DISCLAIMER: I do not own any part of PRSPD or Kat or Xena….
I seemed to develop a strong bond with my half sister after that, especially when she announced she was expecting Thunders' children. Xena appreciated that I had lost out with Genesis, Roxas and Soul. Everyone in the clan respected her. Of all the battles that we had won, she had been the true winner. She was greatly calm when Heather delivered twin girls, Jeapordy and Spirit. She was so helpful when my nephews, Fire and Bracken were born to Summer and my brother. Sasha being Sasha kept dropping obvious hints about me and my dead babies, and my apparently bad parenting skills, but every time Xena silenced her. She thought as I did: it did not matter what our mother thought.
We didn't have much bother from Lithes clan after the battle we had shamefully lost. Not until one summer dawn. Xena was due to give birth but she still insisted she would lead me and Ice out into the forest to fight the enemy back-up patrol. She said we were her strongest fighters. I basked in the compliment all through the battle. I still do. But half way through the battle Xena doubled up in the pain of her first contraction. I knew the forest was a safer place for a newborn during the heat of the battle, so I lead the pained mother to the den I had been born in myself.
She collapsed there, and I watched as spasms passed through her flanks. I remembered Hope's words: "Any mothers child should be born within half a day." I that was the case, Xena's child would be born by midday.
Midday passed. Sunset came.
I sat and watched her flanks heaving, sides spasming. Her face was a deathly white and her grey eyes were unusually dull and listless. It wasn't only a hard birth, but Xena had lost the will for it.
I fidgeted uncomfortably, battling with decision. I was sure not only that Xena would die, but that when she did, if I was with her I'd be blamed by Sasha. Murder or something I'd never do. Yet, who'd rescue her baby? Maybe there was a small slither of hope my sister would live, and if so, she'd think I betrayed her. Which was worse? I considered that I'd be leaving the tribe soon. I decided to sit tight.
So much changed in the next 15 minutes. Her flanks were barely moving and her eyes were closed.
"Goodbye, Xena." I whispered, bending close to her. "Your father wanted your skill for the worst but you only ever meant well. I pray you find your way to our ancestors."
I looked up as a glowing figure entered the cave. Hope! Had she come to take Xena's spirit to the After tribe? Without looking at me, Hope knelt by my sister and began to stroke her swollen flank, as if soothing a dog. Without thinking I began to do the same, and, staring at her face I whispered, "Please survive Xena. We need you and love you."
Suddenly, as if to respond, Xena's eyes flew open, and a powerful spasm shot through her. With a sharp cry that silenced the whole forest, the battle and the birds, Xena delivered her son. I looked, horrified at Xena, expecting her to be stiffly still and white, eyes empty.
No.
She looked as if sleeping, all the colour she had ever had was returned, and her long black hair had restored all its natural gloss and lustre. Her strength showed once more in her bare arms and legs. But most amazing of all, her breathing was strong and regular. The warrior princess we all knew and loved had been restored. In fact, she didn't look as if she'd ever been pregnant let alone given birth. No stretch marks or tears and her stomache was as flat as when I first saw her.
Relieved at this, I began to reach towards the baby, but Hope stopped me and picked up the child herself. No. For a moment I thought the tiny life of this child was to be paid for Xena's restoration. Wrong again. Xena sat up and took her son out of Hope's arms and smiled at me. I smiled back. The next warrior prince was here.
Yeah, random chapter but I was getting bored and decided to come off of the railway track for one chapter and write something irrelevant. Next chapter, I am back on track. We're nearing the end now so don't worry.