I ran away for a good reason this time, though he may not see it that way, well I waddled away. It was a strange feeling to have something within you, pressing against your insides as if it longed to escape. It was something I was unused to, something strange, and yet...Perhaps, it is the right thing. It feels so strange because of the very thing that grows within my womb. A melding of myself and my brother lays within my belly, a precious blend of perfection such as the world has never known. The Angels think they know perfect, I spit on the very notion they possess such high knowledge. Although, one can't blame them for trying to achieve such a status as myself and my family, they do come close. This morning, before the sun even rose and the early spring frost defrosted on the leaves of the woods, I felt something within me shift.

I stole away, trying so hard not to wake him in my most clumsy of states as I make my way to the more squalid of the forest. There, not far beyond the marsh, I lay to struggle with the tiny beast in my gut. They got worse as I went on, the sun coming up to kiss the greenery of the new leaves as I stared up into the trees. No, not here. I stand, making my way away from the damp bogs and I feel water splash and trickle down my hind legs. Panic threatens to consume me, but I beat it down, I will not have this cub in a bog, or in some dusty den, nor will I stand for it to be delivered underground. I cannot move any further, however, the pain is growing more severe and my instincts tell me to find some cover soon, or we will both perish...Adonis would never stand for that kind of behavior, and in this, i am unwilling to rebel against him. "Just hold on a liiittle longer, little one, I need to get you somewhere safe. Just wait, I can't do anything with you trying to flee from me just yet." It seems to work, though from what I have felt, I only have a short amount of time before it forgets what I even said.

Maybe it is not the cub's fault, but mine, what if my body is bursting and I fall apart at the seams...

I can't abide by fear...I can't live in fear.

My golden eyes beseech the wilderness, seeking shelter so that I might be at least a little protected from anything, especially if something goes wrong. maybe hard births are required of the Amazons. Father had said that mother always had a hard time. I moves as fast as I can toward the group of bushes and trees, not paying any attention to the foliage, my focus only on having my cub in peace. My last thought before instinct kicks into overdrive is how much Adonis would flip when he finds out I went off to have his pup, or pups - though from what I have seen, I got only one or two in there - alone.

My claws raze the earth beneath them as the cramps become enormous pressure in my stomach, I hold my breath and tuck my chin against the pain, trying so hard not to moan it was ridiculous. I bear my fangs to the earth, staring at longs as I silently snarl in threat to the gods that they should make me suffer like this, and yet thanking them all the same. I do not want anyone to find me like this, they can't, it is far too embarrassing to let them witness. I fight another moan as the pressure becomes steady and I am forced to push, something telling me it was time. I listen, growling deeply as blood spilling and a horrific pain from my hind end, I knew something had torn, I felt a rip. Blood came trickling at first, but as things went on, and the pup was out further, I felt it tear a little more, until she was finally free, the pressure eased and the stretching of the tear stopped. I lay there watching the pup, her prone form still wet in the early morning light, she does not move, does not squeal or make a single grunt.

I am struck dumb by the life we created, but instinct soon forces me into action as I reach for her tiny body, my nose aching for her smell, my tongue wanting to clean the red from her pelt so that I may lay my eyes upon her beautiful fur and see what it is I carried all these weeks. I hum softly to her as I clean her, the vibrations of my throat meant to soothe and waken her, to keep her with me as i licked her clean. She cannot hear yet as one so young, her ears still closed, eyes still closed. Perfect in every way. The sun casts purple, gold, and scarlet hues in the sky, making the world around us look golden as the eyes in my eyes. The stinging in my rear reminded me that I needed to find Adonis, and as i reached back to look at myself, I realized this was far worse than I could have thought. And, now that I mention it, there was a lot of blood...was that normal?!

My little princess moves toward me now, as I try to clean myself up, her will strong as she made her way alone. Was there no brother to keep her safe? No sister to keep her company? I felt nothing else stir as if to make way for another, and I have waited long enough. I howl out for my brother, my love, so that he may find help. I don't care where it came from, and my urgency would spur him to find help, I know it would, it had to. I growl as the flow of blood refuses to stop, looking at the mess I have made, I know I cannot be moved very far unless I am dragged. I whimper as I wait for him, my little dark bird at my belly, nursing strongly as I lay on my side, and try to ignore the pain I have suffered on this day. With what remained of my strength for the time being. I curl around her and fall asleep in the mess we have made.