Rise of the Morning Star (open)

[Lady B]

The days came and went with each rising and setting of the sun and the moon. Sometimes there were moonless nights with the stars high and bright over head. There were times that neither the sun nor moon nor stars greeted the land and it's inhabitants because they were hidden by the thick clouds blanketing the lands. Sometimes those clouds brought terrible winds and cold, fleeting rains or they just obscured the sky to make one's day utterly miserable.
Just like today.

Maxima trudged slowly, nearly dragging her hooves upon the sparse green landscape. Her head hung low as it somewhat swayed with her stiff movements. She was tired and hungry and thirsty and depressed. Not once did she imagine herself all alone in this world without a stallion to protect her from some other stallion wishing to force her into miscarriage just so they could have the opportunity to breed with her. The very thought caused her visage to pinch with a scowl then drew long as she sighed but the scowl remained.
Slowly she wandered towards the chosen haven where she would give birth to her first born foal. Her excitement was bittersweet. She wished that at least the sire would be here to witness their offspring and protect her from anything that would or could inflict harm upon her while she was in such a vulnerable state. Many scenarios raced through her head as she slowly continued on. Every one of them either a dark ending or a beautiful reunion. A little whimpering sigh as her hooves lifted then stomped with a such a heaviness to each step that she nearly groaned from the aches her stiff body currently endured.
Bound to be worse, she told herself. It wouldn't be long, again she reminded herself. She could feel her back end loosen up and feel weak.

Maxima winced when a powerful kick to her rib cage from the little life within and caused her to stumble just a little. She stood still for a moment, bracing her legs as she tried to catch her breath. After a minute, she picked up a leg to move and gasped when the little snot within kicked her again. This time to her lungs and it took her breath away. Her front legs gave out from under her as she dropped to her knees groaning and gasping wide eyed but dazed. "Gods of Imbros," she breathlessly barked, gasped for air and blinked her eyes as if she had dust in them. After a couple minutes, she finally caught her breath and slowly pried herself up off the ground onto her hooves.
"That's enough, my darling," she bit out. Her tone both calm but also hard as she was tired and wanted to get to the Weeping Willows before nightfall.

She lifted her head a little higher so that she could scan the horizon and take in her surroundings better and get her bearings. With a sigh of relief and perhaps a slight meek smile, she saw a familiar sight - the curtains of silvery green. "Not long now, my darling," exhausted as she spoke to her unborn foal that stirred within her bloated belly.
One hoof in front of the other kept pushing her forwards and closer to her goal, even though it felt as if an eternity reaching the Willows.


Finally Maxima reached the leafy veils of the Weeping Willows. After months of wandering and searching for a place to birth her foal and either of the stallions Nero or Raziel, she groaned a sigh of exhausted relief. When she came to the little stream, she lowered her head swiftly to take in gulps of water. The refreshing liquid stung within her very dry mouth and she squealed softly but took another big gulp before she stopped and breathed heavily to let the water and herself settle. At that moment, she felt the unborn foal stir and roll. Maxima lifted her head to crane her head around to her bloated belly and tried to nuzzle it or lick it, "Rest, my darling. Rest. We are here."
After she tried to reassure her foal, and herself, she picked her way across to the other side and sought out the perfect willow that would shelter her for the coming birthing. She loathed the idea to be so vulnerable and all alone at such an important time. A glance this way and that, her soft brown eyes danced over each willow tree until she was satisfied with one of the trees. She circled the willow to inspect it and even tested the leafy veils as they cascaded down in long, draping branches. She nodded, "This is the place," she released an exhausted heavy sigh as her legs stiffly buckled under her and she half collapsed upon the thin patches of grass and moss and dirt at the base of the willow tree.
Another groan of exhaustion as Maxima rolled over onto her side and extended her very sore, achy legs while the barrel of her torso distended greatly due to the little life in her womb. It wasn't long until she began to feel the first pangs of discomfort and she had to shift and move just a little in an effort to feel comfortable again. She started to feel that very shallow tension in her belly two days ago and that caused her to panic. She wasn't ready, she hadn't made it to her chosen birthing ground yet and she thought it was just too early for her to have her foal.
As Maxima laid there upon the ground under a willow tree and gazed up at the sky through the draped willow branches as they waved and swayed in the wind, she began to wander and daydream about her foal. Would it be a filly full of life and hope like her or would it be a colt with an unknown destiny and oddity like it's father? At that moment, her thoughts shifted to Raziel. Instantly she felt alone and depressed. For all this time she had been building herself up a misguided fancy of her first stallion. She hardly knew him. She didn't even know if he was alive or dead. Last she saw the stallion, he did not look so good. Now that she thought about it, if his battle wounds with Arion did not kill him, then no doubt the Plague claimed him. Her eyes closed with a flutter of those lids and if she could cry she would. She sighed and whimpered at the thought of being alone. Alone with her foal. Alone and vulnerable. Just... alone.

