Happy Days?

[Monkey Monk]

Night was setting in. Trees swayed slightly under a breeze, their
leaves moving in the wind. Animals began to settle down for
slumber while others were just awakening. A night owl sang it's
song as it perched in it's tree. Big yellow eyes watched the
grass in search of small rodents to swoop down upon and
snatch up for a good snack. A fox darted between a group of
bushes, a dead hare grasped in it's teeth. Slowly the moon
began to rise over the horizon, basking the realm in it's ivory
light. That light gave the entire lands an eerie, yet peaceful,
look. As a small mouse ran through the grass to return to it's
home, a shadow swooped down and snatched it up. Such was
the way of life. One creature fed on another, yet there was
always something that fed on that one.

Far beneath the ground and in the system of tunnels comprised
beneath the mountains and surrounding area there was no owl
to swoop down and snatch up a fleeing mouse. There was no
fox prancing off into the brush with it's recent prey. There was
hardly any wolves who made their home in this terrain, most
choosing to come and visit and gaze at the beauty set out
before all to look upon. No, the bulk of the population beneath
the ground were worms, small creatures, and cave demons. So
many things had happened to the latter. Their good friend who
was half demon had gone to rescue her father and then had
needed to be rescued herself. Their princess had been
kidnapped as well right after receiving her mate. A good friend of
the people, a smart-mouthed bird, had died. So much suffering.

Yet one who had been in all these endeavors, was the mate to
the princess, and had been the one that bird guarded was not a
cave-demon. He bore no demon blood within him in the least bit.
He had come from a distant land where trees and grass was
sparse while sand and reptiles were many. That mascu was a
wolf, one who had done many evils in his life and just as many
good. Death had come to him at one time, yet he lived now. He
loved his beloved mate dearly and was joyful to know that soon
he would have a litter of children. The very thought made his
heart leap in excitement. Istariel, who was the cave-demon
princess, owned his heart and this mascu wanted it that way.
The very thought of life without her made him sorrowful. Who
was this male wolf you might ask? The answer was one that
was not hard to come upon. He was the once Defender named
Hawk.

It was by the great underground lake that this creature resided
at the moment. His golden furred rump was laid upon the stone
floor. His long, fluffy tail, which was colored the same as the rest
of his body, was within the water. Slowly his appendages
swayed in the cool liquid, causing ripples to span out further into
the lake until the energy that created them was expended.
Those crystal clear waters was luscious to taste, and this mascu
knew it. He watched as the ripple he created with his tail bore a
rainbow-like display of colors that was caused by the natural oils
of his fur. Purposely he had come to the part of the lake that
was designated for bathing. It was something he liked to do
each evening so as to clean off the small amount of dirt and
grime from the day.

At last her rose to his paws. He took a step into the cool water
and paused to allow his body to adjust to the low temperature.
His lean, thin figure tensed slightly before relaxing as he slipped
fully into the water. It took a moment, but he began to enjoy the
bath. As his body was cleaned, he closed his eyes and thought
of all the things that had happened. He was surprised that he
had been able to escape for these private baths. Usually he was
swamped with others wanting to hear stories of his adventures,
both good and bad. Still, he supposed that was the price to pay
for not only mating the princess but saving her life, and he knew
that he would suffer that price a million fold. He loved Istariel
dearly, and a part of him suspected she had been the one to
ask everyone to leave him alone during bath time.

Slowly he strode out into the lake. When he came to a level that
would be below his chin when he sat, he stopped and let his
hind quarters fall to the bottom. A noise of simple pleasure rose
in his chest as his glowing golden eyes slowly closed. He
thought of all the things Phoebus had told him in that realm
between the living and dead. Even though it had only taken a
second of living time to speak their many hour long
conversation, he felt as if years had been taken from him. Many
of the things that bird told him were startling. However they all
explained a lot. He had found out that he still had a lot to learn
about his powers, that what he had done in those caves had
been a small show of his potential. A sorrowful sigh passed
Hawk's lips as he remembered how his guardian had died. Still,
he felt as if that bird was still with him some how.

