"Munk!" Tuggher screamed running out of the woods
Munkustrap was standing near a little lake, he looked up as his brother come near with Alonzo and Skimble.
All of them seemed thrilled and worried about something
"Demeter" gasped Tuggher approaching him
"what?!" asked Munkustrap now full worried.
"she is going into labor!" almost screamed Tuggher
Munkustrap just frozen
"here?" was the only thing he managed to say.
"hurry up, boy" said Skimble grabbing him by his arm and starting to pull him away.
An old man, with long and white hair and beard stud up from the lake's shore.
He looked at them with wise eyes
"if you want, I can give you my home" he said with a paternal look on his face.
Munkustrap look at the old man, one of the fewest humans that know of them.
"thanks, Mastro Leonardo, you are very kind" he finally said
Then he turned to his friends.
"were is she?" asked
Tuggher took them into a clearing in the middle of the forest
Demeter was laying on the ground with Jenny and Jelly at each of her side.
"Dem" Munkustrap knelt besides her and put an arm around her.
"Munk" whispered his mate, smiling at him
"please, follow me" said Mastro Leonardo
Munkustrap picked up his mate and followed the old man.
They reached his house- laboratory, settled near the woods.
They stepped into a large room with three tables completely covered by a lot of things like bottles, brushes, papers, pens and books.
A young and pretty lady walked in and looked at them, her gaze running from Mastro Leonardo to Munk and Demeter, and back.
"It's all fine, Marguerita" Mastro Leonardo said
"please let them into a chamber, she is going to gave birth"
the human girl nodded and took them into a small but charming chamber
Munkustrap put his mate on the small bed under the window and sat beside her.
Jenny and Jelly come in and made all the others out of the chamber.
"may I help you?" asked the young girl
"no, dear" Jelly said with a maternal smile "but can you tray to keep them quite?" she asked pointing Tuggher, Alonzo and Bombalaurina that were literally walked into the floor.
A little shy smile come on Marguerita's face
"as you wish" she said walking toward the trio.
She grabbed Tuggher and Bombalaurina hands and took them out closing the door behind her.
"now dear" Jenny said looking back at Demeter
"try to relax and sense Munk's energy" she said.
Jelly looked at Munkustrap "embrace her and open your power to her" she instructed him.
Out Marguerita finally managed to put Tuggher sit down into a chair.
She looked to the strange look like cat man.
He was looking to the closed door with hope and despair on his handsome face.
Alan was finally calm down and was into his mate arms, a beautiful brown and gold queen.
Bombalaurina, the mother of Demeter, was into her mate Admetus arms.
Skimble had a paw on Admetus shoulder, comforting the duo.
All of them looked as worried as Tuggher.
Marguerita put an hand on the cat man shoulder
She know he was the youngest prince of that strange friends of her master and keeper.
And that he was the brother of that Munkustrap.
Munkustrap was the heir of Jellice's (she thought they call themselves in that way) throne.
"Don't worry" she said with her sweet voice "everything is going all right"
Tuggher just didn't react.
"listen" she said "women always give birth and if I understand well your women have also their mate's help"
nothing...
"and they seem strong enough to me"
This time Tuggher reacted and looked at her, with his amazing gold eyes.
The heart of the human girl stopped to beat.
"they are strong" said Alan from his mate arms
The golden and brown queen, Cassandra was her name, stroked his head, comforting him
"but..." he couldn't managed to finish it
"but?" Marguerita couldn't help to ask
"but they have suffer so much" replied Cassandra giving her a tired smile.
"they have already tried to gave birth to another litter" said Tuggher in a sort of whisper
"but they nearly died in the process and the kit was stillborn"
Marguerita was shocked and she didn't know what to say.
She could feel their worry and their pain.
She looked to her master when the door open and Jelly come out.
Everyone looked at her with worried face.
"Mastro Leonardo" she said "can you came?" she asked to everyone surprise.
The old man nodded and followed her into the chamber.
The door closed again.
Tuggher shared an alarmed look with the others.
He stud up, then changed idea and sat back.
Bombalaurina hid her face in her mate's shoulder.
Marguerita looked at the young prince, then followed her instinct and began to stroke and massaged his head and shoulder.
After few moments Tuggher began to relax.
After one hour and more, the door finally open and Jenny come out.
Smiling
"two little girls" she said trying to retrain her tears.
"can..." started Tuggher "can I see them?" asked
"yes, dear" said Jenny with a tearful and happy smile.
Tuggher squeeze Marguerita's hand and enter in the chamber.
Munk and Demeter were laying into the bed, side by side, completely drained but happy.
In their arms two little balls of fur were cuddle up.
Tuggher come near them
"how are you?" he asked smiling
Munkustrap slowly open his eyes and smiled back
"tired" he said, then he looked down to his daughters and mate.
Demeter looked back at him and they shared a sweet kiss.
The other jellices come in with the two humans and smiled at the new family.
Bombalaurina and Admetus come near and Bombalaurina stroke her daughter head, with tear in her eyes.
"how do you want to call them?" asked Jenny from Skimble arms with Jelly and Mastro Leonardo at their side.
The two new parents looked down at their newborns
"Jamima" Demeter said looking at the kit she had in her arms
"Electra" said Munkustrap to the little girl he was holding.