[Lyrics]

Auto was oddly subdued during his trek to nowhere. It had taken him a while to determine where it was he was even going; even then, he took unexpected turns and bends as he pleased. It felt strange to not wake up in pleasant, sheltered forest, but the sense of having a purpose for the day was a welcome change. Even if it was simply to put one foot in front of the other and getting himself reacquainted with nomadic life, it made the dull daze of boredom and loneliness lift from his shoulders.

What was noticed about the land was its eerie emptiness. He knew it wasn't uncommon to not bump into anyone in his journeys, but the public lands seemed quite empty. He had expected to encounter at least a couple on his way but in both sight and smell it appeared uninhabited. Nonetheless, he was determined not to become discouraged and continued on, his new destination clear in his mind; he would risk to venture into the Weaklands. He had gone a few times before and remembered the way to slip in and out undetected. Unbothered, he set out towards the north, pace relaxed but brisk as his surroundings became drier and more barren around him.

His confusion and slight unease strengthened when the sooty buckskin reached the Weaklands and found the borders set by the loathed Northerners weak and unattended to. His plan had been to investigate from afar in the dry shrubbery until he was sure it was safe to cross, but eventually he strolled across, in plain sight, surprised that the only obstacle in his path had been in fact no trouble at all. It made him wonder, had the fight against the Northerners progressed at all since his absence? What of Theseus, the stallion who had took charge of the war? He had heard no word from them, but then again, he had not endeavoured to contact anyone as of late.

The waste lands lacked their usual vicious heat and the sky overhead was still a gloomy grey; he imagined its residents would be hoping for its waters to drop onto the land and fill up long parches gullies and dams. The one thing he hadn't quite remembered about the place was the smell; a sour, acrid aroma that seemed to carried on the lacklustre breeze. It wasn't quite enough to make the stallion's nostrils wrinkle, but it was unpleasant all the same. Was that there before? He briefly wondered to himself - he'd been here before and taken in the many unsavoury aspects of the land, but he couldn't recall smelling something so...distinctive. He shook the thought away; his memory was clearly foggy. You idiot, it's the smell of death he told himself grimly. It's always been here. It made him shiver - he hoped he wouldn't be seeing any expired bodies on his way. It wouldn't be the first time, but nonetheless he dreaded it.

He was deep into Weakland territory now, and he decided to try and stick to places where he camoflaged well. His sooty buckskin frame blended in well with the beige and brown of his surroundings at first glance, but upon closer examination he knew that anyone would be able to tell he was a snooping Southerner. He was not emaciated like a Weaklander, far from it, and far too lightly built to be a visitor from the North, and if he came across one his only option would be to run as fast as his socked legs could carry him. A rather out-of-place willow distinguished itself from the distant mirages, and with relief Auto headed towards it, eager to get under the cover of its branches and then, after his break, weave his way back to the South.

He was pleasantly surprised to find a little spring underneath its quite large width, and he had just bent his head to take a mouthful when he spotted the black heap on the ground. For one shocking moment he thought his fears had been validated, but as he watched he heard a sigh, followed by a whimper come from the head. Taking a step away from the stream, he took in the sight of the horse on the ground; a mare, in very poor health it looked like. Even at a glance she looked gaunt and wasted away, save for her almost painfully distended stomach. He wasn't sure whether it was from severe malnourishment, illness or even pregnancy, but she looked to be in distress. A tidal wave of sympathy crashed upon him - there was no choice but to attend this poor mare's troubles; her befallen look indicating she was in low spirits. He inched closer but kept a small distance as not to startle her, dipping his head as an attempt to look less threatening. Upon greeting her realised his voice had been long disused, and the first syllable came out thick and dumb. He cleared his throat and started again, his tone unusually quiet and consoling. 

"Ex-Excuse me there, I didn't see you. Are you...alright?"

[Lady B]

The dull aches and pains of every sort felt like waves upon the shore, either gentle and rolling upon the sand or crashing with great violence upon the rocky cliffs enough to tear them down. Maxima hissed with the latest cramp and it caused her body to jerk. Again, she stretched pushing her four limbs out as far as they could possibly go. She sharply inhaled then held the breath for a few seconds before releasing the air in a slow soft sigh. Occasionally her nostrils flared during the various levels of pain but all in all, she was proud of herself for mustering up her courage and remaining calm during this difficult time.
That is, she remained calm until she heard muffled sounds from behind her. Maxima froze a moment while her eyes grew wide as fear gripped her and she started to breathe quickly. Her soft brown eyes danced around while she concentrated upon listening intently and knew someone had to be there.
Now panic set in as she heard gentle hooves upon the ground edging towards her and she forced herself to sit up onto her legs as they curled underneath her despite the ripping soreness that shot through them and into her body. She wanted to leap to her hooves but just could not muster the strength to do that as she whipped her head around to face her unknown visitor. Soft brown eyes greeted the other horse as she stared at him and blinked her glassy eyes. Her nostrils flaring for various reasons and seemed to rock herself as she began to breathe heavily and quickly adding a few grunts here and there to sound intimidating. It did not take long for Maxima to realize it was a stallion in her presence and immediately this deeply disturbed the Friesian mare. Her ears swiftly flattened against her pole and she extended her head with a grave look to her visage. She snorted and grunted a few more times and even softly squealed while she stiffly tossed her head. She was by no means happy to have a stallion there. The black mare deduced he was there to kill her firstborn foal. This infuriated her and caused her to tense up ready for a fight despite she was in the early stages of labor.

