The next thing he knew, he was awake in his bed, his paw reaching to hold her cheek, to kiss her, wanting to reassure her, panting heavily, the dream still so vivid in his brain.
"Was that...?", Adam whispered to himself. It couldn't have been just a dream. But he knew what he saw, what he had heard, he saw the life leave her before him. So, what was that dream all about?
Beast exhaled as it looked so real...the emotion in the eyes, the tension of pain, the joy and life in the atmosphere...And the cub...his daughter...he would have imagined that one of his cubs would look like him as it was the appearance that he grew up with for the past 10 years, without tusks or horns as it was a newborn, of course, but still...
He sighed deeply as it was maybe a deep yearning of having his mate back, to see his cubs be born, and it manifested into a dream, yet it was so real, and with Perla as a creature, it didn't make sense...
Rubbing a paw over his face, Beast got off the bed to manage living another day, hearing the castle wake up here and there, leaving the quite vivid dream behind yet not forgetting about it.
Perla found a way to make a sling to fit her, carrying her infant as she traveled, with breaks to feed Azure, tucking her away safely in a log or tree crevice foxhole while she hunted, bearing witness to see her eyes open, revealing them to be Adam's sky blue eyes, and her first few words of 'Ma, 'ungy', 'appy', seeing her grow, for almost a whole month, with the invisible Enchantress subtly helping them in directions or safe places to sleep and hide.
On the last day of the month, as evening came upon a winter-wrecked abandoned cottage that Perla found, a second water bag broke, starting labor for her, with Azure tucked in her paws, and The Enchantress quickly contacted Evangeline with her wand, and the two cousins swiftly realizing that Beast needs a bit more convincing in a way, and is sending the scene which is happening in real time as the time Beast is half-asleep.
Hopefully, maybe it might get through to him, but one thing the Enchantress was deeply upset about was the slow progress that Perla was making. Her injuries had healed pretty well, but her pregnancy and child really were slowing her down. And yet there was no good solution other than appearing before her and that was out of the question.
Beast was falling asleep partly into dreamland when he found himself in an abandoned, somewhat wrecked cottage, and then heard a small, unfamiliar voice in worry, "Ma!".
Then he heard the voice of the creature from the dream, "It's okay, Azure, Mama is in happy pain. Ooh! It's normal, darling, it's gonna be okay.".
"Ma!", the little voice called out again. "Please, Azure... you need to quiet down for Mama, alright? What she needs to do takes a lot of work and focus...", Perla said as the little voice didn't say much for a bit.
Beast followed the voices, finding the creature, no, is it really Perla...and her cub in a solid room, maybe the best room that survived being abandoned to time, seeing her, his daughter tucked in a basket, bigger, wide-eyed with his eyes...watching her mama with worry, staying quiet with nervous awe.
He saw Perla close by, and he widened his eyes as he realized that she's in labor again, as she fixed the old bed sheets underneath her on the floor as she gasped and breathed through the contractions.
He was conflicted between reassuring his daughter or being there by Perla's side, and he tested his paw against the door, and Perla didn't hear anything or see anything, but his daughter turned around, looking in confusion as her little ears clearly heard something.
Beast came closer as he saw the pain in Perla's eyes, biting his lip as his paw edged near her paw, frowning as there was no contact again, but he can feel the quivering of pain, and he exhaled, hugging Perla from behind, and she didn't feel him at all, but he can feel her convulsing in pain.
"I'm here, Perla...You got this...", Beast murmured softly, licking her ear as he felt his primal side rejoice at the familiar smell of his mate as Perla breathed and panted through contractions for several minutes.
Beast stroked her back, her belly, as the invisible Enchantress sent a warming magic to the bed sheets, and he then heard Perla gasp, "Oooh!", instinctively acting like an animal, went to lick her vagina, and she then started to prepare as she clenched her claws into the floor, crying out in pain as she pushed.
"That's it, Perla! I'm here! Adam's right here, my pearl...", Beast encouraged with a little sad smile, wishing that she'd hear him before he noticed a pair of eyes staring at him in silenced awe, his own daughter.
Beast himself stared into the eyes of the very young girl as she continued to stare at him. He had no idea if she was actually seeing him or if it was just a coincidence of where she was looking. "A-Azure?", Beast whispered before a small smile crossed the baby's face.
Beast's breath caught with a shaky smile, realizing that this wasn't a dream, or a vision...This is actually happening...His mate, his mate is alive! But how did she get cursed?! A cry of pain snapped him out of his mind, and he nuzzled Perla lovingly, "Breathe, Perla.", as of course, she didn't hear him, but she kept laboring as she took deep breaths.
It lasted for several minutes before Perla cried out in pain, instinctively checking her vagina, and saw the signs of a membrane, and she panted heavily, "Almost there...", unseeing Beast stroke her back as she took deep breaths and pushed, tears falling down her snout, crying out in pain.
