all it took was one night.
one night with the golden stallion, one night to seal her fate, one night to create the life within her.
she couldn’t say she regretted it, but the pain that built and built was convincing her less and less of that fact. it had been miraculous at first: the small flurry of kicks, the push and pull of her limbs as she flipped. but then came the late-term nausea and the fatigue, and soon iseult knew that the time would be nearing. she had lived out most of her pregnancy on atlantis, where it was warm even during the winter months. she had skirted the herds, avoiding any contact but staying close enough that she wouldn’t be pestered by any predators.
that was, until, the jungle cat had found her. she had fought it off, just barely. it was only a few days ago but the animal had left its mark: the wounds ran across her chest and neck from where it had gripped on. they were beginning to fester and slow her down, and she knew that soon she would no longer be able to carry on. she had collapsed on the sand next to the closest herd she could find: the ridge. the shore gently lapped at her fetlocks and sides as they heaved. she only hoped there would be someone close enough to take care of her child.
each breath felt agonizing, each gasp of air felt strained. it lasted hours, until the sky was starting to drain of color and the moon began washing everything in a bath of white.she pushed and cried and pushed some more, until she knew she couldn’t take another minute. then, there was only relief. the foal fumbled at her dam’s side, slick from her entry into the world. her mother only rested her head and looked to the stars.
"aislinn, my aislinn..." she whispers with her last breath.
"...speech"
please let ailill & siobhan post first <3