|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 4:42 pm
Takakun
They were resting by the river, the same spot where he first met his Delphia. Now that spring has come, the grass was soft and warm, and the waters bubbled happily by.
Contented, he leaned over the nuzzle the racoon mare beside him, and laid his head down again, enjoying the warmth.
Sora felt pretty sure the hawk was flying somewhere abovehead, and twitched one ear in attention. After their first encounter, it has been one chasing the other all the time, but atlast, some rest. One green eye opened and he gazed gently at Delphia, noting the rise of her belly as she breathed.
Hmmmm, he thought, continuing to look. Something seem different, he wasn't sure what it was exactly. Did she seem...bigger?
He knew the mares are sometimes big and sometimes lean, his Delphia has always been one of the lean ones....maybe as the seasons pass, it changes.
He blew softly, absentmindedly picking at the grass with his teeth, and finally said, "Delphie...Delphie.........are you getting bigger?"
Yes...the ever naive Sora was also not one to acknowledge male-female courtesy, the first of which to never comment on a mare's weight!
"No, it's not fat that swells my belly." She smiled more brigthly at him, her eyes twinkling. She wondered if he would catch on, so she paused to let him dwell on it. Meanwhile she lipped at his long and swirly mane, which was draped across her. Just then something shifted and Delphia grunted faintly, swiveling her ears back in discomfort. The foals were getting both strong and rambunctious!
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 4:43 pm
Takakun
He huffed, giving her a lick around the muzzle. "What's wrong Delphie? You seem hurt?"
A look of worry crossed his face, "are you alright? Should I get Talencia? Are you sick...? Maybe you have one of those worms in your belly....the shaman would be able to help...come on Delphie..."
Sora got up and started nudging at her, to help her up too. His silvery mane spilled over her back and he blew soft warm breathe over her belly.
Delphia laughed and winced a bit as there was further shifting from the kicker. "THAT one is eager to come out and meet the world, I think." She rumbled a deep whicker of a laugh. "That one is sure to be trouble, filly or colt." She smiled fondly at Sora, waiting for it all to sink in.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 4:44 pm
Takakun
He gaped a surprise o, a look of incredulity on his face as the tenderness of his nose faded.
Sora continued to stare, green eyes large, "DELPHIE! Your belly MOVED! It moved! Did you see!!? It.....
Filly or colt?"
"What do you mean filly or colt? Where? Why does it want to come out? Uh....come out of where? Fi.......oh........."
He blinked.....and then fainted.
Alright, he didn't actually faint, but came close. The grey stallion tumbled backwards, and came down hard on his back, sitting there awkwardly looking dazed. Then came the head shaking and the multiple blinks and atlast he curled up into the position he had, and started chewing on the grass.
After awhile, he glanced towards Delphia, "Delphie...do you mean that like young soquilis...?"
"Yes darling. You are going to be a daddy." She stretched her neck to blow reassuringly into his nostrils then nuzzled him lovingly. "It's okay, Sora dear. It'll be just fine. Foals are a GOOD thing!" She bit back another snorthing laugh at his stunned expression. Were ALL stallions this goofy about becoming a father?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 4:46 pm
Takakun
Puffy breathe blew from his nose as he gaped slightly (encore number two)
but soon settled himself by laying his head across Delphia's. It could be seen that Sora was now noticeably calmer and merely emitted an "oh..ok.."
It doesn't seem that the news has sunk in fully yet, but the large soquili did shift himself so he didn't lean against the swollen belly.
Perhaps there was hope for him yet!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 4:49 pm
Some time later.....The time was nearing. Delphia felt like a whale, whatever that was! She tended to wobble when she walked, her belly was so big. She decided it was time to take a few precautions.
"Sora dear, I think I should stay close to Talencia now, so she can help me when the time comes." She nuzzled the stallion fondly. He had stayed by her side the entire time, bringing her sweets to eat and caring for her every need. But she knew he could not help her when the foals were born. She wasn't even sure he entirely understood that he was going to be a father!Talencia had learned of the pregnancy early on and was simply delighted. When Delphia presented herself at the teepee, clearly intending to stay, Tal decided it was time to go stay with friends in the village. But who? Perhaps... she looked at Sora as he stayed attentively near Delphia. Yes, perhaps Tahatan would agree to let them stay so they could be near the village in case there were complications. She didn't feel equipped to deal with it here, out on her own.
