As the sun began to rise, five chunky bodies squeaked and suckled at her belly.

The night had been harrowing, exhausting, utterly draining and somewhat terrifying for the piebald woman. For days, she had hauled her enormous and swollen body on short trips around the Brook, keeping active but easily tiring. However many she was carrying, her generally slender body seemed to show everything - each restless kick and roll of the cubs within stretching her already taut stomach in weird and unusual ways. Of the last few evenings, she had taken to propping herself up to watch the kicks and squirms beneath her skin, an exhausted smile curving across her lips at the thoughts of how many and what they would be like and how she would love them.

When the first rippling pains had started, it had been excitement that had been at the forefront of her mind. That she would soon meet them, the culmination of Cassius and herself, the lives they had created together. Hours later, many gruelling hours later when the contractions had felt like they might just rip her apart - the excitement had faded away. She had taken all of the herbs she could think of to help everything move along, ashanti peppers and milk thistle and devil's claw, all of them gathered in the weeks leading up to this moment.

The first cub felt as though he fought every single inch on the way out and his mother hissed as the pain had erupted all over her body. It had been instinct however, to clean him and listen for his squeaks, to marvel at the enormous boy she had brought into the world. The deep ashen grey of the eldest boy had been thoroughly cleaned and the cub moved close to his mothers teats, demanding food and warmth already. Freja had hoped that he was the cause of the pain, that the first had been the biggest and that it would be easier from here on out. She had been very, very wrong.

Another enormous brother followed the first, darker than the first.

And another, with a lighter topline and face.

And yet another - tinged with brown.

And

Another.

Each one enormous, healthy, onerous. They squeaked and called for one another even moments after their birth, bodies dragged towards the soft underbelly of nourishment and comfort of their mother. Not a single girl among them - Freja had held out hope until the last boy slipped into the pile of blood and bodily fluids already gathered behind her. She had been unable to contain the sob of disappointment as she had cleaned him, the stripes over his hind legs so alike with Cassius. It had been momentary, a culmination of hormones and exhaustion and sheer overwhelm. That she would not have a daughter should not matter - all five boys were vigorous and active.

She knew it would be better to try and clear out the remains of birth, the remnants of membranes and the blood clots that now stained the backs of her legs and tail crimson. But the thought of moving was inconceivable, the thought of doing anything other than laying her head on the downy bed she had created and sleeping unacceptable. So she did - resting her head and closing her eyes and not noticing at all that the pool of blood was growing slowly, insidiously bigger.

@Cassius ♔

Art by Moogle, Code by Minxy

Cassius had not strayed far from Freja in the days leading up to her giving birth. Unlike with Icefang's children, he wanted to witness this moment. And with there being no secrets of the children's paternity, he could be as open as he liked when it came to hovering over her.

He returns from having been out on patrol, drawn closer now by the heavy scent of iron and amniotic fluid. There is no hesitation when he enters into her den. No waiting approval of invite. Even if she allowed her instincts to take the lead, he was not afraid of her hormone induced ire. So he enters confidently, strolling right up to her stretched out form; nostrils flaring as the scent of her blood consumed all.

At first his inexperience simply leads him to believe that she is exhausted. And rightfully so. Eyes skimming down to take in the sight of five massive writhing things at her belly. All of them just as darkly coated and lightly speckled as their father. After having daughters that all greatly favored their mother, he couldn't help but find amusement in the fact that not a single one of them resembled their mother.

Freja. He quietly urges, yet when she does not respond he again only assumes. So he moves closer, ignoring the cubs for now; not bothering to inspect them quite yet, and proceeds to help clean the lioness. Without an inkling of knowing what the hell he was doing, he rasps the mess off her fur until it becomes apparent that the bleeding would still continue to seep. Freja. The man tries again, now having moved to her front, muzzle jostling her head. And with little to no response he has little choice but to seek help. Preferably from someone who knew what the fuck they were doing.

So he calls for any and all healers within the territory. Demanding they come. Along with a call for @Icefang ♔. She had given birth to five children as well after all. So maybe she too would know what to do.