Maxima squealed one more time as she placed a hoof hard upon the ground before her as if she was going to stand, hoping the stallion would not call her bluff and take advantage of her vulnerable state. "Go AWAY!" she bleated through a clenched jaw. Again she began to breathe heavily and quickly to the point she was grunting once again. But after a moment longer of an attempted intimidation, Maxima's turned glassy and she was dazed while an intense cramp overwhelmed her. Her nostrils flared once again and her breathing became even more labored and very loud. Strong enough that with every rushed exhale kicked up a tiny cloud of dust. Her head dipped down then slowly rose back up only to lay upon the ground as she finally rolled back upon her side. The abdomen of her torso became a mountain again and bounced with each breath.
Now came a very intense cramp and she squealed with a flail of her head. "Please," came a plea from the black mare in a tone that she sought mercy from the stallion. "Please, don't hurt my foal. I beg you," she whimpered and snorted with her quick huffs of air.
As another cramp gripped her body, a long feathered fore leg pawed intensely at the earth as she squealed again and closed her eyes tight.

[Lyrics]

As the unfamiliar mare turned to face him, he could see his efforts to display his amiability had failed. Even her first glance at him had the wild gleam of fear and hostility and he jerked his head up as she clambered to her feet, the motion quick though stiff and clumsy due to her swollen stomach. Now that she was upright he could see while her stature she was shorter than him, she was stockier. Or rather, meant to be; the slight feathering on her forelegs indicated some sort of draft blood, but other than that it appeared as if all the bulk of her body had gone to her flanks. Autolycus' tentative half-smile faded as her panicked looked turned into burning rage, and her body language turned aggressive and intimidating. Her ears folded back to meet her poll and a series of grunts and squeals escaped from her. Uncertain how to respond, he took a step back, automatically widening his stance as if to brace himself for an attack. As he did so, he felt the willow fronds brush against his back and rump, reminding him he could flee from the cover of the tree at any moment and escape the possible wrath of his ebony black counterpart. Her face was a vicious snarl and her command grew in volume, go AWAY!

However, it didn't look as if moving was uncomfortable to the mare and was clearly in no form to battle. Now that he thought about it, this demeanour would be vital to surviving in the Weaklands. He wasn't going to fight back, but he lingered between the options to stand his ground or obey her wishes for him to leave her in peace. It was late afternoon and he guessed the sun would be well in the west above those clouds; if he wanted to return the Southern lands before nightfall he would have to leave soon. He decided to stay put, but remain passive, simply try to pacify the ebon mare.

"Hey hey hey, easy there! I'm not here to hurt you! I was just having a drink!"

While he was talking he saw the strange sight of of her flanks contracting. Externally it appeared to be only a mere twitch of muscle, but he almost winced at the pain that would be flooding her insides right now. It showed on her face, too, her breathing becoming hard and laboured and giving a wild toss of her head. Her threatening demeanour dissolved into pain, and his look became even more concerned, his scrambled mind not quite putting two and two together. He didn't dare take a step towards her yet, but one foreleg lifted off the ground in indecision, his first instinct to investigate what was afflicting her and try to help.

Foal? He now knew the reason for her bloated flanks, but the answer surprised him all the same. Not only that, it appeared that its arrival was imminent. What good timing he had - not only had he inserted himself in a situation where she clearly did not want him, he had stumbled here right before she gave birth. He knew little about the process; in his experience, the stallions were promptly shooed away at the first signs of foaling, and were not to re-approach until the babe was dry and upright. However, it didn't seem either of them had much of a choice, especially her, who didn't look she'd be able to walk further than around the width of the willow. At least she'd found a safe, covered spot to bear her child; undisturbed until he'd barged in, at least.   

"Foal? You're having a foal? I won't hurt you or...him or her, I promise"

He didn't quite know how to reassure her his words were sincere, so he dipped his head in cautious submission, . All he wanted her to do was to realise he was not a threat and stop wasting the energy she needed to get this foal out attempting to assert herself against him. However, he wasn't about to instruct her what to do. It was far too late for him to simply leave her be - he knew most mares preferred to find a secluded spot to bring their child into the world, but she seemed utterly alone with no other horses nearby. He had no idea whether her intense pain was normal or an indication something was wrong, but there was no way he was going now. He had to make sure she'd be alright through this; he would be flooded with guilt if he didn't stay and make sure the mare and her child came out of this unharmed. After a pause he dared to ask, giving away just how clueless he was to her situation;

"What do you want me to do?"

