Chapter 88 - 86: New Parents-To-Be!
Cubs.
Twins.
My heart stops.
Kaline squeals. "Congratulations, Blaze and Lightning. You’re going to be parents. You’ll have the cutest cubs in the realm. Oh, Blaze, I’m so happy for you."
I drench Lightning when I slobber all over her. I can’t stop wanting to express how happy I am. I will be a father!
[It was worth the wait.]
She nuzzles me as she says these words.
I kiss her. [I’m so overwhelmed, and I cannot wait to see our cubs, I wish we had a...a way to see our cubs before they’re born.]
I almost talked about an ultrasound, but I caught myself.
[Mmmm. What a perfectly wonderful idea.]
[I’d call it an "ultrasound".]
[OH! I think the orcs invented something like that. They are always coming up with novel things.]
[Orcs, huh? Good to know.]
Hans rubs Lightning’s head. "Wonderful! Wonderful! We will make sure you have everything you could want and need as a mother-to-be."
System can’t help weighing in.
[Achievement Unlocked: Pregnancy! +20 XP Each. New Story Branch Unlocked. New Gifts in Inventory:
(2) New Life Charms
(20) Supercharged Crunchy Exotic Fruits--Now With Pregnancy Vitamins
(1) Tiger Den Expansion
(2) Protection Charms
(10) Prenatal Elixirs
(10) Fatherhood Elixirs
(2) Birth Scrolls]
Thank you, System. This is unexpected.
[That’s why you should expect it while you are expecting.]
Okay, that made no sense.
[I am giddy right now. You have achieved a happiness that eluded you in life.]
System is right. I worked, I studied, I pleased my parents, and that was all good. But I never felt like I lived unless I was playing the Tanglewood game. In a strange way, it became my life. People talk about gaming being their life, but in my case, it’s reached a whole new level.
So, I had to die and become an animal for that to happen? For me to be happy?
[It was the universe’s way of taking you where you needed to be, yes. You weren’t going to change on your own. If we don’t make those changes, the universe has its ways of moving us to the right path.]
Oh. That makes sense. I’m a better tiger than I was a human.
[Your tiger existence is helped by the memories of your human one. Nothing was wasted.]
Intruding into my thoughts, Master Taba addresses Kaline and Hans. "Yes, yes, this is all wonderful, but now you have greater responsibilities to these two. From now on, Lightning’s cubs take precedence. Tournaments, bah. They come and go."
I shrug and flick my tail. Right now, I could skip the tournament and I wouldn’t care. I’ll compete again next year. My mate needs me.
Hans and Kaline are spellbound, taking in every word. Behind them, Lamant, Minette, lenadior, and Vedette have streamed in, and they stand in awe, absorbing the news.
Master Taba continues. "I would suggest moving them to the tiger den now. Best to let them get settled in it. It might be too hard to transport her when she is heavily pregnant."
"It’s all ready," Kaline says, as if she’s been waiting for this. "We’ve been busy making it comfortable for them, and a new expansion just appeared that wasn’t there before. Wait till you see it. I think I’ll be spending a lot of time there."
Hans agrees. "I’m half tempted to move in there myself."
Master Taba frowns. "i don’t think that’s--"
One glare from Minette and he backs off.
"I don’t think that’s an issue," he finishes feebly.
"Of course not," Lamant agrees. "This is the first beast mating in two generations in this house. Nothing is too good for Blaze and Lightning. And Kaline and Hans have a duty to care for them while Lightning is pregnant." His eyes twinkle.
[I’m not helpless.]
Lightning flicks her tail, peeved.
I know better than to try and patronize her. [Humans. They go overboard.]
Her tail slashes in the air and whips around, hitting me. It feels like the wind striking me. [YES! I can’t compete in the tournament, but I am not helpless.]
She bumps up against Hans and gives him melting eyes. Eyes that could burn through steel. Hans is not steel. Hans is an anxious uncle. A maiden aunt, more like.
I stare into Kaline’s eyes. [Lighnting doesn’t want to be coddled.]
