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 Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2016 10:29 am
 Her time was coming due, Aspasia knew instinctively.
Once the green mare had figured out she was pregnant with Grizzik's foals she'd found herself wanting to go into "nesting mode", as she called it. In particular she'd been scouring the country side for suitable baskets to place her foals into when the time came. They had to be just right, and she was extremely picky. She did appreciate the baskets left out by the kind kawani people as she didn't want to wander into a village.
In the end, Aspasia managed to decide on two baskets and bring them back home. On a passing whim she picked up a third well hidden in a bramble mass. She'd intended just to set it where it could easily be found, but then ended up bringing it home. The mare shrugged. Better to have it than not, for she was starting to get rather large. She had only expected two foals. Later she could leave the extra out after she'd given birth.
She had of course had to tell the upcoming father-to-be. Aspasia hoped he was pleased by this information. Her fondness for him had only grown. She hoped he was pleased by the foals.
When the time finally came, Aspasia gently shoo-ed her mate to wait outside. She was surprisingly big in the belly now. The mare eyed the third basket as she strained to deliver her first foal. It had been irony before, but somehow now she felt she might actually need it.
After several hours she had delivered her first two foals and gotten them safely installed into their baskets. With a sigh, she pulled the last one to her for she could tell that she did have a third. Goodness, Grizzik would be surprised! Aspasia, exhausted, set to work on the last one. Within half an hour, it was out and safely in it's basket. She nudged all three baskets fondly together, gazing at them adoringly before calling to her anxious mate.
"Grizzik you can come in now." She laid down behind them to rest and spread her wing over them protectively. She wouldn't spoil the surprise just yet.
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Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2016 10:50 am
 When Aspasia had told him she was pregnant he had been both surprised and delighted. He had commented on her gaining weight, he had wondered how she was managing to do it they moved around so much. She had told him she was pregnant and it all made sense to him. He had seen foals born before, his own younger siblings were after all born after he had grown to an adult.
He had watched with careful interest as she swelled and started to nest, she'd searched every where for baskets and though he had offered to help her find baskets she had firmly refused. He'd wanted to follow her every where feeling very protective of her and the children that belonged to them both but she had ventured out alone regularly to find baskets and she had returned with one after the other. He had pondered the third basket but Aspasia, he assumed, knew what she was doing so he let her complete her nest trying not to get in the way too much.
When she had finally gone in to labour and banished him from her nest he paced back and forth nervously, protectively, he chased away anything and everything that came close, a deep fear in his chest that something, anything could happen to the new little lives. Of course Mattimeo had sneaked up his leg at some point and was now nested in his mane. He'd allowed his little familiar to stay, just because he was so small, but the approach of even his herd mates had him up in arms.
He had paced for what seemed like an eternity when she called him and he dove in to her nest his eyes wild, hopeful, they were here. They were here, where were they? He tried to calm himself but he could barely contain his excitement. His monotone voice rolled from his mouth as usual "Are they here?"
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Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2016 11:03 am
She didn't have long to wait as she expected when she'd called to him. During the labor she had thought she'd heard him pacing outside. It made her feel secure and safe knowing he was standing guard outside. Aspasia gave him a tired, but warm smile. "Right here." She pulled her wing back so he could see the baskets. Already they were taking on different hues. It was fascinating for her to watch. Two seemed to be taking on browns after their father. One lighter, one darker. And the last, her precious last one, was turning green like her.
"Aren't they perfect?" Of course he had only seen the baskets. Just the brief glimpse she'd had as she put the foals into the baskets and tucked them in had put a niggling at the back of her mind. Something.... wasn't quite right, but she couldn't place it. Aspasia did her best to keep her worry to herself; chalking it up to new mother jitters. After all it was her first birth. She tried to reassure herself Grizzik and the rest of the herd wouldn't let anything happen to its newest members.
She watched him to see his reaction. What were they going to do about names? Aspasia contemplated the three baskets. Was it too soon to pick? Probably. She wasn't even 100% sure of genders! Well there would be plenty of time for that later. Now she could just enjoy them. She touched her nose to the first and lighter brown basket. "This one was first," her nose moved to the darker brown, "this one was second. The only green one was third," her nose brushed the green one.
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Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2016 11:33 am
Grizzik looked down at the three baskets that his lovely mate revealed. Three little wicker bundles changing colours before his eyes. He was a father. A father of three. In that moment all the worries of the future, his fears of the past melted away, in that moment all there was was his mate and those three tiny baskets.
Lowering to his belly the big tan male crawled towards her nuzzling her adoringly "You did great." Hie whispers turning his gaze upon the three little baskets. Lifting his claws he gently touches each basket in turn admiring the colours, the eldest two seemed to have gained his colouration while the third had inherited Aspasias beautiful mint. He felt proud the protective feeling raising in his chest "I'll never let anything happen to you." He whispers a catch breaking his monotone voice.
