WARNING: This thread contains material exceeding the general board rating of PG-13. It may contain very strong language, drug usage, graphic violence, or graphic sexual content. Reader discretion is advised.
Word Count → 716 :: p. Zera'im in the beginning and then [aw] I hope you don't mind me PPing zera, you weren't online when I was going this. So zera posts first and then Panda's friends can come, after a few . I would especially like it if Jackson was around. Keep in mind that Venom would try to keep anyone out of the den so be prepared to battle wills with the young Taurus. Don't go by bring me the horizon some music for the title, not for the song he is playing. It's very early morning, 3am about.
And I don't want to kiss anyone but you.
I fucking love you.
She had felt like shit today. She was moaning and groaning in her bed and tossing and turning. Well into the night she had been doing this, and Venom had to get up several times because of her tossing and turning, and he'd wake her up and ask her if she was okay. She would bare the pain and nodded to him and tried to go back to bed. This would continue on for hours and hours before she would finally get up, which woke Venom up as well. He would ask her again if she was okay. She went to the firepit and vomited and then made her way to the room that her midwife was in. One of her hands was on her stomach and the other on the wall. Venom would run up to her and take the hand that was on the wall and put it on his shoulder. Let me help you. the male spoke to her, and she did get slightly angry with him but realized that he was only trying to help. She couldn't quell the anger that bubbled in her belly though. She contracted again and groaned. Z-era....My sister, I think it's time-ughhh spoke the Taurus, and she then turned her head to Venom, and she glared harshly at him, and her aura was quick to change to something more hostile. Venom pulled his ears back and immediately moved away. Panda looked back to the older woman, whom looked at Venom as well, the worried look on his face, and she took him silently to leave. He looked at her and tried to shake his head no, that he wanted to stay but a nod of reassurance from the elder had caused him to trust that she would be okay and that his job was to protect the den from outsiders.
Venom left the room without a word and he ducked to the outside of the den, lingering in the doorway, with his back towards the two women behind him. Panda had been with Naniko when she had given birth, and the other woman did not seem to be like this. The shaman's first birth had her all of a sudden freaked out. She huffed, and then she had moved towards the entrance of the woman's den. Panda suddenly did not know where she wanted to have her children. She looked around, she didn't want to get blood all over everything, she needed to find a place soon. She breathed slowly in and out and then she chose a room. My room... she spoke and then hurried to such a place, the collie woman behind her. She huffed some more as she went to her bed and started to quickly rip the pelts that she could spare from the bed and she had moved it to the floor in the corner, much like Naniko had, but she had a much larger chamber. She then sat down and just tried her hardest to relax. She breathed in and out, thinking about how she needed to be calm. Calm Panda, just stay calm. Breathe in, slowly exhale. the woman told herself, and she kept telling herself in her head.
Venom had come back into the den and he had grabbed his guitar. He went back to the doorway, and he filled the hallway with music. An attempt to let Panda know that he was around, and that he hadn't left her completely. He played the song she and he had made up. The only thing that was missing would be her drumming upon the logs that they had in their den. Panda heard the music, and she appreciated it, even though she was having contractions and it was as late as it was. Venom's music ran through the dens of the Anathemans, though it was not a annoying, or alarming noise, it was methodical gentle on the ears, but not silent. Not at all silent. The noise seemed to like to bounce through the walls, and echo through. What an odd hour for someone to actually play music... It was something that would keep Venom calm. He needed help at this time to keep calm. Music was that help.
She had not fallen asleep that night, for she could sense the roiling in the room next to her. Auras had seeped out of their chamber like a colorful fog, and the tints were different tonight. Zera’im lay in her cot, silent, eyes wide as she waited. It did not take long, for the storm pitched and Panda came stumbling into her room, clutching her swollen abdomen. The Collie woman was quickly by her side, she could nearly see the aura pouring from the monochromatic woman as well as the beings inside her. Panda let her know it was time, and Zera’im nodded. Venom seemed unsure of what to do and the mid-wife sent him silently away, letting him know without words that all would be right. The male exited.
Zera’im gave Panda a moment to collect herself and choose a birthing site that most fit her; she decided on her room, and as Panda prepared the skins for herself Zera’im moved quickly to light the fire pit, which was somewhat difficult for Panda’s vomit had drenched it. But she managed to get it going, luckily there was still water within the kettle that hung there. While Panda tried to rest Zera’im quickly went to add some holy water to the mix, something she usually did to add an extra blessing to the birthing.
As the water was set to boil, Zera’im gathered the supplies she would need; linens that she had prepared earlier, soothing herbs though she hoped she wouldn’t need them, and a sharp knife. She set these away from Panda, for the soon to be mother did not need to see them and become frightened, and the Collie knelt beside her friend, It will be a good birth, you are doing well to relax. She could sense the nerves in the woman, something that she had felt many times before with first mothers, and Zera’im tried to project calm feelings towards her. She began humming along softly as Venom’s song carried into the den, and gently ran her hands along Panda’s head, pulling her dreads out of her face.