@Kaos @Freja

code / artwork

It had not escaped her watchful eye the slow swell of @Freja's stomach and the constant sickness that had followed after her return to the Brook. Though the queen had kept her distance tending to her own children and throwing herself into her duties. She had doubled down on border patrol knowing that there would be more cubs added to the X'uekai name increasing the chances of an attack that would throw her into a frenzy if any were to be harmed or targeted. She is doing just that when @Cassius ♔ calls for her along with a desperate call for help. She pauses and prays his inexperience is causing this. Some stupid hiccup that she can scoff off rather than the possibility that something has gone horribly wrong. She knew any day that the lead huntress would soon go into labor.

She sprints towards Freja's den and immediately she is cloaked in the scent of afterbirth, the parents, and blood. Icefang rushes in without permission, blue eye darting over Cassius's lingering form. He is blocking most of Freja along with the cubs, but first the queen pushes her way in dropping her crown to nudge Freja's skull as well. She confirms that there are soft breaths, but furrows her brow, uneasy at the shallowness of each one. She licks the woman's crown in an affectionate gesture proceeding to then step around Cassius so that she can see the five cubs suckling at her belly. She sniffs each one, noting they are quite large than what she usually sees at birth. Boys. Congratulations, she murmurs to the heir before glancing at the concerning pool of blood soaking Freja's hind end.

She growls softly. The blood loss is making her weak. It is all she tells him, not wishing to cause panic yet even though she knows that this is not ideal. Impatiently, she strides towards the entrance brushing roughly against Cassius if he is in her way. She issues a call of her own for any lingering medics, louder and obviously even more impatient that she has arrived before any of them. She stands outside the den starting to pace and continuing to release calls until someone - anyone - answers.

@Kaos

SPEECH

code by corvus/art by drifter

This content might touch on topics that are sensitive or triggering for some readers. Trigger Warning for mentions of violence, infant murder, murderous thoughts graphic and obsessive thought concerning newborn death

When she hears the call @Cassius ♔ gives for medics, Nazara ignores it. Halted in her own motion of dressing the wound upon her face as it healed, the girl assumed that his call was because he once again found violence and had it leave its mark upon his hide. She cared oh so little, that Nazara was confidant if given the chance, she'd let the Viper bleed out.

Delicate paws place the slave created from dried herbs and melted snow along the crusty edges of these new scars. The swelling of her tongue had died down enough that talking was far easier again. She had to concentrate, at times, and it still brought twinges of pain when twisted incorrectly. The small pool of water gathered in her own private, secluded den provided her with a looking glass. She stuck her tongue out, and forced the two pieces apart with a wince.

@Icefang ♔'s voice echoed out over the Brook, urgently, and that made the girl pause. Now, she was both morbidly curious, and mildly worried. The herbal blends shed worked on curating were quickly shoved into the tiny make-shift pouch of furs and leaves. Clove and Frankensense--witj the temptation to add a few non-savory options in the mix. But if her Mother was present, it was best not to test her luck.

She slung the knapsack over her shoulders so it hung by her front leg, and began to bound her way through the snow towards the calls location. Another den, to her surprise, where her mother and the Viper stood. Immediately, she is greeted with the stench of afterbirth, iron and fluid. It makes her stomach roll at the thought, and even more so when she glances past them towards @Freja's body.

"I can assist" she says pointedly to Icefang, electing to ignore Cassius all the same. She averta her gaze from his form, focusing only on the pale high sovereign. Naza motions to the pouch, the scent of medicinal herbs should have been enough though.

With our waiting too much for an answer, she brushes passed them. Five too large for comfort wiggling slimy little maggots--paternally cursed by the seed of the Viper. She sets her pouch down, and looks at Freja. Her gaze sweeps over the woman she doesn't know, but understands several things in that moment. One, that she has fucked the beast and born his demons. Two, that she was likely dying or close to it. Three, she wouldn't notice if one of her cubs was dead--or all--would she? Four, that she has the opportunity to stab Cassius in ways no mere slash could.

Her claws dig into the dirt, her teeth chew at her sore split tongue. Fuck. What she wouldn't have given to brought the poisons she's considered, instead of true healing herbal blends.

So, what does she have left? The witch thinks back to her time with Dio, the prisoner. How much power had radiated from her in ways that even she gawked at. Was this truly what Nazara held within her? Did that same inner power, that connection to the Dead and beyond truly exist?

Or was she absolutely mad?

