Chapter 37

Midori lay confined to bed for a week, testing her strength now and then. Finally one of the healers confirmed she could leave the bed but also gave her a glass bottle of medicine. "Take a spoonful each day, this'll prevent from any future attacks." the healer explained as she handed the bottle over. The squire hurried to the horses waiting at the gate for her. Kalen and she were to head to Cavall. Sir Bennel was waiting for Kalen there as well.

In a few moments, Midori and her lover were on the road to Cavall and would be there in two days or so.

"Look in the saddlebags." Kalen hid a smile as Midori gasped. "Nicola…and in the other…Faithful." Midori almost laughed at the sleeping cats but stifled it. "I think Nicole's overstuffed herself again." she murmured, noticing the slight bulge in Nacola's stomach.

The days flew by and soon they were in reach of fief Cavall. They rode into the gates and were met by a cheerful Margarry and a worried Owen. "Where've you been?" he asked, embracing her as she dismounted.

"Corus." She replied, waking both cats that glared at the rude awakening but leapt from the saddlebags and shape shifted nonetheless. Midori didn't notice how close Faithful and Nicola stood beside each other when they were called to follow a servant to their rooms.

Midori didn't complain when she heard that her rooms adjoined Owen's and that Kalen's room was near, she felt safe knowing they were close by. Owen had become like a second father to her and Kalen had become very overprotective of her nowadays.

Midori sat on the bed, after setting up a cot for Nicola and watched the early afternoon sun shine through her window, thinking of ways to break the early-knighthood business to her knight-master.

A sarcastic voice interrupted her thoughts: "Thinking of the future with Kalen aren't you?"

Midori turned to face a pale Nicola. "No, just business. Oh gods, you look terrible."

"I've felt terrible for the last two months!" the shifter snapped as she rushed to the privy and emptied her stomach.

Midori winced and noticed a difference in Nicola's appearance, not just the lack of color in her face. The shifter looked as if her clothes were beginning to tighten, generally around the waist, and her tiredness was evident by the dark circles below her eyes, her appetite had certainly increased but sometimes she would throw up most of it later. She had also gone to see Daine one or two times for her own 'matters.'

Nicola came out of the privy, stumbling as if she had tripped; Midori leapt to her feet and caught her as she collapsed on her knees, yowling and crying. "Why, gods, why?" she sobbed. Seeing Midori she gripped the girl's forearms and suddenly held her tightly. "Midori…don't get yourself killed in the battle…" she whispered.

"What?"

Nicole sighed, "Faithful showed me visions…its nothing." The shifter stood shakily and leaned on the wall for support.

Midori led her to the bed, "How long?"

"How long what?" Nicola looked surprised.

"How long have these symptoms been going on?" Midori crossed her arms over her chest.

Nicole answered, almost meekly. "Two months."

"Oh gods!" Midori had read up on cats and the later news was not going to be good. "Nicola you understand…?"

"I do. The shifter bowed her head for a moment. "Listen, Midori you deserve the truth, the symptoms don't lie…" she met the squire's green eyes with her own hazel-green, "I'm carrying Faithful's kittens."