Labors of love

This pregnancy had been a particularly difficult one for Aliana. She was no stranger to carrying pups, this being her fourth time doing so with Chimera, but this one had been something else. She'd carried and birthed six sons, several of which had grown to their father's dire-sized height, and she had thought she'd been fattened up with pups then. This time, she was almost painfully round, in constant discomfort and pain from the sheer size she had ballooned to as her body grew their next generation of Kleins to add to their family. Ali had become ludicrously rotund, her smaller stature doing little to hide just how many puppies she was likely carrying in her belly. Any time any of them moved, it felt like six more began to stir inside her. As such, the Klein fae had been mandated to stay on bedrest for the majority of her pregnancy, barely able to get around their den let alone do anything worthwhile with her time. She could barely even make it into her apothecary workshop without getting winded and exhausted from the small amount of physical exertion that took!

But through it all, she bore the pain and the discomfort. She knew that at the end of the day, the children she bore her husband would be worth all the trial and tribulation in the world. Ali knew how much Chimera enjoyed seeing her pregnant with his children, and each time she caught him staring at her, it made her feel beautiful—even when she was more or less a perfect sphere by this point. The last few days of her term couldn't go by fast enough. Ali had directed Chimera on what sort of herbs to have on hand in case her labor came on suddenly, and their bedroom had been turned into a functional birthing den. As far as she could prepare, she was ready for the pups to arrive any day now.

It turned out they would come almost by surprise. In the middle of the night, Aliana felt the cramping pains in her lower belly, waking her from an uneasy sleep. Tired and groggy, it took her a moment and another stab of pain to her stomach to realize what was happening. Her contractions were beginning, and by the gods, were they coming fast! These pups wanted out now! Gasping for breath as another sharp contraction took her breath away, Ali turned on her side and began to urgently bat a paw at Chimera's side. "Chi! Chi, they're coming!" was all the small clouded fae was able to get out before she was reduced to wincing and gasping in pain once more.

"Chimera & Aliana"