This is just some banter between Estelle and Eden. Gonna use some of the legends of their birth gods here, so stay tuned if you want a lil' background on my girls!
Four weeks was four too many for the anxious mother-to-be. Eden paced around the outside of the tunnels, waiting for the call she'd released just moments before to reach her cousin's ears. Estelle was always more in touch with the Otherworld and the Beings who roamed there, thus it made more sense for Eden to ask her over anyone else.Where is she?
Once she tired out -- and it was much sooner than normal, thanks to the life growing within her -- Eden huffed and sat back on her haunches. She wanted to know now! Hell, she wanted to know the first day of her pregnancy, but at this point it could no longer wait. She was drowning under the weight of her own curiousity, but it was obvious that Estelle couldn't care less.
Estelle rushed to she and Eden's daily meeting spot, though this time she moved with a newfound haste. What is it?
shd asked as her feet padded before Eden. The sun was just beginning to set, so although her eyes were squinted, Estelle managed to see the defeated form sitting before her. Are you okay? Is it the pups?
Normally, being called with such urgency would've pissed her off immediately, but the fact that this was Eden made the anger simmer into the faint annoyance that lined her words.
Once Estelle's lithe body came into frame, Eden squealed with joy and moved forward to run into her cousin's scruff. What? No, no I'm okay! We're all okay
, she reassured her, I was just wondering...could you maybe...tell me?
It was asking a lot to start a makeshift ritual once the sun had already gone down, but Eden knew that she would do it. She'll do it, right? I mean, she's done it before so it can't be that hard.
What Eden was asking was if Estelle could summon the Beings and maybe, just maybe, tell her who they would be. The pups, that is. Not knowing who they were bugged Eden to her core, and she wasn't nearly as fluent in the language of the Otherworld as Estelle was.
Please, Essie! I wanna know now
, Eden begged, her head laid flat against her cousin's chest so that her snout was up against Estelle's chin.
Estelle sighed but smiled at her cousin's childlike behavior. Si je fais que tu veux, qu'est ce que tu me donnes?
Estelle asked, though in her mind, she'd already agreed. She didn't have to get anything in return, for she longed a reason to speak with the Beings anyway. Je ferai ça, mais tu sais les règles.
As a channel, Estelle spoke the words of the Beings, but those words were to stay between her and Eden. These rituals were sacred and had to stay only within the minds of those who believed the ways that they did.
C'mon
, Estelle cooed, then began her way toward Illumination Meadow; one place that she'd come to know as sacred.
Eden jumped back with surprise as Estelle proposed she should get something in return. Huh. C'est différent, mais j'aime ça. Que est-ce que tu veux?
Though she was completely willing to give something as a reward for such a favor, it soon came to light that Estelle didn't want anything at all. Eden smiled, and nodded her head. Yes, she knew of the rules, for she'd taken the time to remember every aspect of her religion prior to asking Estelle about such a sacred tradition.
When they arrived in the meadow, Eden was taken aback by the beauty of the clearing. Even in the midst of the annual frost, their seemed to be warmth captured in every corner. Her lips turned upward into a smile as she marveled at its beauty. This is perfect, Essie.
She looked to her cousin, hoping that somehow she would would get the same feeling Eden had. Then, she laid on her back and awaited Estelle's marks.
Estelle turned her head upwards to the sky, examining the alignment of the stars and the phase of the moon. This would be easier if Lune chose to watch, though even on a night when she hid in the arms of Ciel such a ritual could be done. She smiled over to her cousin and approached, gently nosing as the round bump on her abdomen.
Looking once more toward the sky, Estelle whispered a prayer that Lune watch over them both and Monde secure them to his chest. You ready?
Estelle asked of Eden before licking gently at the skin that'd been exposed in the thinning of her fur. Your womb has been touched by the graces of Notre Mère, but you didn't need me to tell you that, seeing how far you've come.
Estelle laughed and got back to the ritual at hand.
But you've been more than just touched; you've been truly blessed. Within you grows bountiful life
, Estelle smiled as she watched the small spirits of her growing cousins leap around her and their mother, a couple of them suckling at her teats, the rest playing with all that Monde gave as gifts, each healthy and strong.
They were apparitions, mere ideas of who the infants could grow to be. To everyone else, it was nothing more than Estelle's mind playing tricks on her, but to the channel, they were just as real as she or her cousin, if not more vivid. Something alarmed her, however, and her brow furrowed in confusion. The two at Eden's teats remained there, silently sucking. The other three continued in their festivities, though they showed no urge to feed.
Estelle thought she knew what it meant, but those things didn't need to be said while Eden was at such a sensitive stage. Two girls, three boys. One who looks just like you, one like...Emèlie, and another just like Alyssum. There's even one to the liking of Amari, and the last to your mate.
As soon as the words left her mouth, the five spirits looked into her and mouthed their goodbyes before running back into the night. Estelle would have to think, perhaps pray, but this was a moment of happiness, not of gloom.
Eden squirmed silently at the cool touch of her cousin's snout then the warmth of her breath against her swollen belly. She even rolled her eyes impatiently as Estelle took care to say her prayers.Ah, c'mon I wanna know now!
Eden smiled at the first few words. She expected there were quite a few babes within her based on how quick she swelled, yet to hear it said aloud made her ill with pride. It was a blessing to have such a healthy brood brewing, but it wasn't long before Eden forgot who she had to thank. Blinded by la satisfaction, Eden didn't even think about giving a silent thanks to Notre Mère. In hindsight, that might've been her biggest mistake.
To hear that there were five, to be exact, two girls and three boys, Eden let joy wash over her. Knowing that by them she would be able to remember her siblings brought her a moment of excitement, yet hearing that one of the children would resemble her aunt made her sick to her stomach.
Still, no matter how much she loathed Emèlie, she wouldn't hold it against her own young.
Eden also wasn't incredulous to Estelle's moment of confusion. It worried her to see her cousin's expression change in such a fashion, and she refused to let it go unspoken. Is everything okay? They're all okay, right?
Eden smiled though nervousness now ran through her veins.
Estelle shook her head and let a smile creep across her lips. I, um...you know what. Don't worry about it, I'm sure it's nothing. I'm gonna go back and mark the borders a bit, but you should head back and get some sleep.
Her response was choked but she kept her expression neutral for the sake of her cousin's sanity. She knew at some point she'd have to make up something about why she was so upset, but for now she had a few things to do, notably pray for her younger cousins' lives. It would be a long night, Estelle knew, and the more sleep Eden got, the better. She would need to be in good health for the next few days especially. The pain was on its way, and Estelle knew that better than anyone.
Though she didn't want to (and honestly if this had been anyone else, she wouldn't have) Eden stood and turned to leave Estelle to her vices. Essie, you'd tell me if something was wrong, right? You...you would tell me, right?
Now it was Eden's turn to be choked in the presence of newfound emotions, only this one was much, much less welcome than any other.
She knew this feeling. It was pure, skin-ripping fear. Eden knew Estelle, and she knew when something was wrong with her. But obviously if Estelle didn't want to share, it was something beyond an easy fix, and that scared Eden even more than anything else. It was the unknown that frightened her, but it seemed tonight wouldn't be the one in which she got the answers she seeked. So she shot her cousin one last concerned look before trotting back to the tunnels.
She wouldn't lie to Eden, but in this instance, she didn't dare tell what she believed to be the truth until proof rang in her ears. So instead to speaking, she took a deep breath and gave a thin-lipped smile to her cousin in parting. As soon as Eden was out of sight, however, her snout was turned up to the sky, begging for answers.