[Felypsa]

While Hawk bathed, silent and lost in thought, his beloved mate hesitated by the entrance of Dalia’s Lake. The Princess Istariel was a beautiful cave-demon, magnificent in every way, the most sought-after bachelorette until Hawk had come. She used to take the form of a black panther, with sleek fur, but recently changed to be a startlingly lovely wolfess, to match the species of her cherished mate. She still kept her tell-tale triple tails, which she absently wove into a braid as she watched her mate and savior. She did not want to interrupt his reverie, but at the same time she desired to be with him.

As a princess, she expected a happy ending to her fairy tale. And she received one. Their most recent adventure had humbled Istariel a little, however. She had lost so much in that hot, stinking cave of her kidnapper, the controlled Kenei. She had nearly lost everything she had. She had been on the brink of destroying not only her own life, but the lives of her unborn children…just to save Hawk. Instead, Hawk saved her and her young ones. Yet even after that, they had nearly died in one another’s embrace.

It was only until Phoebus, Hawk’s guardian and thus her own, sacrificed his immortal life, splitting it between the two of them. Istariel felt a diamond tear slide down her cheek. Even though the episode had happened weeks ago, the wound of that loss was still fresh in her heart. Was it, then, a happy ending after all? Could they live happily ever after without Phoebus? Istariel bent her head and took one step towards her love. Her belly was swollen just to feel different. Not quite uncomfortable yet. But enough to tell Istariel, if she hadn’t known already, that she was indeed pregnant.

Istariel decided to join herself with her mate. They hardly ever got alone time at this point. Her parents kept insisting on celebrating their mating more “properly,” not to mention celebrating their pregnancy and Hawk’s rescue of Istariel. So much to celebrate. All Istariel and Hawk wanted was to be together, alone.

The princess approached her consort with a silky smile on her face. She no longer needed to be seductive, because Hawk was all hers. And he was the most wonderful thing that had ever happened to her. Tentatively, Istariel touched her the tip of her three tails into the waters of the lake that belonged to her Goddess. She knew Hawk would know she was there. She waited, patiently, for him to turn around and see her.



How can someone so optimistic suffer so much? Yet Ammolite continued to be a ray of sunshine to all who knew her. When Phoebus died, she mourned together with Yoshika, Hawk, Istariel, and all the rest. But before long, she was back to looking on the bright side of life. Not annoyingly so; she stayed away from those who needed to grieve longer. But to those who needed happiness in their lives, she was there for them, charming them with her easy smile and bright eyes, which she maintained at green-yellow. The colors of sheer pleasure and friendliness. Wasn’t that what everyone needed now?

She was about to go down to the Lake and relax, but she paused. Hawk was already there. And, having just joined him, Istariel. Ammolite tried to avoid the lovers at all costs. They probably didn’t even notice. But they were happy enough. Ammolite would only be intruding on their happiness. Besides, there was still that nagging, shameful feeling in a corner of her heart…some emotion that just wouldn’t go away. Ammolite sometimes wondered if it would ever go away. It stayed there against all reason and logic, because she knew it was foolish. But things like that never go away, no matter how much you wanted them to.

Ammolite was about to leave, but something made her stay. Was this some flash of masochism? No…it was pleasant seeing her two best friends so happy together. Something to fuel her optimism. Young love was one of the happiest things that could happen. Wasn’t it?

Ammolite was spying on her friends. What was wrong with her?

[Monkey Monk]

Hawk felt the waters shift as something else entered. The power
behind the ripples was not enough to be a fully body. It was as
if someone had slipped a tail in, but it had to be more than one.
A smile graced the wolf's lips as he figured out who was with
him. He had hoped each time he went to take his bath that she
would join him. It was definitely one of the few times they would
be able to be left alone. A dreamy sigh passed the mascu's lips
as he let his imagination creature an image of his beloved in his
mind. She was so beautiful, so wondrous, so caring, and so
loving. His heart leaped as he looked upon her in his mind. He
was happy that in this home far underground they were
sheltered from all the troubles above. Well, not all of them..

