Boartusk Heights Sky on fire

Two boys! 

The first, small and unassuming; the second, rotund and boisterous. As the vice grip of labor lessened, Scoria took a moment of respite, taking in deep breaths to slow herself down. The new mother took the chance to clean and dry the two and, once done, guided them both towards her belly—though, she didn’t have to do much guiding with her second-born. A small huff of a laugh escaped her as she watched him squirm and crawl, forging his own path.

The arrival of Hashut shortly after she called for him had not gone unnoticed for she had leaned into him as he had placed himself beside her, his silent encouragement bolstering. She sighed as her forehead pressed against his shoulder when the adrenaline from birthing faded, her body shivering and shaking. Mismatched eyes found his as she gave him a tired, yet elated, smile. “Two boys, Hashut! Aren’t they just beautiful? What are we to name them?” She hoped for strong names.

The scents of Serem and Paloma were distant, signaling they had remained outside of her nesting den. She was glad for it; the only one allowed inside was Hashut, the father of her children, no others. Scoria was still in the throes of labor, not quite finished, and any one else would suffer her ire at being disturbed.

It was unfortunate, then, that Reyna had entered unannounced. The growl emitted from the new mother was deep and threatening as she watched the woman close the distance to peer at the boys. Much too close for comfort. Before she did something rash, she took a deep breath before speaking, her words stilted. “Reyna. With the utmost respect, I thank you, but—leave us. I only need Hashut. You are…too close to my babies.”

Suddenly, she was seized, once again, her cries of pain echoing within the den walls. “It’s happening, again! There’s more—argh!”