"You stupid, vile little worms" she whispers harshly. "Damn you, little cretins" she harshly shoves two of them away, with little care at how fragile they are. Her gaze refocuses upon the mother then "And you, what sort of insolent wretch must you be? Hunter hunted by prey"

A pause, she manages to scruff out some of her clove and frankensens oil.

"Pathetic."

Her ire only intensifies when one of the cubs tries to weasle their way back into the mix as she assesses the damage. His blueish hue catches her eye, dark in nature like their bastard father. Her claws would unsheath, holding his fragile skull in the palm of her hand. Not unlike his father had done to her, not so long ago.

"You--" she states, voice monotone and trance like yet no more than a whisper "You will be nothing. Your line dies with you. Your strength be zapped, your cunning be wilted, your seed impotent." she begins the curse, edged on by the chorus of whispers in her head. "A broken boy, cursed to live in a shadow you can never escape. Cursed to stand in prints you can never fill" She squeezes, but holds back the urge to kill him. It's there, rising in her chest, the Whispering Women screaming for her to crush the newborn like a bug--snap it's neck and feel the satisfying pop as life drains from it.

Whatever it is, deep down within, the rational sode of Nazara wins out by a fraction of an inch. "May your mother's milk be ash upon your mewling tongue, and may you wither away to dust" she pushes the boy from her claws, not caring if any of them left a mark. Nazara begins to place the dried herbs and oil extracted towards the mouth and nose of Freja--so she may inhail the scent.

Next, she began to place pressure on her hind end, aided by parts of her nest that she could use to soak the blood. When Nazara grabbed fresh down and fur, she'd apply some of the oils and crushed herbs to assist. Again, she pressed against her hips and bits, realizing she was going to need assistance. Best she looked busy no?

"Mother--I need your help." what she needed was a better suited medic than she, but no one could say she didn't try.


+10--curse someone (Kincade) (1/2)
+10 --assist/attend a birth (1/2)


@Kaos

I could burn your motherfuckin’ village to the ground—

I could crack your skull between these motherfuckin’ thighs—I could doom your lineage with one look from these eyes! I could name the date in which they’ll put you in the ground—you’re the one who said its justice watchin’ witches drown!

code by corvus art by Drifty

It was early, the sun just starting to rise. And freaking cold outside. But in his den, curled in the middle of a mess of hides and furs Kaos was sleeping peacefully.

Until one call followed by several others - caused one ear to flick, flick again, and then the pair to perk up as eyelids slowly slid open.

A healer was needed? He yawned working to shake off sleep as brain starts to kick into gear. They had more experenced healers in the brook. He wouldn't be needed.

Yet... there were a couple more calls.

Were the other healers not present this morning?

Mmmmm. He might not be the -most- seasoned healer in the pride, but assistace was assisatance. And he should respond regardless. Gathering his herb bundle and placing it in his half turtle shell Kaos picked the whole thing up and headed twoards the summons.

The smell of birth and blood hit him like a punch in the face while still a few yards away from the den. Well crap.

He knew what the problem might be now. The lioness with a massive belly had been seem around, so... birth complications or something wrong with the cubs?

Kaos chuffed just outside the entrance, announcing he was entering. Orange gaze flicked quickly over those gathered before landing on the prone new mother.

Excessive bleeding. Large cubs. Damage internal, external, or both?

Placing his shell by his paws Kaos watches the dark lioness already in attendance work. Clove and frankincense. Both made sense for the situation so he would not interfere. In the relative quiet of the den, and the hush of winter outside, sounds ring loudly. Newborn noses. Breathing. Whispers. Curses

As she shoves the newborns harshly and then 'manhandles' one he rumbles, very softly, an involuntary warning - one paw gently moving to slowly try and scoot the new cubs safely to the mother's belly, near the midsection where they would not get in the way of the preparations.

"*Sore o kyanseru shite kudasai, watashi no kami. Keshite kudasai. Anata ga aratana chikara to, mirai no kyanbasu o kaku tame no aratana sutāto ni megumaremasu yō ni. Do~uan yo, kono-ko o, kare no aratana sutāto o, kare no tabi o shukufuku shite kudasai." soft words. What kind of a phsyco was this dark witch? Poor kid. Fresh out of the oven and getting cursed.

