Call of the Wild, Part Three
Took me long enough. I know, blah blah.
Fantine sobbed openly upon the bloody muzzle of Amaterasu. Thinking how marred the once-impressive godess only ripping more from her. Her womb stirred, Rheorix kneeling close to her, her closest of family tried to comfort her pain.
"It is my time," a strange, masculine voice whispered. "Do not cry, sister."
"Amaterasu, I did not know-"
"That I could speak? Of course not, a white dog, speak?" There was a strange noise, like laughter but soon it was coughing and whimpering. Fantine stroked the wolf's muzzle, cooing at her tearfully.
"Amaterasu, what has happened?" Her good eye raked the countryside, there was no sign of battle, the scene about the battered, white wolf was covered. However it was as if she had fallen out of the sky.
"It is of no matter now, I am dying. It is my time."
The gentle touch of Rheorix's soft muzzle at her cheeck helped Fantine begin to accept it. She felt so much like a child facing her first loss. A small kitten, breathing it's last because it was too sick to live. The feeling tore her to peices.
"Easy now, sister. Your time comes as swift as the sunrise. To the beggining of your destiny."
A single eye snapped wide, and gazed down at the smoky eyes of her friend. "My time? Amaterasu, I cannot go on some quest now, I am with child!"
Another gurgling chuckle, "So the Breaker of the Earth truly is real enough to plant his own seed." Struggling to her paws, godess Amaterasu was a fearsome sight. Crimson amoungst striking white. She sat on her rump, muzzle to mask with Porthos. "It cannot be helped, Fantine, it is your time now."
The woman's eyes had meandered over the wolven form, now staring at a vast hole in it's abdomen. Where a seasoned fighter as she expected to see entrails there was a dark hole, and twinkling stars. Her mouth opened as if she were going to speak for some time.
"You must listen, sister," Amaterasu's voice commanded. Fantine's eye rolled up to meet hers, it was lit with anger. "Regardless of your cub you must take your path!"
"My path? What is my path? So many paths I have walked, Ammy, and I am tired!" Pushing to her feet, blood smearing her skirt flicked off in droplets as she spun on her heel. "I was born to walk the path of a son, to fight my way into a position and honored son would keep! The path of the hero, with friends that inspired tales amougnst my home in France! I have walked the dark path of a murderer, thinking I was riteously assisting my king. The path of a warlord, a general. I have walked the wretched path of romance to find a love like no other, one you know you cannot keep forever. I watch myself age and know he will not, tell me what path must I walk now that hinders me from walking the path of a mother!"
Her tirade had taken her in a sweeping arc through the grass, flattening behind her in a skirt-widened trail. Even more noticing that Ammy must have fallen out of the sky to not make an indentation, goddess or not. Her face reddened with rage, stooping at the waist to glare menacingly at Amaterasu as her final shouted word echoed outward.
"It is what connects us. You cannot go against fate."
"I bloody well fucking can you demended wolf. You've driven me mad with noise in my skull that keeps me from living as I should. Who says I cannot spite you and leave you were you bloody are?"
The wolf turned her head, looking out down the pebbled beach to the sprawling lake. Her odd speaking voice lilting on the breeze as if Fantine's anger was gone on it. "It is your choice, it would seem. But you must know first each sides consequences."
"If I let you live?" The former general cocked a well-groomed eyebrow.
"You will assume my soul. We are connected by the red thread of fate, when I die my knowledge must pass to another, and you shall become the next of my clan. You will walk the path of your choice, much like I did as a godess. Your life will span an eternity as long as your center is not damaged, giving you plenty of time with your new love. Long enough in fact to breed more cubs than you can count, if motherhood is your decision. You will be granted my elemental magic, though it will change in it's apperance, and effect. The "you" that is Fantine du Vallon Porthos will not change, you will remain yourself simply with the knowledge I bear, like I did when I began my journey."
Though nothing was truley mentioned about the safety of her growing child, she understood it seemed a potential loss on that side. Fantine was not about to give up the small life within her, not for anything. "So if you die?" Her words were final, a foreboding tone that even chilled Rheorix.
"I will die, and so will my children. They are far too young to care for themselves. They will be devoured by whatever dark spirit catches them first. You will go home, and die in your time. Too soon, everyone will say, for it will be in childbirth."
