avalon -----
by masquerade out of pandora
Pacing. She’s been doing it for hours in anticipation of what she’s sure is about to hit her. She has studied every phase of her foal’s development and her body’s reaction to it. Because of the circumstances of her own existence, Avalon doesn’t have her mother’s experience to draw on, so she’s flying blind.
Her heart beats fast as she comes to a halt to take stock of what her body’s telling her. The foal has been pressing quite far back over the last few days, giving her the desire to constantly shift her weight to alleviate the heavy feeling. Purely by instinct, she knows that it will happen today.
”Not long now, my little love,” she murmurs to her unborn child. She’s spent all these months trying to imagine what the little face will look like and she has fallen completely in love with just the thought of having the new life to nurture and mold. She feels a twinge as she shakes herself and decides that it’ll be best if she’s in a more secluded spot. She drags herself forward, her huge barrel swinging as she heads for the trees.
She’s only a little worried about predators in the woods, thinking back to winter when she’d heard the occasional howl. Her thoughts flicker to Zevulun, wondering if he’ll be upset with her that she’d chosen this location to give birth to their first child. Her mind barely has time to focus on that thought when the pain hits her, making her sink to her knees with a grunt.
It’s the worst pain in her life and yet totally bearable because she keeps her focus on the end result. The only sound she makes is a squealing groan at the end. As soon as the foal slips from her, she feels a sense of loss, no matter how much she’s been looking forward to finally seeing her baby. She takes stock of herself and after ascertaining that she’s none the worse for wear, she rises and turns to finally get that first look that she’s been craving.
At the sight of her newborn daughter, Avalon’s heart melts. If she’d thought that she loved the idea of her child, the reality is so much better. The multicolored filly is curled up in the grass, snuffling. Her eyes, as blue as those of her parents and various relatives, are wide with what is probably the shock of being born. Her tufty mane and tail are inky black and her body is a creamy gold, speckled with white, with a thin, dark stripe down her back. She is the most beautiful thing Avalon has ever seen and her eyes water at the thought that this perfect creature is hers.
As she whickers at the tiny girl to stimulate her, a distant part of her mind tries to remember what Zevulun had said he’d be doing today. If he’d been planning on patrolling, it’s possible that he’ll run into them sooner rather than later. She doesn’t feel any urge to call for him to come now, wanting to spend as much one-on-one time in her baby’s first minutes of life as possible. There will be plenty of time to share their child, but these precious moments are for mother and daughter alone.
And yet, she can’t help but be excited for Zevulun’s reaction. Avalon can’t imagine him not loving this foal as much as she does.
seven - grulla sabino - mixed - 16.2hh |