Word Count → :: Pander is gonna poop out some poopehs
And I don't want to kiss anyone but you.
I fucking love you.
She was happy that Zera'im was there, because having another of the craft was best for her. She had a feeling that anyone else there would have made the girl uncomfortable and watched, while Zera had a calming aura, and it was helping the girl calm herself. She breathed and then pushed as she got a contraction, and her breath hindered for a second. the fuck?! she let come from her maw as she could feel the first one's head peeking out. ahhh... she groaned and as she got another contraction and she pushed again, and like that, the first one was out. She huffed again, putting her hand on her stomach before she was intercepted by Zera'im as she took the first one. She looked at Zera, concerned, and she put her ears back on her head before she realized again that this was Zera's job, this was why she was here. She looked at the baby, and she cocked her head as she observed it's aura, it's scent, it's interesting color. It was white, and near-black, as well as a beautiful red color.she could smell it a female.
The first name to pop to her mind was Lillith. Alexandria was the second and then the last would be Venom's last name. Trombetta. She was about to speak the name before another wave of nausea hit her and another contraction had her leaning back again and readying herself for another one. She panted lightly and closed her eyes, breathing in and breathing out. She pushed again, and she felt another one come out, but this one was lifeless. Zera was still tending to the female, so Panda broke the sac for this one and licked it lightly, and picked it up. She heard no heartbeat and she felt no life in it. She whined lightly and she placed it back on the pelt, though she did continue to clean it. She did not name this one, for he was deceased. Panda looked back at her, and found herself to be done, the two puppies being rather large, like their father might have been when he was a child. She sighed lightly and held her hand out to Zera, wanting her Lillith back.
Little Lillith Alexandria Trombetta-Behr. My little red behr. the tired mother spoke, a smile on her maw as she looked at the large little girl.
It was happening quickly, more quickly than Zera’im had expected for a first birth. She saw amniotic fluid drain from Panda and quickly gathered her supplies to her and situated herself to the woman’s bottom. Zera’im watched intently as the woman contracted and pushed and Zera’im help press the taught folds of skin away to help release the first pup. She gathered it in the linens quickly, struck by the intense red on the pup, and removed the sac. The pup brayed immediately; it was strong and Zera’im smiled up at Panda.
The second pup came seconds later, and before Zera’im could even go to it Panda was there, removing the sac and licking. Zera’im immediately knew something was wrong, she could smell it and see it, and as Panda went to rouse the small creature she knew it to be dead. Panda seemed to take this better then she had expected and asked immediately for her daughter, Lillith. Zera’im did not hesitate and handed the small crying creature to its mother, and as soon as she was safely within her arms Zera’im scooped up the lifeless pup.
She began rubbing the body roughly, and breathing small puffs of air into its nostrils but it was of no use; the pup was dead. Zera’im sighed heavily, crossed herself, and wrapped the body up in the linens and set it aside; Panda would have to decide what to do with it later, but for now Zera’im joined her friend at her side to look down at the female pup.
You did a fine job… Zera’im cooed, smiling down at the little pup who had immediately attached itself to Panda’s breast, She is a strong pup, and such a strong name for her… Lillith… Zera’im could not bring herself to tell Panda what this name meant in her religion, but she left it be; no need to bring negative thoughts into this bright moment.
And I don't want to kiss anyone but you.
I fucking love you.
Panda had noticed that Zera had tried to revive the pup, but soon gave up. Panda figured that it was not meant to live, so she focused on her one child, whom she was grateful for. She smiled lightly and let the russet pup nurse. She sighed contently, and she moved herself from the blankets of the floor, back to her bed that had many nicer pelts on it rather than the ones on the floor. She crawled under the blankets with her child. She was tired, and she would take visitors, but she would want to stay in bed. Alexness... she called to Venom, who's song ended as he heard her chime for him. He slowly came in the room, the front room first and slowly to the chamber she was in. He peeked his head in first, and looked to the bed, where Panda was laying. Yes, Panda Behr?
the male asked her, cocking his head before he stepped into the den. Venite a vedere la tua bella figlia. the woman told him in his other language. She was unsure of if Zera knew the language, but she knew that Venom did not understand much German.
Solo uno? he asked her as he moved across the room, coming up to the bed, and him kneeling down on the side. He moved the covers and looked at the little body of their child. Oh, bambino, come sei bella? the male had cooed to the deaf and blind child that nursed. He sniffed it and pet it, and smiled at it. Panda leaned over and licked Venom on the side of his muzzle and he returned the act with a forehead touch with her. Panda then turned to Zera. Thank you so much for being here Zera. I couldn't have done this without you. spoke the monochrome woman.