The chill swept from her toes to the end of each strand of hair as if she had doven feet first into an icy lake. She would die in childbirth, a fear often noted upon by her nursemaids and father. Her body though designed to inspire and allow the practice was not built to fulfill it's complete purpose. "So your death assures my own you say?"
"It does."
May I?
"No," the woman waved Rheorix off, but Amaterasu spoke.
"Please do, Elder of the Wild Horse."
Fantine sputtered with shock and irritation. First, the special feeling gone that only she could hear Rheorix. Second, his betrayal because she knew he would see the goddess' side.
Fantine, the risk is not worth it. Your life is not worth it, I can't lose you now. And think of Ganatal, think of Nell, please think of them and what losing you would do to them. Think of me.
"So you as well would ask me to choose alone about the life of child that is only half mine? What would Ganatal say?"
He would say he'd rather the child die, and you live.
"The great steed has a point."
"You shut up!" Pointing an angry finger at Amaterasu, Fantine then reeled it shakingly at Rheorix. "You too! How dare you think one life is more important than the other! This is my late summer, perhaps to early to go but not to early to die for a new life!"
"The child will die as well."
Shocked to silence, a hand fell to her belly. She was barely, by time, thee months into her pregnancy. Would it really be such a short life? To not be held or loved by it's father? Not to be sung to by Eyrenya? Not to giggle with Arimus as she fed it? To be born only to feel life stolen away?
You see why I said what I did?
Fantine's voice broke, both hands cradling her belly as she slumped to the ground. "You can't ask me to do this, I've learned well enough by now that fate isn't set in stone. I can change what I like!"
"By doing what, sister? Seeing a mage and killing the child within you to save yourself? While I and my pups die? The guilt would kill you."
Curse her, she was right. Fantine pictured Ganatal's face, knowing he had once had a child but it was lost and not telling him. The image changed to the expression he would have if he found he had, and the child was lost. Shifting again to the look when he heard of his wife and child, lost in a miracle her form could not sustain. Her body shook with grief, a whisper tearing from her.
"Gods Ganatal, what do I do?" Her strength finnally gave way, collapsing against Rheorix with a sob. He could feel her touch shift into a soft whisper of dreaming, and the minty touch of the small life within her.
She's resting, should I-
"No, mighty steed. There is still time," Amaterasu lay down, turning her head to softly whimper.
Through the grass came four pups. Rheorix's ears perked, and he raised his head as the puppies drew close to them.
~***~
"Please young mistress, now off to bed!"
"No! Pappa will be home soon and I want to see him!"
"You mustn't child, the master will be ever so cross with you!"
"I don't care. I'm staying here and you can't make me!"
The maid huffed at the young girl. Nearly 8 years old and already a mess of frizzy, thick ruddy hair with an attitude. Tiny fists on hips in her nightshirt pouting angrily up at her. Eyes threatening tears with every moment, but the maid would hear none of it.
"Nonsence, come now, off to bed!" she scooped the little girl's hand into her own and led her up a massive flight of wooden stairs. The little girl's head bobbed tiredly, a few tears trickling down her full cheeks.
"Pappa..." she whined.
"Oh come now, let's have a story and we'll get you set right off to sleep." Thinking she had won she set her hand on the girl's bedroom door. Only to hear the clopping of a horse.
"Pappa!" Ripping her hand from the maid's grasp the child tore down the hall, barefeet slapping against the polished wood.
The stocky man was a jolly fellow, his belly showing his well nourished path into his older years. His bulbous nose reddened by the drink at the local tavern, his belt loosened by the finest brothel, and his coach seat creaked loudly enough as he rose to hide the most relieving bout of gas he'd had in sometime. Carefully stumbling out of his carriage he laughed as the front door of the house flew open. There his daughter stood, red cheeked and grinning as she scampered out into the mud to throw her arms around him.
"Easy now there, dear! Can't have you knocking Pappa off his boots." He ruffled her hair before scooping her up in his arms, only slightly grunting as his back complained. Her happy "humm" as she threw her arms about his shoulders and burried her face in his shoulder brought a comforted sigh enough to silence all pain.
"I wasn't going to sleep until Pappa came home."
"Yes, yes well now I am. So off to bed we must get you. In we go," nearly losing his balance, his boots thunked gently onto the front step as he regained himself. Shaking his head at the butler and maid's offer of assistance. He began to climb the stairs, feeling his daughter get heavier with every step.