Then in a normal speaking tone "Do you require additional assistance?" smooth tones, watchful orange eyes. They flick to the presumed father, lips tightening slightly as his chin tips slightly towards his fellow 'healer'.

Watch that one.

Not that her actions should not have already warned him the lioness might not have ... the best of overall intentions.

@Icefang ♔ @Cassius ♔ @Nazara @Freja
--------
*Please cancel it, my God. Please delete it. May you be blessed with renewed strength and a fresh start to paint the canvas of your future. Duan, bless this child, his new start, his journey.

code by corvus

In exhaustion, she drifted.

Not totally unconscious, but certainly no more able to respond to her environment than someone who was - Freja drifted in the peace it afforded. Already the demanding squeaks of those five precious lives at her belly kept her tethered, told her she was needed beyond a shadow of a doubt. She couldn't allow that exhaustion to sweep her away, to keep her from caring for the lives she had created. But the energy required to respond to her own name from @Cassius ♔, even when it grew more urgent and the rasp of his tongue on her body should have been enough, was simply lacking. She drifted and dreamed and did not notice the pool of blood that should have rung alarm bells.

When the pungent scent of herbs caused her nostrils to twitch, her eyes to roll back into focus, Freja is still not aware - certainly not aware enough to hear the poisonous words poured from the shadow who had provided the restorative concoction for her. But when pressure is applied to both her abdomen and around her back end, Freja finally gave a shuddered, weak moan of someone very much in the land of the living. It was enough, to crack an eyelid and see the gathered audience, gaze sweeping until she fixed upon the Darkling himself. "Cass-" She croaked, before finally lifting her head to see @Nazara applying said pressure.

"Thank ... you."

Heavy tongued, exhausted, but grateful nonetheless. And in spite of the venom spewed, the girl's technique was working. The pressure was slowing down the bleeding and in time it would stop. Her face softened, the worry smoothing. "Five boys - your legacy." She murmured, mostly for Cassius although with so many in the den it would be difficult not to hear her. Of course, had she thought about saying such things in front of @Icefang ♔, who already bore three daughters from the X'uekai Patriarch, she might had kept her mouth shut. She probably should have kept her mouth shut.

@Kaos

Art by Moogle, Code by Minxy

@Icefang ♔ is the first to arrive after the Heir's summons for aid. And though he had called for her, he too found annoyance that their healers were taking their precious time.

Eyes harden on @Nazara as she heeds her mother's secondary request. His glare does not leave her for a good while. As she moves his children, sons he now knows thanks to the Queen, his lips peel back. A low warning rumbling through the den before his attention shifts to @Kaos. A boy he had not seen much of but if he was here to help then the Darkling permitted his entrance.

With four adult bodies now crammed into @Freja's den, Cassius brushes himself along Icefang as he exits, removing his bulk from the equation and giving the medics adequate room to work. If it had just been Nazara then he would have under no circumstances left her alone with the new mother other his brood. But there were eyes and ears on her. And if their last interaction still lay fresh enough in her mind, she would surely know the consequences that would await her should any foul play be administered.

Five. He sighs, filling his lungs with fresh air. Words also for Icefang if she had followed him out. Another five mouths to feed. Another five mouths in which to listen squawk and bicker. An ear twitches to hear Freja's feeble call for him. His presence would go to her only when the work was done and everyone cleared out. Until then he sat outside. Soaking up the pride that came from knowing he had just fathered half an army of sons.

code / artwork

The face that arrives to their pleas for help is the one she expects least. Icefang rumbles softly to @Nazara and permits the princess entrance into @Freja's den as she follows along behind her. She is glad and part of her is grateful that the princess seems set on helping her pride. If she had known about the encounter between Nazara and @Cassius ♔, then Icefang would of reconsidered this offer, but after the blessing that her daughter had placed on her own litter the concept that she would wish ill on this batch of her family was far from the queen's mind. This wishful thinking does not blind her from noticing the rough handling of the newborns at Freja's, especially when one of the boys squeals a bit too loud.

