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+--- Thread: Ankyra Sound [m] but i do it for the kids (/showthread.php?tid=66144)
[m] but i do it for the kids - Treepie - July 07, 2025
As soon as Tiuttuk oriented herself, she sent up a howl to let @Alaric, Tikaani and the Redhawks know her location. She added a postscript to her message, inviting her two closest companions to join her if they wished. They were the ones who enjoyed traveling, whereas Treepie found herself wandering simply because she had nowhere to go—at least, nowhere that felt right.
She had seen the ocean from a distance once or twice, when she’d climbed high enough on Moonspear. But with nothing better to do, Pie decided she wanted to see it up close. It might provide a good distraction from her deepening melancholy, at the very least. Maybe she could even look for Sapphique and catch up with @Sobeille…
When she came within view of the coast, there was only one word for how it made her feel: overwhelmed. Treepie kept her distance even as she moved parallel with the horizon, eyes roving over the blueish gray waters. The air smelled so different here, it sort of turned her stomach. So many spoke so highly of the sea, yet Pie didn’t see the appeal. At least Wyvern seemed to be enjoying herself, dancing on the seabreeze.
Pie spotted a forest ahead and slipped into its shade. She could still hear the crash of the surf, though she could no longer see that endless stretch of saltwater. The yearling blew out a breath as she halted beneath a tree and took a seat, her weight leaning on its trunk. She didn’t bother looking up when she heard Wyvern land overhead with a soft trill.
RE: but i do it for the kids - Alaric - July 09, 2025
It had been ages since Alaric had traveled from the spear, further than Moonglow, or Forneskja or even Redhawk. So it was with an eagerness that belayed that of a child taht he joined Treepie. There was another reason for his movements. After all, Tiuttuk hated leaving home. And as such he felt the need to keep a whether eye on her. Even if their current space was still riddled with awkwardness and unspoken words. But true to form, Alaric tried to make it fun.
He darted ahead like a pup. Sang songs into the quiet. Danced along. He would leave Tree for moments an then return. Something clasped in his jaws. A feather, a stick,some sort of plant that he then tucked away into his fur. And when they stopped. Well then.
The forest that housed them was beautiful and large. Cooling from the summer sun. Alaric threw himself forward into the loam and he explored all the nearest nooks and crannies. Humming under his breath.
RE: but i do it for the kids - Treepie - July 10, 2025
She did bother to look up when Alaric frolicked across her field of vision. He seemed happier than she’d seen him in quite some time, which was delightful on one hand… and hard to swallow, on another. Their village’s fall seemed to have removed a great weight from his shoulders. Though she was happy for him, it made Tiuttuk a little heartsick.
Her yellow eyes tracked his movements as he dropped his nose and began combing through the various scents. After a moment, Pie complemented this olfactory search by tipping her snout into the air and inhaling deeply. She still didn’t like the briny smell, though there were many others which intrigued her. Her head turned eastward as she swore she detected a familiar trace, though the wind shifted and it seemed to vanish into the ether.
By the time she looked back, Alaric had disappeared deeper into the woods. Pie didn’t worry. He should explore to his heart’s content. She would just stay here, so he could find his way back to her eventually. In the meantime, Treepie tried to relax against the scratchy bark of the tree, Wyvern chittering every now and again directly overhead.
RE: but i do it for the kids - Sobeille - July 15, 2025
she could not sleep.
the dull throbs in her abdomen increased. with no depth of knowledge in her tribe for what was happening to her body, sobeille fell to instinct.
instinct told her to find somewhere quiet and safe. her eyes were upon the sound’s powerful grotto, but sapphique’s carmine never made it there.
she fell against the broad trunk of a sequoia in exhaustion and pain, and slept.
a trill woke her sometime later. slanting sunlight informed her hours had passed; along the balmy breeze she detected faint traces of scents, both familiar.
more than anything she wished to continue to the grotto, but the pain lancing deep within her crippled her to the spot. gritting her teeth, sobeille fought the rising bile in her throat and rose.
she limped from tree to tree, sticking to the dappled shade. ahead, a birds fluttering wings caught her brief attention before another violent contraction seized her. she gasped and made the next large tree her goalpost; maybe sit there, rest a while, and continue.
but as she rounded the gnarled bole, a shadow rested against it. sobeille fought the chill that lifted every hair on her spine, freezing to the spot despite the pain’s urgency.
treepie?
RE: but i do it for the kids - Alaric - July 17, 2025
A sound back near Treepie had Alaric turning and barreling back. He didn't know what it was, and it ws probably nothing. But he wasn't really feeling like erring on teh side of caution. Upon his arrival eyes went wide. HE studied the she wolf that seemed to know Tiuttuk, but couldn't quite place her. He knew she was of the sea, but had he spoken to her? Gods was he getting old?
