Sweet Halo's birthing

[Tikayla]

A mare trotted, heavy with foal((that was fast)) into the area that was safe from all others. She wasn't sure about this birth. It was her first and she had heard stories about birthing. She knew that Halo was just outside the Sweet Firefly Meadow in case she needed help. She hoped that another mare would appear to help her.

She could feel pain ripple through her stomach. She barely suppressed a scream. She lay waited awhile for the next pain to pass. It hurt a bit but the next part would be worse. She hoped that it wouldn't be too bad.

*Come on baby, I know you want to come out* she thought, directing her thoughts at her unborn foal.

((Halo do you have a mare that can help her?))

[Halo]

The mare had not suspected witnessing such a beautiful event when she woke up this morning. it was just another day as she traveled through Penori searching...searching for something... But a familiar scent breezed past her nose, a scent of a pregnant mare and judging by the specifics of the smell the soon to be mother had just recently gone into labor. Lola Blossom stops and turns her nose towards the wind, tasting the air once again with flared nares. New mother...the first one is always the hardest, she remembers. Curiosity and instinct take over.

The older mare slowly moves through Sweet Firefly Meadow, not wanting to startle the femme giving birth. The tall grasses almost completely hide Heart, but she follows the sounds of heavy, pained breathing and comes upon her with little trouble. Lowering her head, the grulla dam touches her nose lightly to the swollen belly of her fellow mare, quietly shushing the young beauty with a quiet rustle of a whisper. "Shhh...relax...it'll be okay...just relax." And she offers a smile.

Lurk had been her first foal and damn was he a big little fella. Lola had a difficult time with him and would have appreciated even a little company during her troublesome efforts. But her lover had left her and she had wandered away from the herd only to be struck with labor. She wonders where the father is...no matter...she will stay by this one's side until she is standing and she is sure the foal is upright and nursing. "Just take it easy," she continues softly.
~Lola Blossom

(OOC: Hope that's okay.)

[Tikayla]

((it is very good))

She is so focused upon her pain she doesn't notice the mare until she speaks. She offers a weak smile before another spasm of pain hits her. She cannot contain her shriek and it escapes her lips. Her mane is drenched with sweat already. She isn't prepared and she knows that this is going to be hard.

The foal is ready but she isn't. God she hopes it worth it. No what awful thoughts. Of course it is. Any foal that would be hers and Halo's would be perfect and worth it. She is going into labor. The foal will be coming soon, this much she knew for sure.

"Thank you," she mutters to the mare before losing herself to another wave of pain.

[Halo]

The mare simply smiles and continues to massage Heart’s belly with her nose, gentle pressing motions. She keeps her aura calm, hoping that the unspoken gesture would help the mare. Her eyes flick between her ministrations and the pained countenance of the young fae. “Just wait it out. You’ll know when you need to start to work. I know it’s hard, but it’ll be alright. It’s all worth it,” she continues to reassure. It was worth it for both of her foals…first Lurk and then Lurch...both were such beautiful babies, strong colts both of them and so loving and dear to her heart.

“This is the best thing you’ll ever do, sweetheart, just remember that, okay?” That helped her when she had her two. Maybe it’ll help Heart as well.
~Lola Blossom

[Tikayla]

The old mare is soothing her. She begins to breath and the pain lessens. Another jarring pain over takes her body but she fights down a scream and continues to breath. Slowly the babies head appears followed by the rest of the body. She hears a soft plop and turns around.

She sees a beautiful baby on the ground. She slowly licks the baby clean and turns to the mare.

"Thank you so much," she thanks the mare. She is a kindly one, probably light. She turns back to her foal. Her first priority. She begins to clean again, noticing in the process that they babe is a filly. A beautiful filly. Her mane and tail are quite interesting. Gold at the roots and black at the tip. She is a pretty color and her markings are gorgeous.

She nudges the foal to help it stand.

[Halo]

“Show her how, dear,” she says softly and moves from where she was to stand guard on the opposite side of the beautiful filly. She tilts her head and watches miracle. She feels a little jealous, only because she never got the chance to have a little girl of her own. But it doesn’t matter. She was able to help in a small way to bring this one into the world and that matters a great deal.

Unable to resist, she leans her neck down on her graceful mottled neck and touches the babe with her nose, sniffing and checking her over. “She’s very healthy...you did very well, luvvy,” she says congratulatory, lifting her head to smile wide and bright. She watches as the wee one tries so hard to find her legs, collapsing when she does and looking towards her mother balefully. Lola has to suppress a squeal of delight.
~Lola Blossom

[Tikayla]

The mare smiled at the clumsy antics of the foal. She takes the mares advice and helps her to her feet.
"Come on baby, find your feet. I know you can do it," she murmurs. The foal is so gorgeous. She gently nudges her up a little and helps her as best as she can. The foal is so beautiful. So perfect. A little miniature mix of her mother and her father.

"Now for a name. I should wait for your dad but I think that he'll approve of the name I have. What do you think of Sweet Halo, baby?" she asks not really expecting a reply. She lets the foal nurse while she looks at the other mare.

"Hello, my name is Flying Heart, Queen of Symphony Falls, may I learn of your name?" she asks the mare. She is truly curious. The mare is older, not very but still and she appears to have no herd. That in itself is enough to make her curious.

[Halo]

Lola Blossom watches the first few minutes of baby and mama interaction with fond memories and a fond eye. It is the most important part of the relationship, the beginning. And a strong start is important. This beautiful couple has it and that makes the older mare all the more happy. It is joyous to see the goodness a mother feels towards her children, grievous at times when Lola had seen its absence. Some mares just don’t make good mothers, she supposes with a mental shrug.

