from it. She was far along now, and the rotundness of her extended belly was visible to any who glanced at it. She seemed to receive more attention from others now than ever, and even her mate had been spending more time with her. Still, even he had to disappear once in a while, and it was at these times that her mind was left to wonder, anticipate, and worry.
How many would she expect? Indeed, her belly seemed full to the brim, but there was still no way to know how many children she would produce. One, that was for sure. And maybe a second... there seemed to be times when she had received too many kicks to be all from one foal. But... three? She had heard of mothers with three foals from one birthing, and had even seen the great elders with four children at their side. But she was no elder, and was sure that the number would be less than four. But still... she could not help but feel nervous with the chance of having three children.
"So many questions, little ones..." she murmured, bending her neck to peek at her round belly. Content that all was well, she looked around for a shady place to rest. Ever since the added weight of unborn foals, she seemed to become tired quite easily. She could only hope that she wouldn't be so tired when the foals were actually born!
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Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 9:11 am
Ardia was glad that there had been a thaw, glad that the snow had melted, though it meant that the land was now one big sloshy mud puddle to wade through. Even under the thickest of the grass it felt squishy under hoof, but it was degrees warmer, and her old bones were thankful for that small mercy.
She trotted along slowly, feeling the splashes up her legs and chuckling to herself. It really was a good thing she didn't have to worry about attracting a mate anymore, just look after her family and her friends - she was presentable enough for that! Once it got warmer again still, she would go to the Lake and take a dip. For now she was just grooming the muck off when it dried.
She decided to head for the tree line, hoping to find some newer shoots where it might be drier. Early spring shoots were always a tender treat, and she looked about as she walked, seeing if anyone else was out today.
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Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 2:05 pm
Kanani couldn't help but gasp as she lowered herself to the ground. This didn't seem to be as easy as it was before... she could only guess that the extra weight was the cause. Strange... she hadn't noticed the strain on her body as much in previous days. Could it be that... no, it couldn't. Not so soon... she still had weeks left. Or maybe a couple weeks... or one. She couldn't remember, for in all of her excitement, why would she keep track of her days of pregnancy? A mare had to go with the flow, just lay back and let it happen... or at least, that's what she thought.
But the feeling soon ceased as she reclined beneath the tree, rolling halfway on her side so that the pressure on her swollen belly was reduced. She sighed, finally content--until the cravings hit her. Darnit, why did she get all of these strange urges? It was as if the only thing that mattered in the world was one juicy apple.
She turned her head, searching for an apple tree along the forest line, and frowned when she saw one almost twenty trees away. Too far... she didn't think she'd be able to get back up so quickly.
That's when she saw the other mare, a dark brown, simplistic, and yet beautiful being who seemed to be heading right towards her. Thank the Spirits! Perhaps this mare would be willing to help her off the ground.
"Excuse me!" she called out, perking her ears forward and placing a kind grin on her features. "Excuse me, miss! Do you think that you may be able to do a small favor for me?"
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Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 9:01 am
Ardia canted her head, ears pricking. She was sure that she'd heard someone calling nearby, but it took her a little while to locate the source of the voice as the owner had a brown pelt almost like her own. That was where the similarities ended however. The other mare was laid on the ground, obviously pregnant and she smiled as she got closer.
'Sure, what do you need?' she asked, whilst taking a small moment to wonder exactly what would be this young mares request.
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Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 3:07 pm
Kanani sighed in relief. Thank goodness this mare was kind enough to help her, and with a smile on her face to boot!
Her cheeks warmed, for she had never been in such a situation as to ask for help, and it was a bit degrading for one of her bearing, but she was thankful nonetheless. "Perhaps you could help me from the ground? I seem to have a little more weight on me than I'm used to, and I'm a little tired from my journey today. I would appreciate this kindness!" A genuine smiled graced her face as her shoulders shrugged. Sure, she'd never ask for help if she wasn't pregnant, and in fact, would not even be seen outside the forest. But raging hormones called for extreme measures, at least as far as the human, Wind-Song, had told her. Hopefully this would not be overly embarassing...
"I am sorry for the mindlessness of this situation--I haven't seemed to think much since I've been in this condition!"
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Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 3:17 pm
'Of course!' Ardia might have been one to tease the other mare, were it not for the fact that she was a mother twice over herself and knew how awkward it was to move around once the foals got to a certain size, the belly became a great hinderance.
'Let's see..' she moved around to the other side of the mare, lowering herself down so that her flank was against the younger mares side.
'Lean a little against me, and I'll use my weight to steady, and support you so you can find your legs again.' she gave the pregnant mare a sidelong smile.
'Don't worry about the slight pressure on your side as we do this, your foals are well protected inside you.'
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Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 3:28 pm
Kanani gave an awkward smile as the mare sidled alongside her, preparing to do as she said. For some strange reason, she had no fear whatsoever of her foals--this mare seemed to know exactly what she was doing, which made Kanani wonder if she had ever given birth herself. In fact, this would be a great opportunity for advice, given she could bring herself to ask the questions.
She nodded and pushed against the other mare, while at the same time gathering the strength in her legs and pushing upward. Slowly and surely, she made her way to a standing position, then took her weight back upon her own four feet, glad to have her balance back again. She turned to the other mare and grinned sincerely, giving a slight bow of her head.