Slowly the golden mascu turned around to face the one who had
come. He smiled warmly as he saw it was indeed Istariel. She
was even more heavenly than his mind could create. His golden
hued eyes looked to her own with such a strong love. Seeing
her with his rounded belly made him excited. Excited to know
that soon they would be parents to children. Those children
would have her beauty and his strength. This mascu felt so at
peace to at last be with a lover. Slowly he waded through the
water toward his beloved Istariel. The cool liquid moved over his
figure, dripping down from each strand of golden pelt. His
bird-like wings snapped out to further shake the water from
himself. The sight was amazing, but not nearly as much as the
time he had left the underground into the dawn to rescue his
lover.

When he reached his beloved, his smile only broadened. He
leaned forth and gently let his muzzle rub against her own. The
very touch of their flesh made him feel as if his head was about
to soar off. She was the object of his every desire and of his
every love. His tongue darted out to softly lick her cheek before
he pulled back and smiled once more. Words could not describe
how he felt at that moment. His voice was lost as he let his nose
touch to her own. Deeply he looked into her eyes in an
extremely loving way. It was because of all this that he did not
notice Ammolite who was watching them. Her state of distraught
had escaped him as well. It was as if he was blind to all but
Istariel. Alas, if he knew of their friend's sorrow he would try to
comfort her.

[Felypsa]

He sensed her. Of course he would. He was Hawk, he was the epitome of perfection. That was how Istariel saw him, anyway. Never before had she felt such overwhelming affection for such a mortal creature…but Hawk was not like most mortals. He was a wolf, but he was not like most wolves. She blessed the moment she first knew she was in love with him…it was a moment that would stay with her for the rest of her prolonged life.

Slowly she watched him approach her, a teasing but loving smile on her face. She could read the love in his eyes, a love that mirrored her own. The sight of him with the water glistening on every strand of fur, every feather of his wings, was enough to take her breath away. It was as if he were an angel…nay, an archangel, a seraph even…sent to lift her to the eternal heights of love. She had not seen his absolute beauty as he left to rescue her during the sunrise, but this was enough to simply endear her to him—not that she hadn’t been already. She was humbled in his presence.

Her heart exploded with radiant joy as he nuzzled her gently. She returned the caress, loving every moment they touched. No words were needed. Just the simple contact was enough to send her mind reeling and her heart thumping with desire. Never in her life could she hope to duplicate a love like this.

She too was oblivious to both Ammolite’s presence and her unfortunate feeling. She was living a dream, a dream that belonged to both her and her friend. She had the happy ending, she had the handsome prince…she had everything.

A princess could expect no less.



She should turn away. All reason and logic screamed at her to turn away. Let the lovers celebrate their blissful togetherness. Let her get on with her own life. Alone. No. She must not think that. Thoughts like that begot self-pity, and self-pity…well. Ammolite simply could not stray down that terrible path.

Despite all she’d lost, no one would have ever guessed. Certainly her friends were completely unaware. And that was how it should be. They shouldn’t feel the pain she was feeling. They were happy together, they deserved that happiness…apparently, Ammolite did not. No. No self-pity. Get a grip on yourself, Ammolite. She shook her head slightly.

She looked up in time to see Hawk moving in the water, shimmering in the beauty of the crystalline liquid. It was as if he was made of sparkling diamonds. If Ammolite had ever been successful in suppressing that nagging feeling, all that success washed away in the gleaming drops that clung to Hawk. She remembered another picture of him, walking into the dawn on his way to rescue Istariel. Oh, how she loved him then, and oh…how that feeling had not faded in the slightest. As much as she tried to deny it and destroy it, it was still there. She was in love with Hawk, who had eyes only for her best friend. The princess.

