"There's a calm surrender to the rush of day
When the heat of a rolling world can be turned away
An enchanted moment, and it sees me through
It's enough for this restless warrior just to be with you"

9:29 Dragon

It was early on a grey morning when Tamlen left his aravel. He fixed his rabbit-skin vest over his bare chest and tightened his belt. He walked through the camp, a few of the elders already sitting by the fires to smoke and prepare for the day. A few of them waved to Tamlen as he walked by, and as he continued he felt a change in the winds.

He felt his stomach flip when he came to Ashalle's aravel. As he had come closer, he could see a thin line of grey smoke coming from the back. When he came round he saw Melia hovering over a small stone oven. She wiped the sweat from her brow, holding her back as she stood upright.

Tamlen pulled over a wooden stool for Melia to sit, he took her hand and helped her down. He couldn't help but look at her large belly, unbelieving of how much a child could grow in so little time.

"Andaran atish'an, lethallin." Melia said.

"Are you alright?" Tamlen asked.

"I am fine, thank you." Melia aid breathlessly.

"Shouldn't you be resting?"

Melia scoffed, "I wanted to make a few pastries for you and Thackery."

"I think we'll be fine."

"Tamlen, they have already been baking do not fight me." Melia said, absently rubbing her belly.

Tamlen jumped back when Melia sharply gasped. She didn't seem like she was in pain, in fact she was smiling.

"Come here." Melia took Tamlens hand and placed it on her belly.

Tamlen furrowed his brow until he felt a small kick at his hand.

"Oh…" He fell to his knees, curiously putting his ear to Melia's stomach. There was another kick, and Tamlen couldn't help but give an excited grin, "That's...that's the baby." Was all he could say.

"They are kicking every day now," Melia laughed, "Perhaps they will be just as energetic as Thackery."

"Creators help us if they are."

Melia snorted, "But I will love them all the same."

Tamlen looked up at her, absently rubbing her pregnant stomach. He was suddenly overcome with the desire to kiss her. In any circumstance a child would seem a burden, but Melia was already carrying her unexpected motherhood with absolute grace.

"You really believe that?" Tamlen asked.

"Of course I do. Any child born to this world should not suffer the crimes of the parents." Melia said adamantly, "A baby should be raised with love. Not contempt."

"You say that with such confidence."

"I have to."

"Do you?"

Melia sighed, "Of course. If I do not believe that this child will come out good, then they certainly will not." She moved Tamlens hand off of her to get up and check the pastries.

"Let me help." Tamlen stood up.

"I will be fine, Tamlen." Melia said.

Tamlen watched Melia tap the golden crust with her finger. Then she slid her pastries with a wooden spatula to set them in a basket to cool. Tamlens mouth watered when the aroma of lavender, honey, and citrus filled the air around them.

"Lethallin, hand me the basket top, please." Melia asked.

"As you wish." Tamlen brought it over to her.

He watched her cover the desserts with a white cloth and then tied the lid down with yarn to keep in the heat. She wiped the sweat from her brow.

"They are better when they're warm, but I know you two will be out for some time." Melia seemed embarrassed, like her baking had offended in some way.

"They're perfect." Tamlen said.

Melia's ears turned red and flittered, not sure if he was aiming his compliment at her as well.

Tamlen took her hand and gave it a gentle kiss, "I miss...I miss our patrols together." He suddenly said.

"As do I." Melia admitted.

"Do-do you remember the waterfall? In the Basin?" Tamlen asked hopefully.

He had asked this question before, and when he did Melia could only recall bits and pieces. Her memory had recovered quickly since her victimization, but it always made her head hurt.

"I think so." Melia said.

Tamlens ears lowered a bit, "Did I upset you?"

"No." Melia gave a weak smile. She set her hand on his cheek.

Tamlen closed his eyes when she touched him, taking in the scent of honey on her skin. He thought to himself that she must have gone out and gathered the honey herself, as she had always done. It gave him hope.

"You said, 'Ar lath ma, you stubborn druffalo.'" Melia said quietly, smiling slightly .

Tamlen opened his eyes, seeing that Melia was starting to cry.

He wiped away her tears, "Ir abelas…"

"No," Melia shook her head, "I should be the one apologizing to you. You are so patient with me. Why?"