He stood near Treepie, knowing that they normally didn't like men. So he kept his distance until she asked him closer. OR greeted him.
RE: but i do it for the kids - Treepie - July 17, 2025
The sound was bittersweet. It reminded her of home, which was comforting and depressing all at once. She closed her eyes and tried to clear her thoughts. But then Wyvern fell silent. Pie’s face scrunched, though she kept her eyes shut until the bird gave a sudden screech. They flew open and she sat upright as a familiar figure stepped into view with Treepie’s name on her lips.
Hey!she blurted without thinking, the greeting partly drowned out by another cry from the nighthawk.
Wyvern!Pie admonished, glancing upward.
Hush! She’s my friend.
The nightjar went quiet, thankfully, though she ruffled her feathers in a way that struck Tiuttuk as disapproving. Although amused by this, her yellow eyes quickly dropped backed to Sobeille… and widened when she saw her rounded midsection, clearly swollen with puppies.
Oh,she blurted this time, moving closer to the she-wolf and noting the pained lines etched into her face.
Are you—
Alaric swept to her side then, startling Treepie somewhat and likely having the same effect on poor Sobeille. Her gaze flicked between the two for a split second, lips parting as she wondered whether to finish her incomplete thought or start making introductions to put everyone at ease.
Alaric, Sobeille. Sobeille, Alaric,Pie said quickly. She thought about introducing the bird but she’d already said her name and, besides, there were more pressing matters.
Sobeille, are you alright? You look…
RE: but i do it for the kids - Sobeille - July 17, 2025
barely registering the shadow belonged to that of her friend, sobeille’s eyes flit upward as a piercing scream — followed by a second — nearly rivaled the malcontent in her midsection. a bird? she didn’t have time to address this before a swarthy male burst on the scene, prompting an immediate and defensive recoil from the sapphiqian.
whether the lift of her lips was from another contraction or the disapproval of seeing treepie with a man (having no time whatsoever to introspectively examine that kneejerk emotion), sobeille turned her yellow eyes back to treepie’s face.
between gritted teeth, sobeille endured the introduction and remembered her manners just long enough to mete out a strained
it pleases me to see your face,aimed at treepie only — the man standing a respectful distance away was afforded the barest look before another contraction rocked sobeille’s small frame.
too preoccupied with her condition and the overwhelming distance from her goal, sobeille pushed aside the question of why treepie was here and waddled past them both.
yes. i be in de family way. excuse me.she commented as nonchalantly as she could, spine stiffening as agonizing pain stabbed at her side. this wasn’t like the pain experienced in an exhilarating fight - this pain was deeply wrong, and made her want to run. she was too proud to ask for help or admit she was scared, and deliberately positioned her body so that the pair could not see her face as she continued to the grotto at a pace best described as lumpy and half doubled over.
RE: but i do it for the kids - Treepie - July 17, 2025
Danni said to skip Alaric for a few rounds. :)
The sentiment was mutual, of course, though before Pie could articulate anything further, Sobeille begged their pardon and began waddling away. The yearling blinked slowly, then exchanged a quick glance with Alaric before trailing after the pregnant she-wolf. She heard the healer bring up the rear, though he fell back as if trying to give the women some space.
Taking that to mean no medical intervention was particularly necessary, Tiuttuk shot him a grateful look and then returned her focus solely to Sobeille. She quickly caught up to the woman, careful not to brush her distended flank as she fell into step beside her. She slowed her own stride to match the laboring woman’s pace.
I’m here,was all the Ostrega could think to say,
if you need anything.
The look on Sobeille’s face, paired with her terse tone, told Tiuttuk she may not want any accompaniment for this. She would take her cues from her. If Sobeille demanded space, she would fall back with Alaric, though the thought put a lump in her throat. This was the first place she actually wanted to be since leaving Moonspear.
RE: but i do it for the kids - Sobeille - July 17, 2025
eight footfalls fell in step behind her. sobeille’s auburn ear cut back, noting the male’s tread was just slightly slower.
good. her gaze turned resolutely to the distant grotto. the grotto, with its magic aura. the grotto, exuding saltsong and blood and generational power —
another contraction seized her, lasting longer than the former and nearly bringing bile to her throat. sobeille didn’t notice the abundant caution treepie took catching up to her; she was too busy counting a trail of industrious ants on the dappled forest floor.
determined to continue, sobeille took a shaky gasp and resumed waddling. would her wide load even fit through the grotto’s enterance?
i need,each of sobeille’s words was punctuated with terse pain:
to make it to dat grotto,she pointed at the dark hole in the hazy distance, its face surrounded by stones. though she didn’t admit it, she was grateful for treepie’s presence — only moments before she’d resolved to face this most harrowing of experiences alone.
