there is no greater love

Jupiter continued to visit her with predictable frequency after their first reunion here in the forest. His presence made Ballad quite hesitant to return to her wild wandering. Then, about the time that Jupiter paused in his visits, the Ademre woman realized she had been blessed by Tor a second time. With the coming of her suspended full moon night she would bring forth very special children. Ballad cared for herself and her growing brood alone, no family by her side and only Tor to rely on. To think that the galactic pelted man would be here through this anyway seemed atrocious to the woman. This was her burden to bear as the moon goddess saw fit.

So Ballad’s middle grew and the days passed until she reached her due date. Fenris and the sun had returned by now but as the night eased over the tender spring lands the first natural full moon returned to the sky. Tor looked down proudly at her daughter and bathed her in moonlight as labor began.

The forests were silent and it felt like the earth was holding its breath as Ballad gasped in deep breaths as her body rolled and coiled with contractions. She had almost forgotten how difficult birth was. She tried not to show the expression on her features but pain laced her expression as she shifted between laying in the spring grass and pacing through the trees.