"I drew while you were away, Pappa," she yawned, leaning back so she could look her father in the eye.
"Did you?"
"Mhmm! It's a picture of and you! When we went riding last year. And I picked that yellow flower and you put it under my chin?"
"Yes, and I saw the sunshine in your face."
"Yeah. Gretchen du Pont says it's bad though."
The aging father quirked a brow at his daughter as he opened her bedroom door and backed into it. "Did she now? And why is that?"
"Because she says I don't have a Momma in the picture. She said all the other girls put them in there's."
The man sat on the chair near her bed and released her to clamber into it, muddy feet and all. Watching her as she pulled her covers close to her chin.
"Ah," was all he could reply.
"Pappa?"
"Hmm?"
"Tell me what Mother was like."
She watched her fathers eye sparkle, a half smile that gave him his rougish charm lighting the room. "Now there was a woman! Mark me, mon cher, she looked just like you did. Though her hair was a vibrant red, and she loved to dance and sing." The man launched into a tale about his dearly departed wife until he was assured she was asleep. But instead, she was watching him with brown, heavy lidded eyes.
"Pappa?" she mumbled as he rose to tuck the blankets about her.
"Hmm?"
"Do you miss Mother?"
Looking down at his drowsy daughter, he saw so much of his wife in her face. But he was never one to lie to her, and he leaned down to kiss her forhead before speaking, reaching for her stuffed rabbit to tuck it in next to her.
"I miss her every minute of every day. I'd do anything to get her back, as long as I had you with me."
"I love you Pappa."
"I love you too, Fantine."
~***~
Sharns?!
"You sound quite surprised." Amaterasu gave a soft, laughing whimper.
Well, I mean. I know he was a... and you were a... and you guys were... I just didn't think-
"That a goddess and a deamon of some part cannot breed?"
Ew! Gross! That sounds so, I mean it's Sharn.
"He is a most suitable mate."
See? Now that is just disgusting.
"I don't see your point behind it, but if you think so."
I do. He eats anything.
"We all survive in our own way."
He'd eat me if he had a chance.
"I'm sure I'd like to see him try."
Fantine came to her sences listening to the pair's soft discussion. Sitting up and taking in the scene of the four small wolf pups curled about in a pile on her bloodied skirts. Her hand fell upon a tiny, warm body, feeling it's heartbeat fast. Sleepy lids opening only slightly before closing again, the belly expanding and returning with a contented sigh.
"These are yours?" Her voice was soft as she beheld the foursome. Each as different as they shared the same form.
"They are, Sharn's son and daughters."
"Sharns?"
See, almost the same reaction.
"Hush Rheorix," the woman whispered as she picked up a black pup in her arms. Small like a teddy bear but alive, the pup pawed at it's nose before heaving a soft, whimpered sigh and falling asleep. "They will be lost if you die?"
"Yes."
Looking down at the pup in her arms, Fantine felt a yearning desire to coddle it. Coo at it and see it running about happily, wrestling about with it's siblings. The pup was a near exact image of it's Father, only much smaller and by far more adorable. It was almost hard for Fantine to imagine a cute, small, weak Sharn. She found herself smiling as the pup settled into her arms.
"That is his son."
"He's quite sweet. Are you sure they are Sharn's?"
"Quite. And they will need the guidance of you and their father to survive."
"So if I accept this bargain..."
"The pups will see you as their mother. Though you can teach them otherwise. They will grow much like Sharn will, and may bear his lifespan."
Returning her gaze to the small pup, only slightly larger than a newborn babe, she began to rock it gently in her arms. With so much life would she be right to let it all die?
"And they would survive."
"Yes. Everyone will."
Back to reality, like she dropped from 20 feet to hit the ground she jerked with the realization. "My child as well?" The wolf's nod brought more sputtering from the frustrated woman. It set Rheorix to neigh with laughter as the pups came awake, soon scampering about Fantine as she fumed at Amaterasu for not saying so earlier.
~***~
Fantine found herself laughing at the slamming door, the shrieked apology from Lodas that came before it had already set her to giggle. The candles had long been blown out and dawn was lighting the sky, and still she lay with him.
"That's a rather odd sensation!" He smiled rougishly before flopping onto the bed next to her. He placed a warm hand on her abdomen and watched her laugh.