"I'm very grateful for your help! I might have been stranded there for hours, seeing that no one else stopped to assist me." She took in a deep breath, shifting her weight to one side, and gathered her bearings. "Excuse me for asking, but you seem to be experienced in these matters--have you given birth before? I've never seen any other mare display such knowledge."
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Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 3:51 pm
Ardia had moved as well, timing her movements so that she could offer support if the mare should lose her balance at any time whilst she was getting to her hooves. She was relieved when the pregnant mare managed to get upright without incident, trying to life another who was the same size of you was always tricky but it wouldn't do to appear anything less than completely calm.
'Well, thankfully you didn't have to. Are you feeling okay?' she asked, still wearing a warm expression, allowing the other to be as calm as you could be when pregnant for the first time (so she was guessing at any rate).
'Twice, I have seven children, all grown and most of those with children and grand-children of their own. These will be your first then?'
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Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 6:08 pm
"I am well, thank you." She was a bit out of breath, but it would soon pass.
Kanani nodded, letting her muscles relax as she fell into a calmer, easier state. "Yes, these are my first. They're already a blessing to me; I've been trying for so long." She laughed softly, the thoughts of tiny foals already bringing joy to her heart. Too long had she watched other mothers flit and play with their young; soon, it would be her turn, and she could continue the brilliant line of her handsome mate.
"Seven children, you say? That's wonderful! You must have led an exciting life with so much joy. I hope to do the same--but for now, I only wish to be the best mother I can be."
She shifted again, her hunger cravings forgotten as questions formed in her mind. "If I may... could I ask you a few questions? This is new to me, and I feel that there is more to learn than what I already know." Her face was hopeful, curious, and gleeful at the same time. So many thoughts and visions ran through her mind, threatening to overwhelm her with the possibilities that children would bring.
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Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 4:23 am
'Good, take it is easy as you can, pregnancy is alot easier when you're calm,' Ardia said, feeling a rush of motherly concern for this young mare. Obviously there was no mother of her own in the picture to help her through what could be quite a worrying time when it was your first brood.
'Well I'm not sure about the exciting part, but having a large family has certainly bought a lot of love into my life, and I'm thankful for that.' she smiled.
'And I'm sure you will be a wonderful mother, you have the right attitude to be so. I'd be happy to answer any questions you have.' she added, giving a small nod.
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Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 3:50 pm
Kanani breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that she hadn't embarrassed herself in any way. This mare seemed to know a lot about being a mother--good thing, because Kanani was craving all the help she could get.
"Oh, thank you! I'm glad I have the mindset needed for motherhood." She gave a small laugh, one that was joyous and nervous at the same time. So much to think about... "I actually have a few that I'd like to ask you. Let's see... to start off, how exactly will I know when it's time to give birth? I mean, I've heard of the pains and other things, but I'm not quite sure what to actually expect. As you can most likely see, I have no other mares in my life to rely on, and my mate is not quite experienced with childbirth. I was waiting to simply experience it when it came... but now, I think it would be helpful to know what to expect." Her cheeks warmed, but her smile was still encouraging. "Forgive me if I'm prying. But I've never been one to shy from things that need to be known."
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Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 4:58 am
Ardia nodded;
'You want to improve your mind and knowledge before the birth, anyone who does that will be the best mother she can be. It's tricky, especially the first time, you learn as you go.' she laughed lightly.
'You'll feel different, fidgety and probably a bit anxious. The largest sign that the birth is imminent is the waters breaking, that means the foals are on their way.'
Ardia shook her head;
'You're not prying at all! You need to know this, it's a natural part of your life, but obviously with no prior experience it can be nerve wracking, especially as we mares give birth to no less than two foals at a time, and sometimes three. Four does happen but is rarer, I've birthed four myself.'
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Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 8:47 am
Kanani nodded her head here and there, carefully storing every bit of information in her mind to keep until the needed time arose. This mare had already given her detailed information, things that she might have guessed upon or assumed, but now that she knew for sure and could prepare for. Despite her willingness to go through the birth alone and inexperienced, she couldn't help but feel relieved that she was gaining this new knowledge.
Kanani gasped at the mare's last statement, imagining the amount of time and effort it took to birth four foals. "Four?!" she exclaimed, but not in disbelief or ignorance. Rather, she felt a sort of respect for the mare, and idolized her all the more for what a caring mother should be. "What an experience that must have been! To birth four at once! You surely have been through much as a mother."
She realized how intimate their conversation had turned, and that she hadn't even asked the mare's name yet. She inwardly berated herself, but knew that it was easy to forget when excited like she was. "Forgive me, but I haven't even told you my name. I am Kanani, and I have come from a distant land. But, obviously, I've settled down quite nicely in this place." She smiled, glancing down at her belly.
"It shouldn't be too much longer now... I've been like this for... months, it seems."
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Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 4:34 am
Ardia laughed softly;
'Yes four, but I am sure that I'm not the only mother to have gone through such a birthing, and it's really no different from having two or three. Just a little bit more time and pain.'
Ardia shook her head a little.
'Forgiveness is not required, you had other things on your mind and I've been just as lax in giving my own name. I'm Ardia, it's very nice to meet you Kanani.' she smiled back, pleased the young mare was happy. She obviously had a good mate as she was talking of being settled in the area.
'I'm sure it won't be, the pregnancy tends to vary so there's nothing unusual there. You'll be seeing your children before you know it.'
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