Matheau and Beijore 19: Mystery Solved
It has been a long time since i last posted a story, and for that i apologize. Here is the next installment in this long running series. It has no yiff, so it is approved for all audiences.
Matheau and Beijore 19:: Mystery Solved
The Stratford family was awakened in the middle of the night by a roar of pain. As Matheau's sleep clouded mind cleared, he realized that Beijore wasn't in bed with him. He knew at once what was happening and ran out into the main cave where the nest was located. He was the first to reach the nest and was instantly slapped hard across the mouth by his wife. "You're late!!" She panted out.
Matheau's mouth gaped open for a moment before he gave a laugh. He had went through something very similar when she was going through the first laying. So he did something that he knew calmed her down. He entwined his tail with hers and held her claw. "I came as fast as I could, honey." Beijore instantly calmed some, but her breathing was still erratic, and her body was covered in a light sheet of sweat.
The children didn't take much longer to arrive. Aurokhan was the first to round the corner, but Sasha took the turn too fast and slammed into him, and the pair went tumbling. Jocelyn seemed to materialize next to her father. "Is mother alright father?" she asked worriedly. Matheau nodded absently, his attention entirely focused on his wife. "She will be fine sweetie. You and Sasha should pay close attention. When you want to have children, this is the process that you will go through." Then, as an after thought, "Aurokhan! Go get me a bucket of water and some towels!" Aurokhan, who was till tangled up with Sasha (much to her delight) finally managed to free himself and ran to get what his father asked for. Sasha made it to her father's side just as Beijore let out another snarl of pain. "You all may want to step back some. Your mother gets very aggressive." He was half joking, but he was rewarded for his joke by another slap across the muzzle from his wife for the effort. The girls laughed and giggled at their father until Beijore's tail swung lashed out above their heads. It was at that point that they left their father's side to retreat a safe distance away.
Matheau nodded his approval and turned his focus back to his wife. Aurokhan had finally returned with the water and the rags. Upon his appearance, Beijore growled loudly and hissed, but Aurokhan held his ground. "I know that mother isn't really angry with me." Aurokhan explained as he gave his father the water and rags. "It's the pain from the birth, and the defensive nature to protect her eggs." Matheau stared at his son dumbfounded while he took one of the rags and began to wipe down Beijore with the cool water. "How in the world did you know all of that?" Despite the pain she was in, Beijore chuckled softly, but it was Aurokhan who answered. "Reading father, what else?" Aurokhan asked. "I've been reading a lot lately. Mother has been getting me the books to read, so I can get more out of life by understanding it." Matheau could feel his chest swelling with pride at his son's proclamation, and it was only getting more inflated as the time for the eggs to be laid grew near. "When your mother is well again, I shall begin teaching you all how to fly, as well as use the weapon that burns inside of you." Normally, this would have sent the children into a riot of happy hysterics, but they all knew the current situation forbade such actions, and all of them merely nodded acknowledgement.
Beijore's panting became heavier and faster, and Matheau knew that it was time. Beijore's facial features scrunched up as though she were concentrating hard upon something, and her belly rippled as the eggs dropped into her birthing canal. Beijore had to admit that the eggs were coming a lot easier this time than the last. Beijore of course attributed this to the rough, almost violent matings that her body demanded of Matheau. During the last few weeks, her hormones had raged badly, and though it had been a happy few weeks for Matheau, it had also left him exhausted, not to mention a little sore. Of course Matheau never complained.
At long last, with a loud screech and a heavy push, the first of the eggs dropped into the nest. Beijore panted heavily and tried to catch her breath, but she never got the chance as a contraction tore through her body, causing her to push out of instinct, and a second egg fell into the nest. And then.....there was nothing. There was no more pain, and Beijore knew that she was finished laying her eggs. But there was a big problem with that. "Matheau, I can handle things from here." Beijore said softly through her panting. "Make sure the children are bedded down and come back to me.....to us." Matheau didn't ask questions, but did what she asked of him. As soon as they disappeared around the corner, Beijore began to weep softly. How on earth could she tell Matheau that one of their young had died inside of her? During her pregnancy, she had felt the life-force of not two, but three hatchlings inside of her. And now there were only two eggs that had been laid.
Matheau came back around the corner and approached the nest slowly. Beijore did not hiss or lash out this time, she merely moved the eggs under her wing and laid her head down, exhausted. "Matheau...." Beijore began softly. "The eggs......there are only two." She hoped that he got the point of what she was trying to say, so that she didn't have to speak the horrible words. "I had thought there would be more in this clutch." Matheau said, missing the point completely. Beijore began to cry again as she spoke, slamming her fist on the side of the nest. "There was supposed to be! There was supposed to be three eggs, not two!"
