Whatever I have been expecting over these weary months, it has not been this. The pain of my lover's absence has worn me down and left me lost. Upon seeking shelter in this strange land I've made connections with no others than the tenuous one I established with Gossamer, and found myself in solitude the majority of the time. Arbutus is, in his infinite wisdom, my only company. And even still, there are times when he leaves my side with a whistling song to find my lover where she rests miles away. Try as I might to think of these times as reassuring, they only leave me more concerned. The wait for my companion to return leaves me feeling vulnerable, and at the same time fearful for the fate of my mate. And now, in the frigid dark of the long awaited first night of Orangemoon, I am awoken by a strange sensation and the realization that I am completely alone.

In a frenzy I pull myself up each time I fall, exiting the cave where I have found shelter and searching desperately in the night for the fiery form of my companion. But he has left me, flown off in anticipation to find Aure and bring her to the Foothills for the birth of her child. I feel an unimaginable pain flow through me and I can no longer maintain my position. With a heave, I fall to my knees and then, quickly, my side as I feel the pain that so many have warned me of, have experienced themselves.

In a moment I know that it is time, but in a fit of fear I find myself kicking out at the strange forested floor- the ground where sand should be, where my lover's hoof prints should intertwine with my own. I am at last going to give birth to our child, our darling colt, and I am utterly and completely alone. Terror that rushes through me expresses itself in sweat and a lashing tail, in a twisted neck and a vivid expression of agony.

The silence of the wood is broken by a piercing whinny that I can barely recognize as my own.

What was once a deafening silence is suddenly filled with the sound of my own heartbeat. I feel as if I am drowning as the air around me seems to thicken and my vision swirls and ripples in a haze. My teeth clench shut as if holding in air and my eyes flutter at the sensation of being so strangely disconnected with myself, while my tail beats against the ground helplessly, the only outlet for my pain as I suffer in silence. My voice had died out quickly and I am left now feeling oppressed by the shadows of the forest as they fill my vision, and longing for nothing more than Aure by my side.

It is strange to feel her touch after so long, and at once I realize that I am in company. My lover and my closest friend gather beside me, accompanied by another creature I've never before seen. As much as I long to cry out, my voice cracks and my mind reels at the suggestion of speaking. My heart pounds and I hear it above all else, but the gentle motion of Aure's lips puts me at ease for a brief moment before the contractions begin again and I am left writhing and helpless.

The child comes in a heave and a wave of pain, emerging small and weak, with knobby knees characteristic of the young and brilliant wings that match his mother's. He is black as the night during which he is born, with eyes a brilliant yellow green that seem to reflect Aure's and my own. I feel elation, but not relief. My forelegs churn at the earth and I forget my joy as pain sweeps over my again.

Arbutus is at my side in moments, crying tears of perhaps joy at the birth and sadness for my pain, but they do little to soothe me now. Confusion mixed with instinct place a pressure on my chest and make it harder to breathe. Is there something else the God of the Earth failed to mention? I can't think, not of an answer, not of anything- I can't even speak until moments later, when the pain fades quickly and the form of another colt becomes clear in my fuzzy vision.

Twins, I realize with a sudden shock as I lie upon the foothills earth and watch with wonder my two children. The second colt has a dark coat of a flaxen chestnut and small, folded wings to match. Atop his head rests a scimitar like horn of obsidian, and his eyes open and reveal the same, beautiful shade of green. In that moment, as I gaze upon my children, I know nothing but love.

My sides heave still as I gasp for breath and at last relax the tense muscles bunching up across my form. Love and loyalty washes over my expression, and weakly I lift my neck to nuzzle the two colts and look to my lover. "Welcome to the world, little ones," I whisper weakly, watching Aure all the while, an endless love in my eyes.

[[Up to you if you want to post with Adoxa or Aure next- if you do Adoxa next I'll do Alisier after him?]]

The relief that shines in my eyes seems to reflect in those of my lover's. I gaze into her bright green eyes and turn to see them mirror those of our sons. She thanks me and I merely turn my head away shyly. Surely she knows there is no reason to thank me for bearing the product of our love. Happily I nicker the children and nudge their hindquarters to get them to their feet- they cannot delay on the ground, even I have begun to lift myself despite the weakness that is running through my body in waves. Still, with each movement I make the pain dissipates and the stress upon my swollen belly seems to fade. Already I feel stronger and healthier. I know it will take quite a lot of pain in battle to trump this sensation.

The young chestnut struggles to stand upright on his light colored hooves, but with a gentle nudge I bring him to a shaky position. His legs spread and he looks awkward and gawky, but I know that in time he will grow to be a strong and beautiful stallion. A mother could not be more proud than I am now. Out of the corner of my eye I see a white creature, and recognize it as the fox that was present for the birth. In kindness I lower my head to greet it, and exhale heavily as I flare my nostrils to take in its scent. It touches my nose and I feel its own, cold black one send a light shiver through me. My ears swivel to listen as my mate tells me of the creature, and at the mention of his name, Arbutus perks up and flies up to land in the crook of my withers. Affectionately, he nudges the base of my neck with his flames sprouting and fluttering uncontrollably. I feel pride coming off of him in waves, just as it had from Aure when she'd first thanked me. "She's lovely," I speak, realizing suddenly that my voice is raspy and quiet from the strain.

As the last of the haze subsides I turn and realize that our little family is not alone. In our company stands Gossamer, a proud leader, who seems to be congratulating us. The kindness of strangers... it is a marvelous thing. I breathe in the scent of the herbs and exhale with relief- their scent alone is soothing. She asks the question that I've failed to even consider, but before I can turn to Aure and ask her to speak up, she is facing me with a look of dumbfoundedness in her eyes. I swallow to soothe the cracks in my throat and take a moment to breathe before speaking, but in some strange way, I already know what to say. I turn to look my darling in the eyes as my own brim with love and affection. "During our time apart, Aure, I was inconsolable; even Arbutus' playful ways did nothing to ease the pain of my loneliness," I say thoughtfully, turning my head to nuzzle the little firebird where he rests contentedly and dries his tears. "But if anything could remind me of the true reason for my departure, it was the flowers here. Always in bloom; bright and full of new life... they reminded me of the child stirring within me- our child," I continue, my explanation interrupted by the tender suckling of the chestnut child. I cannot help but smile- to be a mother... it is all I have ever wanted. "I... I think I would like to name our children after these flowers. Would that be alright with you, my love?" I turn once more to face Aure, love in my eyes, a desperate hope that she will approve.