Lifting his gaze from their baskets he smiles, his amber eyes glistening "Can they come out yet?" He whispers nuzzling at his mates ear, he knew the answer but he felt a deep impatient feeling, a want to see them and hold them close. He looks at Aspasia hopefully willing the answer to be yes, kit was times like this that he desperately wished he could put excitement in to his voice, any sort of lilt to indicate how excited he was that these little things existed in the world, that they belonged to them.
Lifting a claw once again he claws gently at the wicker lids, he wanted to welcome them properly to see them, he was daily sure he had never felt so impatient his whole life.
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Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2016 11:45 am
His react was so dear! Aspasia wanted to remember this moment always. She had a family. A place where she belonged. Something she'd never hoped to find. It didn't matter if they ever found a permanent home. Her heart would always have a place here. She nuzzled the stallion affectionately as he lowered himself and came close. "Thank you." If anything should happen to her, her foals would be well cared for by Grizzik. Although she hoped fervently nothing happened to her!
His question made her laugh and she nuzzled his neck. "They just went in a few hours ago Grizzik. I don't know much about foals, but I don't think they are quite ready yet." All she wanted to do was gaze at them fondly. Seeing him trying to gently claw the lids she spread her wing to nudge his foot aside. "I know you want to welcome them, so do I. But I fear we must be patient. It may harm them if they baskets are opened prematurely." She fixed him with a warning look. Nothing would come to harm them while she watched.
Except she needed to go eat. Could she trust him not to try to open the baskets too soon? Yes, probably if she got him to promise. "Please, promise me you won't rush them?"
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Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2016 12:12 pm
He chuckles gently, he could see the worry in her eyes and he wanted to assure her he wouldn't do anything to harm them. "I promise I wont do anything to harm them Aspasia." He nods earnestly allowing his claws to be batted away. He lifts his bat like wings and drops them carefully over the baskets. "I just want them to be here." He chuckles gently noticing the look in her eyes. He never wanted her to be worrie for their children, especially from him.
"I brought you some food and a water gourd." He lifts his head and looks back to where he had thundered in to the nest. He'd forgotten all about it. He raises to his feet slowly the urge to stay exactly where he was pulled at his claws but Aspasia looked exhausted and she also looked like she didn't want to move away from the new little bundles. He looks at her longingly for a moment before trotting back through the thicket returning within moments with a basket of fruits and a gourd of water.
Settling himself behind his mate, pressing his side against hers so she could lean against him. He lifts one massive wingand places it over her back reaching all the way to the baskets. "Can we name them before they come out?" He looks at her hopefully maybe thinking up some names would at least settle his feeling of impatience.
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Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2016 12:34 pm
She smiled and relaxed as he gave his promise. She never had a reason to doubt him before, and wasn't going to start now. Their baskets would be safe.
Aspasia looked at him gratefully as he mentioned food and water. Bless his heart. How many other stallions would think to bring that? She definitely understood his reluctance to leave though! Just as she was about to get up to get it so he could stay, he stepped out and brought them back. The fruit looked and smelled delicious. She managed to wait until he'd settled himself again.
His wing made her feel warm and secure. She happily snuggled up against him and reached her neck to grab the first fruit, taking a huge bite. "Delicious Grizzik," she mumbled through her mouthful. A couple more bites and the fruit was gone. She took a sip of water then a larger gulp. Eyeing a second fruit she pondered his question.
"I was thinking about that too. Is that wise? It might bias them, or not match their personalities." What if they came up with names the foals didn't like? "We should probably work on some options though." That seemed a safe enough compromise.
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Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2016 12:54 pm
He looked down at his mate and nuzzled her ears while she ate. He knew she would be tired. He just wanted her to rest. She had done so much after all. He couldn't even express his gratitude properly at what she had done.
He looks deeply thoughtful for a moment while she ate and drank. He was glad she was eating, glad she could relax. When she mentioned thinking up some names though he nodded in agreement.
"Can we name them all the same? It'd be easier to remember." He chuckles, he wasn't entirely serious, but the thought had very seriously crossed his mind that he wouldn't be able to tell the difference between the three despite their different colours.
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Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2016 1:02 pm
"These are delicious. Thank you for bringing them. Do you want one?" Ever polite, she wanted to make sure he had enough too.
Aspasia flicked her ear teasingly against his muzzle, then picked another fruit to eat. Briefly she wished she could hold this feeling about them forever. The security and love was a wonderful feeling. However she knew the foals would eventually burst forth from their baskets, and they in turn would grow up. She would just have to treasure these moments as they came and remember them fondly otherwise.
