[PRP] And the Ice Rains Down ((Hisoka, Torao and Sabella))

[Nisshou H]

This is a private self-rp for Nisshou H’s Hisoka, Torao and Sabella. Do not post.
((And this is fair warning: There are time skips in this. One is several months long. This is probably the most obvious example of how IC time differs from RL time that you'll see.))

Hisoka Torao Sabella

 

[Nisshou H]

The winter had arrived hard and fast in the far eastern mountains. It had caught the ill-fated trio that resided there completely off guard. It had seemed that one day they were complaining about the heat and the next they had woken up with a dusting of snow on everything. It hadn’t taken them long to relocate from their summer home to a cave only steps away from the hot springs. There was more snowfall here but the cave was warm, warmer than their last resting place would have been they suspected.

For the first part of the winter things seemed to be going well. The foul weather seemed to be keeping Sabella’s herd within their homeland. It also seemed to have made finding decent food a bit complex. For the trio this was a trade-off that worked out in their favor. So they had to uncover a few dry flavorless strands for all meals it was worth it for a little peace from those busy bodies.

At least that was what they had all thought.

Sabella lay on her side atop Torao’s tiger pelt and blanketed by Hisoka’s fox pelt. Not a single one of them understood what was going on. The kirin had been growing steadily weaker. No matter how much food they found for her it didn’t help. Hisoka and Torao had fought with each other over the potential causes until she had been in tears. They had left the distraught mare in the care of Nichi as they went their separate ways to scrounge up some food.

This morning she had developed other symptoms claiming great pains in her belly. Again Sabella found herself crying though silently this time. She was dying and she didn’t even know what had caused it. Everything had seemed so normal. Really nothing had changed. She looked as though she had not slept in several nights but aside from that she appeared the same as she always had.  

[Nisshou H]

It was a cold day and Torao was in a foul mood. Not a single one of them had spoken a word since dawn. Even the little fox that had been bossing them around endlessly for weeks was silent. There was nothing to be said. Words wouldn't help they would only hurt.

They were losing their dear friend and companion to a mysterious ailment.

Torao scowled. He never would have admitted it, even now he was reluctant to do so, but Sabella was dear to him in his own way. She was the strange glue that created friction between Hisoka and himself but had also kept them together even after the roughest of fights. He'd become used to her and now she was leaving them? He'd only just accepted that things were better with her around. It wasn't fair. What were they supposed to do without her?

Golden eyes wandered about the edges of the cave until he finally located Hisoka watching on, his face blank. If Sabella was a friend to Torao than she was a beloved sister to Hisoka. Torao knew his partner well enough to recognize that expressionless face. He was trying to remove his emotions again. It was exactly what he had done when faced with the task of killing all those years ago.

That was when everything became clear. When they lost Sabella, he would lose Hisoka as well and be left with nothing. The thought made his heart heavy and prompted his sudden move to Hisoka's side. He said nothing only rubbed his muzzle over Hisoka's cheek before settling his head on his red marked back. From here he glared at the roof of the cave. If there were any gods out there he was cursing them with everything he was.  

[Nisshou H]

Hisoka was vaguely aware of Torao's presence by his side. He could feel the Tiger there but at the same time he couldn't quite process what was going on. He felt numb. He could see Sabella, on the ground, helpless. To her side her friend, Nichi, watching on solemnly. The air was heavy. There was no laughter, not today.

Sabella was being taken to join her ancestors.

Hisoka had thought she had been lying when she had mentioned three of her grandparents had passed on. Kirin didn't pass on. They were god beasts. They were messengers from the heavens. They were immortal. But even thinking all those things didn't change what was happening. Their kirin, their friend, the only female that Torao had let within three feet of him without attacking or threatening since his childhood, was fading.

The gods had forsaken all of them and if anyone asked Torao this had all happened ages ago.  

[Nisshou H]

Sabella gasped suddenly both in pain and surprise. What was that? There had been another cramp but also something else. If felt like something had moved. Inside her.