Beast sobbed happily in tears, "That's it, my pearl! Oh, keep going, you're almost there!", as Perla gave one last big push, and the membrane slipped out, and she instinctively ripped the membrane, licking the cub, and then came a hearty, loud squealing cry of life.
Perla sobbed happily, cleaning the cub as she breathed in her cub's scent, "Oh, my beautiful boy! Look at you! You're so perfect!", as Beast watched with a laugh, overjoyed to see his newfound son who is looking like a mix of a lion and a wolf, in shades of brown, squeaking and whimpering.
"You truly got your papa's shade of color, my darling...", Perla smiled warmly, and Azure piped up, "Ma, ungry?".
Perla smiled, "Of course, Azure...", reaching over to grab around the little basket, picking her up from the back of the ruff, and placing her down. Azure blinked, looking at Beast, wobblily walking close to his face, "Azure, what are you looking at? I thought you're hungry...Your little brother is already heading to eat.".
Beast rumbled softly, "You heard your mama. It's alright, Papa is happy.", and Azure tilted her head in surprise, "Pa? Appy Pa?".
He instinctively chuckled as his heart swelled up in joy, "Yes, it's Papa.", licking her head gently, and Azure giggled, "Pa! Pa!", as Beast grinned, "Well, if you're not hungry, then I will be hungry for you...Tickle!", tickling her belly as she rolled over, shrieking softly in laughter, "Pa, Pa!", not noticing the widening eyes of tearful eyes watching her daughter seeming to pat her paws at something in the air, seeing a glimpse of a snout tickling her daughter's belly for an instant moment.
Perla's eyes widened when she caught that glimpse. It couldn't be possible... could it? "Adam?", Perla whispered. "Adam!", she gave a louder cry as she teared up. "Adam, are you here somehow?!".
Beast looked up in shock and all but sprinted on all fours, nuzzling her face, "I'm here, Perla! I'm here!", as Perla felt a breeze on her face, a caress, as Azure piped up, "Ma, Pa appy?", as Perla sobbed, "I'm sad and happy, Azure...I can feel your papa, but I can't see him!".
Azure frowned, "Pa here! Ma be more appy!", and Perla tried to think, remembering all the memories she has with Adam, her beast, emotions running through her as she remembered, with love strong in most of them, and she then opened her eyes to see a shimmering transparent Adam looking at her with love and adoration and joy, whispering, "Adam?".
"P-Perla...?", Beast whispered as Perla took a deep breath. "Adam... listen... I don't know how long we have... I'm alright... I just... was cursed and sent far away! I'm trying to make it back to you right now, but the children... they're coming one at a time over some time...", she quickly tried to tell him.
Beast exhaled, "I knew it...I knew it wasn't guilt manifesting into a dream! Oh, Perla, I'm just so happy to see you! And our little ones...They're perfect...", with a smile as he glanced to see Azure and their son suckling, and then something hit him, "Wait, it's children? Not twins?", confused and shocked.
Perla gave a shaky grin, "Turns out you were more than just wild, Adam...Those two are just the oldest and second oldest for the time being...There's still three left...", as she instinctively licked her cubs and her belly which is showing signs of little pawprints and such.
"Oh, my god...I...Wait, this would've happened similarly when you were human...", Adam whispered in shock, and Perla shrugged, "I don't know...But I am glad everything went well again this time...Our son's beautiful...".
Adam chuckled, "He's just like me in the fur color department...Oh, Perla, you've proved me wrong, they're not monsters...they are our children...If anyone dares hurts them, I'll give them hell.", with a deep growl...
"I agree...Oh, you've been here for the whole birth? I thought...", Perla sobbed, and Beast licked her cheek, "Hey, hey, it's okay, you will be alright.", before something tugged at him, and he looked back to see his tail disappearing.
Beast widened his eyes, "No, no, not now!", and Perla cradled his cheek with her paw, "If this happens again, please stay with me...".
"Perla, I'm your mate, and the father of those cubs, I love them as much as I do with you!", Beast proclaimed, and Perla widened her eyes in shock and joy, tears falling down her cheeks, "Oh, Adam!".
As Beast's body disappeared halfway through, he kissed her on the lips passionately, and she kissed him back, feeling the love, desperation, determination, and happiness through the kiss, and she panted softly as he whispered, "Our son, name our son after my mother, Elisabeth, in Italian fashion!".
Perla cried happily, nodding, "I'll name him Eliseo! Eli for short!", and Beast gave a wide smile, "That's perfect!", licking his cubs gently, "I'll see you soon, Azure and Eli!", before nuzzling Perla, "I'll return somehow, I promise!", as more of him disappeared.
