There was something weird about knowing your sister was pregnant by your best friend.

Like, knowing that they had sex.

Kaj was no prude, but it still made him feel like a damn right creep most days when that thought crossed his mind. It was also difficult to figure out which one he wanted to bluster at more; his sister for being grown up (purposefully forgetting that she'd already had foals once before) or his best friend for knocking her up.

Still, in the end, Kaj was happy. Deliriously so. Resplendence glowed (quite literally, but still) with happiness as of late. It seemed exploding at him, and then Quilyan returning as Kaj had tentatively dared to promise, had finally helped seal up the broken structures in her mind and soul. It was beautiful to see, and it had helped lift the darkness from the king's soul, to see her so happy at last. She deserved it beyond measure, truly. It was about time she found her happily ever after, and every time Kaj laid eyes upon her swollen sides he found himself unbelievably giddy.

Would his relationship with Resplendence make him an uncle? He never dared to ask, not desiring to be presumptuous, but in his heart he secretly yearned for the day of the birth. Somewhere in his design, the Gods had placed inside his heart a fatherly yearning that could not be extinguished. Foals were his weakness, and sometimes he wondered if he really could have made that compromise he'd mentioned when he'd fought with Kahlua. To see their big eyes look up at him, so fragile and new, Kaj would do anything he could to protect them from the horrors of the world. The ones that had left him tainted and scarred in too many ways, the ones that had hounded his sister to her early grave and made him suffer the loss of her love and light.

The king had no companion to keep track of Resplendence, no way of knowing when her labor was close. It prickled his skin the longer her pregnancy wore on, not sure what the proper Helovian time span for pregnancies was. His own time in the womb had been terrifyingly short, with how magic had influenced him from the start of his life. It was weird to see her grow with each day, and yet happily go about her business. It was perplexing, but Kaj had long learned to accept that some things in Helovia he simply would never understand. Even if it hurt to realize that.

Luckily, though he didn't personally have a companion with which to alert him when Resplendence went into labor, the brindled sister did. Valiance was a familiar shape in the sky, but Kaj glanced twice when the dragon's urgency shone through like a beacon. The anxious noises chittering between his teeth was just as worrisome, and without a second thought Kaj turned from whatever useless task he'd been doing and raced towards the winged companion.

He was so scared. What if she was hurt? What if she couldn't handle the birth? She seemed so impossibly small, so breakable in comparison to the mares Kaj knew of olde. Though she had an iron will beneath all her tears and ruination, he feared for her safety and well-being nonetheless. It was his job after all. So instead of sparing any time, the king thundered through the forest on heavy hooves, carelessly shoving aside foliage that impeded his progress, uncaring how they tugged at his hardened outer feathers and caught in his slowly growing mane. He had to get to Resplendence. He couldn't let her be alone, not again.

The fires were a distant warmth that flickered cheerily in the distance, helping to calm the sudden pounding of his heart as he came upon the scene. Quilyan was already knelt at the Doctor's side, and though Kaj had many misgivings regarding the painted stag, those would have to be overlooked in favor of his sister laying prone and prostrate on the ground. The king was swollen to his fullest size in his worry for her, nares wide and colorful as he heaved to regain his breath. He moved to go to her side, but a spotted youth with the oddest wings interrupted his progress, and just like that he was melting.

A gentle smile spread on his lips, impressed both by her extensive vocabulary and professional atmosphere. She'd make a good nurse or diplomat someday, should her passions drive her down those paths. Instead of allowing Quilyan to answer, he stepped in to do so, allowing his once-brother to take his time with his mate, console both her and himself while he handled the young spotted fae. "She is going to give birth, child," he informed succinctly, but with a warmth to his tone that was unmistakable. As for her question, his mind whirred with all those lessons he'd attended with Alysanne and Resplendence. Oh Gods, what was the herb for labor, again? It wouldn't be fair to have Resplendence answer, Gods knew she had enough on her mind in that exact moment, so Kaj struggled until he brought the name stubbornly to his reluctant lips. "Angelica. We need angelica. It's in the garden, but it grows in the Edge naturally. Could you fetch some please? It's a very tall plant, long leaves, it's summer so it should have pale flowers. If the garden is too far, look near the little rivers and springs." He prayed she'd retain the information and fetch it for them, she was far faster than Kaj's hulking form after all.

Finally he turned to Resplendence, taking vigil on her empty side and easing to his knees beside her. "Hello aardbei," he whispered fondly. "What are you hoping for? A son or a daughter?" He hoped she'd see it clearly for what it was - a distraction from the pain of the contractions, a way to find safe haven in her mind to overcome the ordeal, even if she'd experienced it once before.

---

Ugh, that was really bad for some reason?? I'm sorry it'll get better.

It felt like she would float in that abyss for eternity. It grew more and more cramped, more tight, more... wrong, and she kept twisting, trying to find some way to get comfortable, like how she used to be. Yet it only got worse, and the child couldn't help the panic that had begun to settle into her soft body.

And then

IT happens.