"Well that wasn't my first walk-in interuption. But it was by far the best!" Turning to face him, she smiled her half smile. He returned it, reaching up to her face to tuck an errant hair behind her ear.
How long they gazed into each others eyes they could not tell. Nor could the walls speak of the deeds that came to pass after, but when dawn was well in they were soon curled together. Her back to his chest in a restful afterglow, his fingers ever so delicatly brushing down her spine.
"Ganatal?"
"Hmm?"
"You're immortal."
"...Yes?"
"And I'm... well not."
"Mhmm.."
"What will you do when I-"
There was an uncomfortable silence, her teeth having finnally caught her lip as her brain rallied against her of the foolishness of her question. Guilt knotted in her stomach that she could not speak, feeling his soft sigh against her shoulderblade. Resting his forhead against her back, he nuzzled against her.
"I don't want to ever think about that."
Taking a deep breath, Fantine sighed happily, and curled against him. Soon drifting off into a quite satisfied sleep.
~***~
"Alright, I'll do it." Fantine could not help but dote on the pups as they galavanted around her, whimpering and howling in play. "So... what happens now?"
Amaterasu labored to her feet, the gabing hole in her abdomen now becoming more hazy, a wolven form taking place of the stars, her breathing was ragged. "Stand with me."
Rheorix nickered at the pups who came close to him, sitting back on their haunches to watch. Their tails wagged happily from their vantage point. Fantine gave them a smile and a wave as before turning to the east with their mother.
You'll be fine. Rheorix's words were more than comforting. She felt the same sensation from the life within her womb.
"Fantine?"
"Uh... yes?"
Wolf and woman met eyes for the last time. There was no sound from breeze or bird.
"The sun is rising."
As both turned towards the deepening dawn, the sky was pink high in the sky, and on the horizon of the mountains that overlooked the still waters of the lake, the golden sliver of the sun peeked forth.
With an untold force Fantine was forced against an invisible wall, feeling as if she would be smashed to nothing. Her eyes squinting against the brightness before she could do nothing but protect her face with her hands. The light lit the highlights of her hair, making it look ablaze with fire.
To their small audience, there was a blinding flash.
To Amaterasu and Fantine, it was a trial of fire, and they were pulled into a tunnel with scream and howl.
~***~
Fantine sobbed openly upon the bloody muzzle of Amaterasu. Thinking how marred the once-impressive godess only ripping more from her. Her womb stirred, Rheorix kneeling close to her, her closest of family tried to comfort her pain.
"It is my time," a strange, masculine voice whispered. "Do not cry, sister."
"Amaterasu, I did not know-"
"That I could speak? Of course not, a white dog, speak?" There was a strange noise, like laughter but soon it was coughing and whimpering. Fantine stroked the wolf's muzzle, cooing at her tearfully.
"Amaterasu, what has happened?" Her good eye raked the countryside, there was no sign of battle, the scene about the battered, white wolf was covered. However it was as if she had fallen out of the sky.
"It is of no matter now, I am dying. It is my time."
The gentle touch of Rheorix's soft muzzle at her cheeck helped Fantine begin to accept it. She felt so much like a child facing her first loss. A small kitten, breathing it's last because it was too sick to live. The feeling tore her to peices.
"Easy now, sister. Your time comes as swift as the sunrise. To the beggining of your destiny."
A single eye snapped wide, and gazed down at the smoky eyes of her friend. "My time? Amaterasu, I cannot go on some quest now, I am with child!"
Another gurgling chuckle, "So the Breaker of the Earth truly is real enough to plant his own seed." Struggling to her paws, godess Amaterasu was a fearsome sight. Crimson amoungst striking white. She sat on her rump, muzzle to mask with Porthos. "It cannot be helped, Fantine, it is your time now."
The woman's eyes had meandered over the wolven form, now staring at a vast hole in it's abdomen. Where a seasoned fighter as she expected to see entrails there was a dark hole, and twinkling stars. Her mouth opened as if she were going to speak for some time.
"You must listen, sister," Amaterasu's voice commanded. Fantine's eye rolled up to meet hers, it was lit with anger. "Regardless of your cub you must take your path!"
