A New Breed of Hunter

Fran screamed from within Fenris' cave, her contractions coming with more frequency and intensity. Fenris wiped her sweaty face with a strip of cloth soaked in cold water, lines of worry etched into his face. He worried that the birth would be too much for her, with as much difficulty as she was having delivering their child. Even her healer sisters were worried for her, as no Viera in their recorded history had ever become pregnant or given birth, as Viera were born from the Wood Herself.

Fran had already been in labor for the better part of a day, and so far the baby had yet to crown. Her sisters said that her body showed all the signs of being ready to deliver, but something seemed to be keeping the child from leaving its mother's womb.

"If we cannot get the child to crown soon, we may have to cut her open to remove it," one of the healers told Fenris in a frantic whisper.

Fenris did not like the sound of their plan as knelt beside Fran, wiping her face with the cold cloth and stroking her hair. He took her hand in his as another loud scream tore from her throat, whispering words of encouragement into her ear. She squeezed his hand tightly as she gave a mighty push and gave another scream.

"I see something! I think the child is coming!" The healer crouched between Fran's legs declared.

"Push, Fran. Push!" She commanded.

Fran screamed as she gave another mighty push, suddenly feeling something tickling her thighs. She looked down to see her sister with her hands between her thighs as she guided a small head out, the source of the tickle she had felt being a pair of long, furry ears. She smiled as she saw them, turning to look at her mate and seeing his face reflecting her own joy.

The Hellhounds that answered to Fenris had continued to wait outside as Fran gave birth. They howled as the sounds of a baby's cries echoed out from their master's abode, even the forest floor seemed to brighten at the sound.

"I cannot believe what my eyes are seeing," Fenris heard one of the Viera healers exclaim in a hushed voice. Fran heard it as well, the words making her face contort in worry.

"What is it? Is something wrong with the child?" She asked frantically.

"I would not say something wrong, sister, but the child is most unusual," the healer answered her, her voice sounding as though she were in a daze.

Fenris rose and walked over to the healer that was still knelt between his mate's legs as she held his newborn child. He let out a shocked gasp as his eyes fell upon the child. It looked to be a Viera, like its mother, but it was unmistakably male. Fenris had never seen nor heard of a male Viera in all his long years within the Wood.

"What is it?" Fran asked from the bed, her voice colored with fear.

"He is well, I see nothing wrong with him," Fenris said as he gently wrapped his son in a fur to keep him warm.

"I believe he takes more after his mother than his father," he added with a smile as he brought the bundle for Fran to see.

"He's adorable!" She exclaimed as she beheld the child's small, pale face. Fenris may have said he took after her, but she could see that he resembled his father a great deal.

Her smile suddenly fell as she collapsed onto the bed, her body convulsing wildly. Fenris grabbed his son to keep the newborn from being hurt accidentally. He looked to the Viera healers in a panic.

"What is happening? Help her!" He shouted, his son's cries adding to the commotion.

"I do not know, Lord Fenris. No Viera has ever become pregnant, much less by one as powerful as you. We have no previous cases or experience to work with," the younger of the Viera answered, her voice trembling with fear.

Fenris turned his attention back to his mate, his heart racing as he saw her eyes rolling back into her head and her convulsions growing worse. He was running through everything he knew in the hopes of finding something to help her, when he ueard a faint, yet familiar whisper in his ears.

"Only your blood can save her," was what the Wood whispered in his ears.

He did not stop to think, he did not hesitate. Fenris sank his fangs into his own wrist as soon as he heard the Wood's whisper, letting his blood drip into Fran's slightly parted lips. The Viera healers watched in amazement as his crimson blood began releasing a thick Mist, the crimson haze flowing into Fran's mouth. She sat up suddenly, sucking in air. Fenris quickly put his arms around her, forgetting the others as he held his mate.

"What happened?" She asked in a daze, oblivious to the fact that her eyes now glowed with the same feral light as her mate's.

"You began convulsing violently after you saw the baby," one if the healer's said timidly.

"I do not remember. Was something wrong with him?" She asked frantically, turning to her mate.

"No, my love. He is well," Fenris replied in a soothing voice.

One of Fran's sisters brought the small bundle of furs that held the boy to her, giving her a chance to hold her son now that she seemed better. Fran took the bundle with a faint smile, excitement and trepidation coursing through her as she parted the furs to gaze upon her child's face.

She cooed at the baby, noting that he looked much like his father, though he had her ears. The child giggled as it stared at her with wide eyes, their color further denoting his lineage as they were the same bright red as Fenris'. She laid back onto the fur mattress gently and began nursing the child, maternal instinct taking over where logic failed her.

"Never have I seen such a beautiful sight," Fenris said in an awestruck voice as he stood by the foot of the bed and watched his mate with their child.

Fran gave him a wide, loving smile, motioning for him to join her by pointing at the space beside her with her chin. He sat gently so as to avoid jostling their son in her arms. The newborn released his mother's breast as his father sat, looking up at hom with wide eyes before letting out a small giggle and returning to his meal. Fenris chuckled at the sight.

"What do you think will become of him? Never before has there been a male among our people," One of the healers asked aloud, though she seemed to have not been speaking to anyone directly. She let out a small yelp as Fenris fixed her with an icy stare.

"I do not see Mjrn accepting him into Eruyt. We will raise him here, in the wild parts of the Wood. That is, if you do not object, my love," he replied flatly, turning to address Fran in a much kinder tone.

"I agree with you, my love. If Mjrn would not accept you, she is even less likely to accept a child of our union," she said sadly.

"What will you name him?" The older of the two Viera healers asked them.

"A good question. What do you think?" Fenris replied, turning to ask his mate her opinion.

"What do you think of Vorpellus?" She asked him.

"A strong name. I seem to recall hearing of a powerful hare of a similar name in the Wood in recent centuries," he answered.

"Welcome to the Wood, Vorpellus," she said to their son as she looked at him with a love only a mother could convey.

"May we stay with the two of you? I do not believe that Mjrn will allow us to return after how angry she was that we left to assist you," the older Varia asked, earning another cold glare from Fenris, while Fran's smile fell as her joy was replaced by sorrow.

"I did not mean for any of you to be punished for my actions. I am sorry, my sisters. I have no problem with you staying, but it is ultimately Fenris' decision," Fran answered in a subdued voice.

"If that is what you wish, then you know that I have no problem with it. Your sisters may stay with us until you say otherwise, my love," he told her with a smile.

"And you need not worry, you are the only one who will be feeling my warmth, my adorable little rabbit," he whispered into her ear, making her blush as her eyes flickered to her sisters. Her blush only deepened when she noticed them snickering.

Fenris walked to the wall deepest within the cave, slamming his fists into the stone and breaking away large chunks. The three Viera watched him in stunned silence, even little Vorpellus was staring at his father with wide eyes. After a few short minutes, he had broken out a space to create a room for his mate's sisters.

"The three of you may take my bed for the night. I will finish the new room tomorrow. Get some rest, I shall keep watch," he said, leaning down to kiss his mate and newborn son as he passed them.

"You are most fortunate, sister. To be chosen by the White Wolf and be able to bear his children, you truly have been blessed," the younger healer said in a hushed voice as they joined Fran in the bed with her newborn son.

"I know what you mean, at times my time with him has felt like a dream," Fran responded with a slight smile.

Fenris peaked into the cave late in the night to check on his newly expanded family. He smiled as he saw all three of the Viera curled around little Vorpellus, while the boy's attention was fixed on his mother's swollen breasts as he fed. Fenris stepped back out into the night, content that his family would be safe as he walked past the Hellhounds that served him.