The first waves of labor had began early in the morning when the pale light of day just began to ebb away the darkness of night. Sorrow danced in her eyes as she gazed towards Atlantis and silently prayed that the foal would not come. Not yet. As the morning wore on, the waves of pain began to disappear, or she had just gotten used to them, which Nyi could not be quite sure. Nyimara had grown used to lingering on the borders of the lagoon stallions home. Though it was not nearly the same as Atlantis, at least she could see the green peaks from a distance. Day after day she spent her captivity pacing the shores, only daring to linger into deep vegetation long enough to sate the hunger that came with the swell of her belly. She felt a deep satisfaction, flaunting her swelling frame in front of Cullen. She might not have beaten him in battle but at least she had won this small victory. The foals of the Ridge were safe where they belonged and it was not the seed of a bachelor stallion that swelled her now.

While she had not been pleased to be taken captive so far from her home, she was content to know that at least until the foal was born there was nothing they could do to harm her. She was not afraid to meet their teeth with her own and though the child made it harder to buck or rear at their nearness she did find it easy enough to leave a vicious kick in her wake should they linger within range. It did not take long for that to catch on.

She had mixed emotions when finally Bjorn came to the lagoon to strike a bargain for her release. While she was not exactly thrilled with the idea of her lover making any kinds of deals that might benefit the lagoon in the least, she was ready to be back on Atlantis before this child made its appearance. She dare not sully herself or her offspring with any cherished memories upon the shores of the lagoon. So she had for once kept her mouth silent and let Bjorn make his agreements.

The journey home was a difficult one, even for her. Her time as an island mare had taught her the necessity of the swim and the warm waters that surrounded Atlantis grew that lingering pleasure into a love. Though the currents around the ridge could be turbulent when summer storms were on the rise, Nyimara was never one to baulk at a challenge and learned quickly to be a strong swimmer. The challenge lay in her belly so swollen with child. She had not dared to test the waters with Sigurdr. Now, she understood why. Like a fish caught on the beach she floundered against the weight of her body, coughing and sputtering as more than once her head fell beneath the waves. Almost home. we are almost there again and again she repeats the words to herself, soothing her own frantic mind more so than the unborn babe that shoved against her belly. Once more the pains begin and this time the contractions harder as the child screamed for its freedom. Not yet! she growls her feet thrashing desperately against the warm waters.

The weight of the waves roll her feet upon the shallows and wobbling as a newborn she tumbles into the surf. Knees catch her in the shallows as for a moment she lingers dragging in one breath after another.

Another contraction. Hard and insistent. Whites rim her dark eyes as a renewed urgency drives her forward blindly towards the shore. Water laps against her hooves as finally the pale haired queen can go no further. Again the contractions wrack her body and despite her determination to remain strong she finds that the pain gives voice to her struggle. The metallic tang of blood fills the air around her as Nyimara curls in upon herself with the force of her push. The child comes with another rush of fluid, the small form wriggling and thrashing against what remained of the confining sac that held it for so long. Numbly she stretches her small muzzle forward, nipping free the film that covered the foal's nostrils. Despite the warmth of spring that enveloped the jungle island of Atlantis, Nyimara shivered, her soddened body cold in the wake of her struggle. "You're home..."she breathes, resting her head once more upon the pale sands...