Orion's head lolled to the side, his eyes dull and unfocused, exhaustion consuming him entirely. His chest rose and fell in shallow, uneven breaths, his body trembling as though it could no longer support its own weight. His lips parted, the faintest whisper escaping. "I'm... sleepy..."
Articus leaned closer, his heart hammering in his chest. "Orion, stay with me," he urged softly, his voice laced with both fear and determination.
Before he could say more, Orion's body went limp, collapsing into the bed as though all strength had drained from him. His head fell back, and for a moment, Articus froze, panic clawing at his throat. "Orion?" he called out, his voice rising in alarm.
But even as Orion's consciousness seemed to slip away, his body betrayed him. The next contraction ripped through him, forcing his muscles to push involuntarily. A strained, guttural sound escaped his lips, his body shuddering violently as it responded to the pain without his mind's command.
Articus's hands shook as he gripped Orion's limp hand, his thumb brushing over the clammy skin in a desperate attempt to keep his brother tethered to the present. "Orion, come on," he whispered, his voice trembling. "Stay with me, sweet boy. You're so close. Please."
The room was suffocatingly quiet except for the faint crackle of the fire and Orion's ragged breathing. Every second felt like an eternity as Articus wiped the sweat from Orion's pale brow, his own heart breaking at the sight of his brother's suffering.
Orion stirred faintly, his lips twitching as though trying to form words, but no sound came out. His body convulsed as another contraction surged, forcing him to push once more. The strain on his already broken body was overwhelming, his muscles trembling violently as they worked against the weight of his exhaustion.
Articus leaned in, his voice shaking but firm. "You're almost there, Orion. Just one more big push, and it'll all be over. Don't give up now. Please don't give up."
Tears filled Articus's eyes as he watched Orion's face contort with pain, even in his weakened state. The instinctive pushing continued, each contraction pulling them closer to the end. Articus glanced down, his breath catching as he saw the baby beginning to emerge. The moment of truth was finally here.
"Stay with me, sweet boy," Articus murmured, his hand brushing damp strands of hair from Orion's face. His voice cracked with emotion. "You're doing so well. I'm so proud of you. Just one more push, Orion. One more."
Orion's body twitched, his head rolling weakly to the side. His breaths were shallow, his energy spent, but some deep, primal part of him seemed to respond to Articus's words. With the next contraction, his body convulsed in one final, desperate effort, pushing through the pain and exhaustion.
Articus's hands moved instinctively, his focus razor-sharp as the baby finally slipped free. Relief flooded his chest, but his attention immediately snapped back to Orion. "It's done," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "Orion, it's done. You did it."
But Orion didn't respond. His body lay still, his face pale and drenched in sweat, the faint rise and fall of his chest the only sign of life. Articus cradled his brother's hand, his heart pounding as he called out to him again. "Orion? Sweet boy, stay with me."
The room was heavy with silence, the weight of Orion's suffering lingering even as the cries of the newborn filled the air.