Aarani was knew to this side of childbirth. Typically she stood as a dula of sorts, helping the mother as much as possible. This time around, she was coaching herself.

It was not a pleasant experience by any means, but she passed the time by praying to the spirits for guidance and health. She prayed for her babies, that they would be born strong and healthy, and she prayed for her body to be well enough to nurture them until they were of age.

It was at the twilight hour she finally rested, curled around the three bundles born from Gabriel's seed. She wished he was near to witness his new cubs, but that was alright. He would meet them one day, in this life or the next.

"Hello, little ones. I'm your mother."

+5 Attend a birth

The smell of birth, blood, and unknown scents coated the location. He was on his way to explore the locations surrounding the gorge but instead felt panic as he got wind of something far more different than he had expected. Someone had given birth - worried that a) it was dangerous here and b) if the mother was alright, the golden brute pressed forward with a mouth full of various herbs. Some he had picked up along the way and others he had already been sporting when he arrived.

He had been late though - but that was okay. He came bearing gifts. The man would slouch and chuff. Making sure that the mother of the newborn babies wouldn't worry he was there to harm her nor the children. "My lady it is dangerous here. Are you alright with your babes?" the silky voice echoed out for the mother as he made himself small and peered to look over her. "I am Diuris Yeager, Sovereign of the Lagoon. Please - take these herbs and eat them so that your strength shall replenish for your babes." he asked.

He wanted to check on the cubs, to check on the mother - to be sure they would be okay. But he would not press the issue until the woman knew he was NO threat to her or her kin.

As new to motherhood as she was, the scent of a stranger sent a jolt of protectiveness through her she had never experienced prior. It surprised her how quickly someone had managed to locate her hideaway and feared for a moment it might be Gwyn, but she was pleased to see he was nothing of the kind. Her whiskers twitched at the abrupt arrival nonetheless.

"Perhaps, but it is safer than in the clutches of Gwyn Casimir. Besides, the desert has always been my home." Aarani's tail flicked idly about her cubs before it came to rest alongside them to act as a barrier. "Thank you for the herbs. I wasn't able to find any before I found my way here." The woman smiled softly up at the man, nodding as he offered his name. "My name is Aarani." While she would prefer he kept his distance, the priestess wasn't opposed to polite company. She was, after all, a social butterfly.

@Vasilis

+5 Attend a birth


He turned to inch a bit closer to place the herbs on the ground. His eyes flickering over her when she spoke the name of the Hollow king. "You mean the one who leads the Hollow?" he questions before swallowing. Were the babies a result of something she didn't wish for? He suddenly wanted to protect her and the babes at her belly. Even though he didn't KNOW her.

Vasilis nodded. "Take what you need. If you would like....that is... You can come with your babies with me to the Lagoon, it's not far from here. It's a safe haven for those who need it...." he tells her as he points to her brood. "It's nice to meet you @Aarani. May I see your cubs? I am a Nursemaid - I promise I won't touch or get too close without first making sure you're okay with it." he remained where he was. His eyes flickering outside the location. He felt like protecting them if he could manage that. Even if it was temporary at least.

Aarani nodded. "Yes, that's the one. He thought it proper to claim me, which wouldn't typically be such an issue. I'm well aware of the way men work and such, it's just the vibe was off. I'm sure he's lovely, but he kept referring to my children as whelps and the terminology bothered me. It made them sound like they were unwanted, you know? And they very much are." Aarani turned to look upon the babes with a gentle smile, lowering her muzzle to nudge them each. "So very wanted."

The talk of a pride and him being a nursemaid was startling but welcome news. "Yes.. you are free to come take a look. I am a healer and a cleric myself, but this is my first litter." Perhaps her only, too. "Tell me more of this lagoon," she requested politely, her eyes trained on him with the tiniest inkling of skepticism. If he so much as breathed wrong, Rani would see to it he never did so again.

Breathe, she meant.

@Vasilis

+5 Attend a birth

She allowed him to come near, his eyes scooping over the terrain as he inched closer to her and her children. Which Vasilis was careful - slow - easy - he never stood over her but under her, he showed he only wanted to check on her and her children. When he got closer enough he took a breath and nodded "I see...I can understand that - no one wants their children called such names. They are gifts from the guardians themselves, after all, all children are precious." he tells her. He scooped the herbs and placed them near her. "The light green one will help with any aches you have from the birth." he then looked over the woman's body - he didn't notice any extra bleeding, and no over swelling of her belly. Their tiny sounds making him hum to make them all feel at ease. "First litter? I see. Well so far your body looks okay and there's no swelling or bleeding. Are you feeling okay?" he asked making sure she emotionally was okay. After all first-time birth was very taxing and mentally exhausting.

