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 Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 12:14 am
The glade had changed considerably since the last time Telyn had set dainty hoof into it. There was a lot less greenery, for one thing. For another, it was much, much wetter. The air was full of moisture, from the rainfall of the night before. Dead leaves mushed rather than crunched under hoof, and it looked like more fungus than plants---proper leafy plants---would grow. Telyn didn’t mind that so much. So long as she could find a patch of dry earth, she was fine. Besides, she knew which mushrooms were safe to eat and which ones weren’t. It would be a useful bit of information to pass onto her children.
Ugh, her children! She groaned slightly as one of them kicked inside of her belly and she relaxed her head against the dry ground, trying to move as little as possible. Being pregnant with two had been bad enough! Who knows how many were currently inside of her? Logic said that there were only two, but, Herne, it felt like more!
Technically, Telyn should have been near the Home Oak. That was the ‘proper place’ for a Lord’s hind. Not just a ‘Lord’s hind’, but a Lord’s favorite. It was hardly Telyn’s personality to go for a ‘proper place’, but she generally did so, if only to make Brychan happy. He never said so, but she was certain that the black stag’s face lit up as she did something that was ‘proper’. Or… no, that wasn’t the right word for it. He was happy whenever she did something that kept her out of danger. She smiled for a moment, thinking back to how his dark face would light up at just seeing her. Her happiness was cut short, however, as yet another youngster kicked.
The pregnancy was actually what drove her away from the Home Oak. Sure, she would be there and play ‘nice hind’ as long as she could, but… well, she knew the pregnancy would end any day now. And she wanted to give birth here. Nothing anyone could say would convince her otherwise. Not that many had tried. Most knew better than to argue with Telyn when she was in a good mood, let alone when she was hormonal and pregnant. She had even snapped at Islwyn! Islwyn! Hopefully, he didn’t take it too harshly… hopefully his father had kindly explained that Telyn didn’t mean it.
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Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 7:13 pm
He had tried his best to explain things to Islwyn.. in ways he would understand anyway. He was still young and didn't yet quite know the ways of the world. How much he had been paying attention during Anlach, he had no idea. But well.. things had settled down now for the most part now. He pretty much told Islwyn that when hinds were getting ready to have younglings, they tended to get a bit cranky. That it wasn't his fault.
Now the new Lord was seeking out his favored hind, and had caught a glimpse of her making her way into the grove where she had birthed the year before. It was natural for her to want to return to that place, and quietly he approached her. "Telyn... are you alright?" he asked softly as he soon came upon her. Ears flagging forward with mild concern on his face. Naturally he did want her to stay around the Home Oak, but she would do what she wanted. He had dealt with her hormones last year, and was brave enough to face them again this year. He had to admit, her belly did look.. larger this year. He could tell the strain was getting to her, and thus his concern was even greater. Hopefully there was nothing wrong... for he didn't want any harm to come to her or their unborn younglings.
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Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 11:48 am
So much for making a grand escape before the pregnancy shows, Telyn thought bitterly to herself. Maybe it was simply her memory fading, but she was certain that it hadn’t been this fast last year… there had been a few weeks of downtime, right? Not many, but a few. It wasn’t the pregnancy that annoyed her. Not much, anyway. What really bothered her was that she had let the others down. Rhomae, Aithne, Tempest… they had all been so hopeful to explore the outside world, and now Telyn’s fat belly was slowing down that dream. Angrily and pointlessly, Telyn slammed a hoof on an unfortunate blade of dried grass, stamping the dead plant deeper into the ground. Failing to escape---if ‘escape’ could truly be applied to the scheme--- wasn’t so bad, since Telyn had faced it before. It was holding back her friends that really angered her.
“What?!” she snapped, her ears pinning back against her head as Brychan made the mistake of speaking. The stupid part of Telyn blamed him for the pregnancy. Yeah, that was right! It wasn’t the gray hind holding back her friends! It was all Brychan’s fault for being so damn virile! Almost as soon as she had snapped, however, she regretted it. “I’m sorry, Brychan… they’re moving around a lot more lately. Saying that ‘it hurts’ is a vast understatement, like saying that a mad wolf is only a ‘little dangerous’. No excuse to snap at you. Or Islwyn.”
Just like the pendulum of a clock, her mood shifted from angry to apologetic to worried as she glanced over at her swollen stomach. What if there was something wrong? What if there was only one large baby and it killed Telyn during birth? In all likelihood, it would die as well without its mother’s milk. Or what if… what if all the movement was a bad sign? What if the baby was stillborn? Well, if that happened, Telyn would do just as her own mother had done and take care of whatever babies she had left rather than moping around, but… at that moment, the idea of a stillborn baby saddened Telyn more than anything else in the world.