"My path? What is my path? So many paths I have walked, Ammy, and I am tired!" Pushing to her feet, blood smearing her skirt flicked off in droplets as she spun on her heel. "I was born to walk the path of a son, to fight my way into a position and honored son would keep! The path of the hero, with friends that inspired tales amougnst my home in France! I have walked the dark path of a murderer, thinking I was riteously assisting my king. The path of a warlord, a general. I have walked the wretched path of romance to find a love like no other, one you know you cannot keep forever. I watch myself age and know he will not, tell me what path must I walk now that hinders me from walking the path of a mother!"
Her tirade had taken her in a sweeping arc through the grass, flattening behind her in a skirt-widened trail. Even more noticing that Ammy must have fallen out of the sky to not make an indentation, goddess or not. Her face reddened with rage, stooping at the waist to glare menacingly at Amaterasu as her final shouted word echoed outward.
"It is what connects us. You cannot go against fate."
"I bloody well fucking can you demended wolf. You've driven me mad with noise in my skull that keeps me from living as I should. Who says I cannot spite you and leave you were you bloody are?"
The wolf turned her head, looking out down the pebbled beach to the sprawling lake. Her odd speaking voice lilting on the breeze as if Fantine's anger was gone on it. "It is your choice, it would seem. But you must know first each sides consequences."
"If I let you live?" The former general cocked a well-groomed eyebrow.
"You will assume my soul. We are connected by the red thread of fate, when I die my knowledge must pass to another, and you shall become the next of my clan. You will walk the path of your choice, much like I did as a godess. Your life will span an eternity as long as your center is not damaged, giving you plenty of time with your new love. Long enough in fact to breed more cubs than you can count, if motherhood is your decision. You will be granted my elemental magic, though it will change in it's apperance, and effect. The "you" that is Fantine du Vallon Porthos will not change, you will remain yourself simply with the knowledge I bear, like I did when I began my journey."
Though nothing was truley mentioned about the safety of her growing child, she understood it seemed a potential loss on that side. Fantine was not about to give up the small life within her, not for anything. "So if you die?" Her words were final, a foreboding tone that even chilled Rheorix.
"I will die, and so will my children. They are far too young to care for themselves. They will be devoured by whatever dark spirit catches them first. You will go home, and die in your time. Too soon, everyone will say, for it will be in childbirth."
The chill swept from her toes to the end of each strand of hair as if she had doven feet first into an icy lake. She would die in childbirth, a fear often noted upon by her nursemaids and father. Her body though designed to inspire and allow the practice was not built to fulfill it's complete purpose. "So your death assures my own you say?"
"It does."
May I?
"No," the woman waved Rheorix off, but Amaterasu spoke.
"Please do, Elder of the Wild Horse."
Fantine sputtered with shock and irritation. First, the special feeling gone that only she could hear Rheorix. Second, his betrayal because she knew he would see the goddess' side.
Fantine, the risk is not worth it. Your life is not worth it, I can't lose you now. And think of Ganatal, think of Nell, please think of them and what losing you would do to them. Think of me.
"So you as well would ask me to choose alone about the life of child that is only half mine? What would Ganatal say?"
He would say he'd rather the child die, and you live.
"The great steed has a point."
"You shut up!" Pointing an angry finger at Amaterasu, Fantine then reeled it shakingly at Rheorix. "You too! How dare you think one life is more important than the other! This is my late summer, perhaps to early to go but not to early to die for a new life!"
"The child will die as well."
Shocked to silence, a hand fell to her belly. She was barely, by time, thee months into her pregnancy. Would it really be such a short life? To not be held or loved by it's father? Not to be sung to by Eyrenya? Not to giggle with Arimus as she fed it? To be born only to feel life stolen away?
You see why I said what I did?
Fantine's voice broke, both hands cradling her belly as she slumped to the ground. "You can't ask me to do this, I've learned well enough by now that fate isn't set in stone. I can change what I like!"
"By doing what, sister? Seeing a mage and killing the child within you to save yourself? While I and my pups die? The guilt would kill you."
Curse her, she was right. Fantine pictured Ganatal's face, knowing he had once had a child but it was lost and not telling him. The image changed to the expression he would have if he found he had, and the child was lost. Shifting again to the look when he heard of his wife and child, lost in a miracle her form could not sustain. Her body shook with grief, a whisper tearing from her.
"Gods Ganatal, what do I do?" Her strength finnally gave way, collapsing against Rheorix with a sob. He could feel her touch shift into a soft whisper of dreaming, and the minty touch of the small life within her.
