now the dark is taking over

show me where forever dies

The steady rise and fall of her belly, the sweet aroma of spring filtering in with each breath as her lungs try to absorb all the life that was returning to the world after the winter days. Orange eyes are heavily lidded, an eerie calmness taking her over. For despite the death of Ifrit, the taking of Asteraia, to the tension riddled reunion with Jericho it all seems to pale at the sudden shift of emotions that had taken her the past months. Why? Perhaps it is the fact her soul finally found it's balance in her shadow stalker. No longer was he just some bond with no known term, he was her mate. Had it not been for their connection it is truly unknown how her life would have taken in his absence, but he is here; with her even when he is far. A tethered string wrapped around her heart and soul that seems to negate the negativity leaving her filled with less violence than she knows. It is an odd mixture yet it is secretly pleasing. Their arrival in Spirane is testament to that, for she cannot deny the thoughts she had at once more striking the dark demon she shares blood with, seeing him protecting her new queen was both confusing and painful. Wondering why he had shown her something she had never been given. That day could have gone so much worse, spilled blood imminent. Yet despite her anger and frustration she clung to the only peace she held, Reich.

The fluttering movement in her stomach causes lazy orange eyes to blink as her head lifts from the mountain floor to look back at her bulging tummy. The life within wiggling like worms after a storm. The day they had become mates had also made them parents. The memory of the event steal her attention for a moment as a slight smile takes her lips before the little ones within bring her back. A comforting and soothing growl like purr lingering from her lips as if to hush and soothe their children. Knowing the days to their arrival were coming close, for already was her body preparing for the event, in the sharp pains that occasionally warned her. This pregnancy had been far smoother than her last, where once she was confined to her den she know had freedom to roam and explore unlike before. And she can only hope their birth would be less terrifying than the first and if not she would fight once more and hope the outcome would have her reigning victor again.

A sudden noise pulls her away from the sight of her very pregnant body, orange eyes alert as they aim at the intrusion, the slight raise in her hackles is soon settled at the comforting scent and sight of her littlest daughter, Semele. A gentle and soothing smile on her lips as she breathes out the name of her little red flower, to think all of her and Ifrits children were now a year old was a scary thought, for no mother wanted to witness the sight of her little ones growing up and leaving for lives of their own. Though so far that had not come yet her heart knows the time when they would lay snuggled in a heap of limbs and fur were drawing to a close and she would forever remember the days of her bloody giants children.

The annoucnement she had made to her children of their new siblings had been met with the silence of Camilla, neither excitement nor judgement, forever stoic looking to her sister as always to see her reaction. Semele, the kindest creature born from the wrath of her and Ifrit's bloody games of breeding - had at first been unsure, torn from thinking her mother had forgotten her father to elation at having more siblings to love. It had not been until the swelling of her stomach was evident that had fully changed her mind and it was a common sight to for her to wake up with little Semele burying her nose into the plush fur coat among her belly, whispering little stories to the life growing within. It is a bittersweet moment witnessing such actions from her child. Once she will never forget. As the nuzzle of her daughter, a quick greeting and goodbye, leaning into her touch before she shifts to gently touch her stomach with a sweet smile before she is off, disappearing into the wild of Spirane, and she has no choice but watch her leave knowing the kind heart of daughter had found a purpose.

It is not long after Semele vanishes that she feels the swell in her chest, the quickening beat of her heart as butterflies soon take flight in her stomach. A smile on her lips before her head turns to allow orange eyes the sight of the one who causes such feelings. Reich. Standing there in all his shadowed glory, his silence a comfort she cannot not live with out. A light in her eyes that seem to only reveal itself in his presence as her rasped voice seems to seep in happiness. "Your children are wrecking havoc on my insides, I think they will be arriving soon.." She chuckles slightly. A teasing shake to her head as she looks to him once more a serious tone taking the light humor. "You will be a great father my shadow stalker." The words are breathed in a tone one would not dare dispute. For he had been there, taking care of her children with Ifrit after he had passed. Her shadow stalker would far surpass her own experience and Ifrit's, giving a different dynamic to these lives growing within. These were her shadows, her dark little creations born from love and bond. They were the aftermath of a story that had been rocky and riddled with bumps and hazards only to find each other in the same place they had met. Born from the soul, the heart, a bond.

The distance between them is unsettling and for a moment she attempts to roll over and up, wanting to be at his side. Feel his warmth and soothe in his comfort but the bulging mass of her stomach does all but make her flop like a fish out of water, grunts and groans escaping as she tries to remove herself from the earthen floor. A rasped laugh erupting from her lips at the failed attempts as she huffs out her displeasure. "It seems I have grown into the mountains mate, perhaps you can come lie with me? So as I do not further embarrass myself." She grins at him, knowing in just a few seconds she will feel him once more, and settle in to the body of the one she calls home.

everlyse

REICH'S HEART AND SOUL - OF SPIRANE

VLADIMIR, CAMILLA, PANZER, AND SEMELE [x IFRIT]

LAILAH, LIAH, AND EVERETT [x REICH]