Ammolite’s eyes shimmered and became at once a strange combination, beautiful yet sad. There was the purple of passion and the blue of sadness. Those were the only distinguishable colors. There were tints of red, orange, green, gold…every color imaginable burst into her eyes like the Aurora Borealis. It was just one look that caused the rushing tide of emotion.

Ammolite turned her eyes away so that no one would see them and wonder. Not that she would be seen. Not that she was ever seen. The lovers were blind. So why did she torture herself so?

[Monkey Monk]

Gently Hawk let his tongue dart out to gently lick his lover's
cheek. He continued to smile at her warmly as they embraced.
His wings began to settle, slowly folding against his chest.
Lovingly he looked into her eyes with his own golden hued
pools. Oh how much he loved her. This mascu had already
proved that he would face death for her. There was not a thing
he could think that he would not do for Istariel. Then again, he
would do anything for friends. It had been that selfless nature
that had been the only thing preventing him from taking her as
is mate. However she had taught him that sometimes one has
to do things for himself. Having her as his lover had been one for
the few things he had done for himself. He loved her so and he
was happy to be with her.

After a moment, he voice rang out in those same warm tones he
always used with her. She was precious to him, and he saw it
that she deserved nothing more than the best. "Why hello there
my love." His mind was still foggy with that excitement of seeing
her. Slowly he climbed onto the shore, his pelt dripping the
crystal clear waters for a moment. He did not shake himself like
he usually would. Being mated to a princess had changed him
slightly. He had learned that in public places he had to put on a
mask of nobility for everyone else. It was expected after all.
Even though the cave-demons seemed to like him much, Hawk
had enough experience to know that the tongue was the
strongest muscles. Gossip could cause far more trouble than
anything else.

Once he was on shore, he once more stretched out his wings. He
sat down beside his lover, facing her. As soon as she would turn
to face him, his wings would move to embrace her. It might look
like a hug almost. Those golden feathered appendages would
pull them as close as possible. They would shelter them and
hide them from all the world. Inside the construct of wings, the
air would be lit with a wondrous golden light caused by the
luminosity of the cave leaking through his feathers. The mascu's
nostrils would flare as he took in his lover's scent. Everything
about her was intoxicating, especially her love. Gently he would
nuzzle her neck before playfully nibbling the top of her ear.
Hawk would smile warmly before speaking gently into her
ear. "How are you feeling today?"

[Felypsa]

Her love for her mate was purely indescribable, inexpressible…she loved him with every fiber of her being. That was all. It showed in her eyes as she looked at her beautiful, glorious Hawk. It showed in her smile as he licked her cheek delicately. She fairly trembled with it as he spoke to her. “Hello, dear Hawk,” she whispered in return. A simple response. Simple, yet it conveyed the immense strength of her love. Her heart practically ached with it.

She stepped back and watched him emerge from the lake like some god from the clouds. Her three tails slowly trailed against the surface of the water, dripping elegantly as she moved away from the tribute to Dalia. She admired his self-control. Had she tamed a wild beast? she wondered, amused. In any case, she had made a prince of a Defender. And even if the other cave-demons disapproved (which she knew they did not), she loved him entirely, and would defend his honor until the end.

She beamed at him and stepped into his open embrace, feeling the warmth of his fur and feathers and love. She nuzzled against him affectionately, rosy eyes shining magnificently. Black though her fur may be, it was a kind of blackness that was smooth and suave and shimmered in the light of the starry diamonds in the cavern. They were beautiful together. Istariel nestled against her Hawk, the very picture of perfection. “I’ve never been better,” she murmured in response to his inquiry, “now that you are here.” It was a half-truth, an exaggeration. That morning she’d had the sickness again, but it was all part of the journey…in the end, the suffering would be more than worth it. “And you? How was your day?”