[Lady B]

Maxima laid upon her side panting heavily as the varied levels of pain gripped her and increased. "Of COURSE I'm having a FOAL!" barked the black mare, then she squealed and whimpered with eyes shut tight and nearly forgot she had a visitor. Upon hearing the voice of the stallion she squealed again and roll upright with her legs tucked underneath her as she continued to pant. Her ears were no longer flat against her pole, but they were down to show her annoyance and was distracted between the stallion and her labor. "Just... make certain... no one else comes," her words short and sharp betraying how much this situation affected her adding only to the fear that someone could very well kill her foal once it was born. Her head dipped down enough enough as her lips touched the ground and kicked up little puffs of dust and bent some grass down. She snorted and closed her eyes in an attempt to soothe herself and calm down while the aches and cramping mellowed.
At least for a while.

Once again, she had nearly forgotten that the stallion was there until she opened her eyes and saw him nearby. The Friesian mare's nostrils flared and snorted again but she did not move for a few seconds.
"My name is Maxima. What is your name?" She focused upon him, "You are not from around here, are you?" Her nostrils flaring as she panted then shifted her hind legs a little. Maxima remained leery of the stallion and studied him. Usually she would be kindly and curious about others unless they proved to be a threat, but not this evening.

Suddenly she jerked and squealed as she tossed her head, closed her eyes tightly and grunted slowly then laid back down upon her side and panted hard. Her torso rose and fell quickly with each fast inhale and exhale. Her hind legs stretched and moved a couple times as her front legs curled and pawed at the ground. She squealed again as the cramping intensified. Her visage was pinched with various expressions as she thought about how this was something she has never felt before. She continued to squeal and whimper as her hind legs shifted and stiffened then relaxed. All the while she barely paid attention to the setting sun or he gentle breeze that played with the veils of willow branches that cascaded and surrounded her. She began to mutter and mumble to herself incoherently with a whimper here and there. Her head shifted a little then huffed and groaned.

[Lyrics]

Her words came to Auto's ears harsh and scornful, her impatience only magnified by the pain, of course I'm having a foal, you IDIOT! He resisted the urge to fold his ears back defensively, swallowing down the insult uncharacteristically quietly. I guess I deserved that. It seemed she was forced to give up the pretence of being fit to defend herself, and she'd laid back down on the ground again. That was better at least, or so he thought. She briefly rolled back onto her legs, which made him think she was going to try to stand up again, but she'd simply shifted to face him, letting out her words in sharp syllables. Just... make certain... no one else comes. His curiosity piqued at that, was there anyone specific she was hiding from? He supposed, though, it was the Weaklands - despite the strange absence of Northerners at the border, they could very well still be prowling around the barren wilderness. He was only happy to grant her request, his straight profile dipping in a nod and he strode over to the north side. The fronds brushed aside to give Autolycus a clear view of the wastelands - empty save for stony clumps and dismal shrubbery. Still, he went to go check every side facing out from the willow. It was more for her sake than for his, but if it gave her even the slightest sense of reassurance, he would do anything at this point.

"I'm sorry, it's just...I've never seen this before"

As the sooty stallion checked in each direction he realised while her breath was hard and frantic, he had been holding his, and he let it out in a slow, controlled exhale. He was still unsure how normal her pain was, and it worried him to think of what he could do if something went (or was) wrong. At times it seemed the pain just swallowed her whole, took up her entire concentration and made it as if he wasn't there. The buckskin almost preferred her fiery irritation to the moments where she seemed to be overcome with agony. He had never seen anyone in this much physical suffering - neither for injury or sickness. He knew it was a fair strain on mares to have their foals, but nothing like this. He felt foolish, colt-like; a nervous boy bumbling around unable to grasp the mere concept of childbirth. It didn't help the mare on the ground was a complete stranger, but no matter what he did he felt obnoxious and in her way. Right now he was caught between being silent and out of her way as much as possible, or to distract her with some light talk; perhaps try and gain an idea of her current situation.

As he turned to the west side, he could see a tiny part of the twilight peeking out from a gap in the clouds, and as the leafy willow branches rustled he felt a cool bite to the breeze. Deserts could be bitterly cold at nighttime, but at least they seemed to have found a choice spot for now. His ears revolved back to catch her words as she uttered her first proper words of greeting. My name is Maxima. What is your name? He turned back to face her, a good-natured smile crossing his face despite the tension of the situation.

"Nice to meet you Maxima. I'm Auto. Autolycus, if you can be bothered"

You're not from around here, are you? He guessed it was only a matter of time before the question was asked of him; he was far too healthy-looking to be a prisoner. Despite this, he hesitated. He had seen the feathering on Maxima's legs, and it occurred to him that she may be a Northerner who had unfortunately found herself in the Weaklands when the foal chose to make its appearance. However, as he looked over Maxima, he knew she was just a scared mare trying to create a bit of conversation with the stranger who'd barged in during her labour. Plus, it was hardly a time to be bickering about intruding upon whose lands.