"Nichi..." She said her voice panicked and weak. "There's something...wrong..." She lifted her head and looked down at her belly. What was going on? Was it even possible.

In a flash the fox was in action checking on the kirin with a sudden suspicion and a cautious optimism. She danced around Sabella for a moment listening and looking before racing back to stand by the mare's head. "You aren't dying!" she gasped unable to hide her surprise and relief. "You're! Well..." she paused and eye Torao. Why wasn't this possibility brought up earlier? She'd bite him later. "You're giving birth..."

There was only a prolonged silence in the cave as the three exchanged looks. "I'm...what...?" Sabella asked in a whisper. She didn't look pregnant. She hadn't even really felt pregnant. Wasn't she supposed to be able to tell these things.

"Pregnant." The fox responded shortly before bounding over to the stallion's. "You two go find some of those basket things the human's drop out here. There are bound to be some that haven't been used. Now!" This was not the first time the fox had witnessed a mare's birthing. This was the first time that she'd ever known a mare to not realize she was pregnant. She'd thought Sabella was pretty smart. Her mistake. With a flick of her bushy tail she darted back to Sabella's side. "You're a bit early at the best and really early at the worst but with any luck the baskets will take care of that...just...stay calm..."

Sabella squeezed her eyes shut. Somehow that seemed easier said than done.  

[Nisshou H]

Torao and Hisoka exchanged looks as Nichi broke the news. Both expressions boldly said 'what?' "She's pregnant?" Torao asked confused. Really he shouldn't have been. It would have been his doing. However, shouldn't they have known before now? The short answer was yes. The longer answer was the accursed gods weren't done toying with them yet and had just thrown yet another curve in their path. Maybe not a curve. Maybe more like a giant bolder.

"Yes." The fox replied glaring at him. "Now go get baskets or any babies she has are going to die."

Torao didn't move initially, he was still puzzling over the absurdity of it all. When Hisoka rammed him with his, still obnoxiously hard, head he snapped back to his senses. "Right...basket...uhh...be right back." he said leading the way out of the cave and into the snow. There had to be some baskets somewhere nearby right? They wouldn't have to go all the way down to the plains right?

Knowing the gods...the baskets would be 12 miles away in a snowdrift twice his height.

"Damn you all..." He muttered running half blind through the whirling snow and howling wind.

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[Nisshou H]

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[Nisshou H]

The last few weeks had been trying for the trio to the point that no one really knew who had it worst. Torao and Hisoka had spent the better part of an hour wandering around in a blizzard before Torao had finally spotted a small pile of baskets. When they had returned with one they were sent out again on Nichi's orders.

Torao looked across the cave to Sabella who rested on her stomach beside her basket as she listened intently to Hisoka. Evidently it was unusual for a mare to birth only one foal in these parts and Sabella had nearly died of shock when it was revealed that some mares were rumored to have four. He glanced to the other side of the cave where the unused baskets lay in a pile, three of them. Neither he nor Hisoka had wanted to make the trip back to return them. That hadn't saved them from venturing out into winter storms for long.

Under Nichi's orders, yet again, they had been sent out to collect food, steal blankets from humans, steal water jugs from humans only to get sent out again to fill those jugs with water. It was all for Sabella's benefit but that hadn't stopped Torao from fighting with the small fox that bossed them around. He'd threatened to squash her more than once but it didn't seem to faze her. She had gone out recently finally giving himself and Hisoka a chance to breathe easy.

"When do you think she'll be back?" Torao asked Hisoka warily eying the entrance. There was well over a foot of snow out there but that hadn't been enough to stop Nichi.  

[Nisshou H]

The trips hadn't bothered Hisoka nearly as much as they had Torao. Still, he was glad for a moment of peace. Nichi's disappearance had given him a chance to actually spend some time with Sabella and the basket. There was something completely fascinating about this basket to Hisoka. It was theirs. All of theirs. Not just Sabella and Torao's. Yes, they were the parents, but Torao had made it completely clear that Hisoka was as much family to the basket as he was. Somehow that sentiment had sparked a childlike curiosity in Hisoka that had the unusual partner of responsibility. Every chance he got he would stand near Sabella and the basket sometimes speaking and sometimes only observing.

