begin again
The smell was soothing as she made her way toward it - salt water, the sea. The time was coming and it was coming quickly, and Natalya didn't want to be in the place that everyone found so relaxing, didn't want to be at the site where every law and announcement was made. She had loosed a call for Helios, for anyone in her family if they wished, as she walked. She wasn't certain if anyone would make it in time to assist her, though.
Luckily she had Poe at her side, her ever-faithful friend, carrying the herbs she had instructed him to. She had been through this twice before and aided in a few others, she knew she could handle the birthing process fine on her own. She took her time to find a damp spot in the warm sand, far enough away from the sea that the tide could not reach her. She chose damp sand as opposed to dry because the ground would remain slightly solid beneath her and protect her babies from abrasive particles.
Natalya flopped when her decision was made too exhausted from the weight and contractions to go any further. She was weak with sickness and bordered on the edge of unconsciousness as she pushed each pup free, but she fought the darkness with all her might. It felt almost like an out of body experience as she cleaned each pup and pushed them toward her belly, her head so light it could have been floating. Her consciousness faded with every movement. At some point Helios would arrive, maybe others, but she wouldn't know what was a dream and what was not until she woke completely.
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Thanatos felt sick. No, not sick to his stomach, but his heart was sick. He had yet to come see Natalya since the news hit him like a ton of bricks. Nothing else mattered to the young male. He had, for a small time, isolated, trying to find answers. Yet it seemed the gods weren't ready to offer any up. So, with a deep sigh he finally set out to find her.
It was the birthing scent that caught his attention. Where the sound was wet, but far enough away from the water it wouldn't be a danger. Still the child worried, and normally uncharacteristic he would rush to Natalya's side. Not even in a den...! His eyes were widened with worry, his heart clutching in his chest. There were puppies there yet... Helios was not yet here. The boy threw back his head, howling for his adopted father before shifting on his paws by her side, calling softly.
"Mother?" He whined softly. "Can you hear me?" She seemed out of it, and Thany was scared. The situation had broken his slowed state of mind, wakening it with adrenaline. He prayed Helios would hear soon, coming to them. To his wife and children. Thany wasn't sure he'd be any use here. |
Table by:: Lolaf |
Her content caccoon was fading, and she found herself soon shifting within. It was unknown who went first, she just felt her body moving. Forced away from what she knew, what was warm and safe. The pup would be freed into the world. She was cleaned, and like her brother and sister moved to her mother's belly. Instinct would push the baby girl to seek out Natalya's milk, resting upon the open sand. Thank goodness it was spring, later in spring, or the temperature could have been bad for them to deal with. She would settle beside the other too, closer in look to her brother, and closest to her mother with her raven coat.
One thing was certain -- The Olympian line would live on.
She failed to be deterred, however, and the fiery girl, having been thoroughly cleaned by her mother and presented at her belly, latched on quickly, not hesitating to push her siblings out of the way in order to feed. It didn't take long for the girl to tire out, and to snuggle up beside her dying mother - it seemed that she was so painfully unaware of everything, of her mother's illness, of her father's struggles and of her older siblings, so focused on the sole need to feed (as every newborn is), but such things would be discovered in time. Such things, along with the girl's recklessness, spitfire attitude, brazen demeanor - her disregard for most things and her obsession with others.
But for now the child, to be named Mnemosyne and known and Mneme, slept on, curled beside a sister and brother and completely content in dreamland oblivion.