Serene Validis Life was hectic right now. The Empire had lost it's sister in a terrible wave of rain that left the canyon in devastated conditions. Even worse, the innocent members that had been washed away in the flood were scattered, battered, and in need of help. Thankfully some survivors were found and brought back into the protection of the vines, but there were more out there. Lost souls in need of guidance, in need of a light in such dark times. Blessed were the members of Risen who took the responsibility of going out beyond the borders and searching for their fellow pack mates, their family. One of those blessed, was Malleus. Her silver king had spearheaded the search parties, spending a great deal of his time away from their borders and away from the den but Serene couldn't very well be angry. It was honorable. It spoke to his loyalty to family, and in her condition, that was a very comforting thought. The blonde fae had grown massive with the lives she carried, so much so, she wondered if there were of abnormally large sizes or simply come in numbers. Either way, the upcoming trial that would be their birth, made the woman more nervous with each passing day. Soon, very soon, she would have to undergo the more intense pain of her life, and she didn't know if she would have to do it alone or not. Nevertheless, Serene would keep close to her den, never venturing much farther than the stream for some water. She was growing restless, constantly digging at the den walls to expand, thinking it would never be big enough to contain the little demigods hiding within her. She was just out taking a break from such activities, lapping up some of the cool water to refresh herself, when there was a sudden release of pressure and dampness flooded down her thighs. For a moment, there was nothing. Serene did not move from her hunched position over the stream. She simply sat stared out with wide eyes, not even bothering to breath as she waited. Then, there it was, the first hum of a cramp in her abdomen that had her body moving in an instant. She had spun around to check the condition of her water breaking, noting that it was not green or black meaning no obvious fetal distress. Good. Next, Serene was wobbling her way straight home; the largeness of her belly making her body sway from side to side as she quickly walked through the cathedral. As the den's entrance came within sight of her amber orbs, Serene would let out her cry for her dear Malleus, hoping that by some grace of their God he would appear. She needed him more than ever, for he was her foundation of which their family would grow on. The fawn woman crippled just outside the den's entrance; a scorching pain rose up her spine and clawed at her stomach with vengeance. "Ahhh! Malleus!" Her cry would echo through the vines as her ears flattened against her crown, cringing at the shear impact of the contraction. This was misery beyond any doubt, and yet somehow Serene knew the night ahead of her would make this look like a stubbed toe in comparison. So she would breathe through this contraction before crawling her way into the den. Finally, with sweat already forming on the pads of her feet and her armpits, Serene would settle down into the blush bedding she had prepared for this very night. The mother laid on her side, letting her chest rise and fall rapidly as she panted through the pain, trying her damn hardest to stay calm. She had to remind herself she was never alone, never truly. Tonight, if nothing else, her mother would be with her in spirit, along with the Fallen God if she prayed hard enough for it. "Speech" <

Malleus was exhausted. He'd slept little since learning of Eclipse's demise. So few Abraxas had been found since that day. Their apparent loss kept him up at night. If enough time passed he was going to have to assume they were dead and that saddened him. Had they lost their way? Had Eclipse stumbled and brought down the wrath of god? He'd thought Ashiel a good leader and Razi potentially one too, so the idea that they were possibly being punished troubled him. It couldn't be so and yet, what other explanation was there? "Malleus!" a distant voice screamed. Serene? Malleus was off like a shot in the direction of her den, his fatigue forgotten. By his estimates she'd conceived early in her heat cycle and that meant they were approaching her delivery day. In the chaos following the canyon flood he'd lost track of time and only now that he was hearing her voice was he reminded of how near it must be. Was it time? Was something wrong? Those thoughts pushed him faster. In no time at all he was at her den and squeezing inside. "Serene? Is everything alright?" He'd never attended a birth before, but he had prepared and he was ready.

Serene Validis Serene was beginning to feel her contractions more, now that her mind was focused solely on them. She was trying to figure out if they were getting closer together, or just stronger. Either way, her body would wreck havoc on her abdomen for a few, long moments, before letting her rests. This process left her panting heavily, making her extended sides heave up and down with each breath. If the blonde fae thought she was uncomfortable before, she was in for a shocker. It felt as though an ever growing pressure was building between her hip joints, making her want to kick her hind legs out in attempt to better situate herself, but nothing helped. Not turning onto her other side, not lashing out at non-existent being causing her pain, she was simply writhing in agony all on her own. That was, until her silver hero came to the den opening, drawing her attention away from her suffering if just for a moment as amber eyes glued to his face like a life line. His mass took up a large portion of the den, his scent beginning to wrap around her like a comforting blanket that eased her tense muscles the more she breathed him in. Finally, once she was calmed, she was able to answer his question. "My water broke by the river, Malleus the pups are com-" She wasn't able to finish as another wave of pain shot out from her abdomen and crawled around her sides, aiming to settle on the small of her back while she grit her teeth. These were just the first round of contractions, prepping her body for when the time came to push. But damn they hurt like hell. When the wave finally subsided, it left Serene breathless; her head fell back to the earth as she panted. "Malleus.... Mal I'm scared." She never wanted to admit it, for she had wanted pups of her own for so long now. But for the time to finally be here, there was so much she had to be scared of. What if she lost one of the pups in the process? That thought alone was enough to bring her to the brink of tears. She couldn't imagine the guilt she would feel if she managed to lose one of her precious pups. What if there was a complication, and Serene bled out? At least her pups would be alive, but for how long? Newborns without a mother are in such great danger, and it left Serene begging the Gods to let her live through this. But as another wave crashed into her, the sandy woman wondered how she would even manage that. "Speech" <