Ammolite had had enough. Enough of her self-suffering, enough of her spying on her friends, enough of this. There was only pain here. If she could not be truly happy for her friends, she could not count herself as their friend. For what friend would be saddened at their joy? What friend would wish this flawless situation were different? What friend would want to break up this very portrait of bliss?

She decided she had to leave them. Leave them to her happiness. It was the only way. This imbalance was ruining everything. They had to be happy together, they were destined for one another. And Ammolite? She was not a part of the equation. She had to leave that balance in place, for she was tipping the scale towards negativity. Leave everything positive. It was the only way. If Ammolite left, all sadness and sorrow and suffering would leave too. Really, this is for the best.

She was about to walk away when she halted. She did not look back at the beautiful lovers, but she stared at the magnificent ornament that adorned her neck. She remembered something Azarak had told her once. As long as it is in this world…let it stay. It was the gift from her mother and her father. The only thing of value she had. So let it stay. Her decision made, Ammolite gently grasped the ammolite amulet in her teeth and removed it. Her eyes a calm but deep blue, she delicately lay the amulet on the rocks, where it glistened and gleamed in the light of the gemstars. It would be found. Whether by Fiendark, Hawk and Istariel, or Azarak, it would be found. And that was all that mattered.

Raising her head, Ammolite strode out of the caves, taking sorrows with her. She still did not look back.

[Monkey Monk]

Hawk smiled warmly at his lover. He loved the feeling of her
figure pressed to his own. Softly he buried his face in her neck,
inhaling her intoxicating scent deeply. He knew that she was
experiencing the hardships of pregnancy. After all, the did sleep
in the same place. His own instincts had been acting up as of
late. Other than these baths, his only time away from others
were the daily hunts he went on. Every morning he would
disappear and return with some form of felled prey; whether it
be hare, deer, and at one time a rather large moose. However
each time he came back he remembered she was a princess.
She would not dine on the raw foods of a hunt. So it was each
day the group of cave-demons that prepared the meals received
a parcel of meat for that day's lunch.

Slowly the golden wolf licked and nibbled his lover's ear. Oh how
he loved her. She was so beautiful to look upon and so loving to
embrace. After a moment he pulled his wings away from her so
as to allow her to move. Softly he looked into her eyes before
letting his voice rumble from deep in his chest so as to answer
her question. "My day has been the same as any other my love.
Nothing interesting has happened, thank the spirits." He would
rather live a peaceful life instead of one full of fighting, death,
and quests...for now at least. Istariel had to be safe. That was
what he cared about the most. She bore their children, not to
mention the fact that loosing her would make him indeed most
sorrowful.

Quite suddenly his ears perked up. He had heard the sound of
something metallic hitting rock. Instantly images of Taggerung
sprang into his mind. His hackles rose as he lifted his head to
gaze around. There was no black fiend about, no danger to
harm his dear mate. His glowing gold eyes locked upon
something glittering on the rocks. Slowly his tail flicked under his
lover's chin so as to get her attention. Once she was looking at
the tail, it would flick in the direction of that shimmering
object. "My love. Was that there when you came?" He didn't
recall seeing it on the rocks, but somehow that thing looked
familiar to him. It was as if he had seen it several times before.
Something he had seen so often that it was nearly impossible to
tell exactly where it came from.

[Felypsa]

Istariel settled happily against the body of her mate, just rejoicing in their pure closeness. A closeness which they could hardly afford of late. That was the disadvantage of being a princess—and a pregnant one at that. No one wanted to leave you alone. Whether it was her subjects wishing her congratulations and throwing exhausting parties, or her parents taking her aside to remind her of her responsibility and express their extreme relief that she was safe, all the emotion and heyday just drained her. This was what she wanted. A quiet moment, alone with her lover.

She could even forget the pains of pregnancy when she was with him. The very presence of her dear Hawk reminded her whose children she was carrying, and how they represented the transcendant love she and Hawk shared. All that love was enough to soften all the physical and emotional strain. With Hawk, everything was simply perfect.