"You're right. I'm from the Southern lands, I was the lead of a land there but I recently...liberated myself of that title"

He still wasn't sure whether he'd made the right decision, but before he cared to elaborate her muscles appeared to contract again. The ebon mare made a various collection of noises, all still indicating the same notion that she was in pain, before beginning to mumble to herself. Still a little shaken by the intensity of these muscle spasms, he figured there was not much else to do but try and return her conversation, figuring maybe it could distract from the pangs.

"What's your story, if you don't mind me asking?"

bah, this needs proofreading, but thought i'd post it now before I sleep :3

[Lady B]

Protection of herself and her foal, who was about to make an appearance at any time, was at the forefront of her mind. Her mother taught her as much as she would accept on motherhood and now all that was starting to flood her or attempt to flood her with a sense of worry. Would she make a good mother? Would she fail? What if the foal was stillborn? What if she had twins? What if...
Oh, so many 'What if's'. Too many that was only making matters worse as her anxiety clashed with the constant cramping and pain. Occasionally she would roll onto her knees and legs tucked underneath her torso then back onto her side to lay out flat. She did this often through the night with occasional squeals and snorts and huffs and groans.

By now she was not focused upon Autolycus and had no care to keep him in her sights. She tried because she was so afraid since she was vulnerable. The thoughts and anxiety caused her to whimper, too. So she listened to his voice which was oddly soothing in a stressful time and it kept her calm as well despite the anxiety and pain.
"It's obvious," her voice a bit strained as she replied while laying upon her side. The barrel of her torso rose and fell quickly with her fast breathing. Her head rose up in an effort to look or locate the buckskin stallion and gave up quickly. "A pleasure... to meet you,... Autolycus," she released a heavy breath as if she held it for a very long time.

After a minute of her head laying upon the ground while she laid upon her side, Maxima lifted her head and rolled onto her knees with her legs tucked under her torso, panting heavily and half exhausted. She wanted to locate him again but was distracted and dazed, "Why," she began with a huge, loud exhale, "did you come to these desolate lands?" her voice slightly breathy, betraying the exhaustion that was taking hold and the cramping that was at it's lowest but still occurred with a tight grip. Maxima's head lowered again as her lips touched the ground, her nostrils flared and kicked up some dust. She rested like that for a while floating in and out of her thoughts. Partly upon the questions she had for this strange stallion in a strange land and partly upon the stallions she Loved.
"Why give up..." and she trailed off while her mind tried to process what he said he did. "Give up? I've never heard of a stallion just... giving up his control." She huffed and rolled back onto her side and laid there.

The buckskin stallion's question unsettled Maxima as she lifted her head in an effort to locate him and snorted with a barely audible squeal. Instead of answering his question, she let her head fall back to the earth and laid there with more huffing as as the pain and cramping came back with intensity. She could feel the movement within her body and it was beyond strange. It actually felt as if her body would not be able to handle this shifting and expanding, and how that little life within her would come out. This being her first foal, her body was most certainly NOT prepared for this and yet it tried to allow or force the foal out. Albeit it was a very slow process.
She sighed, huffed, snorted, groaned, moaned, squealed, and whimpered as she felt the tiniest of movements which to her felt like a massive earthquake ripping a great hole inside her. Was this her punishment? If so, why? She got what she wanted? She whimpered again and groaned heavily, "Why?" she whimpered as her legs stretched out, especially her hind legs as she could feel the foal roil within her, ready to make it's grand entrance into this world.
Her thoughts rushed back to the moment her first born was conceived, and to the sire of her foal. After they met under the most strangest of circumstances, and she a 'gift' to Raziel, she had stuck by his side as best as she could but it wasn't long after they bred that he disappeared. She searched all over for Raziel, even briefly met Nero, but now both were gone. She kept searching for them. That is, until she heard about other equines dropping around the land. She had seen some corpses and it frightened her enough to avoid as many other equines as possible. But not a day passed that Raziel, even Nero, had not graced her thoughts. In fact, most days, most of the time, Raziel was usually upon her mind as she kept searching for him. Now as she lay here so vulnerable, she wished Raziel was here to guard her and witness the birth of his foal or filly. She whimpered aloud at the thought that Raziel may be dead. Likewise that Nero may be dead, too. "I wish you were here," she whimpered very softly to herself as she nuzzled the ground

At that moment, she thought about this world with the Great Plague going around and nearly thrashed herself about as she rose her head in fear and a spooked squeal escaped from the confines of her throat.
"You! Stallion! Be truthful!" She tried to roll onto her knees again with her legs tucked carefully under her torso. "Are you infected with this Plague?" her eyes were glassy as if she were crying and sad but now glistened with fear.
For now... she would avoid his inquiry about her life.