The scents that filled the den told him all he needed to know. Serene's day had arrived. Today his children would be born. That knowledge sent a thrill of excitement through him. God willing she would give the Abraxas many strong sons and daughters today. "Don't be. My love, you are giving birth to gods." Malleus reached out to press a soothing kiss onto the top of Serene's head. "Just think. In a few weeks time they'll have the run of the place and you'll wish you could pull them back in." Her anxiety was etched in every line of her face and he wished he could relieve her of it. Unfortunately, he could not. Sure, there were plenty of herbal concoctions out there that would lessened her fear and pain, but he didn't know how their pups would react to them and he wasn't willing to find out. She would have to weather the storm as her ancestors had done. Wolves had been giving birth for eons; they didn't need much help. The bulk of his skills would only be needed in the worst case scenario. As such, he'd prepared for the worst case scenario. Hopefully his supplies wouldn't be needed and he'd simply be "catching" through this whole affair, but in any case, Malleus was prepared. All he needed was his supplies. "I need to call Pascal, Serene, so I will be right back, okay?" Without another word he shimmied back up the tunnel. Once outside he threw back his head and howled for his companion. The macaque would fetch the supplies he'd gathered and bring them to him. Hastily Malleus returned to his laboring mate. He lay down beside her and curled around her in the hopes of offering comfort. It didn't look like she needed him just yet. "Do you need anything? How far apart are your contractions?"

Serene Validis His comforting words brought a smile to her face, even though she was panting in pain, it was sweet and his kiss seemed to ease her worries the moment he touched her head. She thanked the Gods for Malleus being here with her. Had she been alone, like her mother before her, Serene wasn't sure she was going to make it, not intact at least. But now that her mate was here, she knew. She knew everything was going to be fine. The pained woman let out a pained chuckle at his statement, but the image was blissful; their pups running around the vines, causing havoc within the empire. The image faded away as another round of contractions hit her, causing the woman to throw her head to the grown as she groaned. It was becoming more uncomfortable than painful; a growing pressure in her Nether regions begging to be released. Suddenly Malleus was moving out of the den, and her amber orbs watched his fleeting form with longing. She needed him, why was he leaving? He might've given a reason, but the blood pounding in her head, and her own panting was all she could hear. But as soon as he was gone, he was coming back in, and this time settling down behind her. Serene let out a sigh of relief as she leaned into him, his body adding pressure to her back and yet instead of adding to her agony, he relieved it. As if his touch was made of pure gold, everywhere he touched he eased her pain, her worry, her anguish. Until that familiar pain shot out around her hips and the pressure once again built up and begged to be released. Once more Serene let out a whine, panting heavily as she moved move onto her belly, trying to find the best position. "Close... too close." Was all she could answer for him while she grit her teeth and began to let nature take it's course. Her legs moved to place her in a posturing position, which piled the pressure into one area and made her want to push it out of her. So she did. -fade- Serene laid on her side, breathing heavily but in content. Squirming beside her was their first pup, a dark little male with some hints of rich gold on his newborn coat. He was perfect, and every now and again the new mother would lift her crown just to stare at him, smiling brightly. "Just look at him Malleus..." he was absolutely perfect. Her head tilted slightly as she wondered what the Gods would have in store for her young boy. "What shall we name him? Our first born son." She figured Malleus would have an idea or two on names. Surprisingly enough, Serene had never truly thought about names even through her pregnancy, she had assumed when the time came, either Malleus or the Gods would give her little ones their names. "Speech" <

There was little more he could do than watch and offer encouragement as Serene birthed their first pup. When it became clear that it was time, Malleus flipped around so that his upper body was behind Serene's lower body and his lower body was pressed against her side. He wanted to keep an eye on her progress and he wanted to be first to handle a complication should one arise. Pascal arrived just in time to see the first pup emerge. He laid his bundle down beside Malleus and then scampered back to the tunnel. He wanted to be close enough to jump in should his dexterous hands be needed, but not so close that he was intruding on the intimate scene. Malleus watched keenly as Serene carefully bathed the newborn. The moments of silence passed by slowly and he was on the verge of leaning closer when his son finally gave his first cry. Relieved, Malleus let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. The cry was strong, indignant and promising. As he leaned around Serene to get a good look at the child, Malleus was confident that all would be well with him. With a jerk of his head Malleus summoned Pascal back into the den. "Let's get a good look at him, shall we?" He kept his tone light, but if something was wrong with the boy Malleus wouldn't allow him to suckle. Removing him early would be best for everyone involved. It would be a difficult decision, but if necessary, it was one he'd have to make. "Just look at him, Malleus..." Pascal gently picked up the newborn and carried him to Malleus for inspection. He slowly rolled the pup around in his hands and let Malleus get a good look at him. Finally, when Malleus was satisfied, he laid the boy down at Serene's side. "He's perfect," he said warmly. "A strong addition to the family." As for a name... Malleus studied the boy for a second. Many things would come and go in the boy's life, but his name would be lasting. A strong name would be fitting. "How about Eligos?"