RE: [m] but i do it for the kids - Treepie - July 17, 2025
Sobeille stopped, so Treepie did too. She held her breath, waiting to see what her companion might do or say. “I need,” she began and Pie’s ears slipped backward as if anticipating a dismissal. One didn’t come, however, and they perked upright as Sobeille indicated the nearby grotto.
Her eyes cut ahead, then back to the other woman as she resumed waddling. Pie didn’t say anything, merely pressed her shoulder gently to Sobeille’s in a wordless show of support. If she chose to let Tiuttuk take her weight, she would be ready for it. And if Sobeille found herself unable to walk for any reason, she was prepared to carry her too, likely with Alaric’s help.
RE: [m] but i do it for the kids - Sobeille - July 17, 2025
if sobeille could liken this pain to anything, she imagined it was as the fish felt when eaten alive. the things inside of her — innumerable — resolved to claw their way out.
treepie’s unexpected gesture brought with it a pang of fierce longing for yura — yura had been alongside her through the bleak winter and into glamorous summer; what should have been the birth of their storied future was instead a charnel hall.
she inhaled again, nodding curtly. it would be the most treepie would get out of the walled-up sapphiqian in terms of gratitude.
sobeille’s gaze did not waver as the hungering mouth of the grotto loomed near.
RE: [m] but i do it for the kids - Treepie - July 17, 2025
When they approached the threshold, Tiuttuk halted to let Sobeille proceed inside alone. She didn’t want to intrude into the space clearly chosen as a whelping den unless properly invited. Well, she wanted to accompany the laboring woman inside but she restrained herself, keeping her own desires in check and deferring to Sobeille’s.
Should I call for anyone?she asked as Sobeille presumably made herself as comfortable as she possibly could, given her condition.
Or I can send Alaric to fetch anyone you need,she added, glancing at him a little guiltily as she volunteered him for a task he may not want to take.
I’ll be right here, no matter what,unless, of course, Sobeille sent her away.
Even then… Tiuttuk didn’t think she could go very far. If Sobeille expressed a wish to birth her children in solitude, then she would respect that, but she decided she would remain in earshot no matter what. She licked her lips and glanced at the man hovering in the backdrop, both of them waiting to do the mother-to-be’s bidding.
RE: [m] but i do it for the kids - Sobeille - July 17, 2025
sobeille kept going as treepie hung back, not even registering that the woman was well behind her until the walls closed in and her voice echoed down the tunnel.
pausing to listen, sobeille threw her voice behind her.
dis be a big place. come.she took a few more steps, ensuring treepie followed before racking on an emphatic
’e stays. outside.
while the carnal logistics of birth were likely best performed alone, sobeille had planned ahead. as the tunnel panned downward and spilled out into the first chamber, her eyes adjusted to the dim light. just as she stepped down the rim and into the massive chamber, a new bolt of pain arced violently down her spine and settled — deeply malcontent — somewhere inside of her that had never been more vulnerable.
she limped past the flowstone columns and towards a natural shelf of ancient stone. behind this shelf the moonpool glimmered, throwing gentle blue light across the cavern.
now the contractions came relentless as waves. seized by the intensity of them, sobeille slunk behind the columns of worn stones and began to circle on the pelts laid upon the floor.
any moment now nature would take control of her tormented body — sobeille fervently hoped that moment came sooner rather than later; she was so distracted by the overwhelming sensation of pain she hardly even noticed treepie’s lingering presence anymore.
RE: [m] but i do it for the kids - Treepie - July 17, 2025
“Come,” Sobeille said and, at long last, Tiuttuk knew exactly where to go.
Before she heeded the command, Treepie made sure to catch Alaric’s eye. In case he hadn’t heard Sobeille, she asked him to wait outside and keep watch. This was women’s work, though the last thing she wanted was to leave Alaric behind. He seemed to understand.
Heart pounding in her chest, Tiuttuk faced forward and crept into the grotto behind Sobeille. After a narrow downward grade, the space widened into a startlingly large chamber. Pie couldn’t see anything and paused to let her eyes adjust, shifting out of the way to allow the light from outside to make its way into the alcove.
By the time she could see—only a little, but enough—she spotted Sobeille crouching near a pile of furs not far from a shining pool. Surprised by the sight of both the nest and the water, she nevertheless crept closer. She watched the pregnant she-wolf circle in this place she had evidently picked out and prepared beforehand.