"Because you are worth it, Melia'nain. Every second my heart grows fonder for you. But...I will cease my pestering if you can say you do not feel the same."

Melia looked up at Tamlen, "There are times where I remember how much I deeply love you. But then the next moment I can barely recall if I have gone to the river to fetch water…"

"I understand, lethallan." Tamlen smiled at her, "Ir abelas. It is unfair of me to keep pushing you."

"You must be so tired of me…"

"Never." Tamlen kissed Melia's hand once more, "A thousand years from now I will still be waiting, if that is what you need from me."

"Oh, Fen'Harel, just take me now."

Melia and Tamlen turned to see Thackery standing up against the aravel. His hair went every which way, and he still seemed half asleep.

"You two are disgusting." He said, wiping the sleep from his eyes.

"Did you just wake up?" Tamlen asked.

"Yeah?" Thackery shrugged, he opened the built in cabinet of the aravel to retrieve his weapons.

"We have patrol." Tamlen reminded him.

"I'll be ready to go when I say I am." Thackery laughed, sheathing his daggers and jumping over to Melia to kiss her cheek, "Hey, old mum, I smell pastries."

"Thackery, they are for when you actually leave."

"But they are for me?"

"Share."

"Damn…"

Melia rolled her eyes and handed Tamlen the basket of treats.

"You are so cruel to me, Mel." Thackery pretended to cry, "Even the Trickster would cower at the sight of you."

"As he should." Melia wagged her finger at Thackery, "I am pregnant, my back hurts, and I am bloated like a bumblebee."

"Yes well a very cute bee." Thackery hugged her, bopping her nose with his finger.

"Fenedhis…" Melia waved him away.

Tamlen looked at Thackery, "We should go."

"Right," Thackery snuck a pastry from the basket and stuffed his mouth, "Uv oo, El." He said, prancing away from Melia before she could swat at him.

"Oh, Thackery." Melia stomped her foot.

She could hear Thackery cackling as he disappeared into the trees. Tamlen turned to her and bent to kiss her cheek.

"I'll see you later." He smiled at her.

"Of course…" Melia smirked, "Keep my cousin out of trouble."

"No promises." Tamlen winked, bending down to kiss her once more, but stopped himself before their lips touched. He cleared his throat as he stood upright. He pointed to the trees.

"I should...yeah." He turned and left before Melia could see his embarrassed grimace.

Melia sighed, taking a seat once more so she could rest her feet. She rubbed her belly absently, trying to calm the squirming baby inside of her.

In an hour or so she would start making a pie for Tamlen and Thackery's return. But, for now, she was content to rest and stare into the embers of the ovens dying fire.

It took Thackery until midday to finally fully wake up. Tamlen had been slightly annoyed at Thackery's lack of seriousness in the patrol, something Melia always had. Not to say Thackery wasn't a joy to have around, but Tamlen found himself missing the early morning patrols with Melia.

They settled into a tree. Tamlen had been too distracted with Thackery's dangling feet in his face to look around.

"Should we head back now?" Thackery asked, swinging down from the top branch, holding onto it with his strong legs like a bat. Crumbs from melia's pastries fell from his moppy hair, and Tamlen wondered how they had gotten there in the first place.

Tamlen looked up at the sky, seeing the sun was at it's peak.

"Just a little longer," Tamlen said, "Fenarel and Junar will come soon enough."

Thackery puffed out his cheeks in boredom.

"How are you and Melia related again?" Tamlen jested.

Thackery scoffed, "I'm the fun one, remember? Melia took all the seriousness from our family when she was born."

"I see."

"She'll be back on patrols soon enough."

"I think you underestimate the strength of a woman after she has birthed her child. It'll be a while."

"You clearly don't know my cousin, lethallin." Thackery laughed, "She'll wrestle a bear and hold a baby in her arms all while mending an aravel sail."

Tamlen chuckled at the image, "I suppose I wouldn't put it past her…"

Thackery suddenly swung up, "Hey, hey, hey." He tapped the tree quickly, pointing at the forest floor, "What's that?"

Tamlen looked down, seeing a grey figure that had been laid down by the trunk of a tree. He peered closer to see it was the body of a wolf.

Without thought, Thackery clamored down. Tamlen soon followed.

"Thackery, wait," Tamlen started, reaching the bottom, "It could be a deception from Fen'Harel."

