rockabye baby

Lucretia, so used to seeing Deathbelle as an imposing, lovely pillar of strength, was only a little surprised to hear her finally voice a shred of worry. It was natural for any new mother to have fear, she supposed, but it was her job as shaman to dispel all of the Empress' doubts. Tsking quietly, Luce approached her sister. How could she frame this? Emotions had never been her strong suit, and even while she was positive that she could ensure the health of this litter, visions of stillborn puppies and broken, bleeding mothers still haunted her own nightmares.

The ravaged Klein empire had brought forth some truly horrendous births - but she was stronger for having witnessed them. Wiser. There was no safer place to give birth than Ashen, with herself as shaman. Lucretia was positive. The younger Klein circled the Empress a few times, brushing her cheek against Deathbelle as she did so before settling in an intimate embrace at her side. Luce curled her tail around her sister and pressed her shoulder against Belle's.

"You have created a glorious machine here in these strange new lands. You have the strength of all the Kleins behind you, and if your litter's father is to be believed, the strength of God as well. There is not a single doubt in my mind or a niggling worry in my entire body. I will be by your side until the blessed first moments of privacy you will receive when you nurse your healthy litter after a labor that will be as fleeting and painless as possible." It was a solemn promise, one that Luce felt deep in her bones.