For so long, the mare fretted over this pregnancy. Bearing Warsaw's children made their arrangement real. Sure, she was already his lead mare. And technically Warsaw raised Tavas. But once she'd brought new life into the world with him, the sooty-colored mare realized there was untangling herself from him.
That realization gave her great pause. It was only exasperated by the tensions that boiled between him and her family. Seeing Jabari sent a jolt straight to her heart. All of these emotions and memories came flooding back. She didn't realize how much time had passed since she and Tavas slipped away in the night to berate Warsaw for challenging Shamwari in the first place. Nova had every intention, at that time, of making it back to the Prairie. And then that morphed into at least going back to explain to Shamwari what had happened, and then it devolved to at least apologizing for her selfish actions. None, it seemed, would come to fruition. And now that Jabari knew the truth, she wondered if Shamwari and the herd would just write her off for good now. She'd been nothing but trouble for him since they were reunited those years ago, after all. Or would Shamwari show up to defend her again if Warsaw soured on her the way Koray had? She wasn't sure if she could live with herself, if he did.
The lead mare of the Inlet knew the tension seeped into her relationship with Warsaw, too. He had been distant, and not just because he had so many pregnant mares to tend to. Vita Nova was purposely avoiding him. She did agree to send Tavas to the Bay without much of a fight, despite how difficult it was to see her go. That only compounded to her feelings of uncertainty. Without Tavas to tend to, and these hormones coursing through her veins, she fell into a brief depression. She questioned every decision that lead her here. She suddenly longed for the Prairie and the comfort of what she knew. The Inlet felt isolating and cold. Whatever fun she'd had with Warsaw was drying up.
But all of that faded away now that she looked down on the two lively, gorgeous colts at her ankles. She giggled softly to herself as she watched them wobble through their first steps. They stared inquisically at Neon and her filly when they approached. Nova offered her friend a warm smile and nicker. "Congratulations Neon, she is beautiful." She bumped her friend on the shoulder, who seemed much more confident about her role as a mother now that her filly was here, than the weeks ago when she confided in her about her insecurities. "Warsaw must be so pleased." When she inquires about their names, she hesitates for a moment. "I haven't named them yet." She admits. "I plan to with Warsaw. As a family."
As a family. Those last words echoed in her mind.
It wasn't long before the great grey stallion emerged, and Vita Nova watched as his eyes locked onto his sons. A shiver ran down the length of her spine at the sight. With her first two, the sires were never around. Both fillies never met their fathers. This was new, and it filled her with hope and love, and a renewed passion for Warsaw, in only in this moment. Vita Nova was so enthralled in this moment that she forgot about Neon completely. She nickered warmly to Warsaw when he touched her, and she leaned her weight into him.
"They are perfect." She says softly, her voice barely more audible than a whisper, as she stares deeply into Warsaw's eyes. "Thank you, for this gift."
The mare nips lightly at his mane and withers, and her nostrils flare as she breathes in his scent. For a moment, she feels that dizzying passion she always had for him, deep in her loins and her heart skips a beat. She wants to apologize for her behavior lately, but she doesn't want to sour the moment with the past. So instead, she slides up alongside him as they stare down at their colts, and she whispers to him, "I love you."
Mare | Evaline x Valentine | Smoky Back Splash | 15 hh | © Vinyl |
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