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Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 12:14 pm
The snapping was to be expected, and while it did make Brychan blink a bit, he seemed otherwise unfazed. He approached her slowly, the same worry that seemed to be bothering Telyn, also reflecting in Brychan's eyes as he looked to her belly. Ears flicking as she told him that she was in pain, "I'm sorry" he said softly, for he certainly never wanted her to be in pain. Whether or not he should apologize, he still felt that he should. He never remembered her growing this fast or being in this much discomfort last year either.
"Whatever happens, will be Herne's will" he then added on, knowing that what will be will be... and there really wasn't anything they could do about it. "And don't worry about Islwyn, he'll be fine." This was all apart of growing up after all... as he got older, he would have to drift farther away from his parents just like the rest of the deer did, and Telyn's moodiness was just one way to help that along. She would have different babies to take care of now, hopefully anyway.
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Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 12:25 pm
Anger popped up once more as Brychan made the ‘mistake’ of apologizing for the pain. “It’s not your fault,” Telyn said in a tone that said, very plainly, that it was his fault. Yeah, that’s right. It was all his fault for being all fertile and whatnot. Logically, blame for pain couldn’t really be assigned to anyone other than natural design but, damnit, Telyn didn’t want to be logical! Still, she didn’t want to scare Brychan off either. For now, his presence was at least a little soothing. It made her ignore the pain, just a little. “Islwyn will just have to get over it sooner or later… eventually, he will have hinds of his own. He has to learn about it sometime.”
“How are the others, Brychan?” she asked, a little worried about Rhomae. After last Anlach… had the striped hind become pregnant this year? Was she ok? Of all the hinds, Rhomae was the one that Telyn was the most worried for, especially since her belly seemed almost as round as the grey hind’s. A multiple birth for the first birth was tough on any hind... “Have they given birth yet?”
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Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 12:32 pm
He winced slightly at the tone of voice she gave him, but still stood his ground. He wasn't about to be scared off that easily. Brychan nodded his agreement to what she said about Islwyn, for it was certainly true. One day he would have his own hinds and have to deal with such matters on his own. He and Tempest were growing up so fast, but now there were new young ones to take their attention.
All the hinds had gotten pregnant this year, which was quite an accomplishment for Brychan. It was ensuring that his bloodline would continue, and that's certainly what any deer would hope for. He nodded quietly, "Aridanna has given birth to a single fawn, Aithne gave birth to two calves, and Rhomae just gave birth to a calf and two fawns." There was a lifted brow in that... for triplets were certainly rare, but he was pleased nonetheless. However, his expression clouded with a bit of sadness as his eyes looked to the ground, for there was something else he had yet to say.
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Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 12:41 pm
Telyn waited intently for the news, hoping that the other hinds were alright. Honestly, she wasn’t… fond of some of them, but she didn’t wish any ill on them. She sighed in relief at hearing that her two friends had given birth safely. Good… it took her normally sharp mind a little while to process the fact that Brychan had said ‘two fawns and a calf’, which equaled three. “Triplets? Triplets? That’s wonderful news…” especially since Rhomae had been so saddened last Anlach.
“… something’s wrong, isn’t it?” it didn’t take a genius to notice that Brychan wasn’t smiling, but it did take some guesswork to figure out why he was so melancholy after delivering such good news. “It isn’t Loreena is it? And Lyith? They haven’t been attacked by wolves, have they?” Now that would make anyone depressed. Telyn didn’t like Loreena much but, again, she didn’t wish the fate of a wolf’s jaws on anyone, even her one-time rival for the spot of Brychan’s favorite.
For a moment longer, the gray hind thought about the hinds that her stag had mentioned. Aridanna, Aithne, and Rhomae… “…what’s happened to Siani?” Ah yes, Siani, the quiet brown hind with the stripes on her legs. So showy, and yet so quiet, it was oddly easy to forget about her existence at all.
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Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 12:48 pm
Brychan merely shook his head when Loreena and Lyith were mentioned. He has been worried about them, but this was different. He remained silent until Telyn asked what had happened to Siani. "Her calf was born dead" he finally said in a grave tone. He knew that kind of thing happened, but it was no less hard on him or Siani... especially Siani. It was hardest on her her than anyone else.
"Last I saw, she was still standing beside it" for the hind had been unwilling to move away from her dead baby, in hope that it might somehow come back to life even if she knew it wouldn't. To see such sadness was heart breaking for any deer.
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Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 2:26 pm
“That’s… horrible,” Telyn managed to get out, her heart going out to poor Siani. No one deserved to bear a dead child like that. And her first too! At least, Telyn assumed it was poor Siani’s first. For once, the logical side of the gray hind wasn’t being… well… nice. It kept pointing out that this would work to someone’s advantage in the long run. Poor Rhomae couldn’t possibly feed all three of her children well, and a mother with a stillborn baby would lactate. And then there was the very, very selfish part of Telyn that wondered what this meant for her own babies. She’d had a stillborn twin when she was born. Rhomae had trouble the Anlach before… and now this.