Kaline cups my face gently, stroking my fur with her thumbs. [No one is saying that she is. We just want her to feel special. She’s going to be a mommy. That’s the most important thing. She’s far from helpless, because she’s going to bring new life into the world. Think of it. There haven’t been any new beasts born here in forever. That’s why they’re all making enough of a fuss that the entire county will be buzzing with it tomorrow.]
In her preteen way, Kaline has set me straight. I did not realize that the Riddlehoevens hadn’t had any new beasts born in a while. Makes sense. Otherwise, why would they all need to go out and tame beasts?
[And the Lammermoor family too?] I really want to know. [Have they had any new beasts born? They’re elves--they must have.]
Kaline turns to Hans. "Is it true that your house hasn’t had any beasts born in a while?"
He answers immediately. Total nerd. "Yes. The last one was thirty years ago, which is but an eyeblink for elves."
Elandior squats to look Lightning in the eye. I’m reminded of people trying to hypnotize someone, because Lightning’s tail stops lashing around, and she calms down. "Breeding beasts is no small feat, at least tamed beasts. This is because of the bond between tamer and beast. What affects one affects the other. It is not done casually or lightly."
Lightning listens to him, her ears perking up. She smells calmer.
[Lightning...]
[Hush, I’m trying to listen.]
She trusts Elandior, of course. She was raised in his house. Plucked from a life where she might have ended up in a much different situation. And I would never have met her and chosen her. I owe Hans and Elandior so much.
Elandior continues. "We are not trying to restrict what Lightning can do, but her power is not just in fighting and competing. Right now, all of Tanglewood is celebrating this blessed event. All of Tanglewood respects her for the lives she will bring into the world."
Minette smiles, motherly. "Competitions come and go, and Lightning has already distinguished herself in battle many times. Of course, there is no fiercer warrior than a mother." She rubs Lightning’s ears, and Lightning leans into the touch. "She can do as much as she wants as long as the babies are safe. But Lightning, your priority is those cubs."
With a "mrrrp," Lightning seems content now.
I nuzzle her, licking her cool nose. [They weren’t trying to--]
[Yes, yes. I suppose taking it a little easier will do me no harm.]
[That’s my smart mate. I’m eager to see this tiger den. I’ve never seen it. Have the Lammermoors created one?]
She utters another little "mrrrp". [I’m sure they have one, but I never had any use for it. But I must see the one here! Enough talking!]
Master Taba goes through all the stages of Lightning’s pregnancy, and Kaline takes notes faster than Maartenwitz. Kaline is a note-taking machine. Hans is just a pencil with pointed ears. To sum it all up:
* Lightning needs to eat food by the cartload.
* She needs moderate exercise. The tournament-grade agility training course is not recommended. Both houses will create alternative courses so that she can still keep fit and have the stamina to bear cubs.
* She needs lots of rest and comfort and to have her mate close by as often as possible, but not to the point of smothering her. (My words.)
* She will have potions and herbs and charms to ensure a successful pregnancy.
* She will have checkups on a regular basis.
* She can go to the Tournament as an honored family member and even be an advisor.
Niall weighs in, interrupting Master Taba. "Because she and Blaze are mated, she may also be considered a participant. The mind-link will allow her to help Blaze navigate, although there are rules about that sort of thing."
Master Taba glowers at me. "As long as it doesn’t stress her or put strain on the babies."
[If it does, I’ll withdraw.]
My statement makes Demos, Gussie, Lobo, and Peridot all erupt in approval. They have invaded the private Prenatal Room. Naturally, when faced with them AND Minette AND Maartenwitz and Niall, Master Taba can’t concoct a reason to ban everyone.
[I’ll withdraw,] I bump Kaline’s arm. [Tell them.]
Kaline hugs me, tears splashing on my fur, slick and warm. Lightning huffs, feeling possessive of me already. "Blaze, you’re willing to drop out of the tournament if it hurts Lightning and the babies. That’s so good."
[I don’t want you to.] Lightning is definitely grumbly. [Tell that female to mind her own business. My cubs will have a champion father to look up to.]
I turn to Kaline. [Can we please look at our new Tiger Den now?]
Gussie picks up on the energy somehow. "Tiger Den, let us go! Tiger Den, we want to know!"
To the Tiger Den then! I leap down, and Lightning jumps after me. We are out the door with Kaline and Hans leading the way.