She rose and stroked Delphia, running her hand down her muzzle and up to her poll. She slid her hands down the mare's neck and then slid one hand down under her wide belly, the other hand slipping down her back. The mare's pregnant abdomen radiated great heat, warming Tal's hand's immediately. She felt how firm and tight the skin had become, and the faint shifting just beneath the skin. Yes, the time was soon.
"Come, sweet one. Let's go find somewhere for us to stay." She turned and addressed the stallion father. "We would be most grateful if Tahatan and Ahiga would allow us to stay in your teepee until Delphia gives birth." She spoke gravely. "Let us go ask, shall we?" She laid one hand on Delphia's shoulders and started off through the band of forest towards the village.Takakun
He whinnied to her, unsure of what to do. His Delphia was huffing, and not in a play way. Accompanying her back to the teepee, he stared gravely at Talencia who was stroking his dear mare. He moved closer, gently nipping at the woman's sleeve, trying to know what is happening. Everyone seems to be all shush shush!
But as she made the move with Delphia to travel back to the village, he pricked his ears and ambled quickly besides them, shifting against Delphia so she can lean on him.
On one side he thought happily that they will return back to big brother and little playmate. Big brother will surely know what's happening....he always does....won't he?
Now stricken, he remembered all the joyous time since meeting his Delphia, he didn't feel like going back and being cooped up. Sora glanced at the racoon mare, gently lipping her mane, "Why are we going back? Weren't you happy at your teepee?"
he asked gently.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 4:51 pm
Delphia leaned gratefully against the strong stallion she'd chosen for her mate. She reflected that she had made a very good choice. He loved her with all his heart, and was a very dedicated mate. She smiled at him in a mushy, emotional sort of way. Funny how foals did that to a mare.
"Talencia wants to go there so that I am near to help if I have trouble with my foaling." She nuzzled him for his loving concern. "Out here is too far from the village for her liking, and for mine. And this way, your humans can be involved in the foaling too!" Suddenly she was rocked by a staggering sensation, and not a wonderful one. She stopped in her tracks and grunted with the pain. It was time! And it had taken her by surprise!Talencia heard the grunt and felt the wave of surprise roll of her dear friend. She spun in alarm and spoke to Sora. "We need to get her to your teepee fast, grey one! We must hurry!" She quickly fashioned a rope halter and put it around Delphia's head gently, so as to help hurry her along. "Come on, dearheart... you can do it!"Delphia allowed the halter and shuffled her feet as fast as she could. But when contractions hit, she had to stop and pant through them. To her, it took forever before Sora's teepee was in sight!Takakun
His concern turn to alarm. "Uh Foaling?...."
But before he could ask more, she stopped in her tracks and grunted. The light green eyes widened, and without needing to be told, hhe cantered off, light hooves pounding into the ground as he raced for big brother. Sora knew Talencia would look after his dear Delphia, so as he burst into the village and up to the teepee, the large stallion let loose a storming whinny.
The young man inside nearly dropped his knife and cut himself. Tahatan winces and moved backwards in shock as the great soquili reared before him. "Woah boy, woah Sora....." He lifted his arms, attempting to calm the the stallion, he's never seen Sora acted like this! Something must have happened, something bad. The arms reached for behind the ears, and gently patted him down, he stroked the quivering grey neck, gently blowing his breathe.
Sora nuzzled his big brother, still slightly shaking. Insistently he tugged at the sleeves with his teeth, pulling the man out of the tent, come on come on... he seems to say, already halfway down through the village.
He raced back, and was delighted to see his beloved and her bonded at the gates. Closing in, he halted and nuzzled Delphia on the cheeks, noting she was perspiring alot. "Don't worry Delphie....big brother is coming"
and he started to breathe on her, trying to warm her up.
Sora lifted his head, looking at Tahatan with calm eyes.
As he neared, Tahatan saw the mare that was brought to the teepee the other night, and he gave a small smile, but the look on the girl beside them soon caused him to furrow his eyebrows and hurry to their side, "what's wrong..." he asked, before spotting the large throbbing belly of Delphia. "oh..."
Rapidashtrainer It had been quite a while since Ahiga had returned home to his teepee. The recent hunting expedition hosted by some of the older men of the village took longer than the little boy had expected but Ahiga was not too worried. Tahatan would understand it; he being a hunter himself and all...and as for Sora, Ahiga realised that eversince he became a handsome young stallion the grey soquili would often wander out into the forest to meet up with others; sometimes going off for a few days at a time.