[Lyrics]

Her blunt response to his sheepish confession, it's obvious, made him give the first genuine peal of laughter of their encounter, despite the situation. If anything, the urgency of the circumstances had erased the need for trivial pleasantries and polite chit-chat, and funnily enough he was warmed by her brutally honest answer. A pleasure...to meet you...Autolycus, she said between her heaved breaths, and his smile grew in warmth.The sun sank along with his plans to depart the Weaklands by the end of the day, cicadas hidden in the fronds emitting their sounds. The sandy-coloured stallion took note to habitually check their surroundings for any other approaching wanderers, but any matter outside the reach of the boughs of the willow had all but vanished, his primary concern and focus being to aid Maxima in any way he possibly could. With the moonlight obscured by the heavy clouds Autolycus could just distinguish her in the growing dark, almost by the sounds she emitted more than sight. In between contractions she further questioned his answers in a strange, rather dazed tone, sounding more genuinely curious, albeit fatigued, than challenging. Why...did you come to these lands? Why give up... she paused, give up? I've never heard of a stallion just...giving up control.

His smile became a bit more bittersweet, his gaze averting downwards to contemplate how to answer. Most likely she thought he had been defeated by an opponent for his lands, and he had omitted it to save face. Yet, was simply surrendering his leadership any better? He already missed Hyacinth Copse, its picturesque forest and his intensive knowledge of every nook and cranny which most equines would not be able to access; he even pined for it at times. The thought of another stallion claiming it as his own without being there to defend it almost made him retrace his steps back to his verdant, lovely home. But it was there he had created himself a fence rather than a dwelling for him and anyone wanting to be under his rule, and Auto wanted to make sure he'd never do that again. He still wanted to be a strong, successful leader - he knew it - but he didn't want his ambitions to fade like last time. It was hard to tell whether to ignore or listen his doubts at this point, and that just confused everything he had planned for himself when he'd first arrived in this land and to make himself home.

"Yes, it does seem a little strange, doesn't it?", he said in a half-wistful tone. "I'd always thought myself a leader, but once I got there, claimed a land of my own, I grew lax and bored. I figured a little...perspective wouldn't hurt. Then we'll see if I can return to that role with a new vigour"

A small silence ensued after his cautious question, only filled by Maxima's panting, squeals and occasional mumbles, which he interpreted must be some muttered expletives. The dark gold southerner wasn't sure whether she hadn't heard him, was dodging the matter, or was in too much pain to answer. In any case, he supposed he was in no place to push it further. As she toiled and struggled on in that internal battle to bring forth her little one, Auto had a wild urge to go over to the Friesian mare and nuzzle her in a desperate attempt of physical comforting. It was nigh unbearable to see an individual in so much pain, especially over something that was meant to be so joyous as bringing her own child into the world. In a way, he could see why fathers were rarely present during the birth of their children; it was awful to be so helpless to someone in such distress, let alone a dearly loved one. Then again, not all fathers had the decency or morals to even care for the mother of their children; in fact, Auto's opinion of his own sire was below that of slime and cockroaches. He knew as a fact the reason Auto had been conceived was to up the value of the bargaining tool that was his mother - an easy way to make two out of one and sell to the highest bidder. But at the same time, it gave him a rush of affection and admiration for his mother to think she had endured this much to just have him alive and breathing next to her. Needless to say, he had to admire Maxima who endured her fits of pure suffering with such strength and persistence.

Autolycus almost spooked himself when the mare gave a sudden start, her body language abruptly changing and a fearful squeal escaping her lips. You! Stallion! Be truthful! Bewildered by her sudden change of heart, he briefly wondered what he had done to take her back to being frightened and hostile of him. He had inched just a couple steps closer since their meeting, but upon this he skittered back, thinking that maybe the slightly smaller proximity had something to do with it.

"Plague? What? I..."

So that was the explanation for the strangely empty lands, the particularly sour stench coming from the Weaklands. Dread flooded him at this revelation; he had been sealed off from everybody for so long he had completely missed the outbreak of a epidemic? How could he be so stupid? And it didn't take half a brain to figure this place would be the central breeding ground for the sickness. Extra worry erupted in his mind, not only for himself but for Maxima and her child. As if it wasn't hazardous enough to have to give birth to a foal in the Weaklands, it was also a time when awful illness was afoot. What this so-called plague consisted of in terms of symptoms Auto wasn't quite sure, but after a quick self-assessment he was sure he'd not noticed any signs of illness in himself at all recently. Not yet, anyway. He managed to keep his voice calm despite the renewed foreboding at this news, but it had become noticeably grim, the sooty stallion finishing off with a heavy sigh.

"No, I'm not sick, don't worry. It appears I have missed much in my absence"

He wanted to ask more about this plague she spoke of, but again, the five year old began to think their conversation was heading towards dark and heavy, not what he felt she needed in this dire time. He sought to make it happy again, hoping she'd brighten and be clear-minded enough to answer him.

"What do you think they'll be like, this child of yours?"