She listened as Hawk spoke, his deep voice reassuring her. She smiled when he thanked the spirits that nothing “interesting” had happened. She shared the sentiment. “I confess I’ve had my full share of interesting events myself,” she agreed. “After a while, I begin to cherish the simple life, dull as it may be.” Her eyes shone as she looked at him. It was plain that any day with Hawk could never be dull to her.

But then Hawk’s attention diverted away from her. She was a little annoyed: who or what would possibly dare to interrupt their precious time together? But at Hawk’s words she followed his gaze and saw a shining amulet on the rocks. The gems’ light bounced off it the object, sending an aurora of colors dancing along the stone ceiling. She was impressed by its beauty, but distured by its familiarity. She shook her head. “No, m’love, I would have noticed such a thing of beauty if it had been here.” Which meant, of course, that it had appeared during her time spent with Hawk. Again the flash of annoyance at their alone time being interrupted. But as Istariel inspected the glittering item more closely, picking it up delicately in her teeth, it suddenly hit her who this belonged to.


“By Dalia’s crown,” she gasped, in the process dropping the amulet on the rocks again. It clattered as it hit the hard surface, but it did not get so much as a scratch. “This is…this is Ammolite’s!” This was the very object they had gone careening through the Spirit World for. This amulet had been in the dangerous possession of the treacherous Spectre, who would have made Ammolite his slave forever. After that episode, she was sure Ammolite would never part with it again. Not so, it seemed. Istariel’s were wide. “What could have happened? Did she accidentally leave it here, or is she…is she in danger?” Perish the thought. Inwardly, Istariel groaned. More interesting events. Why them?

[Monkey Monk]

Ever so gently Hawk threaded his tail through the chain of the
amulet. He slowly pulled it from his lover's grasp to let it dangle
down in front of them. His glowing golden eyes looked at the
object for a moment before his mind confirmed what his lover
had concluded. This amulet was indeed Ammolite's. At the
mentioning of their friend being in danger a mix of emotions
surged through him. Once again he was confused about where
his heart laid. However he quickly cleansed his mind of these
thoughts. If Ammolite was in danger, he could not be distracted.
After a moment his tail brought the amulet to himself. He spoke
out to Istariel gently. "We should go bring this to Azarak. He will
know what to do."

With that, the mascu gripped the precious item in his maw. He
waited for Istariel to rise and lead them to the aforementioned
lizard. He had no idea where Azarak was, nor had he seen the
creature in days. He hoped desperately that the other would be
around and close. Ever since Phoebus had died, Hawk had been
without the advice of the bird. True, he had lived for years
without his spirit guardian, but he had many bad decisions
during that time. Now the mascu was afraid that he would travel
down a similar path. Maybe not one full of murder and needless
pain inflicting, but most likely one of indecisions, crucial mistakes,
and faltering in bad times. Maybe Hawk was just doubting
himself, but either way he wanted the advice of Azarak at the
moment.

[Felypsa]

Istariel released the amulet as Hawk gently took it from her. She stared at the central gem as its colors coursed mysteriously. She shook her head; just looking at the precious stone filled her mind with confusing enigmas. There was something about that amulet—and Ammolite herself—that hinted of mystery. Istariel felt that, no matter how well she knew her good friend, she would never fully know her.

“Right,” Istariel said, nodding in acknowledgement. In her mind, she couldn’t but feel disappointed: this was one of the few times she could spend alone with Hawk, and already it was ruined. But her concern for her friend overrided her desire to be alone with her mate—for the moment. “Azarak. He’s always wandering around, and he’s never there when you need him most. Still, I suspect we might find him if we go to Fiendark.” Plus, we should let Ammolite’s father know what has happened to his daughter, she added silently.

