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 Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 9:45 pm
Niru felt relief as Zephyr rushed into the cave; he was here, she wasn't going to give birth alone. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, before looking into his eyes and smiling gently.
"Nothing. You don't need to do anything- just- uhn." She stopped speaking and gritted her teeth as another cramp ran through her and her muscles clenched. It was really starting now- not just getting ready to begin, but now she was actually going to give birth. She took a deep breath as the pain subsided and continued speaking.
"Just... be here. Be close. That's all." She tried to smile but another cramp started to build and she let out a sound of pain before letting her body take over. She rode the pain and let her muscles clench, starting to push the kips towards the world that awaited them.
She felt blood- or something like it, some warm liquid from the birthing process- soak her legs and cursed inwardly; her nest would need rearranging... But for now that didn't matter. There were more important matters, she thought to herself, as the latest cramp subsided and she stopped pushing for a moment, trying hard to regain her breath.
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Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 10:35 pm
"I'm not going anywhere." He assured, laying partially behind her and acting as a rest for her to lean against.
Seeing her in pain was worse than torture. Every nerve in his body screamed for him to do something, to make it the pain go away, anything! He knew there was nothing he could do physically but stay where he was and offer reassuring remarks, but damn it all! He hated feeling so helpless. Warring inside as he was, he never let it show on his face and continued to talk to her.
"It'll be okay Niru, just keep breathing."
He nuzzled her neck affectionately, proud at how strong she was, and inwardly prayed the kips would be born soon.
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Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 5:19 pm
Niru half-laughed through the pain; leaning against the male and taking comfort in his warm, strong presence. "I wasn't planning on not breathing, silly," she managed to say between muscle spasms.
The next one stole her laughter and her breath away and her entire world closed down to her muscles pushing at the tiny creatures inside her, and trying to force them out into the world. Crying out, her face soaked with tears and her tongue lolling to one side out of her mouth, she pushed as hard as she could despite how much it hurt; she felt a moment of pain as the kip finally started out into the world, half inside her and half outside; but it was drowned out by the pain of muscle spasms and she cried out again. One final push and the kip slithered it's way out.
Half-sobbing, half-laughing, Niru knew it wasn't over but she had a momentary respite; the pain receded slightly and she curled around, pulling the first kip into her side for warmth. A small, soaked, pathetic-looking purple thing, it mewled pitifully, having been torn from the safety and warmth of the womb. It instintively snuggled up to the safety of it's mother, it's wings flopping uncontrolled, and she smiled through her tears before licking and nuzzling at it.
"A girl," she whispered. "A little girl." She flopped back against Zeph, taking a moment to prepare herself before the pain overwhelmed her again.
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Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 8:49 pm
Words could not even begin to describe the incredible amount of joy and pride that swelled through Zephyr at the sight of his newborn daughter. She was the smallest, most perfect thing he'd ever seen and knowing that knocked the breath right out of him. And Niru wasn't done yet. Another kip...another one...Zeph wasn't sure if he could feel any more elated than he already did.
He leaned in close to his mate and lent her his strength. "Almost there love, you're almost done."
His heart was pumping so fast it was pushing it's way out of his chest. The cave was burning up, he felt he couldn't breathe, time seemed to have stopped and yet the moment was coming up on them at the speed of light. The only thing he could do was stay firm for Niru and look on with anticipation at the newest arrival to the family.
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Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 11:03 am
Niru breathed deeply and nodded. She wasn't nearly done, not really... She wasn't sure if there was one or two more, but her ordeal was far from over.
This time she was prepared for the pain of her cramping muscles; and despite her growing exhaustion it seemed so much easier to force the next kip out. It slithered out of her and she could feel there was something wrong- it didn't writhe like the little girl had, but flopped out, lifeless and still. Sobbing, before even the pain faded, she was curling around to see, pulling it closer to her with a shaking wing; even as she craned to see being mindful of the girl curled into her side.
A tiny, misshapen creature lay there; not fully formed, one wing and one leg was stunted, and it's face looked somehow... wrong. Niru found herself as unable to breathe as if she'd been wracked with birthing pains- it could have been a new life, their life, and instead it was... Nothing. Who knew how long she had had a dead creature inside her, nestled around her living kips? And why? Why was it dead- was it her fault? Was there something she should have done differently? Why did it happen?
"No", she moaned, unable to tear her gaze away. "Oh, no... No, no no no..."
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Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 5:05 pm
At first Zeph wasn't sure what was wrong. He heard Niru sob and her apparent distress confused him. He leaned forward as she did, concentrating on the thing that upset her. He knew instantly when he saw it that the kip was dead. Hearing Niru's moans only proved him to be correct. The previous joy at having his daughter slipped away and was replaced by ice in his heart.
Loss, regret, hurt, and anger swelled inside him. His insides twisted until he felt sick. That was his kip lying there, still and not fully formed, yet still just as perfect as the little girl snuggled against her mother. It was his kip and his mate who shivered violently with as much anguish as he felt. He wanted to rage, to scream, to curse, to cry, to do anything that would take away the torment he felt.
"Love" the words quivered as he tried to compose himself. "There'll be others." He hated to, but he gently turned her head away from the dead kip and back to him. Then, he tucked her head under his chin and had her rest her head into him. "You're strong Niru, we will get through this..."
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Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 7:56 pm
Niru nodded; oh, how strange it was for him to be comforting her, how strange that she needed him to. But she took strength from his closeness.
There was another inside her; and this one squirmed and writhed, ready to take on the world. This one was alive; there was no doubt about it.
The knowledge that she had another to birth, one who was fine, slowly dragged her out of the grief she felt. Zephyr was right; there were others and she needed to be strong... for the kips who remained. She didn't want to give birth to the last one with that... dead remnant there, though.
Even though she felt cold to say it; even though more tears coursed down her face at the very thought of the words, she forced them out.
"Zephyr... Please..." She tried to get her breath before continuing. "Please... Get rid of it. I don't... want it there... Not with the other coming."
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Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 6:16 pm
He nodded and gently eased out from behind her. As carefully as he could, he scooped the dead kip up in his mouth and carried it outside of the cave. Zephyr had a specific place in his mind where he wanted to bury it, but he refused to be too far from Niru right now. He'd take care of it later, if he got the chance. He spotted an enclosure of rocks, small to him, but perfect for hiding the body so another animal wouldn't snatch it. He set it down, ignoring the pain in his heart as the lifeless body slumped between the rocks. Without looking back at it, Zeph made his way quickly for the cave.
"Niru?" He questioned as he entered. "Honey, you okay?"
Her breathing was labored again and he knew the other kip would be born soon. He touched his head to hers and sat down beside her.
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