Joyous yet miserable(Koda)

[SilentMusic]

She was sprawled out under her tree in what looked to be eight different directions. It was warm in the rainforest on this particular day and being large and heavy wasn’t doing her any good. With a snort she raised her crown and snorted, heaving herself to her pillars and giving her frame a shake. She felt like an oversized whale out of water and each day it was getting harder to get around without that middle section swaying this way and that. Ilene turned and stared at her extra round midsection and despite the shake of her head there was a smile there. She was happy but miserable, it was a joyous time and she would gladly do it again but she hadn’t expected it to go quite like this or for the foal to be sitting how it was. With another snort she circled around and around and around until she finally let her frame drop and she flopped over on her side with a sigh, nope she wasn’t ready to move yet and she didn’t think she was going to move from this spot all day unless something drove her too, which she already knew was going to happen because a horse had to eat and drink. She sprawled out again and flicked her tail off her flanks and let it lay flat on the ground as she watched the world sideways.

[xx.shuffle]

KODA

He had no real destination in mind for his traveling. It was a warm day, and he had no plans to complete. No, he was content just to wander through the lands, checking everything out. Of course, he was constantly vigilant for any dangers entering his lands. There was a very pregnant mare within the borders, and another somewhere. He wondered about Georgia, where she had gotten to. It had been many days since his last spotting of her, and he hoped she was okay. He wasn't going to make her spend her time with him, she was free to do what she wished. He was merely concerned about her well-being.

But he spotted Ilene, stretched across the ground, before he could set off to look for the other mare. He felt his heart skip a beat, fearing Ilene was injured. She didn't seem to be moving, and he was afraid that something was terribly wrong. "...Ilene?" He called out gently, incase she was just resting. He didn't want to startle her. But he was quick to head in her direction, sniffing at the air for any scents that could alert him to her condition. Of course, he detected nothing but her and the foliage surrounding them.

[SilentMusic]

Nope, nope, nope it just wasn’t going to happen right now she was not going to get comfortable with this child in her the way it was sitting and she just felt like a blimp or a whale or some oversized load that was going to need the large load sign. Bahumbug is what she thought at that very moment until she heard her name being called in a very concerned way, lifting her head she heaved herself to her hooves and shook her frame. “Im fine dear just trying to make myself feel better about... well myself I feel like an oversized load did you bring my sign that says caution?” She spoke with a smile as she turned to look at her side again and then him. Moving over to him and nuzzling him but not waiting to get to close as it was warm, very warm in her tiny mind. “Care for a swim love? I could use a good cooling off right about now.” She spoke with a light laugh as she turned her body to head toward the pond within their lands.

[xx.shuffle]

KODA

He was very pleased to see the beautiful mare rise to her feet. He had feared that something had caused an injury to his girl. Never before had he been frightened in such a way. He wanted no harm to befall the mare. She seemed to be all that he had in the world. He wanted her to remain strong and healthy for a long, long time.

He chuckled as he neared her, hearing her words. He had heard rumors of mares believing themselves to be fat during a pregnancy. He begged to differ. "You are not an oversized load, Ilene. You're gorgeous. You look amazing." He touched his muzzle to her neck briefly, knowing she was burning up. He could tell by the sweat that had gathered all along her body.

She mentioned a swim, and while the idea sounded amazing, he would be much more content to let her cool down while he kept watch. He followed along behind her, keeping a respectable distant. He figured she wouldn't want his body heat added to hers. He would let her set the pace, content to go at her speed. After all, he was the one that had put her in the state she was in. He would be more than happy to do whatever she wished.

[SilentMusic]

Ilene turned and picked up a waddling trot until she just slowed to a waddle, it was about all the fast she felt like going right now and she figured they would make it…eventually. With a snort she lowered her crown slightly and yawned, slow just was not her forte and she couldn’t wait until she had this foal and could freely move again. She could smell the water on the humid air and grew excited and once more picked up a trot pushing through the last of the overhanging branches and basically plowed right into the water, allowing her frame to drop and a content sigh to leave her. “Much much better.” She spoke with a smile, “hows the herd doing? I feel like I have been out of touch with everything including my responsibilities, this foals taking a lot out of me I don’t even really sleep anymore its getting to hard and uncomfortable.” She spoke smiling and waiting.

[xx.shuffle]

KODA

He had yet to see a sight as adorable as the mare swaying side to side as she was. She was such a lovely mare, and he was proud to be the one she chose to take care of her. He was proud to be the one that sired the foal growing inside of her. They reached the lake quicker than he thought they would. She sank peacefully into the cool water, and he could hear her sigh from where he stood at the water's edge.

