Note: Graphic birthing stuff and breastfeeding.
Chamberlain screamed for what felt like the thousandth time that day. The contractions were picking up. The muscles of his belly hurt so badly. He felt like his middle was trying to tear him in half. Almost at this rate, he might have been happy to let the Scientist cut the baby, or babies out of his belly: it hurt too much.
He wanted his mate with him so badly. At one point, he screamed his mate's name in terrible pain. He couldn't help it that tears came to his eyes and were spilling. He felt like he was going to die! The ground around his feet was all torn from him digging his feet in, as well as his hands. He had tried various positions for comfort, but the one that seemed the most relieving was leaning forward in a squat-like position.
On the next contraction, when he leaned forward to get some slight relief, he felt a rush of fluid rupture inside him, and it was like he urinated a big amount, more than normal. Fluid soaked the ground in front of him and some of the robes under his legs. This looked more like clear water rather than urine. His water had broken!
The contractions began to pick up more, causing more stress and pain to the pregnant Skeksis. Chamberlain was scared out of his wits. Here he was, out in the wilderness with no help, and no doctor. No one to help deliver his baby. But then, living creatures went off and delivered their babies on their own all the time. How hard could it be, other than the pain?
Sil hoped he wasn't having too many babies. He would be so sore that he wouldn't be able to move for awhile if he had a large 'litter.' Sure, he had eight nipples that could possibly feed a whole litter. Unknown to him, his breasts were full of milk, ready for the new baby. The smaller ones on his belly were a little full too, but not nearly as the two at the top.
In between his contractions, Sil tried to distract himself from the pain, to think of some name for the baby, but then thought it might be better to talk with his mate about that before making any decision.
Nearby, there was a Gelfling that had escaped the Garthim raids on the Stonewood village. He had been moving through hiding places, not found by the Skeksis. He had been out occasionally, carefully trying to find food in the forest, and was now just picking up on the Chamberlain's screaming. This could be trouble for one very vulnerable Skeksis.
This Gelfling was a male, and his name was Keg. Like most Stonewood, he had long, dark hair. Everything had changed for him when the Garthim came and killed what was left of his clan. He would love to pay them back for their dark deeds.
He felt like he might have a chance for revenge when he heard the Skeksis screaming. It sounded almost female. He followed his ears to see who, or what it was. It was outside the village, but close by it.
After going over a hill and in a thicket of trees, Keg's eyes lit up when he saw it: there was one of the Skeksis, lying beside a big tree! Whichever one it was that had the red robes on. He saw the Skeksis was obviously in pain. He was holding his belly as he leaned over on his knees, screaming. Then, came a stop, and heavy panting. The Gelfling felt confused. Something about this whole scene was wrong.
Keg thought about just going over to end the Skeksis' life, but he had a mind about letting the evil creature suffer for awhile. He deserved it for killing his clan. Any Skeksis deserved it. Even if this Skeksis called for help, he wouldn't sympathise at all. But then, as he spied upon it some more, he began to connect things. The size of the bare belly, the attitude...was it possible? Was this Skeksis having a baby? He had seen and heard many a pregnant woman during labor back in his village, and this looked really similar somehow.
Keg grinned, darkly. The ultimate way of getting back at this Skeksis would be to take away its future bloodline, aside from killing him.
Contractions continued for awhile and got closer together. It was near dark when the worst ones came along. Sil was not aware of his surroundings anymore. He was not aware he was being watched. All he could feel was pain, and an instinct to push now as the pressure was building down in his lower belly.
His actions became instinctual as he couldn't help himself. He had to push. He felt all the pressure and pain going downward as he pushed. He had to hold his breath and would be left panting hard between contractions, but the pushing was now helping to move the baby even more.
Soon, he felt burning at his entrance. The baby's head was crowning. A stronger urge made Sil get into an all fours position this time. That made the pain seem a little lighter, but he still kept pushing. The baby´s shoulders were being the hardest to get out.
Soon, just as Sil was having another contraction, he leaned forward again, and something big and slimy slid out of his body, along with a rush of fluid. He let out a deep breath and a big cry of pain, but his suffering was now over.
Chamberlain sat back to see what had come out of his body. He was exhausted.
A little greyish Skeksis lay on the bottom of his robe, between his legs and by his tail. A fleshy cord was attached to its body, still connecting it with Sil. Chamberlain was in shock at the sight. It was strange, and yet, endearing. It was his baby.
His curiosity got the better of him and he reached down to pick up the child. It was trying to breathe. He held it up by the legs since it was what he could get first. Some mucus came out of its throat and nose as he held it. The baby had just cleared its airways. "Yuck!" he said, but he didn't let go.
Sil got the baby to his chest to find that it was still covered in birth fluid. He had nothing else with him at the moment to clean it but his robes. It didn't matter to him right now. He had grown to care about the being in his belly for so long that he didn't think a second thought as he used one of his sleeves to wrap his child in it, to keep it warm and clean it up.
He was still having some minor contractions, and he figured they were just cramps from being in pain for so long. Having so much exertion from the inside out was surely going to cause recovery cramps. Still, no more big contractions came on. Luckily, Sil had been pregnant with only one child.
Chamberlain happily smiled at his baby. He whimpered to it. It seemed to respond by making a sound back. He gave it a little lick as his way to kiss it. "You have most unusual timing to arrive, little one..." he said. "Must go back to castle soon."
He and the baby continued to snuggle for awhile in bonding. He found out that the child had a strong grasping reflex. He could also make out that the little one had no teeth, barely any hair, and no spikes on its back. The beak was also much softer too. He spied at the gender, and no doubt it was like him, like all of them. Sil just called it a 'him,' as most of the Skeksis were called that way.
