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In one of many moments of weakness as her pregnancy neared it’s end, Alysanne had taken to lying down and wishing the foal right out of her. It was getting harder to keep pretending that she loved Miykael the way she said she did, harder to sleep next to him every night and return the caresses he bestowed upon her with such ease. As much as she loved him, the weight of her deception grew with their foal and she felt that if the little foal were born everything would be alright. Perhaps it was just the hormones making her more upset, perhaps once the babe was here and they had something physical to bind them as a family everything would be alright.

So that was where she lay that evening, trying to induce labour by sheer force of will, but though the time was near it was not today. The little filly, or colt or whatever it was, was stubbornly staying put inside her, unwilling to move an inch earlier than planned. Her body was at war with her mind, a new sensation for Alysanne.

After straining for several minutes, followed by several further minutes of guilt that this stress might be affecting the baby, the painted pegasus allowed her body to relax and instead of wishing for labour she wished instead for the release of sleep. There, she might be able to find some relief. She could dream of happier days, where her son did not hate her and her second-born had been created for a happier reason than to make herself fall in love with a friend.

But no dreams would come, not yet.

Hemlock, who had made his stance on this entire situation quite clear, was keeping watch near by and was the first to notice the approaching Khan. He bristled angrily, his hatred for all things dragon running deep, and hooted a warning to Alysanne. Emerald eyes sought out the disturbance and immediately made several guesses as to what would bring her dear friend’s companion over this way. Could it be that Kahlua’s time had come? She had hoped to be there for it, to soothe her friend through the birth and help however she could, and now she feared she was going to be too late! Getting back up took… time but that was no excuse for not being a good friend and she managed to roll herself onto her feet and stand up.

After gathering up her own companion, she set off after the dragon until he led her to a most beautiful sight. Of course, there was rather a lot of guilt at having missed the entire thing (she worried so about Kahlua!) but mother and daughter appeared to be in excellent health at the moment. “Kahlua!” She called out in greeting, oblivious to any conversation going on between the pair - certainly not expecting there to be any conversation at all - and trotted forward awkwardly to join them. “Why, she’s beautiful!” And indeed she was! Though the filly looked hardly anything like her dear friend, all warm colours and soft wings… and horns! Every second she spent looking at the newborn, Alysanne felt as though she was discovering something new. The way the girl blended into the environment as though she were one with the earth.