Soon the outline of the teepee was seen in the distance and Ahiga lengthened his stride towards the teepee eager to see Tahatan and Sora again. However, as he neared the teepee Ahiga slowed down his pace. Something was not right. The place looked like someone recently left in a hurry. There were also hoof marks on the ground in a rather muddled manner as if a horse was stomping about rather nervously. Dropping his share of the game Ahiga hurried off in the direction of the hoof marks.
Whatever the cause of worry was, it must have been a big one by the way the bushes and shurbs were trampled on. And just as Ahiga was about to plough his way through one of the bushes a familiar voice reached his ears. "Big Brother, is that you?" Ahiga called out as he made his way towards the voices. " What's going on? Is Sora alright?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 4:58 pm
With a last titanic effort, Delphia heaved herself forward and RAN into Sora's teeepee, very nearly running over a young boy on her way. She deftly placed her hooves so that she didn't step on him as she barreled by him like a runaway train. She plunged into the teepee and disappeared from sight.Talencia ran in after her, but immediately turned around at the doorflap. "You gentlemen stay out here, but be ready to go for help if she has difficulty!" And with that she jerked the doorflap closed. This did not, however, keep the sounds from within from reaching their ears. It didn't sound so very terribly... Delphia groaned and grunted and there was a lot of movement in there.Takakun
Both Sora and Tahatan stared in surprise, left in the dust lieu of the flapping doorway to their teepee. As the hunter gently rubbed his neck, wondering what how exactly he was going to gain the teepee back, the stallion was worriedly glancing from doorway to big brother, big brother to doorway. Then the approach of little playmate settled his nerves slightly and Sora gladly nibbled at Ahiga's hair, settling down outside of the door. His ears twitched eagerly.
He sighed, putting an arm around Ahiga..." welcome back. Seems we got quite some event today....best get some rest." Tahatan smiled gently and sat down next to the soquili. Rapidashtrainer "Eh...what's happening? Was that Soquili hurt?" Ahiga asked rubbing the spot where Sora had nipped him. "What did she mean by us standing by Big Brother?"
Clearly the little guy was confused by this sudden burst of activity happening around him. Placing his hand on Sora's side Ahiga then sat down beside Tahatan and waited nervously as he watched and heard strange noises coming from the teepee not too far away. What did this all mean?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 5:00 pm
Takakun
"I don't really know Ahiga.....but no, she's not hurt in a sense.
I suppose we have to go for help if something goes wrong..." Tahatan tried to think if he knew any midwifes in the village but the only name that popped up was Foalen, the Shaman....the young hunter is not too sure a shaman would be much help. He sighed and put one hand on the boy, "Seems our Sora here has been getting into alot these days."
He glanced at the soquili..
Sora was in a dillemma. He didn't know what was happening and why his Delphia was making such strange noises, oh he wish he could be with her!
Distressed, he buried his head in Ahiga's chest, whickering sadly.
When the men and Sora entered, Delphia looked up with a whicker to her mate. "Do you see? You are a father of two now! Aren't the baskets lovely?" She glowed proudly, though she made no move to get up. She was clearly exhausted.Talencia beamed at them all. She was so proud of her Delphia! She moved to stroke the mare's mane, and looked at Tahatan and Ahiga. "I have two friends who would love and cherish one of the baskets. If I may, I'd like to give them that one. ::she pointed to the basket with two white marks and a green stone.Rapidashtrainer Ahiga gasp when he saw the baskets as well as the female mare beside them. "She gave birth here?" the little boy asked more in shock than anything else. "B-but who is the father?"
Then seeing Sora move carefully over to the mare Ahiga let out an "Oh...," as it dawned upon him that Sora was the lucky sire of the foals. " Wow Sora you're a daddy now...,"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 5:07 pm
Takakun
Sora nearly leaped into the teepee, but upon seeing the mare, he calmed down and gently moved to her side, whickering back.
He settled next to her, both soquilis taking up the entire teepee, and rubbed against her neck briefly, giving Delphia a soft n**, "They are ours...?" he asked haltingly, slightly shocked. He had baskets....they had baskets! There are going to be foals coming out...oh.....foals...coming...out.....
He blinked, sniffing at the baskets.