Today he had decided to teach. Sabella had been singing to the basket a melody foreign to his ears but well known to the kirin. He had taken it upon himself to introduce the kirin to a lullaby that he remembered from his childhood to sing. So far she seemed to be taking it in good spirits and she was picking it up fairly quickly. "Den-den taiko ni." He waited for her to repeat before finishing the last line. "Shou no fue." Again he waited for her to repeat the words. "And that is the end. Try the song now."

He didn't get his chance to listen to the finished product before Torao interrupted him. Hisoka shot the other stallion a stern look before wandering to his side. "I was busy." Those words were beginning to sound more and more like a greeting these days. "Nichi will be back when Nichi gets back." He said dismissively. "Enjoy the time now." Hisoka wondered why Torao always bothered to question when the fox would return. She'd show up when they least expected it and send them off to do strange chores. It had been like this for ages it felt like. "You lose time being angry at Nichi when she is not here." He pointed out before turning to go back to Sabella. "Come. I taught her a good song." He said leading the way back with Torao trailing behind.  

[Nisshou H]

Sabella hadn't been entirely certain what to make of this entire "motherhood" thing. The start had been painful and rather terrifying. The days that had followed had been exhausting and nerve-wracking. Every sound the basket made sent all but Nichi into a panic. Every time it moved Sabella became unsettled. After a while they had all grown used to it. Small sounds and movements became normal and Sabella had gotten used to being bumped against in the night. After adapting to these things everything mostly calmed down.

It had probably been the worst possible time to give birth with food being hard to find and travel being difficult. The storm clouds had a silver lining though, if they were having trouble getting out that meant Sabella's herd would have a difficult time getting to her. That gave them all plenty of time to spend together and plan how to best handle Sabella's herd, even with Nichi sending Hisoka and Torao out for every little thing.

With Nichi out of the cave things seemed much calmer. She was wonderful for explaining what all was going on and making sure that what needed to be done got done but it was all very stressful. Without her around the trio got to spend time de-stressing by doing things like learning lullabies. She'd been more than happy to learn a song from Hisoka but everything about it was so drastically different from everything she had learned. The melody was as foreign as the words but she had accepted his offer and she would be expected to learn it properly. That was how things were for her. Or at least how they had been. She imagined Hisoka would be disappointed if she couldn't learn the tune but she didn't think he would actually say anything about it either.

When he left she continued to say the words over and over to get them to stick in her brain. After that she began singing quietly. "Nen-nen korori yo, okorori yo."  

[Nisshou H]

"A good song?" That caught Torao's attention and made him follow. He had been wondering what Hisoka had been telling the kirin. He hadn't been telling her anything. He'd been teaching. "You taught Sabella a song?" He had never known Hisoka to teach anyone anything. He was more used to Hisoka learning.

Hisoka scowled at the disbelief in Torao's voice. "You taught me this language. No one thought you could." He shot back unhappily. He didn't like being looked at as incompetent. Yes he had learned a lot from Torao but that wasn't because Torao was smart or Hisoka was stupid. It was because Torao had experienced things Hisoka hadn't. It made perfect sense that Hisoka could teach Sabella because he'd experienced things that she hadn't.

Torao opened his mouth to retort but stopped upon hearing a familiar song. He knew that song. "You taught her that song?" He was still surprised but no longer over Hisoka's teaching abilities. Torao had just been certain that he would never hear any songs from their homeland again in his life. He exchanged looks with Hisoka before stepping closer to Sabella and joining in. "Bouya no omori wa, doko e itta?"

Hisoka cringed slightly as Torao joined in. He hadn't known exactly how his partner would react but he hadn't expected him to start singing. Torao couldn't sing. It was a bit like listening to a bear dying. He said nothing about it aloud. This was a good moment. They hadn't had enough times like these in ages. This was a moment that should never be spoiled and so Hisoka joined in as well his voice falling somewhere between Torao's low rumbles and Sabella's warm lilt. "Ano yama koete, sato e itta."  

