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Veralidaine Salmalín
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Daine sighed in frustration. Her baby was calling for her in… it's way. Ever since the shape-shifting child had been born, Daine had tried to rest, but the baby still needed her.

The baby decided to be a small cow for a moment. Daine heard Numair bumping around in the next room, preparing to help with the search for the Lioness' missing daughter. How Daine wished that she could help too!

The baby was a snake, and then a gosling, then a bear cub. Then she-or-he was an antelope, but only momentarily, as it shifted into a small elephant. Then all at once, the child became an octopus.

"Numair, help!" Daine cried as the infant's eight limbs began to flail. The mage burst into the room, helping Daine tame their child, until he-or-she became a lamb.

"I wish the baby would take a nap," Numair said. Daine studied his face. He looked as weary as she felt.

"I feel like a bad parent, Numair. I don't fell like I love him…her…the baby." Numair sighed. Daine knew that he was thinking the same thing. They had both been so happy when they'd found out that they were having a child. They had pictured a beautiful little mage-girl, or a boy with his mother's wild magic. It had never entered their minds that the child would be a shape-shifter.

Daine felt Numair's warm arms snake around her.

"It's just new, Magelet, and you're tired. You had a very difficult pregnancy. And the birth…"

Daine wasn't sure why tears were welling up in her eyes. Numair held her close, trying to keep their infant under control with one hand.

A soft knock sounded on the door. Daine wiped her eyes on her sleeve, feeling very childish, and stood to answer it.

"My lady," Daine said, giving Thayet a slight curtsy.

"As I thought," Thayet said. "You're exhausted." The queen put her arm around Daine's shoulders, leading her back to bed. "Now, I order you, and you, Numair, to bed."

"But the baby-" Numair began, trying to tame a baby ostrich.

"The baby can be difficult," Daine said, rising. Thayet shushed her with a glance.

"To bed, Mistress Salmalín," she insisted, taking a little mouse from Numair's hands.

"Come, Magelet. We can't disobey the queen's order." Daine felt Numair pull her into his arms. She was getting very warm, and in seconds, they were both asleep.

…..

When Daine awoke, the room was dark. She looked up groggily, feeling Numair stir.

"Hi," she whispered with a smile. Numair kissed her passionately.

"Good morning," he whispered back. Daine smiled.

"It's dark," she said, nodding towards the window. She sat up suddenly. "Thayet."

The new parents clambered to their feet, rushing into the room that they had turned into a nursery. Daine felt a little guilty that she kept her baby in a room with padded walls, but as long as the baby insisted on shapeshifting, it was safest.

Thayet was sitting in Daine's rocker, knitting placidly. The baby was a black-and-white puppy now, curled up at the queen's feet. Daine kneeled beside her infant, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She petted the puppy's head gently.

"Were there any problems?"

"Not a one," Thayet said cheerfully. "He-or-she has been sleeping nearly as long as you have."

Daine caught Numair's eyes. He looked frustrated. But then he started to laugh. Daine joined him, laughing until it hurt. Carefully she moved the puppy into her lap. She did love her baby. Numair sat beside her, bringing a warm blanket. He kissed her cheek, settling a big blanket around both of them.

"Told you so."