The young hunter smiled, crouching down and draping a blanket over the tired mare, before touching one of the baskets. He remembered the time when they found Sora's basket and brought it home, sitting in the middle of the teepee just like these. And now as if a cycle has returned.
Then he turned to Talencia, "I agree that we cannot be able to take care of two baskets. But perhaps it is a rush to separate the young from their parents. Shall we allow them some time? and meet these friends of yours?"
He smiled at her.
She then nodded to Tahatan. "Yes, that's fine. They need to rest anyway, so they shouldn't be moved and jostled. I'll see if I can't manage to get my friends to come here." She nodded agreement and reached to stroke Sora's face fondly. Delphia nuzzled close to Sora, glad of his proximity and company. She whuffled a laugh, her nostrils fluttering in her amusement. "Yes, Sora dear, they are ours. Our babies. They will come out when they are ready to meet the world. Right now they need the rest and safety of their baskets." She lipped at his jaw in a weary playfulness. "Don't worry, you'll meet them soon enough!"
She whickered soft and low to Tahatan when he draped a blanket over her. She was feeling a bit cold after her exertion, besides being tired. Now she had the warmth of the blanket and the warmth of her Sora beside her. Content, she laid her head down and closed her eyes. It wasn't long before the mare was snoring softly.Seeing Delphia doze off, Tal chuckled quietly. Looking at the other two she spoke softly. "I'm not sure if there will be room for you two to sleep here tonight! I have a feeling poor Delphia is going to sleep for a long while."Rapidashtrainer "Wow wowowow....," Ahiga said over and over again still unable to believe what had just happened. Then shaking his head as if snapping out of a trance Ahiga went over and settled down beside Tahatan.
"No worries miss, I don't mind the weather outside and I bet big brother doesn't either. Right big brother?" Ahiga asked Tahatan with shining eyes.
This being the first time having sort of witness a birth. Ahiga was obviously too excited to worry about sleeping tentless for a while. "The mother and the foals must be treated with upmost care from now on right?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 5:13 pm
Takakun
His long eyelashes blinked, gazing at the mare, before turning to his bonded humans and whickering to them. He is a father! It dawned on Sora that perhaps it is time for him to settle down. But he did so love to play. Perhaps he can play with the kids! The soquili whickered happily, lipping at the baskets and pulling them closer. They even look like his basket......with fatherly fondness, he laid his haid across them and closed his eyes, content to be with his family.
Tahatan laughed gently, patting Ahiga on the back, "we'll make do. It'll be like camping in the forest...although" he glanced at the soiled blankets, "there'll be work for us to get more furs."
Chuckling to himself, her herded the three of them out of the teepee, allowing the soquilis to have sometime to themselves. It was dark nightfall, the moon casting a silvery glow on the village. Most were asleep, so the hunter motioned them to settle themselves nearby while he flared up a small fire, kept within a ring of stones, "here....this'll keep us warm through the night."
His dark blue eyes regarded the woman, "I am Tahatan, and he is Ahiga...as you would know, Sora is our soquili."
He calmly waited for her introduction.
She broke out of her reverie to look up at Tahatan in interest. "Ah, his name is Sora, is it? I had wondered." She smiled. "He certainly is a beautiful soquili." She nodded. "My mare's name is Delphia. She's a sweetheart, and my life changed forever when she entered it." She beamed at them, and then she sat up straight as an idea hit her.
"I have plenty of clean furs in my home. I could go and bring them back." She paused, thinking. "In fact, if it would be alright, perhaps Ahiga could come help me carry them back, and you could stay to watch over our beloved horses?" She glanced at Ahiga and then back to Tahatan to gauge their reaction to this suggestion.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 5:14 pm
Takakun
What an unusual name. She didn't seem to have come from the village, which would explain the frequent outposting trips Sora kept having.....their teepee must be some lengths away.
He could see she was uncomfortable though so he attempted a smile. After all, he was born here but still felt as an outsider...
Tahatan continued stoking the fire so it doesn't die to embers, "He changed our lives too when we found his basket,"
The he looked up, slightly concerned, "A lone woman and a young boy shouldn't be out on such a night....perhaps Ahiga should stay, it will be safer..."
He pondered.
"Besides, I am thinking we might find a wild red mare at the teepee, waiting for me. She's been hanging around and seems to be highly curious about me." She smiled at the thought of her. "I do believe she wouldn't allow any harm to come to us." She held her hand out to Ahiga. "Come, let us get started before it gets too late and we grow too weary. It isn't all that far... and I know the trail well!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 5:15 pm
Takakun
He merely kept quiet, smiling to himself. Ah the women of this village. Comes with rather a bite. Young Tahatan was alone most of his life but he's beginning to see the attractions of the companionship of a woman.
