[PRP] In Memorium [Istas, Claude, Nadia, Lafayette]

[Sweenys_Revenge]

Lafayette hadn't moved an inch since the earth finally settled. He hadn't blinked or really even breathed. He just stood there, still, staring at the soft earth, dark and freshly stirred. It rose gently from the grass around it, forming a gentle curve about a foot above the green. Somehow, in Lafayette's mind, he couldn't reconcile this as the grave of someone he loved. No. It was someone else's grave. Some stranger who lay as though sleeping in the dirt. Someone else's mate was dead and gone and never coming back. It wasn't Branwen who's coat was now stained with mud, who's stomach was still round from pregnancy. Who was still warm when they laid her to rest.
The two legger who'd aided in the birthing and the burial patted Lafayette's side, saying something he didn't understand but could guess was something sympathetic. His ears didn't even twitch. He didn't even blink. He just... stared. Like, maybe if he stared long enough then Branwen would appear beside him, grinning and bumping his behind with her own. We have a family to raise, she would say, finally. She never did show up.

Claude looked up from the basket he was tending. One of three. And despite the tragedy, he was proud of his son. Proud that he'd managed to keep his composure until everything was said and done. He kept his head through the labor, after Branwen's last breath, he'd still aided in the cleaning and sheltering of the foals. He'd made sure each one was taken care of and fed and happy before he finally sat down and let it all sink in.
"He's been a strong boy," Claude observed to his mate as he fed more sweet grass into the basket. "I can't imagine losing you. I'd be a mess." The basket cooed and wiggled a little as the foal within ate.  

[LunaRei_SilverBlood]

Nadia stood over the basket left in her charge protectively. She wasn't very maternal and it was clear that the entire time she stood guard that she hadn't thought to feed it. It was her mother Istas that took care of it in that sense. Sure, Nadia wasn't a huge fan of Brawnen, she was part Kalona after all. And Her own mother was a skin walker. But now her mother was grieving her lose. She understood that and because he loved that mare, took her has his mate. Nadia would not defile her after death.

Istas frowned, nosing at her basket, and then looking up at Claude. She didn't want to think about it. She wasn't even all to sure what went wrong. The foals came out like normal... But the mare kept bleeding. The two legger had to step in, but there was nothing no one could do about it. Istas's heart sank every time she thought about it. It was like loosing one of her own kids. Her lip trembled as she looked up at Claude again, and then walked forward to stand next to her son.

"..." She didn't say anything, she looked at him and then at the ground. If she lost Claude... If she lost Claude she would loose herself. She knew he would want her to live a good healthy and happy life but... He was her happiness.

"She gave you 3 gorgeous children. She gave you love."  

[Sweenys_Revenge]

Lafayette only nodded at his mother's words, eyes never leaving the fresh grave. He knew what he'd been blessed with. He knew that he should, instead of mourning his mate, be grateful for the days that she gave him. He should treasure his children and cherish the memories. He knew that he should, but at the moment... he couldn't bring himself to tear his eyes from her resting place. Even as his mother spoke he couldn't look away. He tried to. He tried to look at her... to her for something
"I know," he finally said. His voices sounded hoarse and strange in his ears. "But it should have been me."

Claude nudged the other two baskets over to his daughter. The foals could still smell, and getting them familiar with the smells of one another would aid in the bonding process.
"I'm proud do you too, you know," Claude murmured, nuzzling his daughter's cheek. "You've done beautifully today." He forced a smile, despite his weeping heart. "You did not love her well, I know. But you love your brother, and you have fulfilled your duty to him and beyond." He wasn't sure if Nadia was suffering; he could never tell what she was feeling. But he liked to think she was, if only on her brother's behalf.  

[LunaRei_SilverBlood]

Nadia smiled and nodded at her dad. Yes the mourning she had wasn't the same... She wouldn't cry. Though she wondered if she lost Ane if she's cry then? But her heart did still reach out to her brother. She mourned for him, he was so proud of his mate, regardless of what she was. He loved her, not what she was. Nadia was sad for her brother loosing the love of his life. But she didn't mourn the same way as the others. So she kept her distance and kept watch over the baskets. One day maybe he would understand that she felt for him, and would indeed care very much for those foals too. What could she say? 'I'm sorry?' They were always sorry. Sorry didn't fix this and so she would refuse to say those words to him. For her, what she had to offer was her presence.

Istas knew that it was going to take her son time. But she had to say something and when Claude joined them she wondered if maybe her mate would able to comfort him? Males handled emotions differently a lot of the time. She couldn't fix everything although for her family she would certainly try. And try she did... Could she have done something wrong in the birthing? Everything went as usual... But when her son said "If should have been me." She frowned.

She wasn't really able to say anything against that. At least nothing he wanted to hear. There were many rational reasons she died, she was giving birth. But there were other not to rational reasons. Maybe the creator had another plan for her. Maybe she was never destined to be a mother and so in attempts to change her fate she stumbled. Who knew, but there was a reason that Lafa was standing there now and a reason he would raise those foals.  

[Sweenys_Revenge]

Nadia had been awfully quiet. Really quiet. Lafayette wasn't looking for pity... he wasn't really looking for anything but... his sister hadn't said a word. It was no secret in the family that Nadia wasn't happy with Branwen. For whatever reason Lafayette could not grasp, Nadia refused to see in his mate what the rest had. And why had she done that? She hadn't even posed a real reason, really. Her breed. Because Branwen was part kalona -- not even a pure bred -- Nadia had condemned her. It made Lafa's breath quicken, his heart pound. His fresh wound tore wider and wider as he thought on it. Finally he stood.

"Actually no... it should have been someone else." He cast an angry look at his sister as he turned, finished with everything. he wanted to sleep. He wanted to be a lone and cry and hurt because everything he'd lived for was dead and gone and he hurt so much.

Claude understood his son's silence. Lafayette often forgot that his parents were still in mourning as well. His brother went off on his own years ago. they had not yet heard back from him, and although Claude hoped, he could not deny the reality of the situation. He understood, he really did. And he allowed Lafayette to mourn. Allowed him to not only endure the ache in his heart, but to wallow in it. For now anyway.

But what he would not condone was what filth came from his son's lips next. Claude stood instantly, wings puffing up angrily.

"You get back here, boy," he commanded, voice deadly and even, leaving Lafayette with no option but to comply. Ever a small boy, the orange stallion did stand himself before his father, standing tall despite himself. Claude knew feigned bravery when he saw it.

"Apologize to your sister."