"Pfft." Thackery waved him off, going closer to the wolf.

He could see the wolf was breathing weakly, and he felt sorrow for her.

"Thackery-"

"Shh." Thackery shot at Tamlen, he pointed to a moving lump behind the wolf.

He readied his daggers, Tamlens hand flew to his sword. But before he could draw he heard a whimper followed by a chorus of weak whining.

The mother wolf let out a warning growl, but was clearly too weak to fight.

Thackery cocked his head to the side, pulling a slab of rabbit meat out of his pack. He slid it gently to her.

She was too proud to eat it, and she let out another snarl.

"Andaran atish'an, ma falon." Thackery smiled at her, "Let me help you."

Thackery noticed she was malnourished, and again offered the food to her. This time she was less prideful, and gently took the meat. She took one bite and whimpered, setting the food down. Thackery frowned.

Tamlens eyes widened when he saw that the mother wolf let Thackery go behind her. He picked up three weak pups, bringing them to her muzzle so she could clean them.

"We should help her." Thackery said.

"Are you mad? The clan will think it an omen. Leave her to the forest. The Gods will see to her."

"No." Thackery said adamantly, "She's just hungry, and if we do not care for her, she will die. And so will her pups." He glared at Tamlen, "Mel would understand." He spat.

Tamlen sighed, realizing Thackery was indeed right.

The mother wolf gave a considerable amount of fight before she finally allowed Thackery to pick up her babies again. They cried for her, but Thackery soothed them. There were three in all. The only male had been born completely black, a small chip in his ear had been missing. Thackery instantly felt love for him. The calmer of the pups was almost yellow, both of her ears tipped with black. She felt Thackery's warmth and nestled into him. The last pup had squirmed all over, and she was grey and brown like her mother.

Tamlen picked up the mother wolf with caution, but Thackery kept her pups close to her and she didn't put up a great resistance.

It seemed a lifetime before the two made their way back to their camp. The bustle of everyday life had ceased when they saw Tamlen carrying a great wolf in his arms. A hush fell over the clan when they stopped at Ashalle's aravel.

Melia had come around from the back, covered in flour. She was curious as to why it was so suddenly quit. Her hand flew up to her mouth when she saw the wolves.

"Thackery…" She said, wide eyed.

"She needs help, Melly…" Thackery pleaded.

She had seen the Keeper come out of her tent, and she sighed.

"Fenedhis...bring her to the back." Melia shook her head as she waddled under the awning.

Tamlen was glad to set the wolf down, not wanting to be at risk of her snapping his bones at any second. Thackery set the pups down in the grass right beside her so they could suckle.

Ashalle had popped from around the corner raising her hands.

"Fenedhis, Thackery, what is this about a-" She stopped.

Ashalle saw Thackery holding out his fingers for the pups to suckle. Tamlen was stony faced as he looked down at Melia.

"Of course it has to be you three…" Ashalle sighed. She bent down next to Melia, "Melia'nain go to the aravel and rest."

"I am fine, mammae."

Melia looked at the wolf's muzzle, fearlessly checking her teeth. There was a rumble coming from the mother wolf's stomach which Melia knew to be a growl of anger rather than hunger.

"If you bite me, I will bite you back." Melia said sternly, she looked at Thackery, "A couple of her teeth are rotted, it is painful for her to eat anything."

Ashalle then examined the wolf, "And she must have eaten some elfroot to soothe the pain. But she must have eaten too much, it is turning her stomach. I will need to induce a vomit." She wiped the sweat from her brow, her coffee colored skin glistening under the intense heat.

"She doesn't have anything on her stomach." Thackery said.

Ashalle snapped at him, "Just get me the deep mushrooms and then the spindleweed."

Thackery shot up to get the ingredients. He returned quickly, seeing that Melia had propped up the wolf's head with the pillow she had been using for her stomach. Tamlen had been holding her mortar and pestle, not knowing what to do with himself.

Melia took the dried mushrooms and her mortar and pestle to ground them up. Ashalle made sure a cloth was around her nose to keep from vomiting, and then she tied a cloth around Melia's nose and mouth. Thackery covered his nose to keep back the fumes.

Melia gently wafted the mushroom scent towards the wolf's nose. Not too long after the wolf gagged and choked up a filmy yellow liquid.