"I think I name you SkekDar. Your other parent, SkekLa, sure to agree with SkekSil. We find a title for you later, SkekDar..." Sil said. "And many other Skeksis to meet you back at castle."
Chamberlain was starting to feel a lot better now that he wasn't in constant pain. But soon, he could feel his baby squirming and getting fussy. The little one started making a different sound. "What you want?" he asked.
Sil's robes were still slightly pulled up from his moves during labor. He began to shift to get comfortable, and moved the baby down to rest over his stomach for a moment, and that was when it happened. Dar found one of Sil's nipples and he latched on. "Agh!" Sil screeched.
His breast was tender and full. He nearly tried to take the infant off his breast, but stopped, since a sucking noise could be heard easily. Sil suddenly understood what was happening, relaxed his breathing, and felt his baby feeding from him as he watched. Another good reason for the soft beak. Dar's little hands came up to rest there too. The tight, sore skin began to loosen. The baby started to push on his breast to stimulate milk flow. Sil clenched his belly in discomfort at first, but held on.
"SkekDar is hungry, yes? Guess I am food source for you. I felt those tender for so long. Now know why. See never had other purpose." Sil realized.
Darkness had just fallen and Sil's vision had adjusted to the dark. He wasn't going anywhere right now. The baby couldn't stay attached to him with that strange cord either. He waited for the little one to finish his first meal, then he brought him up and reluctantly pinched through the cord with his talons. It didn't seem to hurt Dar in the least, but then, Sil knew he had to get out whatever was left inside of him.
Sil pulled on the cord a bit to see if there was anything attached to it, since that was still up inside him. Now that he wasn't in constant pain, he wanted to get up and move from this spot, to get away from all the blood and dirt. He reluctantly pushed himself up to his feet, even though he was in discomfort. He had Dar in his hands.
As he stood up and started to move, another rush of fluid and something slimy slid out of him, again. Sil looked down as he stepped away from the disgusting thing. It was just the afterbirth this time. What the cord had been attached to, and fed the baby during all the months of pregnancy. Sil didn't know that, but he knew this surely was not another baby, and whatever it was, he was glad it was out of him. He left it behind without a second thought. "Yuck!"
Chamberlain walked a little distance away and settled down for the night with his child. He made sure to keep him warm. It was a little chilly out here at night. "Good night, SkekDar. Be home soon, when I feel better."
Dar and him fell asleep not long after.
…
SkekLa was really worried about her mate when he didn't come back home that night. None of the other Skeksis had seen him either. Something must have happened. She hoped he was alright, especially given his condition. She didn't sleep much that night. She couldn't stop thinking about him, fearing for his safety and the wellbeing of their baby.
….
It was at dawn the next day that Keg decided to make his move. He had seen the 'motherly' bond forming between Sil and his baby. To him, it was just sickening that an evil being was being so loving and kindred to such an ugly baby. But then, everything was going to be alright, because he was going to stop this baby from becoming like its parent.
"You are going to pay for what you did to my clan, Skeksis!" Keg growled to himself. He got out of his spot and snuck over to the dormant Skeksis. After sleeping most of the night away, the baby would most likely start to get hungry soon.
Keg very carefully got by the Chamberlain and he began to gently move his hands and robes off the infant. Then, he picked him up from his 'mother's' grasp. Dar was still asleep as he was lifted. Keg carefully snuck away from Sil. Let that be a lesson to him!
Then, the Gelfling ran off into the morning light. His running woke up little Dar. He didn't recognize the scent of the strange creature that now held him, and the bumping about wasn't helping. He began to whimper about and squirm.
Keg saw that and held on tighter. "Oh, shut up, you little monster!" he shouted at it. He had the intention to take the little Skeksis a long way from its parent and kill it. He knew that would devastate the mother back there.
The Gelfling ran a long way away, taking a rather harsh path, siding the woods. While he was crossing through a creek bed, there were growling noises coming from behind, then all around him. He had been found by a pack of Rakkida. The Gelfling tried to sprint away, but was attacked from all sides and couldn't get away. His body shielded the little Skeksis, and as they had already caught their prey, the Rakkida ignored the fallen baby.
Keg was dragged away, leaving the young Skeksis alone, laying by the roots of some trees.
SkekDar was cold and hungry by now. He whimpered for his mother, and when his call wasn't answered, he began to actually cry.
…..
Chamberlain soon awoke when sunlight hit his eyes. At first, he was in shock that he wasn't at home in his own bed, but when he felt how his belly muscles ached, he remembered what happened last night. It hadn't been a dream. He had had his baby! He looked down at it, but found his arms were empty.
Sil gasped. Where was Dar?! Sil looked around desperately. "Where are you, little one?" The baby was nowhere to be seen!
He checked his robes, and all around himself and around the trees. Nothing. Then, he tried to use his nose to catch his child's scent. He quickly picked it up, and smelled something else too. The stench was unforgettable! A Stonewood Gelfling had been here! He knew what they smelled like.
"Gelfling! Come back with my baby!" Sil shouted angrily, getting up and readying himself for a fight in spite of the remaining pain. He followed the scent.
Soon, he came to the creek and that was when he lost track. Then he tried to discover any possible footprints in the mud, but the ground was rocky, and there was nothing. There was no trace of scent or tracks.
"NOOOO!" Sil screamed in anguish. Tears came to his eyes, and he broke down. His hormones made his moods still soft and he was easier to upset than usual. He sat down, holding his head between his hands, and let himself cry. There was nothing he could do now. But he refused to believe his baby was gone.
Gathering strength, he stopped his crying and crossed the creek in a random direction. He kept trying to look for tracks and sniff out the evil Stonewood that had stolen his child. He wouldn't give up the search without a fight.
Sorry about how cruel this seems, but all this has a special reason of what's going to happen in the future.