There is a pressure, something moving her around against her will, and it goes on...and on...and on. She is being pushed somewhere, to something, and she can't tell what it is, yet she is helpless to it all. Deep down she is afraid(and kind of pissed) that this would go on and on as her captivity had, however that proves false. In a few, rapid shoves, she is dropped onto... well hell what was it? She didn't exactly care, instead opting to just flop onto her side and

S T R E T C H

Oh, she couldn't begin to describe the joy she felt at being able to unfurl her limbs and not hit anything. Something begins licking and nudging her, and as good as it felt all she could do was try and push the thingy away vainly with a hind foot, and miracle after miracle...it does! And when it goes, so does something else.

Rue takes her first breath, and immediately let out a sneezing cough hard enough to nearly roll her onto her back. It startles her(because she couldn't possibly have done that!) enough that her head jerks up, eyes opening(yay another first!) to see...

The hell?

Something kinda reddish is moving around her, cutting at the sticky stuff and further freeing her. Was this the nudgy-licky thing from before? She stretches her nose out towards it, somehow incredibly doubtful before she flops back onto her side, content to let the hoppy-thing serve her.

New life so far? Perfect.

OOC: nkawfnka well isn't someone princessy

"Speech speech speech"

Children are eager, even the calm youth that stands askance the birthing area, her odd wings aflutter and nigh dancing with her desire to help. When Kaj addresses her, she skitters away after Valiance with nary a word, and the King heaved a colossal sigh of relief that she had done so in such an orderly fashion. He'd attended many births, but they never failed to hasten the beating of his heart or bring a drop of sweat to his brow. With Myrrine fetching the Angelica, he dropped gracelessly beside Resplendence, for she'd seen almost every side of him and would never deign to judge him for his worry. Her teeth clasped onto his wing gently, and he obeyed her silent desires with a loving smile, patient as always. Barred wings lifted and spread to shield her, both in an act of affection and one of privacy, sure that Myrrine would return. Kaj had no doubts that Quilyan, too, likely desired a birth with far more solitude than was fairly given to them. Still, a portion of the king was fiercely stubborn, he never would have abandoned Resplendence's side, not like the patched prince had he bitterly ruminated.

Shaking away the oddly hateful thoughts, he turned ear to the soft words uttered by the brindled Doctor, and Kaj laughed a little wetly. "Would it be embarrassing for us both if I admitted that I asked Alysanne to renew our old lessons, knowing this day was near?" Kaj loved Resplendence unconditionally, likely had since she'd sought shelter so long ago beneath the canopy of his feathers, and he had been feverishly prepping for the foal's birth ever since he'd noticed the tell-tale swelling of her sides. And her chiming voice heralded a hope, one echoed by Quilyan, and Kaj's heart squeezed. For a moment he felt unfairly abandoned, sitting broken and hollowed on the sidelines as those around him settled down, formed families, found joy and purpose in their lives. And what was he left with?

As if sensing his despair, Quilyan spoke, his voice tremulous but certain. Shocked blues lifted to stare senselessly at the stag he called brother, even after his absence, even after his arrival back in the Edge with not a word to the King in passing. So Kaj choked on his own answer, eyes moist and throat thick with emotion, with gratitude. "It would be my honor," he assured, reaching for Quilyan over Resplendence, seeking his touch. All could be forgiven. There were no grudges to be held, no sour feelings to curdle in their lack of communication. Forgiveness had always been an easy thing for the King, and bridging the gap he hoped to offer it once more in that precious moment.

The event is over, just as Myrrine returned with Valiance overhead, herbs clutched in talons and teeth alike. A grateful smile spread across his face, wing retracting to allow Resplendence free movement to stand. Though the instinct to coddle and support was there, he shoved it away, knowing it was not his place but rather Quilyan's. "Thank you, child," he spoke earnestly as he swayed to his hooves, turning to hear the naming of the tiny thing still blinking on the ground, overwhelmed and as precious as any other. Kaj nearly swallowed his heart, enchanted to see her tiny face peering up from the earth. To know that she was his, in some way, that he had the right to care for her. It filled the loss inside his heart, even as it ached to remind him of Aniela's birth.

"Rue," he whispered, already knowing she'd have him wrapped around her tiny hoof from that moment forth. He allows them their moment, the new parents, and turns to find Myrrine bowing almost anxiously before him. An easy smile spread on golden lips, eyes fond as they regarded the peppered fae with amusement.

"Be calm, young Myrrine. You've done nothing wrong. I cannot thank you enough for your help, you are a level-headed young mare, you should be very proud of yourself." Pale eyes sought to pin her own, to press upon her this vital truth and show her how much he appreciated her efforts. Kaj did not want her to mistake him for a strict or unforgiving king, for he was perhaps the kindest next to Kahlua out of the triumvirate in power. "Births are quite an experience, are they not?" eyes twinkled fondly, using the question as an opening to his response, sliding easily into his acceptance of her and hoping to set her at ease in her skin. "I doubt they will mind much if you remain, so long as you are quiet and respectful. I certainly will not chase you away," Kaj clarified, eyes shining with a regal sort of amusement, wings clutched easily close as he shifted his mountainous shoulders. At least she helped distract him, gave him a reason to offer further privacy and time to themselves for the mated pair nearby. Otherwise he'd likely be desperate to nuzzle the new babe, too.