"Keep her still please." Melia said to Tamlen and Thackery. They held her down while Melia checked the teeth once more.

Ashalle kept the pups away, putting halla milk in a bowl so that they could feed. She dipped the fingers of her only hand into the milk to make it easy for the pups to suckle.

Melia broke off a piece of spindleweed, squeezing out the juices onto her finger. She rubbed it all around the wolf's mouth. When her tongue lolled out, Melia knew the whole mouth was numb.

Without hesitation, Melia took her rusted pliers and swiftly pulled out the few rotted teeth. Melia stopped the bleeding with more spindleweed, not wanting to risk any more elfroot into the creatures bloodstream.

Melia wiped the blood off of her hands, "You have to let her mouth rest before she can eat again."

"How long?" Thackery asked eagerly, his face lined with concern.

"The plant will soothe her gums for another hour or so," Melia explained, "She will be in a considerable amount of pain once it wears away. Mix a bit of the spindleweed into a bit of broth from our stores. Hopefully she will take to it. If she does not you have to force feed her. Ideally she needs the protein from raw meat, so if you want her to live through these next few days, offer her a bit of rabbit every now and then."

Thackery hugged her, "Thank you, Melly…"

Ashalle barked at Melia, "Now go to the aravel and rest, Melia'nain. You've been on your feet all morning. I'll see to it that the pies are taken out on time."

"Yes, mammae." Melia relented.

Tamlen came out of his stupor, "Let me help you." He ran quickly over to take Melia's hand. She didn't refuse him.

Ashalle looked at Thackery, slowly feeding the pups, "If you keep pushing Melia'nain like this I will ground you into the abyss, Thackery Mahariel."

"Mammae, she wanted to help." Thackery said, "You're smothering her."

"Oh and I'm sure you know exactly what a toll it is to have a child inside of you." Ashalle snapped, "Look at your wolf. How thin she is, and how weak. Do you want that to be Melia'nain's fate?"

"...no, mammae."

"Then enough of your antics. You can do Creators know what when you're with your friends, but when she is here you will heed my words." Ashalle said sternly, "Ar lath ma, da'len. But if Amarië puts too much strain on herself, both she and her child will suffer for it." She shook her head, the tight silvery curls in her hair swishing back and forth.

Thackery stopped petting the wolf's head, which now laid in his lap.

"Who?" He asked.

Ashalle shot her head back up, "Don't play your games with me-"

"You said Amarië…" Thackery pointed out, "Like...Melly's mom Amarië…"

Ashalle held back her next words, going back to feeding the pups.

Thackery took this as the end of the conversation and went back to lulling the mother wolf into a calm sleep.

Melia came outside when the day had gotten cooler, seeing that Thackery was laying in the grass near his wolves.

"Have you been here this whole time, lethallin?" She asked.

Thackery shot up to get a chair for Melia, "Sorry I didn't see you there."

"I can stand-"

"No, no." Thackery brought a chair over for Melia, "Rest."

"Alright…"

Melia sat down, watching Thackery's ears twitch as he watched the mother wolf breathing heavily.

"I'm worried about her…" He said.

"I know. We did all we could." Melia assured him, "It is the will of the Creators to see that she lives."

"Right…"

They were silent for a long while. Melia had been drifting off into a nap when Thackery spoke up.

"Ashalle hates me."

Melia furrowed her brow, "Why would you think that?"

"She chewed my ass out for getting you involved in my affairs."

Melia started laughing, "She worries too much. Family is supposed to help. Even if it is healing a creature of the forest. Half of the clan thinks we are cursed now."

"Do you?"

"When are we not?"

"Good point…"

Melia frowned, "Thackery, do not let anything she said to you take root in your heart. She loves us both dearly, you know this."

"She clearly loves you more."

"That is not true-"

"It is. She dotes on you like you're Ghilan'nain incarnate."

"Perhaps she is just concerned for the baby?" Melia suggested, "Ashalle has always loved us equally. Never doubt that, lethallin. And the same goes for me. Never question whether or not I will be there for you. Because I always will be."

Thackery looked up at Melia, "Thanks…"

Melia smiled at him, "We have to stick together, you and I."

"Yeah." Thackery grinned, "Always and forever."

"Always and forever."