She's resting, should I-
"No, mighty steed. There is still time," Amaterasu lay down, turning her head to softly whimper.
Through the grass came four pups. Rheorix's ears perked, and he raised his head as the puppies drew close to them.
~***~
"Please young mistress, now off to bed!"
"No! Pappa will be home soon and I want to see him!"
"You mustn't child, the master will be ever so cross with you!"
"I don't care. I'm staying here and you can't make me!"
The maid huffed at the young girl. Nearly 8 years old and already a mess of frizzy, thick ruddy hair with an attitude. Tiny fists on hips in her nightshirt pouting angrily up at her. Eyes threatening tears with every moment, but the maid would hear none of it.
"Nonsence, come now, off to bed!" she scooped the little girl's hand into her own and led her up a massive flight of wooden stairs. The little girl's head bobbed tiredly, a few tears trickling down her full cheeks.
"Pappa..." she whined.
"Oh come now, let's have a story and we'll get you set right off to sleep." Thinking she had won she set her hand on the girl's bedroom door. Only to hear the clopping of a horse.
"Pappa!" Ripping her hand from the maid's grasp the child tore down the hall, barefeet slapping against the polished wood.
The stocky man was a jolly fellow, his belly showing his well nourished path into his older years. His bulbous nose reddened by the drink at the local tavern, his belt loosened by the finest brothel, and his coach seat creaked loudly enough as he rose to hide the most relieving bout of gas he'd had in sometime. Carefully stumbling out of his carriage he laughed as the front door of the house flew open. There his daughter stood, red cheeked and grinning as she scampered out into the mud to throw her arms around him.
"Easy now there, dear! Can't have you knocking Pappa off his boots." He ruffled her hair before scooping her up in his arms, only slightly grunting as his back complained. Her happy "humm" as she threw her arms about his shoulders and burried her face in his shoulder brought a comforted sigh enough to silence all pain.
"I wasn't going to sleep until Pappa came home."
"Yes, yes well now I am. So off to bed we must get you. In we go," nearly losing his balance, his boots thunked gently onto the front step as he regained himself. Shaking his head at the butler and maid's offer of assistance. He began to climb the stairs, feeling his daughter get heavier with every step.
"I drew while you were away, Pappa," she yawned, leaning back so she could look her father in the eye.
"Did you?"
"Mhmm! It's a picture of and you! When we went riding last year. And I picked that yellow flower and you put it under my chin?"
"Yes, and I saw the sunshine in your face."
"Yeah. Gretchen du Pont says it's bad though."
The aging father quirked a brow at his daughter as he opened her bedroom door and backed into it. "Did she now? And why is that?"
"Because she says I don't have a Momma in the picture. She said all the other girls put them in there's."
The man sat on the chair near her bed and released her to clamber into it, muddy feet and all. Watching her as she pulled her covers close to her chin.
"Ah," was all he could reply.
"Pappa?"
"Hmm?"
"Tell me what Mother was like."
She watched her fathers eye sparkle, a half smile that gave him his rougish charm lighting the room. "Now there was a woman! Mark me, mon cher, she looked just like you did. Though her hair was a vibrant red, and she loved to dance and sing." The man launched into a tale about his dearly departed wife until he was assured she was asleep. But instead, she was watching him with brown, heavy lidded eyes.
"Pappa?" she mumbled as he rose to tuck the blankets about her.
"Hmm?"
"Do you miss Mother?"
Looking down at his drowsy daughter, he saw so much of his wife in her face. But he was never one to lie to her, and he leaned down to kiss her forhead before speaking, reaching for her stuffed rabbit to tuck it in next to her.
"I miss her every minute of every day. I'd do anything to get her back, as long as I had you with me."
"I love you Pappa."
"I love you too, Fantine."
~***~
Sharns?!
"You sound quite surprised." Amaterasu gave a soft, laughing whimper.
Well, I mean. I know he was a... and you were a... and you guys were... I just didn't think-
"That a goddess and a deamon of some part cannot breed?"
Ew! Gross! That sounds so, I mean it's Sharn.
"He is a most suitable mate."
See? Now that is just disgusting.
"I don't see your point behind it, but if you think so."
I do. He eats anything.
"We all survive in our own way."
He'd eat me if he had a chance.
"I'm sure I'd like to see him try."
