Lion Head Mesa everybody loves you, baby [m]

tavina flicked her eyes sharply toward rashepses. "the head of your first will soon crown. administering poppy would slow the heartbeats of the children she carries. no, semer-wati. she has to do this part by herself."

toula was insensate with pain, beyond the reach of the sesh's voice now. tavina kept her voice a murmur, consistent, encouraging. her screams still rent at the woman's soul, and tavina fought the instinctual rage of defense. there was nothing to fight here. toula was alone on this field of battle.

the first child, lightfurred and well-formed, was born on the end of such cries. tavina gathered the small slick body into a cloth, noted that he was male, and cleaned the mucus from his jaws. tribulation took toula again, swiftly, and her flesh entire was clasped with anguish.

a second boy, dark as his father, with a lusty cry to rival any she had heard before. tavina chuckled, cleaned his eyes, and set the sons of akashingo at their mother's side, between toula and rashepses. "two boys, great one. two little princes for your kingdom."

it was not over; toula was young and her body would gather for another trial, but in this moment, her eyes were only filled with pride and with love.