Snowhawk grumbled as she looked outside. The night before had brought so much new snow, and she was confined to a bed, unable to go out and enjoy it. She had requested that her bed be moved next to the window, and said request was granted, under the condition of having an extra blanket added to her already five-high pile. She didn’t really mind in the end as the extra warmth made sleeping easier. “I’m as comfortable as having a beach ball sized stomach will let me be,” she dryly commented as she turned onto her side the best she could, then watched the falling snow. Her eyes soon began to drift closed, and she’d almost fallen back to sleep when the door to the room opened. A moment later, she felt the weight of another on the bed, then her hair being brushed away from her face.
“You’ve got me worried, you know,” Janus quietly said to her.
“Only seven more weeks, if that. I have a feeling he’ll be early,” she replied, looking up at him.
“How early?” Janus asked, concerned.
“Two or three weeks most likely,” she calmly replied.
Janus’ worry was not eased in the least bit. A half month or more early for a Delphin child was far from normal. However, Snowhawk did not seem too concerned. In fact, she had not seemed overly concerned about much lately. He finally asked several minutes later, “What’s causing this?”
“Causing what?” she replied, pretending not to know what he was referring to.
“Your illness, or whatever this is,” he returned, frowning slightly.
She thought for a moment for a fair reply, then said, “The females in my family are predisposed to a type of pregnancy induced anemia. It’s compounded, or eased, by what’s happening around the female throughout her term. Things like stress, diet, how ready she was to have a child in the first place, and the like.”
“All the females?” he replied, canting his head to the side.
She nodded to him. “All of them. Nytehawk would likely have gone through this with Hunter, if he were able to sire children. I’ve heard it’s common in all the royal bloodlines, and due to the breeding practices of the slavers, no Delphin of common blood bred to those of noble blood, there’s not been much new blood introduced.” She smirked and chuckled a bit. “It’s kinda like the family tree is losing some limbs.”
“So, what’s it feel like?” Janus asked, curious to learn about her condition.
“The anemia?” she returned, and he nodded his head in the affirmative. “It’s not painful, if you’re worried about that. It just makes me tired as all hell, which I guess is good since it makes me rest.”
“So, there’s no pain?”
“Not unless he kicks me, or I get stiff from laying in one spot too long.” She sighed quietly, and placed a hand on her stomach. “I was very unprepared for this, and this boy will not be small.”
Janus gently stroked her face. “I’m sorry, Snowhawk. I haven’t helped matters any.”
“In truth, no, but unless you’re hiding it well, it wasn’t intentional,” she said, smiling softly.
“Not in the least,” he said, shaking his head.
“I wish Legacy would understand that,” she began. “He’s blaming you for everything, except ‘failing’ at his job.”
Janus couldn’t help but smirk. “He kept you alive for two years. That’s hardly failing.”
“Oh, I know all too well,” she nodded. “That first year was hell on him while I adjusted to life ‘outside’. Probably worse on him than it was on me.”
“Do you regret leaving, or coming back, for whatever reason it may have been?”
“There’s not much I regret, Janus. Leaving, then returning are not among the things I wish could have done differently. Even under the same circumstances, I don’t think I’d change it.”
“Have you thought anymore about what you plan to do?” he asked after another few moments of silence.
She yawned, then replied, “My plans are still the same.”
Janus nodded as he subconsciously scratched the back of her neck. Several minutes later, he realized that she’d drifted back to sleep. “I can’t begin to say how relieved I’ll be when this is all over.”
*********
Nytehawk sighed and swung her legs over the balcony railing. Once again, she’d come out here to think and plan. Snowhawk’s birthday would be in seven days, and it appeared that this would be a third year apart. As much as she hated to admit it, she could somewhat understand why her cousin was going about things the way she was. Had it not been for Snowhawk, she would still, most likely, be a slave. “One of Snow’s greatest missions had always been to find a way to free me somehow.”
She thought in silence for almost half an hour, until she heard the doorbell ring. She quickly hopped off the railing and ran to the front door. Hunter managed to beat her to the door, and was less than pleased at who he greeted.