[Nisshou H]

Sabella was surprised to hear Torao's voice singing along and at first she stopped singing. After a second or two she joined back in, after that Hisoka's voice entered as well. Suddenly she understood why Hisoka had offered to teach her anything and why he had picked this song. This was a song from their home and their past. "Sato no miyage ni, Nani morouta? Den-den taiko ni, Shou no fue." As the song concluded she wondered what it must have been like for them leaving their home for some place so different. She had never asked. The two had never seemed keen to talk about the past. It made more sense now. It wasn't their entire past they were running from, just some shared fragment that had warped them.

"Thank you for sharing with me." She said interrupting the reflective silence that had fallen around them. She wondered what the two had been thinking about but she didn't imagine she would ever get to know. They were all such very private creatures. "It is a beautiful song. What does it mean?" She hoped she wouldn't regret asking. She didn't want to find out that the foreign words meant something gruesome. That would be horrible.  

[Nisshou H]

Torao and Hisoka exchanged a look. They were both more than happy to share the translation, the only question was who would share it. After a moment Torao stepped up to the task; he was better at translating anyway. "It pretty much means 'hush hush baby sleep' then it asks where the baby sitter has gone but she brought souvenirs a flute and a drum. Human things." It was a poor translation and he knew it but it didn't really matter. Sabella didn't need a word for word translation. He didn't want her to try to convert it into her language. It was better in theirs. "It's just a normal lullaby."

"What's a normal lullaby?" Nichi asked pushing her way through the snow at the entrance to get it. It was clear that she had just missed something but that didn't really bother her. She missed lots of things. It was horse business and she didn't care for it most of the time. "Nevermind that now though." She said shaking as much snow off of her coat as she could. "I've been out looking over things. Nothing's getting up here until everything thaws, at least nothing without wings or strength like a buffalo." It was a bit of a mixed blessing. They wouldn't be bothered the other kirin for sure but they would be stuck here themselves. "We have plenty of time to see to the foal coming out right so let's just focus on that." She was well aware that all three of the horses had probably planned on doing just that but it wasn't going to stop her from saying it. They'd been dumb enough to not even think that Sabella could be pregnant that made them dumb enough to warrant step by step guidance from Nichi. "For now, we need more food. Hisoka, Torao, you know what to do."

It was with no small amount of grumbling that Torao led the way out of the cave pushing through the snow to form a path. He couldn't wait for the basket to open. As it had been explained that wouldn't be for several months still. He came to a sudden stop as he calculated this. That meant...

"Hisoka..." He said turning to look back at the red marked stallion. "Nichi's wrong. If what she said about the foals spending months in the basket to finish developing is right...then...Sabella's herd will show up while it's still a basket." A dark look had settled over his face. Sure, the three of them had some time to figure out how to handle Sabella's herd but he imagined they would keep popping in to interfere with raising the child. They might even try taking the basket.  

[Nisshou H]

As Torao spoke Hisoka did his own calculations. It was already late in the winter. The thaw wouldn't start for another month or so in the mountains even if the low lands melted long before then. As he put everything together a deep frown graced his face. Either Nichi was just being hopelessly optimistic or she was just forgetful and foolish. Whatever was going through the fox's head it didn't change the fact that the foal likely wouldn't be out before the hot season. Even with a month, maybe two if the cold stuck around, to plan that wouldn't be enough to figure out a good way to beat Sabella's herd off.

"We will figure something out..." He said carving a second path in the snow to stand at Torao's side. "If that does not stop them then we plan again." While Hisoka wasn't terribly fond of the idea of plotting against sacred beasts he was a lot less fond of losing Sabella or the baby to them. If he had to turn against the will of the gods to keep Sabella and their child safe then he would do so.

"We have a month. Make the best of it." He said resting his head over Torao's shoulders. "We will figure something out. We have to."

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[Nisshou H]

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Uwasa