Although she wondered why her companion had chosen this dreary grotto to deliver her pups, Treepie didn’t question it. She didn’t ask again if there was anyone else she should summon. She merely sank down beside Sobeille, feeling as though she was meant to be here… that her presence was, in fact, so important, an entire village had fallen—two, actually, though she knew nothing of Sapphique’s fate—just to bring her here.
RE: [m] but i do it for the kids - Sobeille - July 17, 2025
settling into the smooth embrace of seal and fawnskin, sobeille closed her eyes and willed this — all of it — away.
there would be no reprieve in this hour; her greatest crucible wasn’t nox or ephraim, but the quiet lives that came after.
perhaps like them wandering in and out of her life, this too was fate — the selfsame emotion that settled enormous within treepie moved sobeille too.
she gasped as another wave rocked through her, slamming her as tides do to kelp upon the sea floor.
treepie and the narrow slant of light afforded by moving from the entrance’s mouth faded from view. another cold wave slapped her, and another — endless and ceaseless and carrying with it a primordial rhythm sobeille had only just begun to hear.
marinette guide me,she urged through clenched teeth as darkening waters welled upon her thigh.
* * *
she would recall none of it besides the bitter pain. the hours would lapse, folded to strange blue memory; not the first nor the last would be remembered, or where their cauls went, who cleaned them, or how the walls seemed to shimmer in synchrony to the climax of her body’s torment. only when the last body was placed carefully alongside its siblings did the energy evaporate from the grotto’s nouvelle mother, and she fell into a deep dreamstate troubled by visions of marinette.
RE: [m] but i do it for the kids - Mirelyn - July 17, 2025
They had no name in the darkness that was the womb. It was a quiet place where, slowly, her body formed. But something had gone wrong. Her bones were brittle, and her left front leg fractured as she came into the world screaming, writhing in pain. Wet, cold, and pain were the first sensations she learned from this cruel world, and they would not be the last of the horrors she would come to know.
The warmth of a tongue did nothing to calm her, and the nameless frail child continued to scream bloody murder. This volume was only kicked up a notch whenever her fractured leg was touched.
RE: [m] but i do it for the kids - Cairos - July 18, 2025
Cairos' father had come into the world squalling, but Cairos came into the world quiet as a mouse.
Whether this was a sign of sickness in him or a sign of resignation to his ill-begotten fate as a male born in this particular locale, only time would tell. The babe made merely the slightest of peeps when he was cleaned and exposed to the chill, dank air of the grotto. In stark contrast to his relative silence, once he latched, the kneading of his paws to stimulate his mother's flow was furious and powerful. It was some time before the exhaustion of birth finally claimed him.
From his first breath, he was everything his father was not, and quite possibly everything his mother despised.
RE: [m] but i do it for the kids - Chireille - August 10, 2025
how are souls created? and what power guides them to their corporeal vessel?
chireille arrived in the manner most newborns do; matted in viscera and fighting -- however small the struggle -- against the sudden upheaval of her formerly comfortable life.
while her sister squalled and her brother furiously nursed, chireille moved as an eel through reeds of tall kelp. old memories, the imperial whisper of an ancient instinct, all conspired to guide her from sac to teat; to grip upon the mantle of life and drink deep draughts of it.
in time she might bring greatness to her powerful order. for now, she was simply life's newest participant -- an amoeba in the kaleidoscopic scale that moved within an endless cosmos.
RE: [m] but i do it for the kids - Treepie - August 11, 2025
The fruits of her labors amounted to three pups, unbelievably small but perfectly formed. Guided perhaps by this unseen Marinette, Sobeille tended to each newborn, cleaning and drying them before nestling them against her teats. One of them—one of the two little girls—cried louder than the others, though her cries were not loud enough to rouse the new mother as she lapsed into what seemed an almost catatonic state.
Despite an increasingly urgent need to empty her bladder, Tiuttuk remained rooted to the spot beside Sobeille. She stared at the puppies, enamored with them. She didn’t want to take her eyes off them so long as Sobeille slept, though eventually she could no longer resist nature’s call. Besides, she wanted to get word to @Alaric who presumably remained posted at the grotto’s entrance.
Everything went well, I think. Two girls and a boy,Pie noted to the healer as she relieved herself against the stones just outside the doorway, careless that Alaric bore witness to her leg lift. It was much more important to convey,
One of the girls screams when you touch her. As soon as Sobeille wakes, I’ll ask her if you can take a look. Stay close.
She shot him a grateful look, then ducked back inside the grotto. Tiuttuk didn’t take a breath until she saw that all three babes were still tucked safely beside their slumbering dam. Pie folded herself down beside the little family of four again, telling herself not to touch them until Sobeille had granted her express permission. But in the end, she was unable to resist the temptation to touch her lips to each tiny forehead.