Ravensblood Forest the bird and the bee [m]

No sooner had Dakarai spoke his words than another contraction, strong than the waves she experienced before it, gripped her midsection. Olive could not hide her discomfort and grimaced sharply at the pain, biting her lip and sucking in a shallow breath. It was the exact opposite reaction Dakarai had requested of her [did he not just tell her to breathe? and did nothing to dull the sudden biting pain. For many seconds did she stay that way, clawing the ground and clenching her jaws together, but eventually the tension subsided, leaving a somewhat disoriented Olive in its wake. She picked up her head to look at her king, so calm and so reassuring — and promptly laid her crown against onyx paws, shifting her body so that she lay laterally. Olive worried that she was laboring too fast, that her body was working much too efficiently and was not taking the time to complete the task flawlessly; but as she laid with her head upon her husband’s paws, she conceded herself to the will of the celestial bodies that twinkled above them and bathed the two in a soft, warm light. The feminine, lunar energies were at their most potent that night and would strengthen her for the efforts to come. She only needed to trust in it and all would be well. 

Then, Dakarai suggested calling for Lotte; an idea of which almost threw Olive into another self-impose contraction. “No,” she spoke softly — but the promptness of her response gave it an air of finality. She did not wish to announce to the entire forest that she was in the middle of such an… intimate experience. Teaghlaigh was no longer a minuscule family group but boasted rather impressive numbers — but many had remained strangers during her convalescence and preparations. The family would know eventually, but the birth was just for them— for this reason, the lamb was adamant that no one else be in close proximity; most of all, not her Banrion. Olive had felt an immediate liking towards the expecting queen, but the scarfed woman was one with the man who spoke such acrid threats… and though Teaghlaigh’s numbers had improved drastically since the omen, the visit from Blackfeather Woods was still carved so freshly in their minds. The mother loathed to think of the potential consequences and she desired greatly to keep the reality of their situation at bay as long as possible. No, her children would not be buffeted with such negativity upon their entrance into the world; at least she could do that much for them.  “Just you.” the dove spoke, wishing him to believe as she did: the moon would ensure a healthy delivery. But if it didn’t…. “One who healed us— she promised she would stay close. If something should go wrong, call for her. Carina.” Olive’s mind flickered back to that night several weeks ago [or was it years?] with the wayfaring healer. What an interesting soul, Olive mused for a moment and decided that she would actually love the sheepdog to eventually meet her new family.

Olive rubbed her head against Dakarai’s paws, loving his reassuring presence. Most stories of pup-having spun tales of women gnashing their teeth and driving the fathers from the den, but such instincts had yet to find the docile Olive. Rather, she wished for her dark knight to stay and be part of this. It was a beautiful thing, and even though her labor was fast paced it was still new and thus far… not as bad as she had imagined it might be. But there was one hushed thought that continually plagued her:  “What if I hurt them again, my love? What if I’m a bad mother?”