He almost cringed when she mentioned their herd. Though he didn't want to lie to her, he also didn't want to add any stress to her life. She was nearing the end of her pregnancy, and he wanted her comfortable, not worried. So, for now, he wouldn't mention Georgia's antics, or the things that had happened. "All is well. Everyone is just waiting to meet the new one." He felt awful not telling her the truth, but he hoped she would understand. He stretched his crown towards her comfortingly, hoping to show her that he was there whenever she needed him. "I'm sorry, love, but it's almost over. Have you thought on any names?" Maybe shifting subjects to their young one would wean her away from thoughts of the other mare.

[SilentMusic]

Ilene could pick up on his lies well now and just lowered her eyes at him but brushed it off as he tried to change the subject. “No names yet dear I decided I was going to leave it up to you.” She spoke quietly as she stood and exited the water only to be hit by a very sudden and sharp pain that just about knocked her on her butt and made all the air leave her at once. She looked up to Koda and gathered herself just as another one rocked her, “Well they wont be waiting much longer, I think its time… now.” She spoke calmly moving as far away from the water and a bit aways from Koda unsure how he was going to handle this, she allowed her frame to drop unable to go any further and began to push. It didn’t take Ilene very long to get the foal out and rise to her feet, she was actually feeling amazing, high spirted and excited that her foal was here but becoming more tired as she stood there. Cleaning the foal off her coloring came through and Ilene nudged her to get up, she knew Koda wouldn’t let anything happen to them but she was still being protective and cautious. Ilene motioned for Koda to come over and watched as their daughter tried to find her legs and after a few failed attempts she did but Ilene could tell something wasn’t right, she watched her closely and helped her to find where she needed to nurse, it wasn’t long before their daughter was laying down again sleeping, Ilene was worried. “Somethings not right Koda but shes perfect no matter what, what should we name her?” She questioned quietly waiting.

[xx.shuffle]

KODA

He felt his body stiffen at her initial movements. Something appeared to be very wrong, and he wasn't sure what it was at first. But her words quickly cleared his confusion, and turned it to fear. He wasn't sure what he could do to make it easier on her. All he knew to do was be there, and keep any dangers away from her and their foal. Which, according to her, was coming now. He noticed as she moved from him, though what for, he wasn't sure. She knew what she was doing more than he did. This was something that came as an instinct for the mares. So he did what he could, making light sounds of support, and watching for any signs of danger.

He was amazed by the entire process. Before he knew what had happened, there was a tiny foal laying on the ground. A small babe that they had created, just the two of them. He wanted to venture closer, but he wasn't sure how Ilene would feel about that so soon. He would wait until she gave him the all clear. So, as soon as she motioned to him, he stepped forward. His steps were slow, not wanting to frighten the small thing. He was excited to meet their foal. "Its a girl?" He asked the question quietly, since the babe had already drifted back off to sleep. She was a precious thing, and beautiful to boot. He felt his heart swell, and cautiously he lowered his head to her. He wanted to touch her, to wake her from her slumber so that he could meet her. But she was young, and he knew she needed her rest

"She's wonderful, Ilene. She's wonderful." He was wonderstruck, and he didn't want to take his eyes off his little girl. "How about Aspen?" The name came to him from no where, and it seemed to fit the small foal. He hoped she liked it.

[SilentMusic]

Ilene smiled and nodded at his question about it being a girl, she stood near her sleeping daughter and yawned growing tired herself now that the excitement and adrenaline had worn off. When he suggested a name she smiled again, “Its perfect just like she is.” Ilene turned around and laid down next to her daughter and looked up at Koda, “in a little while I would like to go back to the tree will you stay with us tonight?” She asked quietly looking at Aspen and then looking at Koda, she couldn’t believe her daughter was finally here and they were slowly starting a family.

[xx.shuffle]

KODA

He watched, awestruck, as the little girl slept. She was perfect in his eyes, and he knew he was going to be very protective of her. His first little angel would suffer from no harm. He would do everything in his power to ensure she had the best possible life. She was perfect, just like her mother.

His attention shifted from Aspen to Ilene as she laid beside their daughter. "Of course I will. There's no where I would rather be." He stepped closer, and touched his nose to her shoulder. He wasn't going anywhere. If it were up to him, he would never leave their side again. But, of course, he knew that that would not be an option, as did Ilene. But for the next several hours, he would be with his loves.