Serene Validis Eligos. It was a very strong, and a fitting name for their first born son. Serene offered a bright smile, "Eligos is perfect. Eligos Abraxas. Our first born. A son." Yes, something deep within her told the fawn woman that was a perfect name for him. Serene was grateful her firstborn had passed the inspection of Malleus. In truth, it was not something so present on her mind when she first went into labor; she was a bit more concerned about even being able to birth them at all, let alone if any were deformed or unfit in any way. But after watch Malleus and his little monkey friend examine her boy so carefully, the danger was ever so present on her mind. But what could she do if Malleus suddenly deemed one pup unworthy of this life? If her mate was to suddenly rip her young away from her, what could she do? A rage brewed in her stomach at the mere thought of it, but something stopped her from barking his ear off, a fight she would surely lose. There was suddenly a strong scent of lavender surrounding the woman, and for a moment Serene had forgotten the pains of whelping, and was suddenly tossed into a different time. Esmeralda. Serene's mother coated herself in such a scent. It soothed her so much she even took a slow, deep breath, closing her eyes as another wave of contractions worked it's way over her abdomen. "Mother.." Serene would whisper, almost not believing what she was sensing. But she was here, Serene was sure of it, and in knowing her mother was close by, gave the fawn woman a strength she had not known. Instead of waiting for the pups to emerge, she began pushing on her own accord. She would push a little, pant heavily, push a little more, then whimper. It was exhausting, and the pain was unlike any she had before. But she was determined... -fade- Finally, after several long minutes of intensely pushing, Serene had manage to push not one, but two, more pups from her womb. Exhaustion didn't even begin to explain how drained she felt at this moment, only sparing enough energy to lift her crown and gently clean the pair. It was then, that she would notice the markings. "Mal... are these.. twins?" Her voice was coarse and dry, but holding steady at a light whisper. Serene had never seen actual twins before, only knowing of their existence through stories. She couldn't hold her head up any longer though, and settled her cheek against the cooler dirt below, tilting her head ever so slightly to peer at the pair from the side. She was tiring, and quicker than she hoped. But instead of letting herself rest, she wanted to hold on and see; see what Malleus and Pascal would declare. To see if they truly were twins, and if either of them would pass the culling. "Speech" <

Serene's approval filled him with pride and he reached over her to nuzzle the child gently. He'd hoped this day would come, but it had always been a distant dream. That it was reality was still sinking in. It was now official. He was a father. "You are going to make your ancestors proud," he silently promised the boy. Malleus would do everything in his power to ensure his son was raised properly; he would equip him to the best of his ability. He'd never felt so strongly about something before. "Mother..." His attention snapped to Serene, his expression concerned. They were the only ones there. Her voice was hushed, but their proximity meant little could be kept a secret. He studied her for a moment, trying to decide if her eyes were clear or glassy. If she was hallucinating they were in trouble. -fade- The birth of their next two pups was uneventful. After observing Serene carefully, Malleus was confident that she was doing just fine and in the intense moments after her outburst he forgot about asking her what she'd meant. Twins? Malleus peeked over Serene to get a better look at the two. "Perhaps they just have many similarities..." He trailed off as he studied them and then cocked his head. Pascal lifted first one and then the other for Malleus to examine. "Hm," he murmured in surprise. "I guess they are." His thoughts immediately went to the blind twin oracles. Their other sight had spared them from the culling and Malleus couldn't help but wonder if his sons would be similarly cursed. The thought was troubling, but looking down at their plump little bodies he was reassured that if that were the case, the fallen god had plans for them. They were strong. He wouldn't have made them so if they were without purpose. "Two more strong boys," he said proudly. "What should we name these two?" Out of the corner of his eye Malleus saw Serene lay her head down. She was exhausted, and rightly so. He wished there was more he could do for her. "Pascal? Bring me the cotton root decoction." In preparation for this day, Malleus had gathered cotton root bark and let it soak in water for many days. The resulting concoction was said to increase contractions, shorten labor and aid in milk production among many other things. After Pascal had retrieved the turtle shell that contained the liquid, Malleus directed him towards Serene. "Here, drink this, it will shorten your labor." To get her mind off of her fatigue, Malleus then prompted, "I was thinking about the name Aureus. What do you think? Eligos, Aureus and..." he trailed off, hoping Serene would bite and offer a name.