Idly he shrugged, turning to Ahiga, "remember to keep your eyes open." and he let them go with a slight nod of his head.
Rapidashtrainer "Yes, big brother," Ahiga said getting up and dusting his pants. This was exciting. Eventhough he was used to going on hunts for many days with Tahatan the thought of camping outside your own teepee was something he had never done before at any rate. Getting up Ahiga suddenly remembered that he had dropped his share of he hunting spoils when he had returned home earlier.
"Ah...I dropped some meat ealier when I reached the teepee... perhaps we can find it after we've taken the furs?" the little boy asked hopefully afraid that the meat would be rotten if it was left out any longer.
Before she moved to lunge to her feet in search of her stolen children, she became aware of Sora laying next to her. Her heart slowed. Sora would never have let those hunters tear her foals away from her like that. He wouldn't be laying, breathing quietly next to her, if their offspring had been foalnapped. Her breathing slowed from the paniced heaving to merely deep, calming breaths. All was well.
Just then she heard one of the foals stir in it's basket, rustling lightly. She flared her nostrils and took in the two new individual scents that were her children. Yes, all was well. Their family was safe and sound. With a last blow of breath through her nose, she laid her head down against Sora's warm hide and slowly relaxed each muscle in her body. Before she had mentally finished her tally of parts to relax, she was sound asleep.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 5:19 pm
Takakun
At this he raised his eyebrows. What did they think he was doing? Idly sitting by with two soquilis and three baskets to guard??
He sighed, slightly muttering to himself. "Well.....you two best be going before it gets darker. I'll find the meat and perhaps we can have stew when you return."
Tahatan's face remained impassive towards Talencia, frankly he was a little worried, no doubt the woman can defend herself with a soquili, but now she will be alone with Ahiga..atleast until they reach her home....bleh, he shook his head to rid of those dark thoughts and began scouting around the teepee. Soon he found the small bundle and brought it back, cutting it out neatly and laying the contents by the fire. They'll have a good meal tonight atleast.
The grey stallion kicked slightly in his sleep, snorting happily. There he was ontop of the hill within the forest, gazing behind him the two strong foals and they'll race across the wind swept fields together.
A smile spread on the handsome soquili face and he nestled closer to Delphia.Rapidashtrainer "Yay! You've found it!" Ahiga cheered in delight; partly because he noticed that the meat wasn't spoilt yet and partly because it saved him the trouble of hunting for it later. " Shall we go collect the furs now?" Ahiga asked running up to Talencia.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 7:38 pm
Takakun
With just the top of his head poking out, the young hunter rolled over and slept on eventhough the sun was shining high and bright.
Sora came out after Delphia. He had been sniffing at the baskets to see if they were alright before threading his way out and solidly standing next to the mare.
He whickered at Talencia before poking his head into the furs and roughly blowing at Tahatan and Ahiga. Why were they still in the large hairy thing. Usually big brother and little playmate were up and about when the sun peeps from the mountains. He started to n**.
He awoke with a start, pushing the large soquili away, "SORA!" Tahatan yelled, then sat there, blinking sleepily.o0 Nel Zelpher 0o Inside the teepee, one of the baskets twitched slightly. The movement was so subtle one could fool themselves into believing it hadn't happened...until it twitched again, a few moments later. Then the lid nudged aside a bit to reveal a small grey nose, nostrils flaring curiously. A soft whinny was heard before the nose withdrew, and the foal inside waited to see what would happen.
"Hello little one. It is safe to come out, if you like. There is a wonderful world here to see and explore." She blew very gently into the dark space where the basket was opened. "And wonderful creatures to meet and get to know. Come out, darling!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 7:45 pm
o0 Nel Zelpher 0o A soft snort was heard from within the basket, then, a few moments later, a small muzzle darted out and nipped at Delphia's nose. Shoving aside the lid a little more, the colt kept his head out this time, a mischeivous glint in his brown eyes as his ears swiveled curiously. Exploring...sounded interesting.
She backed carefully out of the teepee, leaving her hindquarters outside and her forequarters inside. She nickered encouragingly to the emerging colt. "It's a lovely day outside, come and see!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
