Chapter Three
Wisp let out a moan of pain and
turned in her sleep.
At six months, the pain was
agonizing. She was sick a lot and could not ride Starlite as easily as before.
The others had helped out, since she could no longer spread color. Violet had
ordered her, with a doctor's authority to lay off. Canary was a pretty good
nurse and had supported her reasons.
But it was only adding to the
discomfort. Wisp looked at her clock. It read, one thirty in the morning. The
pain was terrible. A nauseous feeling overwhelmed her. She stumbled to her feet
and the room spun. She leaned against the wall, trying to breath normally
without panting.
A dog's barks made her head ache.
Puppy Brite looked up at her, concern on his face. He wagged his tail at her.
Unlike before, she didn't kneel to pick him up but stumbled past him. The dog
watched her as she made her way into the bathroom. She collapsed to her knees
in front of the toilet and threw up.
"Wisp?"
The blond managed to look up. La La
and Patty were standing in the doorway. Patty helped Wisp up, letting her lean
on her. The green haired woman told La la,
"La La, could you get Violet
please?"
La La nodded. Then she ran out of
the room and down the hall. Patty flushed the toilet and then helped her best
friend wash her mouth out. As she helped Wisp out into her bedroom, the door
opened and Violet walked in, followed by Canary and Tickled Pink. Both of the
others were fairly good nurses and when they saw the paleness in their leader's
face; they immediately rushed to her.
"Wisp!" Tickled Pink helped her sit
down and then lay down on her bed. "How do you feel? What's wrong?"
Wisp was stunned, "How did you
know?"
Violet smiled and put Puppy Brite on
the woman's bed. "Dogs are said to have a sixth sense. He came and fetched us."
Canary asked, "Are you sick again?"
Wisp nodded, "And I get dizzy when I
stand up."
Violet interfered, "Do you need some
stronger medication?"
Wisp's eyes said plainly, "Give it
to me, or I will be forced to hurt you."
Violet nodded. Canary and Tickled
Pink an out and then returned with some water and few pills. Canary helped Wisp
sit up and Violet helped her take the medication. It helped almost immediately.
The spinning stopped. She smiled at her friends.
"Thanks guys. I think I'll be
alright."
The three nurses nodded and left,
saying, "Just ask if you need us."
Only Patty remained.
"Are you sure? You're okay?"
The blond smiled and hugged her
friend. "I'm alright Patty. Thanks. You should get some sleep."
"Look who's talking." Patty laughed
and lowered the pillows so her friend could lie down. "I'll do that. You better
too though. I know you can't do a lot but knowing you, you'll do what you can."
Wisp nodded and closed her eyes and
soon was lost in dreams.
* * *
"Wisp!" The girl looked up from the
Color Council. Stormy walked in. The girl greeted her rather fiery friend with
a smile.
"What are you up for, Wisp?" Stormy
demanded, a strangely compassionate look in her bright violet eyes. Wisp took
on an amused expression.
"I'm still a worker, Stormy. If a
tad larger," she added, a hand on her large belly. But secretly, she worried.
She had yet to feel the child move or kick. It scared her. And also, the colors
were maintained but they were dull. And Brian didn't know. What if Brian wasn't
accepting? What if the baby died? What if Brian never met his child? What if
the child was mortal?
"Wisp?"
The girl looked at Stormy.
"Are…are you okay?" Stormy made her
sit. "You're pale."
Wisp leapt up. Working kept her
worries under her skin.
"I'm fine, Stormy, sheesh."
The Keeper of the Seasons seemed
disturbed further.
"well, uh, can I help? Maybe take
some responsibilities from ya?"
"I'm fine. I'm saying it again. I'm
perfectly capable of doing my job!"
Stormy winced and said with a hint
of her usual attitude, "Well, being pregnant has made you quite the grouch."
Wisp growled. For once, she didn't
care. The stress was terrible, she hurt, and her worries grew daily.
"Stormy! You try it then! Try having
an extra weight on your stomach, having the mere thought of food send you
running to the bathroom, no position is comfortable, and sleep is a necessary
evil! You just TRY it! One day! TRY IT!"
"Hey, hey!" a voice called in. The
two turned to see Starlite in the entrance. He looked at Wisp with worried
eyes. He'd never seen her so angry, so irritated. The horse padded in and
knelt. Wisp climbed on and the two galloped outside. Wisp clung tightly to
Starlite, who galloped gently to not make her sick. He stopped by the river.
"Oh Starlite," she groaned once they
were alone. "I don't know what came over me!" she grabbed her bright blond hair
and tugged. "I'm never yelling like that. I can't help out at all, my job isn't
an easy task anymore nor an option, any smell of food makes me sick, I can't
sleep, my ankles swell, everything's coming apart!"
Starlite gave her a smile and
wrapped his head around her. She hugged him around the neck, tightly. Then, all
at once, she let her knees give out and fell to the ground, on her rump.
Starlite smiled and laid down in the grass beside her. He noted the unfamiliar
paleness of her face.
"Wisp? Do you feel all right? You
look pale to me."
She shrugged, "I'm just worried. I
know I worry too much, " she said to her friend's glare. "But I can't help it!"
Starlite shook his head, "Just like
I should not have to work at being the universe's most wonderful horse, you
should not have to work to be a good mother. It's in your blood. Stop your
worrying!"
Wisp sighed. She suddenly felt sick,
ill and dizzy. She said softly,
"Starlite? Can…can we go back?"
Panic seized the stallion who
swiftly nodded. He leapt up, letting Wisp pull on his mane to help herself up.
She swayed.
"Wisp? Are you okay?"
"I…I.."
She collapsed to the ground.