Icefang snarls a warning as she shifts her skull to try and see the scene before her more clearly. Another healer arrives, this one a male she had scented inside of the Brook, but who she is not familiar with personally. Distracted by @Kaos arrival, she shifts her gaze off Nazara as the girl moves to applying pressure to the bleeding regions. There are whispers cloaked in a foreign language and Icefang tosses it up to some healing ritual that she knows little about. Freja moans softly discomfort rousing her as the medics get to work. An ear flicks at the mention of his legacy, but she stays quiet knowing that Cassius had seemed intent on a son. At least with the promise she had made to him that any born from her would be treated fairly.

Following the heir out of the den, but not without one last growled warning over her shoulder at the young medics She better live. She steps out, blue eye settling on the X'uekai male. Happy? She asks him, perhaps a bit too intent on the wrong thing here considering the frail female in the den behind them.

SPEECH

code by corvus/art by drifter

Nazara watches as @Kaos shows himself, a dangerous gleam in her dark fiery eyes. This was one to watch out for, to eliminate if need be. Here he was, trying his damnedest to undo her very woven word. Had her deeds not needed to be so shadowed, Nazara would have confronted him with blood and fury.

Instead, she stares down the other medic as she works, meticulously keeping @Freja from bleeding out. Not out of the kindness in her heart, but the duty she is bound to. An unspoken oath. Freja was the innocent albeit stupid party here, it was a shame that sort of thinking did not extend to her cubs. Given the chance still, Nazara would kill them. The little gremlins better keep their noses tucked into their mothers belly, and far away from her.

Freja muttered a thank you, but Nazara did not respond. She continued working until she was sure the worst had passed. Only then did she turn to the woman and speak "Keep the herbs, if you need more, simply ask. I will supply"

The shadow princess moves, leaving most of what she brought for the new mother to use. As she begins to exit the den, the girl stops. Her gaze flits back to the baby boy from earlier, locking eyes with his blueish hue. A cut across her chest, in one swift motion, words uttered in whispered fury--

"Break your bones and wither your pride, the name X'uekai will be your curse." she dripped the blood unto the floor of the den from her claw, then spit upon it, and carved a simple small rune from the dusty paste. "And so shall it be."

He gaze turned back to Kaos then, as she waited between the inner den and it's cavernous mouth. "You, healer" she calls in her smooth, demanding voice. "I wish to speak with you, in private, later. Find me at my den." she gives no leeway for him to deny--for how could he? She was royal in blood, and he was nothing. She gave him a warning in her gaze, before promptly dismissing herself from the situation. She walked back towards her mother @Icefang ♔ addressing her momentarily "Freja will live. I have given her what I have and can procure more should she need it." she averted her gaze from the Viper himself. "Is there anything else you require?"

+10--curse someone (Kincade) (2/2)
+10 --assist/attend a birth (2/2)


@Cassius ♔

I could burn your motherfuckin’ village to the ground—

I could crack your skull between these motherfuckin’ thighs—I could doom your lineage with one look from these eyes! I could name the date in which they’ll put you in the ground—you’re the one who said its justice watchin’ witches drown!

code by corvus art by Drifty

'She better live.'

Kaos inclined his head slightly "That is the idea." he confirmed with soft calm gaze resting on the white ruler for a moment before flicking to the night dipped young 'healer' his lips twitching into little dark smile upon noticing her looking at him. A distinct lack of fear (and perhaps just a faint hint of instability) in his faintly amused return gaze.

The new mother spoke, appearing to be stabilizing and his attention moved to the lioness...assessing her present condition for a few moments. She looked to be stabilizing, and although the dark 'healer' had spoken poison words, her actual actions had been proper healing.

To be honest the young warrior-healer did not believe his presence was needed at this time.

His smile subtly grows just fractionally as she moves to curse the little family once more. Too late. HIs god had been invoked already. Let her do as she wished. He had faith in his deity's power. Layer curse upon curse. It would not matter. The spawn's fate would be in their own actions and the physical actions of those that surround them - not in the halls of the departed and unseen. Such was his faith.

Her demand to speak with him was responded to with a slight tilt and dip of his crown. Then shifting to focus on the new mother, father and ruler he would add. "Things are stable for now. If I am needed, please call." although - if they prefer to risk literal life and limb calling the dark one, by all means....risk that instead.

With a slight bow to the High Sovereign he would move to take his leave and let the new mother and closely connected members have privacy. He would not be far off incase something took a downturn.

--- Exit Kaos ---
@Icefang ♔ @Nazara @Cassius ♔ @Freja

code by corvus