The Elder's Mate

Twenty-Five - Pup: Part 2

The world spun slightly as Artemis opened her eyes. The spinning only ceased when the lights dimmed subtly. Looking around the room, she found herself in the recovery bay of the medical center.

She was in her own room with all black metal walls and no decoration save for a plant in the corner. The bed she lied in was huge but very comfortable and one of the large blankets from her home placed atop her. A tray of food sat to the side, the sight making her stomach rumble. Inspecting the room she found she was missing something very important.

Orion.

Her hands flew to her now flat, but slightly fleshy stomach, to shove back the covers. Underneath the gown she wore, her skin had the faint lightning bolts of stretch marks and a faint scar along the bottom of her pudgy belly.

As she was reacquainting herself with her pre-pregnancy body, she missed Rhage entering the room carrying a small bundle in one arm. A female accompanied him, the taller Yautja choosing to stay a few paces away from the Elder Clan Leader as he approached Artemis. She didn't notice him until she smelled his familiar scent.

He stood there, handsome as ever, holding a small wrapped bundle in his arm.

She could smell it stronger than usual but mixed with something unfamiliar.

"Artemis, you are awake." He sat on the bed beside her and purred as she reached for Orion. His long locs fell to the side as he leaned towards her, the clouded blue and red ripped locs contesting beautifully against his skin, like always.

Here he was. At last. In her arms. The little bugger who had occupied her womb without her permission for seven months.

Her eyes welled with emotions as she held Orion in her arms. She noticed how he looked human in his features except for the green and creamy white scales that covered parts of his body. He opened his eyes as she touched his little nose and stroked his pink cheeks. They were a brilliant blue, similar to her own but with black sclera.

Rhage wrapped an arm around her as she leaned into his side. His warmth was comforting and only spurned the tears to fall down her cheeks.

She only felt pure love as she eyed every inch of him.

"He's so damn cute. He has some of your coloring, babe." Artemis smiled up at him.

He drew his mandibles back in the Yautja version of a smile, "Indeed he does. He has done nothing but slumber since he arrived." One of his claws plucked a curl and petted the infant's head. "He will be a strong and unique hunter."

So much love filled her chest that she was almost speechless, the sensation of completeness washing over her. This was everything she wanted. Her life couldn't be any more perfect.

Artemis had a home, a mate, and a child of her own.

Much of her hopes for the future had been realized. Even more would hopefully come true.

"Artemis," She met Rhage's eyes after leaving soft kisses all over their son's face, "I have brought someone with me for you to meet. Her position is very important in Yautja society and she is also my bearer."

It was then that she noticed the huge Yautja standing a few paces away by the door. Upon mention of her, she strode forward.

She was easily almost nine feet tall with accentuated hips and a small but noticeable chest bound with blue cloth, her hips and groin covered by the same colored cloth. On one shoulder was a golden pauldron with symbols carved into it, complimented by armor pieces protecting the sides of her legs.

Much like Rhage, her skin was a dark green, yellow, and creamy white. Gold metal bracelets decorated her wrists and neck. Her long, waist-length white locs were left loose to sway about; almost every strand decorated with the typical rings she was used to seeing but also many tiny bones and teeth, beads, feathers, and decorative metal pieces that curled around them.