The princess led the way, knowing where Fiendark’s chamber was. Hopefully they would be able to find the elusive lizard there. Hawk was right, Azarak would know what to do…he was an inexpendable ally. The little lizard held everything together and made sure that life didn’t fall apart at the seams. After a while, Istariel reached Fiendark’s personal chamber, the same chamber he had once shared with his deceased mate Kah’verna. She poked her head in and said, “Hello, Fiendark. It’s I, Princess Istariel, and my consort, Hawk.” Even though they were friends, Istariel always made sure to introduce herself properly.

The old cave-demon looked up at the mention of his name from the beautiful princess’s mouth. He smiled when he saw the two lovers. “Ah, Istariel, Hawk…do come in. You’re welcome, as always. I was just having a chat here with good ol’ Az—” he stopped mid-name. He had just noticed the amulet that Hawk carried with him. Ammolite’s father would recognize that pendant anywhere. His eyes went wide and he whispered fearfully, “My daughter’s—why does she not have it?”

Azarak indeed was with Fiendark, but his ruby red eyes were clouded over. When Istariel and Hawk came, it was as if the lizard had been expecting them. He showed no surprise as they appeared with Ammolite’s amulet, but minus the Ammolite. When Fiendark stutttered out his shock, Azarak barely blinked. He tilted his head to one side and studied Hawk and Istariel for a little while. They had been alone, he knew. That was a shame. He hated to be the bearer of bad news. So, he merely said, “Istariel…I believe you are approaching labor. You should go to the ward and wait there, while I tell Valkyrie. You should not be here, unless you wish to undergo great pain.” The lizard’s voice sounded haunting; he did not usually speak with such a cold tone.

[Monkey Monk]

A chilling feeling shot up Hawk's spine. Azarak looked different
almost. So cold and distant. It made him frown with concern.
That lizard always seemed to know something. This mascu could
not remember the last time he had seen the other surprised.
Except for when Phoebus... Quite suddenly Azarak spoke out of
Istariel entering labor. Instantly Hawk's heart leaped with
excitement. Their children would be born soon. It was wonderful,
exciting, and even scary all rolled into one moment. He looked
over to his lover, thoughts of Ammolite momentarily pushed from
his mind. He felt elated with the thought that their family was
growing. He could hardly wait to caress his lover's cheek after
her birthing of their children. Hawk had always loved younglings.

However, the balloon of his excitement began to leak. The swell
in his chest dropped quickly as he looked at the amulet in his
grasp. Somewhere Ammolite was out there in trouble. An
indecision arose in the warrior's mind. Should he stay with his
lover and comfort her in the creation of their children? Or should
he go and rescue Ammolite? He had to stay and be there for his
lover, she needed him. Yet he also had to go and save their
friend for she needed him as well. It was too much for the wolf.
His mind felt as if it was going to explode. He closed his eyes
tightly and tried to calm his thoughts to no avail. Anxiety rose
into a knot within his chest. He didn't know what to do! Curse
Phoebus for dieing!

[Felypsa]

Azarak’s news made Istariel’s breath catch in her throat. It was nearly time. Her heart thudded with excitement and anticipation. She wanted to immediately obey the lizard and hurry to the ward, where her mother would be waiting, ready to bring her grandchildren into the world. But then…what of Ammolite? A fine time for their friend to be in danger! It certainly posed a great dilemma. But Istariel looked at her mate, and saw the conflict written on his face. It pained her to say the things that she did, but she knew the right course of action. “Hawk. You must go after Ammolite. She needs you more than I do…you’d only be in the way, anyway.” She smiled weakly, trying to make a joke. But she really wanted her mate to be with her, more than anything.

Azarak interjected at this point. “Hawk, really, it is entirely up to you. Do what you wish. Fiendark and I can get a head start on finding Ammolite. We will need your help, but if you would rather be with Istariel, that is completely understandable.” Clearly, the lizard knew something. Something that made him brisk and even unclear. He laid out the plans matter-of-factly, without even briefing anyone on what was going on. It made for a more hectic and confusing atmosphere.