She jerked her head as he suggested naming all three the same. "Maybe easier to remember, but every time you call one you'd get the confusion of all three! Plus would you really want to name a boy with a girl's name or a girl with a boy's?" She snorted with mirth. A certain way to make their foals hate them.
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Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2016 1:29 pm
Grizzik looked down at his mate and grinned. "The food is for you, just relax and eat." He moved his head resting his chin over her back so he could look at the baskets. "I wouldn't really name them all the same." He whispers his monotone voice echoing as he looks lovingly at the three little baskets.
"Do you think we are having boys or girls?" He rumbles shifting his wing to stretch it further over the baskets. "Aspasia I'll never do anything to hurt them. I just want them to be happy."
The big male stretches his fore claws and lets out a long sigh "we should name one aspergriz." He chuckles he wasnt really sure why he wanted to combine their names together but it amused him. He felt very amused at the moment, he actually felt happy, truely euphorically happy, he wasnt sure he'd ever really felt this way, maybe the day Aspasia became his mate. "I don't think I'v ever felt this happy." He mused.
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Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2016 5:01 pm
Content to do as he asked, she polished off the remaining fruit in short order.
Aspasia gave him an apologetic nuzzle for her sharp tone. She blamed the surge of motherly hormones. Of course he'd never do anything to harm them- physically or socially. "It's all so new to me. I feel my thoughts are swirling around inside my skull. Do forgive me?" These foals, she could tell would probably be doted upon a great deal. It's a good thing there's three, she thought retrospectively. More foals to spread the love around and not smother any particular one. They'd work it out as they went along.
She flicked her ears and regarded the baskets. Why hadn't she thought to look? Oh right, she'd been busy first giving birth, then securing them in their cozy baskets. So their genders were even a mystery to her. As it should be. "Both I hope. Although I honestly don't care so long as they are happy and healthy when they emerge." Her gold eyes glanced up toward him through her lashes. "What do you prefer?"
The mare tapped a claw thoughtfully on the ground. "If we did, our foal would probably never let us live it down. As appealing as combining our names are, maybe we shouldn't?" Good thing she had him talking about name options now! She grinned at him. "I want their names to mean something special to them. They have to fit." She could only hope the right names appeared to them in time. She moved a basket closer to her belly. How long would it be before they popped? As time went on she was positive she'd become more anxious until they popped. Hopefully Grizzik would put up with her during this time!
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Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2016 8:56 am
"There's nothing to forgive. You have a right to feel protective." He smiles and nuzzles her back affectionately. "Do you want to sleep? I'll stay here and keep watch if you do."
He lets a little chuckle roll over his lips "I'm happy as long as they are healthy. I'd like a daughter though." He mused his head resting back accross her shoulders "I had sisters once." He whispers "They were beautiful." He lets out an audible sigh and lifts his head.
"Maybe I should let you name all three, I'm not sure im built for coming up with names they wouldn't hate me for." He looks at her and grooms her feathers gently. "I really want them to like me." He breaths.
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Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2016 11:09 am
She had such a understanding mate. How had she ever managed to be his lucky mare? Whatever the reason she was deeply grateful. Aspasia thought about it, then slowly nodded. "I think maybe just a little bit." She needed rest to recover, no matter how much she wanted to dote over her baskets. The minty mare turned her head to rest against Grizzik's broad warm shoulders.
Her eyes slowly closed as she let out a big, contented sigh. Life was perfect. "I'd like a daughter too," she murmured softly back at him. "You must miss them." Aspasia knew he'd come from a rather unpleasant situation. Their futures were possibly in doubt. All she could do was hope they were ok for his sake. Now that she was thinking about it, the whole group must have left someone behind. It was a sobering thought.
She laughed. "Oh no. You're not getting out of it and putting all the work on me. We'll decide together when the time is right." Aspasia couldn't resist another peek at her, no their!, baskets. Perfection in three little bundles. "They will love you. Of this I have no doubt."
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Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2016 11:33 am
The big pale tan male smiled and curled his claws under his chest. "Sleep, they will still be there when you wake up." He nuzzles her gently looking fondly over his new family. He knew deep down that he could keep his family safe but there was still a fear of the past in the back of his mind. He wished with all his heart that his parents, his sisters, his hatch mate, he wished they could have seen where he was now. Happy, content, safe, home. Even if they never settled he was home.
He nods his head gently "I'll help, I promise, now sleep." Letting out a long slow sigh the copper eyed male settled himself to watch over his family. No one would come in here without his permission, no one would hurt his new family.
He felt the rustle of his little familiar in his feathers, he had completely forgotten he was up there. Shaking his head the big male let out a long contented sigh. There was no better place to be but here.
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