Fantine came to her sences listening to the pair's soft discussion. Sitting up and taking in the scene of the four small wolf pups curled about in a pile on her bloodied skirts. Her hand fell upon a tiny, warm body, feeling it's heartbeat fast. Sleepy lids opening only slightly before closing again, the belly expanding and returning with a contented sigh.
"These are yours?" Her voice was soft as she beheld the foursome. Each as different as they shared the same form.
"They are, Sharn's son and daughters."
"Sharns?"
See, almost the same reaction.
"Hush Rheorix," the woman whispered as she picked up a black pup in her arms. Small like a teddy bear but alive, the pup pawed at it's nose before heaving a soft, whimpered sigh and falling asleep. "They will be lost if you die?"
"Yes."
Looking down at the pup in her arms, Fantine felt a yearning desire to coddle it. Coo at it and see it running about happily, wrestling about with it's siblings. The pup was a near exact image of it's Father, only much smaller and by far more adorable. It was almost hard for Fantine to imagine a cute, small, weak Sharn. She found herself smiling as the pup settled into her arms.
"That is his son."
"He's quite sweet. Are you sure they are Sharn's?"
"Quite. And they will need the guidance of you and their father to survive."
"So if I accept this bargain..."
"The pups will see you as their mother. Though you can teach them otherwise. They will grow much like Sharn will, and may bear his lifespan."
Returning her gaze to the small pup, only slightly larger than a newborn babe, she began to rock it gently in her arms. With so much life would she be right to let it all die?
"And they would survive."
"Yes. Everyone will."
Back to reality, like she dropped from 20 feet to hit the ground she jerked with the realization. "My child as well?" The wolf's nod brought more sputtering from the frustrated woman. It set Rheorix to neigh with laughter as the pups came awake, soon scampering about Fantine as she fumed at Amaterasu for not saying so earlier.
~***~
Fantine found herself laughing at the slamming door, the shrieked apology from Lodas that came before it had already set her to giggle. The candles had long been blown out and dawn was lighting the sky, and still she lay with him.
"That's a rather odd sensation!" He smiled rougishly before flopping onto the bed next to her. He placed a warm hand on her abdomen and watched her laugh.
"Well that wasn't my first walk-in interuption. But it was by far the best!" Turning to face him, she smiled her half smile. He returned it, reaching up to her face to tuck an errant hair behind her ear.
How long they gazed into each others eyes they could not tell. Nor could the walls speak of the deeds that came to pass after, but when dawn was well in they were soon curled together. Her back to his chest in a restful afterglow, his fingers ever so delicatly brushing down her spine.
"Ganatal?"
"Hmm?"
"You're immortal."
"...Yes?"
"And I'm... well not."
"Mhmm.."
"What will you do when I-"
There was an uncomfortable silence, her teeth having finnally caught her lip as her brain rallied against her of the foolishness of her question. Guilt knotted in her stomach that she could not speak, feeling his soft sigh against her shoulderblade. Resting his forhead against her back, he nuzzled against her.
"I don't want to ever think about that."
Taking a deep breath, Fantine sighed happily, and curled against him. Soon drifting off into a quite satisfied sleep.
~***~
"Alright, I'll do it." Fantine could not help but dote on the pups as they galavanted around her, whimpering and howling in play. "So... what happens now?"
Amaterasu labored to her feet, the gabing hole in her abdomen now becoming more hazy, a wolven form taking place of the stars, her breathing was ragged. "Stand with me."
Rheorix nickered at the pups who came close to him, sitting back on their haunches to watch. Their tails wagged happily from their vantage point. Fantine gave them a smile and a wave as before turning to the east with their mother.
You'll be fine. Rheorix's words were more than comforting. She felt the same sensation from the life within her womb.
"Fantine?"
"Uh... yes?"
Wolf and woman met eyes for the last time. There was no sound from breeze or bird.
"The sun is rising."
As both turned towards the deepening dawn, the sky was pink high in the sky, and on the horizon of the mountains that overlooked the still waters of the lake, the golden sliver of the sun peeked forth.
With an untold force Fantine was forced against an invisible wall, feeling as if she would be smashed to nothing. Her eyes squinting against the brightness before she could do nothing but protect her face with her hands. The light lit the highlights of her hair, making it look ablaze with fire.
To their small audience, there was a blinding flash.
To Amaterasu and Fantine, it was a trial of fire, and they were pulled into a tunnel with scream and howl.
~***~