Of Thorns and Glamour

Mothling

I am given food and water as I recover, and I and the baby bond as he feeds from my breast. The crowlings who stayed with me had all apologized but I opened my heart to them. "None of you apologize, you're all loved by me." I show off the baby and one asks if I have named it. I shook my head, "I want Inchiki to help me choose," I explain to them. I look down at the sleeping child on my chest, "Please, tell me as soon as you find him." Some agree to this and fly off, and other's speak to Kiev but I barely listen.

Caleb had gone to his home to tell his mothers that he was fine, not wanting to disappear after the attack at the ball. He also wanted to make sure he could help in any way he could for those who were injured. I understood, even though we both wanted to be near each other, but he had his own responsibilities. I was surprised not to see Korv, as him and Kiev seemed inseperateable, but when asked Kiev just shrugged and told me not to worry. Sometimes Korv is given special reconnaissance missions from Malphas, and after the attack he was sure that was probably what he was up to. Umbra finally shows up due to a crowling having to bring her to me, and I feel her connection tighten again with mine.

She sniffs the child, "This is a little sudden," she exclaims. I rub my babies back. "He doesn't know I am assuming," I shake my head, "I thought as much, you did not smell pregnant." I adjust in my bed, and she lays down beside me in her wolf form.

Kiev sits next to me and gently plays with my child's black wispy hair. "I had a child, once," he confesses to me. I stare up at him as he tells me his story, "We crowlings were all mortals once upon a time." He takes a deep breath and leans back in his chair, "My child had died early due to a rampant disease that took his mother as well. I was going to end my life as that was the last thing that kept me going as we were very poor. Malphas saw to it to change me into a crowling when I tried to end my life as he saw I was a decent thief and skilled at killing as a mercenary. He didn't ask back then, so I resented him for it and the other crowlings who had a choice. I don't regret it though, but I'm sorry you did not have a choice on having this fledgling." He smiles slightly, and continues to play with the child's hair. I realized that was why he was so sensitive to me attempting to end my life, he probably saw himself in me.

"I just didn't think I was ready," I confess to him, "I wanted a child, but having the child the same day I found out I was pregnant was not on my mind." He smiles slightly but it drops and I thought about whether or not Inchiki knew about this future path. "Do you think Inchiki knew that this was going to happen?" I ask him. My mind shuddered at the thought.

"If he did, then I'm going to kill-" Kiev stops himself and shakes his head. "No he definitely knew. He never spoke about it except one time I was watching him look at baby clothes. He did not buy any from what I observed, but this was a long time ago, way before you both met." I thought about it, how he was probably looking forward to having a child and now he missed the birth of his first. Some tears slide down cheeks and I wipe them away. I didn't know if I would forgive him for withholding this information from me, but I will give him a piece of my mind at least.

I continue to rub my child's back gently as they nap in my arms. Suddenly a great shadow casts over us as I hear the giant wings of Malphas. I didn't realize one of the crowlings came back to him. The nymphs scatter but it seemed like his whole flock came. I stare into his blue eyes, that stare at me and then flick down to the child.

Silence between us as he stands deathly still, his eyes glowing slightly in the flicker of the lantern. I could tell his mind raced, and anger and sadness flickered behind his eyes. "Do you want to hold him?" I say, breaking the silence at last. Joy fills his eyes as he smiles with them.

"Yes."

He holds out his hands to me, long claws and feathers sticking out from his sleeve. The baby stays asleep as I gently pass him, and Malphas cradles his head carefully. "He looks like you." He smiles slightly, and then frowns. "How did this happen? No one reported to me that you were with child." He glares at the crowlings.