[SilentMusic]

Ilene looked up to Koda and then back to her daughter, “Thank you it means a lot to me Koda and maybe you should take Georgia up on her offer and allow her love to help you protect these lands, they seem so madly in love much like someone I know personally and love just as much and it would give yiu more time with me and our new daughter.” She smiled and nibbled along her daughters nape cleaning her up a little bit better than she had. “Love when do I get announced as queen?” She asked quietly again, feeling his touch on her shoulder, she touched her own nose to his and then licked it with a giggle as she looked up at him again and stood, leaning against him with a content sigh.

[xx.shuffle]

KODA

He felt the tidal wave of joy abate. He had made his final decision on the matter, and he wasn't going to be swayed. He wanted no other stallions in his lands so early into the beginning of their lives. He wasn't going to welcome another brute into his territory. He withdrew from the close proximity. He couldn't understand why no one else saw his view on this. It was too dangerous. He had a young one to watch out for now, and he wasn't going to risk anything happening to her or her mother just because everyone wanted him to lay his trust in some male he didn't know.

He flicked his auds away in irritation. "No, Ilene. I've made my decision, and I'm not changing my mind. He is not welcome here. I don't know him, I don't trust him. He bred a mare I had taken into my protection, and expects me to offer him a safe haven? No." He glanced at Aspen, fearing he had spoken too loud and woke the babe. He wasn't about to risk the life of his newborn foal to make Georgia - who had taken his kindness and stomped it into the dust - happy. That wasn't how things worked.

[SilentMusic]

Ilene rolled her orbs, “very well than dear.” Was all she spoke, as she stood to her tired pillars, which caused her daughter to stir and stand, she nudged her and picked up a trot with a snort. She didn’t like when he took issues out on her, she knew were Georgia had stood long ago when she had first met her, she had never loved Koda and had wanted her own love and she had found this in the mystery stud known as Toga and know she was finally happy but Koda couldn’t see that. She soon reached her tree, and let her tired frame buckle as her daughter curled up next to her, when Koda was ready to talk to her without an attitude about the situation she would give him the time of day but for now, she lowered her head around her daughter and closed her own orbs to get some shut eye.

[xx.shuffle]

KODA

He snorted in frustration. This whole situation had spiraled out of control. He was tired of this. They wanted to see him as an asshole. So be it. If she wanted to walk away from her, then he was going to let her. Though it hurt to have her so easily toss his concerns to the wind, then that was that. She wanted to be his lead mare - and he wanted that, too - but she needed to be able see his point on these things if it was to work. They would never make the perfect team if she saw his as a traitor, because he refused to take the risk when there was so much that could go wrong.

So he let her leave. He wanted to scream, and to yell, and to take his frustration out on something, but he would never do such a thing to her. She was too important to him. He wouldn't endanger their relationship just because he was angry with everything. He would rather let her walk away from him. He would let her rest, and let Aspen rest. He would vacate the lands, and find some way to cool down. They would be safe within the borders, he had no doubt. They would be safe, because he wasn't about to let some strange brute go trapezing throughout the lands they called home. No matter how angry they all got with him.

[SilentMusic]

When he didn’t come she didn’t grow worried, figuring he had to cool off so she fell asleep curled up around her daughter. She didn’t know how long she had been asleep but when the sounds of a growl woke her she knew she had made a stupid stupid mistake. She was quick to get Aspen to her feet and put herself infront of her, that was until a large cat like figure showed its face, she squealed and felt everything in her body get prepared to defend her flesh and blood of her young daughter and quite frankly she was not in the mood to be messed with. The cat growled again and she called out an ear shattering death call, ears flat back, turning to get her daughter tucked into the hole at the base of the tree before turning her attention back to the beast infront of her. The cat came for her but she was quicker, dancing just out of reach and landing a kick shift into its ribs, as she felt the claws graze her hip, she didn’t even flinch just turned to deliver a final blow to this thing, that was laying on the ground panting, it had chosen to mess with the wrong mare, rearing her daggers came down hard ending his life just like that. Sides heaved and she glanced to look at her hip, it was bleeding but not as bad as it could have been, she turned her attention back to her daughter, whickering to her and nuzzling her when she came out. She decided it would be best to get this cleaned out as much as she didn’t want to travel in the dark she needed this, keeping Aspen close she headed back to the water source of the land, entering and letting herself sink to the water to flush the wounds, which stung like hell all the while keeping an eye on her daughter who hung by the shore. She called out again, trying to get Koda’s attention because heaven forbid she could take care of this and watch their daughter at the same time, she was on edge and quickly got out and went to her daughters side again waiting for Koda.