He smiled at @Aarani when she asked more about the Lagoon, to which he would tell her looking up and letting his mind recall all the details. "Scilla Lagoon is surrounded by the ocean, but there is a land gateway of sorts that connects us to the outskirts of the cove that is ruled by Jewel. We are secluded enough that we even have our own freshwater source, trees of variety to escape the sun under, two large inland beach caves that act as a good shelter from the weather. There is a tiny island south-east of the Lagoon where it has a few sandbars to allow a small getaway of sorts. The land is very beautiful." his voice was low as to not disturb the children as they lay beside the new mother.

Aarani struggled not to embrace her instincts and rush him from the den. It felt so unnatural to be so annoyed by someone's presence, but she was.. resisting, mostly. She didn't even tell the man she knew what the herb was for or that she found it bizarre a man had chosen to become a nursemaid, so truly, she was doing very well. Claps for Aarani.

As for how she was feeling, Rani shrugged a single shoulder. "Alone, I suppose." But that was as much of an answer as he would get on the matter. Instead she turned her attention to his description of the territory and nodded along as he explained. "It sounds lovely." And it did, but.. well, her heart sang for the desert. There were no desert prides as far as she knew, however, so perhaps this was as good as she would get for now.

"I would like to adopt the title of member in order to keep me and mine safe." He didn't get much of a say in that. Nope.

+5 Attend a birth


"I am sorry you feel alone..." he felt horrible, he wished he could make her less alone.... Alone, she felt alone. Which made him a bit sad. she was alone, a new mother...and by herself. He cleared his throat when she said it was lovely. To which he smiled. "the way the sun rises against the oasis dunes...its nothing like anything I've witnessed. " he smiled. She then spoke about adopting the title of member, to keep herself and her children safe - and thus he didn't hesitate. " I agree, The Lagoon is a haven, a place to feel like a family and to be safe. I will take care of you and your cubs as if you were my own as I will everyone else under my care. If you don't mind me asking. Before your pregnancy what were you good at? I can give you a rank for when you are healed and able to move about. If not - and you wish to keep it temporary then, no worries, The lagoon welcomes you regardless." he tells her softly, still being sure to keep his voice low and soft.

He waits a few more minutes with a nod and slipping back from her and her kids to give her space."If you need help carrying them back to the lagoon. I can help. I promise I am seasoned when it comes to cub sitting and rearing. " he tells @Aarani now nearly completely out of the way as he waited to see what she would do. Would she come with him now or later? He would prefer it if he could manage to be there for her when she was ready but he knew that she might need her space. And if she told him tomorrow, he would be back tomorrow to get her and safely make sure she arrived at the Lagoon unharmed and well rested.

Feeling alone wasn't the worst thing in the world. Now that she had her babies, she was sure that feeling would fade -- it would just be a disappointment to know the cubs would never know their father. Or their other mother, for that matter.

What were you good at before your pregnancy? Aarani's lips pulled into a frown at the phrasing and she immediately began reconsidering her decision. "Will I be free to leave with my children if I wish?" she thought to add, unwilling to get stuck somewhere with a rather.. unobservant? sovereign. "And before my pregnancy, during, or after, I remain the same at my trades. As I mentioned earlier, I am a healer and cleric. I have not been in a pride to establish myself as anything else." Didn't feel the need to, either.

Aarani curled around her cubs as he insisted on his credentials. "Be that as it may, I hardly know you and do not trust so easily to let you hold my cubs in your teeth." Her ears flattened against her head with a soft huff. "I will carry them all myself when I am ready."

And not a moment sooner.

+5 Attend a birth


He nodded "yes. You can go and come as you wish. If you find another place you want to call home - all you have to do is tell me and your free to go. I am not..some barbarian who will hold a woman, child, or man from their freedom." he looked down. When she said she had remained the same he cleared his throat " I know I mean otherwise? Like...mmm what do you LIKE to do? I am a Nursemaid but I'm great at fishing. that sorta stuff?" he told her.

When she said she didn't trust him enough to hold her cubs he nodded and backed further away to prove his point. "That's fine. I understand and you don't have to worry. I really swear to the gods I won't harm you or your children." he looked down a bit sullen. Why did everyone think he was the big bad wolf? was it because of his size? because he was a male? He wasn't sure. Vasilis stands and looks back behind him humming. "then when you are ready, I'll be here to escort you safely. And until the time you decide to leave..you are free to go from the lagoon." he told her softly as he meant it. Sure she would be considered part of the lagoon but if she wanted to go, she could go without a demand.

@Aarani