While Telyn hated to think of herself as a superstitious sort of hind, but she still saw omens in that. Dire omens, even. It was almost enough to make her cry. “I’m so sorry,” she said somberly, trying to think of something else to say. What else could she say?
What else could she say? She latched onto that question and searched for the answer. “Umm… how is everything else? Being a Lord and everything?”
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Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 3:43 pm
"Yeah.." he said quietly. Not only was it a big blow to Siani, but it was to him as well. Despite the many healthy children he had and hoped to have, it didn't mean that he didn't care about that one little calf that didn't make it. He was still his son.
"Its not your fault" he said, although he didn't have the bite to it when Telyn had said those words. They were melancholy and genuine. But he managed a soft smile, despite it all. He was worried for her though, worried that she might suffer the same fate as Siani, and he didn't want to see that.
"Oh.. fine... its been quiet. Although with the birth of so many younglings, extra precautions are being taken as far as predators." The birth of younglings was undoubtably going to attract foxes, eagles, and even wolves.
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Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 4:02 pm
It really was horrible, that life lost. But, it was Herne’s will, as Brychan had said just a few moments ago. Telyn wanted to go over to the stag and give him a nuzzle, but getting up sounded far too difficult at the moment, too strenuous. A lot of younglings, huh? That was good… last Anlach’s had been rather sparse, leaving poor Tempest without any fawns to play with. This Anlach would hopefully have more.
Maybe it was just Telyn’s imagination, but she swore that Brychan had mentioned the many dangers just to remind her not to try leaving the herd yet. Ha! As if she would do that… she knew that she had bigger responsibilities than her own desires. Right now, the children were more important. But, she decided not to mention this. If she talked about it now, she knew she would start yelling at Brychan, and then crying, and then feeling sad and alone.
“What about the white wolf? Any sign of him recently?”
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Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 4:29 pm
Brychan shook his head, "No... still no sign of him, and I hope it stays that way." But that didn't mean they should let their guard down. He could still possible return and there were other wolves out there he was sure. But then there was also the sneaky foxes who were smaller and could more easily sneak up on unsuspecting younglings.
He looked at Telyn quietly, wondering when she would give birth. He was determined to be there for her, and would give her anything she needed. He could see the strain this pregnancy was having on her. She was carrying his children after all, and he had a responcibility to her. Not only to keep her safe, but to make sure she was as happy as he could make her.
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Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2007 12:11 pm
Foxes were far trickier than wolves, in some ways. Less of a threat to adult deer, but a very real threat to those who needed protection the most: newly born fawns and calves. Telyn had always assumed that she would be able to see a fox coming before it would have the chance to attack, but… well, apparently there had been one fox living for years within the herd and she had never heard about it. That was worrying. She would be far more observant of these youngsters, even more protective than she had been of her previous children.
And if Brychan truly wanted to make her happy, he just had to wait five seconds. Given her mood swings, it couldn’t be that long until she became insanely happy about something. In this case, the thing that swung the pendulum that was Telyn’s mood was the news that the white wolf hadn’t been spotted recently.
“Good… that’s good…” for a moment, she was silent. Honestly, what could one say when they had just learned of another hind’s tragedy? “Come over here and lie down for a moment, Brychan. You look exhausted.”
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Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2007 12:52 pm
Brychan tilted his head slightly at Telyn's request, but certainly had nothing against it. Atleast she looked a little more relaxed and that was good. Stepping closer, Brychan folded his legs beneath him to lay down next to his favorite hind. He sighed lightly... for it had been a long Anlach, and the weight of his antlers was certainly getting to be a burden... which meant they would be shed soon. Anlach was over after all, and he really wouldn't be needing them any more until Anlach came again.
Nuzzling Telyn affectionately, he took these moments to let himself rest and regain his strength. Being the Lord of the herd wasn't an easy job, and he was still just settling into it... plus he had a vast harem of hinds to watch over as they had become pregnant and started giving birth. Then there would be young ones to look after as well.
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Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 7:30 pm
Telyn relaxed her head against Brychan’s back, trying to calm down a little. Worry was just as dangerous for the unborn as lack of nutrition was. Maybe that was why Siani had the stillborn… the brown hind was always such a worried sort, tailing after the rest of the harem like an anxious limpet. Not that it could really be her fault or anything. As Brychan had said earlier, it was Herne’s will.
“Have there been any new issues lately? Like from those reindeer?” Telyn doubted it; from Brychan’s description, they seemed peaceful enough, if a little… foolish. Still, if there was one important thing that she had learned from other hinds it was that knowing what your neighbors were up to was important, even if you were on friendly terms with them. It was likely that the reindeer were more focused on Anlach, but such strange creatures… who knew what they did! Her own young shifted again, a kick that Brychan must have felt.
“Soon,” she muttered, mostly to herself. It would be soon. Since she was still pretty inexperienced in the whole birthing business, she guessed that it would be a week. Maybe. For all she knew, it could be a day.
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