Indeed, Fiendark was confused, and greatly concerned as well. “Congratulations, Istariel,” he said sincerely to the princess. But he looked between Azarak and Hawk, and it was plain where his heart was. “If you think Ammolite needs me, of course I will go,” he said tightly, though he hadn’t been asked. To Hawk, Ammolite’s father said, “Azarak is right. Do what you want. No doubt Istariel wants you with her. We will get a head start without you, as long as you can find us later.” He then turned to Istariel, and said humbly, “Dear Princess, if I may have a humble request…if you have a daughter, I would be honored and gratified if you would name her after my deceased mate, Kah’verna.” He bowed his head and murmured his thanks, then turned to Azarak. “Shall we depart, then?”

[Monkey Monk]

Hawk heard both his mate's words and the words of the other
two. Ammolite could be in dire danger. However Istariel was
about to give birth to their children. He decided to take upon
Azarak's and Fiendark's words. Slowly he nodded his head. "I'll
find you two after Istariel gives birth." The mascu wanted to
help his friend, but he also needed to be there to comfort
Istariel. There was nothing he could do that Fiendark and Azarak
could not. They would be fine without his help for a little while.
Istariel needed him as well, and he wanted to be there for the
birthing of his first set of children. His golden eyes looked over to
his mate with the urgency of her impending labor. He took a
deep breath and looked deeply into her eyes.

After a moment he spoke up to his princess. "Come on Istariel.
We need to go to the ward so that our children will be born." He
began to walk from the chambers, looking back to Azarak and
Fiendark once more. He would see them again soon. Tracking
them would be easy enough and he would only have to catch up
in time. The way to the ward was one he knew. Several times
had he been to that chamber. The first had been to see all the
sick cave-demons which he had helped to rescue. His paws fell
at a quick pace, but one slow enough that his lover could follow.
He wanted to get her to the ward as soon as possible. Not to
mention he wanted to get thoughts of Ammolite and the guilt he
felt out of his mind.

[Felypsa]

Istariel was privately relieved that Hawk had agreed to go with her. The thought of giving birth without her beloved mate beside her was frighteningly lonely. She hurried with him, wanting to get to the ward before the first contractions began. Behind her, Azarak and Fiendark were hurrying as well—but to save a loved one. Lives were at stake—the lives of Istariel’s pups, the life of Ammolite. Each one was running, but would life truly prevail? Istariel gave no further thought to Ammolite. Who could really blame her? A mother’s thoughts go first to her children, and then to everybody else. With Hawk at her side, Istariel made it to the ward just as contractions began.

Queen Valkyrie was already there, though King Melkior was absent. As Istariel entered, she cried out in pain, and immediately her mother was there. Valkyrie was blessed with strong midwifery skills befitting a queen and mother. She gently eased Istariel onto one of the tables and performed her strange sorcery on her daughter, to dull the pain but not take it away. Briefly she spared time to say to Hawk, “Are you sure you want to be here? It’s messy, it takes a long time, and you will be forced to hear your mate cry out in agony and will not be able to do anything about it. I am glad you are here for support, but this will be a taxing business for all of us.” Having thus warned him, she turned back to her daughter, who had indeed entered labor, as Azarak had said.




After this...I'm just gonna skip through all the gory details. x.x; Too graphic.

[Monkey Monk]

Hawk watched with anxiety as his lover entered labor. He had no
intention of leaving her. This mascu wanted to be there for the
birth of his children. He wanted to be there to comfort Istariel, to
show her his love. Slowly he walked forth, careful to stay out of
the way of the others. Gently he leaned forth and licked his
lover's maw. He looked into her eyes deeply with such a strong
love. A small smile formed on his lips as he gazed down at
her. "I love you Istariel. I will never leave you." With that he
gently tried to sooth her, softly rubbing his muzzle against her
own. It was all he could do after all. He had no talent in healing,
no talent in midwifery. All he could do was be there for the
comfort of the femme he loved dearly.


OOC: Sorry for the short post and yes, we should skip the messy details.