Matheau had no words to comfort his mate. He doubted he could speak them if he even had them, for they would ring false in his ears. He climbed into the nest with her and cradled her shaking form to him, mindful of the eggs under her wing. When at last he spoke, his voice cracked savagely. "It's not your fault, love." The words sounded hollow and empty. He knew it wasn't her fault, and he would never blame her. But it had happened none the less. "It is what the gods chose for us, and for the child." Beijore nodded while she cried, finally crying herself into the deep sleep of after-birth while Matheau watched over her.
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During the sleep of afterbirth, Beijore was assaulted with vile, dark dreams of cloaked horrors running of with her eggs, or worse, the eggs were destroyed. The only thing that kept her from falling into despair was the knowledge that Matheau would never allow such things to happen. As if her sub-conscious heard and understood her, her next dream was of he. Strong, fearless, and very handsome was her mate. Ever since his transformation he had done nothing but grow stronger, and he was fiercely loyal to his family, always putting their needs afore his own.
Her mind was at last released from the hold of the afterbirth sleep, and her emerald eyes slipped open. The first thing she noticed was that her hide was sparkling. Matheau must have given her a bath while she slept. Beijore smiled softly. Matheau was such a sweetheart, truly loving her and taking care of her, no matter what situation arose. She smiled warmly to her husband and life-mate Matheau. He was coiled protectively around both her and the eggs. His breathing came in soft, heavy gusts that escaped through his nose, signaling that he was asleep. But as Beijore reached to touch her eggs, Matheau's eyes sprang open, and he snarled at her, baring his teeth while his hackles rose. Ha it been anyone but Matheau, Beijore would have been quite frightened.
"Shhhhhh......there is no need for that, my husband." Beijore crooned softly, stroking his neck tenderly and watching the hackles slowly settle back into place. "I would not harm our children, and you know that." Recognition flared like a torch in Matheau's crimson gaze. "I'm sorry, my beloved." Matheau said softly, nuzzling Beijore affectionately. "You know how I get around the time of hatching."
"Yes, I know, Matheau, but you can relax now, for it is only me." Matheau nodded an affirmative and began to bathe her neck with his tongue. She thrummed deeply at his ministrations, but despite his affections, her heart was heavy and ached because of the loss of their child.
Matheau did his very best to help Beijore with her grief, but with his own pain so great, he could do very little. So he did what he did best and loved her. As she began to cry, Matheau crooned and purred while he bathed her body, speaking to her in quiet, soothing tones. It wasn't long before Beijore cried herself back to sleep.
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By the time she woke up again, Matheau was gone from the nest. She knew that he wouldn't have went too far with the time of the hatching so near. Yet instead of leaving the nest ,she stayed and waited. She had lost one child already, and she would rather be killed than lose another to accident or predator. She didn't have to wait long, however, as Matheau walked into the room, carrying a fat elk with him. "I thought you might be a little bit hungrier than usual." Matheau said softly. Beijore's eyes sparkled and she nodded eagerly. "Its fine Matheau, go check and make sure the children are alright while I eat." Matheau was quick to do as she requested, and he was rewarded by the loud crunching of bone before he exited the room.
Aurokhan, Sasha, and Jocelyn waited anxiously in the next room. As Matheau entered the room, they lifted their heads to look at him. They need not speak a word, for their eyes alone asked all the questions for them. Matheau shook his head, and as one, they all let out the breath that they had been holding. "How much longer do you think it will be father?" Sasha asked a few moments later to break the quiet. A small smile tugged at Matheau's lips. "You mean if they are as stubborn as you were?" he asked softly, getting a giggle from Jocelyn. "I would say within the hour." The children all paced the cave in anticipation for the arrival of their new brethren. Matheau walked towards the entrance to the cave and sat there by himself.
Lowering his head, he closed his eyes. His heart was heavy with grief, and he felt the tears start in the corners of his eyes, and he did nothing to stop them from coming. It was too much to accept that one of his children died and there was nothing he could do. His tears streamed down his scaled cheeks, dripping to the floor. Each tear drop caught the sunlight as they fell to he ground, sending small rainbows to dance across the ground. His teeth were clenched, and he tore at the stone with his talons in his anguish. When the tears had subsided and both Matheau's talons and forearms were sore, he straightened and wiped his eyes. It brought even more pain to his heart knowing that no matter how great his grief, Beijore's grief would always be greater. Matheau wanted to go back to the nest, but knew better than to crowd Beijore so near the time of hatching, so he would wait with the children. He knew that she would call when it was time.