"No, I'll return!", Perla told him. "Please, let the others know... wait, maybe keep it to yourself for now! The one who cursed me... do not trust the Perla that's with you! She's an imposter!", she was practically screaming.
Beast bellowed out, "I thought you were dead! The imposter died in my arms!", shock in his eyes, and Perla widened her eyes in horror, about to say something else when Beast finally disappeared before her, and her mind whirred in shock.
It took her a few moments before it hit her. "Of course... trying to break him...", Perla whispered to herself. She took another deep breath before she had a small smile. At least he knew the truth now, that she was alright.. and that she would be home soon, come hell or high water, she would be home with their children... and then she would finally say those three words she should've told him months ago.
Perla sighed in relief as she rested, smiling lovingly at her cubs who's eagerly suckling, curling around them a bit closer, with her tail curving around them protectively, "Papa's waiting for us...We'll get home. And for you, Eli, once more, a few days to build up your strength before you ride in the sling with your sister...At least we're still in the throes of spring, with summer coming.", with a sigh.
In the castle, in his master bedroom, Beast was in turmoil between telling the family and the staff or keeping it to himself like Perla asked urgently...He doesn't want them to grieve any longer, but if the person who cursed Perla, is watching, it's dangerous...
Gods, he was tricked...He should have gone with Perla instead of Jiminy, damn the consequences for coming out in the daylight, as Perla was worried for him getting into danger...He would have maimed the person out for hurting his mate, his cubs if he was there!
The grave was fake! The body was fake! The real Perla would have dug the stake to the trap, and ran with it come hell or high water, to a tree or something! He knew her better than that! She would have fought for a way to keep herself and the cubs safe!
And he saw it...He saw the few faded cuts on Perla's new body...She fought to survive, to live, to keep going for her cubs, herself, and Adam...She's coming home...Since Azure is clearly older and bigger than her newborn brother, Eliseo, if Perla is right, the rest of the children will come one at a time over a month or such...
He heard his primal side being smug, proud, and happy that he truly got a litter...five children...Beast chuckled, having remembered a conversation with Perla, her saying that she always wanted to have a big family, and Carlo was just the start...He himself admitted agreeing with his primal side...He was fully embellished in the department downstairs, alright.
But still, there was the question that was plaguing him; does he keep things a secret and tell the others, or keep it to himself until Perla arrived, especially if the one who cursed her and sent her away was still in the area? He didn't feel sure that he could keep his attitude the same. Being able to pull off still being deeply depressed now that he knew the truth.
Beast exhaled deeply, realizing that if he does a combination of sadness and impatience, it could still act as deep depression, and it's true that he's sad that Perla is far away, and he'd be impatient for her to come home with their children, since it would take time to get home...
He decided right then and there, for now, keep up appearances; at least to keep the others safe from whoever was threatening them. Hopefully, Perla would be back soon... and certainly fast enough before the last petal fell as his eyes looked to the enchanted rose. He really had to wonder, if the Enchantress still was keeping an eye out herself about him or if she was long gone and just letting magic take its course.
Beast then smiled softly at the memory of his beautiful cubs, and glanced at the side of the bed, wondering if she gets here before the last petal, she would be safe to deliver the other children...he doesn't know if the spell gets broken by his confession and her confession, is she safe to be in labor, if she's still pregnant then? Could the cubs be human, in different ages if the timing is different in them since they got born by a month apart or so?
There really were just too many questions that he had no answers to at the moment; all of them would be solved by the time she arrives... but he really hoped that she knew where she was going and that she still wasn't too far away where time could easily run out before she'd even be in the same region, much less the same area.
After a few days, little Eli got stronger from the supply of his mama's milk, and accompanied Azure in the sling, as his mama traveled then from the partly wrecked cottage, and thus, finding a path off the mountains, foraging better than ever before, digging up remains of wild grain and vegetables, and hiding her cubs in logs, with charging Azure to watch over her brother while she hunted, and found places to sleep for some nights.
This lasted for a month, and Azure became more stronger to accompany her mama to forage by her side, walking and learning things, with Eli sleeping in the sling, and thus becoming curious one day when her mama got exhausted by traveling, feeding, and carrying the weight of her other children, and slept with Eli suckling on her belly, while staying in a tree foxhole which miraculously fit them all after some digging and such.
Azure became bored after playing by herself, and glanced at her baby brother who is still hungry, not in the mood to play with him gently, and she was frustrated of the rules her mama said. Don't go near the river. Don't go out of the hiding places. Stay quiet while her mama hunts.
Wanting to explore, Azure was sad, and wants to see her papa, wanting him to play with her, but from what her mama said, it's magic, and magic is not powerful every day to let him stay...She sighed, gnawing on a branch when her ears pricked at an unfamiliar sound, a sound of bells and some kind of braying.