The blue colored mare wasn’t sure what she had done wrong for her life to turn so completely upside down. One moment she is happy with her stallion and daughter, living a carefree life in the jungle of plenty. The next, she is pregnant, stallionless, and cannot bring herself to look Matoaka in the eyes for her failings. Osceola had not been enough; she had never been enough, to keep Requiem’s heart grounded here. He had always longed for those that were not her.
Osceola would not condemn the child within her, even if she wanted to condemn herself. Eating was necessary, but no longer did it have any flavor. It was just an insistent chewing and swallowing, not caring what it was as long as it fed her child. Still, the stress made it hard on her. The last pregnancy nearly killing her and it had been in a solid home with Requiem’s support at her side. Now, she felt nothing. As if she were hollow inside, and it reflected on her condition.
When the time finally came; well over the due date, Osceola had given into the pull and simply collapsed where she stood. It was hard to find the strength to struggle, but instinct forced her to make the effort. To bring the unwanted babe into the world. It was painful; even more so than the last time, and when the buckskin filly finally slipped free, Osceola was speckled in lather. Still, she somehow managed to raise her head, reaching back and cleaning the very small filly. It was clear why it had taken so long to give birth; Osceola having failed her too. “I’m sorry little one.” The mother whispered.
Standing was a difficult task, but Osceola still managed it. Afterwards, she nudged at her filly to do the same. Both swayed, Osceola almost more so than her filly. But she managed to stay upright, letting the girl nurse for the first time. “You’ll be okay now.” Osceola whispered, taking a few stumbling steps away from her before collapsing. Making sure her fall would not crush the foal. With a groan, she let her head lull over to the side. “I hope the others find you. You don’t deserve the same fate.”
Osceola let her eyes fall closed, exhaustion swallowing her as her weakened body continued to bleed from the birth. But with the knowledge both her girls would be taken care of, she no longer felt a need to fight and quietly slipped away.
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