[Lady B]

As the sun set and night fell over the land to blanket it with darkness. Yet high above against the velvety black sky, the stars came out en force and began to sparkle high like various perfect gemstones refracting light from some where mysterious and unknown. It would have made for a beautiful night that Maxima would have loved and enjoyed if she wasn't so distracted by her situation. Currently, she was so focused upon the little life within her attempting to make an appearance at any time and the stallion that invaded her privacy. She was so uncertain whether to trust him or not. For all she knew, he could be waiting to kill the foal. That thought made her very uneasy and she groaned with a soft huff, followed by some deep throaty grunts with each exhale. Her muzzle close to the ground and still kicked up the dust and debris as she rested until she felt further contractions and so she rolled back upon her side. Once again, she was enveloped in the constrictive pain in ebbs and flows through out her body. By now, she was feeling the strange sensation of something moving 'out'. Her mind was starting to go into a half-consciousness and almost into hallucinations. She softly whimpered a name that was barely audible to her own ears.

Normally she would be attentive of the body language of others, but in her special situation, she was more oblivious than aware. Another moan and her eyes shifted in an effort to look for the strange stallion while her hind legs reacted and jolted to the situation, straightening and rose then reacted.
She barely caught the sound of his chuckle and felt a little tense. Maxima was about to ask what was so funny, when he spoke on. She tried to listen, but winced and softly whinnied, then attempted to relax with the strange sensations and perhaps even felt like a ripping and shredding inside her. She sighed and moaned, "I've ... never heard of a stallion... ever... giving up... his territory... or even rule over mares." Her panting picked up again and once again she was working with the contractions.

After what felt like forever, the black mare had to rest and panted heavily with some grunts and moans. Her hind legs could no longer really rest carefree upon the ground. It was as if something was possibly propping them up. She attempted to roll upon her knees but could not and remained upon her side. She moaned again, "You... are completely unaware... of the Plague?" She paused and huffed, "How? Where... have you been?" she paused and panted, "one would have to be... somewhere else other than this world... to NOT know about... the Plague." So she was exaggerating, but that was her reasoning over the logical and illogical.
She lifted her head up and craned her neck in an effort to lock her glassy brown eyes upon the buckskin stallion. "I'll keep my eyes on you, stallion-" she caught herself sounding vicious, so she softened as she realized how cruel she was, "I mean, Autolycus." She sighed and laid back down panting heavily. "My apologies," she sighed again and continued to pant, "I'm not used to any of this. NOTHING is as I wanted it to be."
Another moan and sigh followed by a few whimpers as she laid there with her torso heaving with her quick breaths,"My foal?" she paused with her panting and flared nostrils, "will no doubt be like his sire... and myself." A weak smile appeared, "yes, I am hopeful for a colt. What a grand hope for a firstborn, hmm? It would be perfect." She paused, "My foal will be perfect. Perfect... in every way. A perfect colt. A perfect Friesian. Perfect in every way," her panting increased again as her nostrils flared and she was back to the contractions as her body was slowly expelling the foal from her womb.

[Lyrics]

It was clear no one else was going to come across them, and as time wore on, the leggy buckskin decided to settle down to his sooty coloured knees, legs folded neatly beneath him so he could spring up at a moment's notice. In the glimpses he got between the leaves it seemed the clouds had taken the opportune moment to clear and reveal a night teeming with stars, seeming to pierce the darkness of the sky. Less soothing was the sound of Maxima's breathing; close to hyperventilation at times, slow at others. Her energy was well and truly flagging at this point; he was amazed she was still conscious at this point. Yet he knew she couldn't have her well-deserved rest at this point, whatever happened he knew things were not going well if she lapsed into unconsciousness. He wasn't sure if he was being melodramatic but it was unlike anything he had ever seen before, and frankly it was frightening to see a mare in so much pain without knowing if the everything was going as it was intended to be. Surely this birth was longer than usual; he'd never thought it might take this much patience and endurance just to get the little thing out. At least she seemed to still be alert, and continued to respond to him. I've ... never heard of a stallion... ever... giving up... his territory... or even rule over mares.

"No, me neither. I miss it, to be honest."

You...are completely unaware...of the Plague? How? Where...have you been? One would have to be... somewhere else other than this world... to NOT know about... the Plague, she mumbled. Once again she tried to roll back upon her knees but this time it seemed too much for her. She seemed she was trying to face him, but he would rather get her to focus on the task at hand than put herself in more discomfort trying to move around. Surprising himself, he quickly instructed her to put herself at ease before replying.

"Don't get up, Maxima, just make yourself comfortable. I've been on my own for a while, I guess that's how I've not been infected either"

Solitude had given him a small amount immunity; what irony. Now he was not just worried for himself, but everyone he knew. Maybe Theseus had been struck ill; that could've explained the strange lack of communication from the Borderland Woods. Oh god, what of Gideon and Amalthea? Samurai and Isolus? Was it even in the South at this point? It was a sore reminder for Auto that the world carried on even in his hibernation, ready or not he had to face this problem everyone else had been for weeks, even months perhaps.