Standing outside of the doorway was Adian, as unamused at seeing Hunter as Hunter was at seeing him. He looked past the annoyed Delphin male, and spoke directly to Nytehawk. “My brother requests your presence, Nytehawk.”
“… Brother?” Hunter repeated, confused. He had been told about Adian, but not about the relationship between this wolf and Janus.
“What does he want?” she asked, fluffing her wings in agitation.
“Snowhawk has requested you, as I understand,” the chocolate furred Lupino returned.
Her agitation turned to concern. “What?”
“I don’t know details,” Adian replied. “I’m just here to relay a message.”
Hunter glared at the Lupino. “How do I know you aren’t going to try and steal her away from me?”
“Because I’d prefer to keep all parts of my anatomy intact,” Adian stated, glancing at Hunter and fidgeting nervously.
“Smart wolf,” Nytehawk commented. “Alright, I’ll go.” Hunter opened his mouth to say something in protest, but she cut him off. “I’ll call in no more than five hours to let you know I’m okay.”
Hunter couldn’t argue with her. “Just be careful, love.”
She nodded, then her and the wolf turned and walked away from the house. They walked in silence for several moments before Adian queried, “So, I’m sure you’re wondering why my brother didn’t bring the message.”
“Somewhat,” she evenly replied.
“Snowhawk is not doing well right now. She’s very weak,” he quietly stated. “Janus doesn’t want to leave her. He’s extremely worried, but she seems calm enough about it.”
“And do you have an opinion of the situation?” she asked, looking toward the wolf.
“From my perspective, taking into account somewhat similar situations from my past,” Adian began, sighing, “she won’t survive another three weeks. She could very well suffer the same fate as her mother in any event.”
Nytehawk gave a slow nod, then commented, “She may surprise us with how strong she really is.”
They walked in silence for the following half hour to Janus’ estate. Once inside the building, Adian led Nytehawk to her cousin’s room, opening the door for her, then respectfully bowed and walked away. Nytehawk narrowed her eyes at the Lupino. He wasn’t acting like he normally would, and she was suspicious he was trying to manipulate her. She walked into her cousin’s room and closed the door behind her.
*********
The first week of Nytehawk’s stay brought Snowhawk’s birthday, but no special deliveries. That came on the first day of the third week of her stay.
A week and a day past her birthday, in the early morning, Snowhawk awoke to the not completely unfamiliar feeling of a contraction. Calm as ever, knowing panic was not going to help, she managed to sit up. Janus was, oddly, not in the room, so she called to her cousin. “Nytehawk.”
Her cousin awoke, yawning quietly. “Need something, Snow?”
“Call Janus,” she calmly began. “Find out where he is, and have him get a car ready. Then, help me get up,” she requested as she tried to sit up.
“Why?” she questioned, her sleep fogged mind not understanding.
“Because my little one thinks today would be a good day to meet the world.”
Nytehawk finally understood what Snowhawk was trying to tell her. “Oh, shit,” she cursed as she jumped up. “Okay, I’ll go find Janus, or have Adian find him or– Hey, shouldn’t you change to your human form?”
“I’ll be fine, Nytehawk. Go get one of them,” she repeated.
Nytehawk nodded, then rushed out of the room. She returned a few moments later with the light-furred, Lupino formed Janus. “Adian’s getting a car ready,” the younger cousin panted.
“Why haven’t you changed forms yet, love?” Janus asked as he helped her up.
“Because I can’t,” the replied as she felt the onset of another contraction and leaned a little heavier onto Janus.
“But,” Janus began, the worry in his voice mimicked in Nytehawk’s eyes.
“I went through the others like this,” she stated, cutting him off and standing fully again. “I’ll make it through this one as well. Now, help me to the car.”
“I’ll go make sure Adian has it ready,” Nytehawk said, then dashed out of the room.
Janus picked Snowhawk up, cradling her in his arms. “I can’t let you fall, and you’re going to need all your strength over the next few hours.”