HEROES MAY DIE

The worry that Destrier had felt in the past weeks had been awful. It consumed him, his worry for Tor and the child that she carried within her pale, wide barrel. He knew that it would be unlikely anything would be the matter with the foal, especially when he took the season into consideration. It was a peaceful day, with the sligtest breeze to keep the beings of Helovia cool beneath the rays of the sun; the perfect scene for his child's first glimpse at the world.

Standing a fair distance away to give her plenty of privacy, the Friesian gave an impatient flick of his lengthy tail. A plethora of thoughts were running rampant in his head as he waited, wondering, hoping, that his child would be graced with good health, and that Tor would be well after all was said and done.

It wasn't until he heard the scuffle of hooves clambering against the ground and the sound of Tor's voice that Destrier finally put an end to his nervous pacing, and fully placed his attention upon the mare standing within the clearing behind him. His eyes skimmed the maiden quickly, noting that she was, indeed, as good as ever, her distended belly now reshaped to its original form. But then, Destrier's warm, chocolate gaze dropped to not one, but two, small bodies laying upon the ground.

He was the proud, surprised father of twins.

A feeling of utter joy and pride blossomed in his wide chest as he gingerly stepped closer, lowering his muzzle to Laila and Luken to take in their scents. It was a gentle action, a fatherly one that he had never known before, not until this very momemt in time. To each child he stepped, outstretching his black nose and touching it gently to theirs. "Welcome to the world, my little ones." Only then did he lift his head again, turning to look upon Tor with a look that was the epitome of happiness. "They are beautiful, Tor," came his deep tenor, "Just like their mother. May the Gods bless them with strength and good mind."

Within his ten years of life, these would be his first children, his first family since the bloody wars of Gassul and Vallhea. He could only hope that neither of the two small, newborn souls laying before him would ever face such a life, and instead find peace within Helovia like he had.

BUT LEGENDS ENDURE