My apologies. I'm not used to any of this. NOTHING is as I wanted it to be. He felt another wash of sympathy, and felt embarrassed talking about himself in what was such an important moment in her life, but his attempts to ask of her situation had been artfully dodged. However, her apparent resolve to avoid such questions softened when he asked of the child. She mused on her desire for it to look like its parents, and he saw the first seedlings of a soft smile cross her face. Yes, I am hopeful for a colt. What a grand hope for a firstborn, hmm? It would be perfect. Her answer made him ponder what his own response to the question would be, as Maxima continued on her dreams for the child - a flawless son. Yes, he didn't care for gender; the usual preference of a stallion to sire a male heir didn't really affect Autolycus. Colt or filly, he supposed, he fancied it would bear some resemblance of his brassy-coloured coat at least; otherwise, he'd imagine he'd be elated at the sight of any such foal if his. Perhaps the excitement was in the spontaneity of genetics; hopefully recognising a bit of yourself in that child, but also of someone else. Thinking of it that way, he wondered why on earth any horse would dread the arrival of their offspring.

"No, I should apologise. I didn't mean to intrude, but I'm not doing a good job at helping. As long as you know I'm checking that you're alright...just try and stay awake"

Then again, he was brought back to their settings, Maxima's various forms of pain-filled howls rising above the cruel quiet of night, only otherwise disturbed by the creaking of insects and the whisper of the leafy tendrils, stirring against each other in the uneasy breeze. He thought of the many perils she would face raising a foal in a place like this, where so much was out of her control; the illness, the environment, the brutality often subjected to its inhabitants, and he couldn't possibly blame Maxima for her prickly mood. Could he suggest he bring her back to the South perhaps? He wasn't in charge of a land any more, but surely a place like Hyacinth Copse would infinitely improve Maxima and her child's prospects. Yet one look at her heavy Friesian build and feathered feet brought Auto back to the grim conclusion she would never be allowed into his lush green homeland. 

Something was changing in her manner; what had seemed to be futile, frustrating pushes before suddenly became more serious. This time Auto didn't need to be told what was happening to Maxima to understand her behaviour; she was finally entering those last stages of labour. The stallion felt relief when it appeared the foal was finally cooperating with Maxima's poor, exhausted body, trying incessantly to bring it forth. Still, his own muscles tensed in anticipation of the moment of arrival. What should he do? Encourage her? Touch her? Watch her? For now, he turned his head and continued the charade of surveying the area, too anxious and thought-ridden to focus on the task at hand.

ooc; so sorry for the late reply!

[Lady B]

The night was simply a blur. A very painful blur. A blur that became filled with delusions of nearly every sort. Obviously Maxima's might began to play tricks on her as she thought she caught shadows and movement from the corner of her eyes all while she laid upon her side breathing heavily in a dire effort to keep her body regulated. Every once in a while, her head would jerk in an effort to shift her sight towards what she thought she may have seen. The barrel of her torso was evidence of her sporadic breathing. A low, slow groan emanated from her throat giving some hint to the exhaustion and pain that plagued her.

Autolycus' voice rattled Maxima from her dazed state. Her whole body jerked, even her legs, then she howled deeply to notify anyone her regret at being startled. Another low, slow groan emanated from her throat and she carefully shifted her head in an attempt to catch sight of Autolycus. "Oh," was all she could get out in response to the stallion's confession. Perhaps later she may ask him why he missed being a stallion in charge.
A deep hefty huff-sigh, enough to kick up some dirt from the ground under her nostrils into a tiny, brief cloud of dust, escaped the mare as she listened. "Either way," she groaned and her nostrils flared, "I'm never going to be comfortable." She moaned again then squealed as more contractions came on in full force and gripped her body in insurmountable, twisting pain and cramping.
Maxima groaned with tiny squeals in between as her body tensed and pushed in an effort to expel the little life within her womb. Well, it was no longer truly in her womb. She could feel it making that very slow journey out to face the world. It was agony for her and she wondered if it was horrifying for her foal. "Oooh, Ra-" and the name became obscured when she squealed again from a sharp pain that gripped her. This pain did not subside.

After the episode as she panted heavily and just laid there trying to relax - which was impossible - or even catch her breath, she tried to focus back upon Autolycus. "You..." breathing heavily, "might still... be... in danger," she panted, talking in between breaths and huffs. "If... that's the case... it... would be best... to never... be... around other horses..." she panted and then groaned some more. Another brief howl as she growl she was in pain but it was barely audible. "If that's the case," she panted, but her voice was softer, almost a whisper, "then... I don't want you... around." She was incredibly worried about her foal now. What if he contracted the Plague and it spread to her foal? The many scenarios ran rampant in her mind and certainly did not help her current situation any.
She tried to look at Autolycus and give him a glare, "Awake... is NOT... an issue." She paused as she panted, "It's staying alive. If I fall unconscious... that... is something... I could not... control," another groan as she rested her head, nostrils flared while she panted heavily.

In the darkness, under that star-filled night and moonless sky, with a soft breeze attempting to keep the sweaty mare in labor cool, the tiny foal began to make an appearance. A tiny hoof appeared very slowly. But it would be another hour or so before the foal was free from the confines of it's mother's body.
And so, Maxima's labor continued with all the sounds and movements that went along with giving birth.