She had not been paying attention to the one-sided conversation between the fae and her suckling foal. It was their conversation and she would not butt into it. In fact, she thinks she might leave soon, to give the two the privacy they need. Lola and Heart don’t know each other, so she shouldn’t try to come into the picture. It’s just not right. But then Heart speaks and her ears perk forward; it would be rude not to answer.

“My name is Lola Blossom. It is nice to meet you.” She bows her head respectfully, even bends one knee to acknowledge the other mare’s rank. There was no sarcasm in the motion, only sincerity. She herself had never been of any rank of consequence and so has learned to behave herself properly towards those higher above her in pecking order. And it is nice to meet a royal of light alliance after so many years of living under the tyranny of a dark lord.
~Lola Blossom.

Words: 250 I'm on a roll...nothing below 200 yet.
Notes: I haven't posted back at Symphony Falls yet, I didn't know if you wanted to try to bring Lola Blossom home or not.

[Tikayla]

Tikayla looks at the mare. She is a nice mare, old but wise and very helpful in childbirth. She could be a help in the herd.

"Lola Blossom, I thank you for your help. I don't think I could have done it without you. Perhaps you would come with me to my home and help me with Sweet Halo? She might be a handful and an extra hand is always good. I think you will like it there. My stag is very kind and a good stag. What do you think?" asks the mare politely. She would not be offended if the mare refused.

So she stood, beside her newborn filly waiting for the mare to either accept or decline her offer.

The young filly stood off to the side, listening to the mares talk about something or another. She was getting tired and her belly was full. The grass was so lush and it called to her. She was about to drop and sleep when she saw a butterfly flit past her nose. Or perhaps it was a moth, no matter she wanted to chase it and chase she did. All the time going farther and farther away from her mother.

She finally plopped down in the middle of nowhere, lost and hidden among the soft, lush meadow grass.

[Halo]

The grulla mare listens to the new mother as she watches the baby for a moment, finally turning her gaze back towards Flying Heart with a gentle smile. She is getting an offer into a home, and not a home of darkness but most likely of the light. It's a far cry from the herd she is used to dwelling in; she has to force down a shiver at the memory. She ponders the invitation momentarily, unsure. It's been so long since she has cooperated in a herd...will she like it anymore, fit in? She's a lot older than most of the herd members, she is sure, will they find her still useful.

"It is a lovely offer," she admits as she turns her eyes towards the blue sky. "Maybe it's something I would like. I guess I could join you, if only for a little while." There is uncertainty in her voice, she doesn't bother to hide her emotions; it would be of no benefit to herself to do so. A herd should be open and truthful with each other. Her hiding her thoughts on the idea would not be getting them off on the right start.

But there is no time for the two mares to converse more on the matter. Lola Blossom's ears perk up and she looks left and right of Heart, a perplexed and worried look tainting her pretty features. "Sweet Halo?" She walks around the mother and sees no sign of her. Probably just a baby playing games, she assures herself. No harmful brutes are allowed in these lands. But her maternal instincts scream at her like crazy. She takes in a deep draught of the air, ears flicking about in search of any sound and eyes turning circles around the area for any sight. She couldn't have gotten far.
~Lola Blossom

[Tikayla]

The mare notices the worried expression cross the other's face. She looks about her for her filly and notices her gone. She feels the panic creep in but she forces herself to be reasonable, that isn't easy. She looks at the other mare who is searching.

"Sweet Halo, baby where are you," she calls out over the grassy meadow. No response. She starts to search, parting the sea of grasses. Then she sees the butterfly. Perhaps it will lead the babe back or perhaps it will take her to her. Sweet Halo seems to have something for butterflies...

Sweet Halo heard the voices in her dream but she ignored them. She was too tired to care so she slept on. In her dream she was chasing a butterfly the size of the moon. And who wouldn't want that. Sweet Halo loved butterflies and they were so fun to chase. Always flying about like they hadn't a care in the world, not that Sweet Halo had any anyways but still.

[Halo]

Lola Blossom follow's suit, pacing carefully apart with her head lowered so she might see through the grasses with much greater ease as she searches for the small body that must be laying about somewhere near. She couldn't have gotten far, probably napping somewhere out of sight. She remains calm, even if it takes a couple steadying breaths to do so, sniffing for a trace of the babe's familiar scent. She finds a hint through the small of sweet graces, tracing it in its direction until she spots a bit of fur through the greenery.

A smile is born on her lips as she moves carefully forward, lowering her nose against Sweet Halo's side when she comes upon her. Yes, just as she thought, napping. Lifting her head, she looks about for Flying Heart. "Here, my lady. She's right here napping." The mature mare turns her gaze back to the little one, leaning down once more to lip her and to try to nudge her awake. "Come on, little one. Your mama is going to want to take you home."
~Lola Blossom

[Tikayla]

Flying Heart races to the mare's side. She spies the filly and gives out a snort of relief. She is too happy to be strict so she decides that she will let this one slide, but they will have a discussion if it happens again.

"Oh thank you," she cries racing towards her baby. Her glowing eyes filled with love and relief. She is beside the child in an instant, helping to get her up.

"Come along little Halo, your father will be anxious to see you and so will the rest of the herd. Hurry please. Lola Blossom, if you wish to come do come, but if you don't well I don't mind. It won't bother me but I must get home before my stag gets too worried, he might think that I had died."

The little filly stands up, unhappily and reluctantly. She had nearly caught the butterfly but her mother was leaving and so was she. She looks once at the mare behind her and then stretches her legs into a trot in order to keep up with her mother's long stride.

"Momma, where are we going? I don't want to leave here, it is very nice place and there are butterflies here," she sniffles. She is too young to know that she is going home and that soon she will be able to chase all the butterflies she wants.

((Post is pretty much done, respond again if you want. Going to post in Symphony Falls))