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While Matheau was crying in the hall, Beijore was crying. The knowledge that one of their young would never know life and the joys that come of it was too much for he heart to bear. But unlike Matheau, she did not remain quiet. She voiced her grief with great sobs, stroking the remaining eggs all the while. Her breasts hurt from the combination of the milk she had, and from crying. As her cries began to subside, she kissed each of the eggs, whimpering. "Your father and I will never allow anything to happen to you. I promise."
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"What do you think it will be like?" Sasha asked Jocelyn away from their brother, was pacing with a stony expression. "What do you mean by that?" Jocelyn inquired with a distracted tone. "Having more brothers and sisters, or not being the babies anymore?" Sasha shifted a little bit. "Both, I suppose." She said softly. Jocelyn turned her eyes to her sister. "There is something else bothering you....what is it?" Sasha gave a sigh. "Jocelyn, I.....well I'm.....or at least I think I'm......" "Pregnant?" Jocelyn finished for her. Sasha started visibly, surprised. "The reason I guess that is because I think I am too." Sasha was clearly distraught, and it was soon apparent why. "Jocelyn, sister.....its not that simple. I think I am heavy with father's children."
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Beijore had her head lying near the eggs when one of them gave a slight rocking motion. Beijore's head jerked up in and instant, calling out loudly, "Matheau, children, come quickly! The eggs are about to hatch!" Matheau was the first in the room, though he very nearly trampled Sasha and Jocelyn in the process. He shuffled to her side and gave her a hurried nuzzle and kiss before taking her claw in his own. Sasha, Jocelyn, and Aurokhan sat a small distance away, but they could see clearly, and they watched with an intensity that rivaled even their father's.
The shaking was gentle at first, and then grew steadily more violent. A small crack appeared at the top of the egg and a small piece of the cream colored shell fell to the floor. It was so quite that you could hear the chip hit the floor, but the egg stopped moving. After a long, silent moment, the shaking started again with renewed vigor. A series of spider web cracks appeared and finally, after what seemed like an eternity the egg broke. A sky blue hatchling was borne, with eye to match. It gave its first cry, and it nearly broke Matheau's heart. "It's beautiful." Sasha whispered breathlessly. "It's how you looked when you hatch." Matheau said softly, watching Beijore bathe the hatchling. "A sight that is so much more beautiful when you experience it as the parent." "And experience I cannot wait to have myself." Aurokhan said, his voice barely above a whisper. Sasha and Jocelyn exchanged looks, but said nothing.
"You have a new sister." Beijore said as she settled to feed the hatchling. "Her name is Beijara. And should our second be a son, he shall be named after his father." As if on cue, the egg began to rock wildly. All conversation ceased, and attention focused on the egg. With a loud crack, the egg opened in two even halves. A gasp of surprise went around the room at what they saw. Nestled in each half of the egg was a small hatchling. They both crawled out of the egg and to each other before they started crying. They were identical in size, and the only difference was in color. The first was deep lavender in color, a purple so dark it was almost black. The second was a green, a color that could only be compared to the fields of spring, a natural beauty. Both also had the eye color of their mother, a deep emerald green. "They are so tiny!" Beijore exclaimed in a worried voice. "I have heard of twins, but never of them hatching from the same egg!" "You don't think that they will....." Matheau started, but Beijore shook her head. "No, they are both very healthy." Beijore said, while beginning to bathe the twins. "They are just smaller because they came from the same egg. That explains the mystery, Matheau! We didn't lose one of our children after all!" With the bathing complete, Beijore tucked the twins lovingly under her wing with Beijara. "You twin sons will grow large and strong, just like their father."
"I have two brothers now?" Aurokhan asked excitedly. Beijore nodded. "The green dragon shall be named Matthew, after his father. "And the darker colored son shall be named after the Legendary King." Matheau proclaimed. "He shall be named Arthur." "That is a strong and noble name." Beijore said, rumbling in approval. "You children may leave now." Matheau said as he got into the nest. "Let your mother and I have some time alone with the new hatchlings.....and be ready to start your lessons first thing tomorrow morning."
The children wordlessly filed out of the bedroom. Aurokhan was the last out of the room, but before he closed the door, he turned to look back at his parents. He couldn't help but smile at what he saw, his father and mother crooning and nuzzling his new siblings. "I want to be a daddy too." He closed the door quietly, and hurried to catch up with his sisters.