Then she turned back to Venom quickly and opened her mouth to speak. Oh sì, e io cazzo ti odio. Panda spoke to Venom with a smile on her face. She was only joking, and she pressed her forehead up to Venom's again. This was a touch of endearment between the two, their own way to say 'I love you.' They shared a moment of giggles and chuckles before Panda laid back with the puppy on her chest and she kept a hand on it to make sure it did not fall while it nursed. She yawned lightly and then invited Venom to come lay with her, in which he did. Zera'im, do you want to give the blessings to the child, or are you ready to? asked the male, noticing that the woman did have the kettle on the fire in the other room. If she would have asked him to light the fire before, he would have done it without a problem, but he guessed that they really wanted him to be where he was before now. Musically bringing the child into the world. Too bad that the children did not hear the beautiful tune that the new father had played for their birth. He made a silent promise that he would play them to sleep when they were older.
Venom entered and the two parents paired up and cooed over their new little one. While this was happened Zera’im went to return most of her items, unused and untouched, to her bag. Her eyes flitted over to the linen wrapped lump of the dead pup, her heart aching for it, it’s soul never having even had the chance to live. Zera’im for a brief moment wondered if this was because of her inability to keep Panda from smoking, having seen such things happen when the parent ingested bad things during pregnancy. But she had to put these thoughts aside for later prayer; she would have to ask for forgiveness.
Venom then asked Zera’im if she would bless the pup and this brightened her spirit. She nodded and once again retrieved her holy water; she would not do a full baptism now for she knew Panda and Venom did not believe in such things, but a splash would not hurt anything. She knelt by the parents sides, Lillith now calmed as she suckled. Zera’im was once again taken aback by how red she was, and the exotic markings; but seeing who her parents were this wasn’t as surprising.
Zera decided a wiccan blessing would be best, and so she quickly dipped her thumb in the holy water and drew a small cross on the pup’s forehead before claiming it in her hands from her mother’s breast. Lillith protested slightly, but then quieted. She was so small compared to the Shaman’s large hands and Zera’im gently held her aloft towards were the heavens would be had they not been inside.
Blessed be your breath.
May your breathing be deep and relaxed.
May you breathe in power with every breath you take.
Blessed Be each breath you take.
Blessed be the fire inside you.
May your will be unbroken.
And may it be as strong as fire, and as supple.
May your will be as strong as water, and as supple.
May your passions burn truly and free.
Blessed be your fire, may it burn strong.
Blessed be the waters of your life.
May your blood be strong.
May the flow from your loin be joyful and fertile.
Blessed be all your life-waters.
Blessed be the earth of your body.
May your muscles be strong and fearless.
May your heart beat with love, soul, vigor and courage.
Blessed be your body which is the body of a God.
Blessed be your spirit.
May you always have health in spirit.
May you be whole.
Blessed be your spirit.
May you always have community.
May you be prosperous in all ways.
May you love and be loved.
May your voice –
both your complaints and your special offerings to the world –
be truly heard.
May you always be surrounded by the warmth of family & community.
May you know the innate goodness of your being.
Blessed Be.
Zera’im then quickly returned the little babe to the arms of its mother and smiled gently at both parents.
Word Count → 610 :: I'm guessing no one else is joining this so we can probably end this real soon-like.
I can't go on without your love, You lost, you never held on. We tried our best, turn out the light
It did not dawn upon the woman that her herbal use was the cause of the death of the child, nor was she really concerned about it. In her eyes, the child was not ready for a soul to inhabit it, and that the body had been inefficient in some way. The God and the Goddess had taken the child and would use the soul for someone else to raise. Panda had faith that it had all been for a reason, and she held her attention on the child that was alive and well. Little Lillith Trombetta. Panda had sensed the midwife's brief grief over the child, and she planned on telling the woman that it was not her fault, the God and Goddess beckoned the child before it was born to be in "limbo" for some more time before the soul could inhabit another body. It all was just not meant to be, and for the God and goddess to bless her with this child was enough for all her hard work she had done. Simply put, the child was beautiful with her exotic colors. The other, the male, he was exotic as well, though he was a mixture of browns, blacks and whites, while her daughter was this rich red color, and dark brown, with splashes of white.
Soon as Venom asked for Zera'im to bless the child, the woman seemed to change her aura again, to something happier. This was a relief for the new mother, and her body had relaxed and Lillith was taken by the other Shaman. Panda would do her own blessing later on, when she was able to be alone with the child, for she was a shaman as well, and she knew how to bless a child, she just did children whom were not her own, since this was her first litter. Both Venom and Panda sat up as the woman blessed the child, and they repeated "blessed be" after every stanza of the blessing. When the end of the blessing came, a smile was placed on both of the new parents' faces and Panda reached out to hold her child. Then then laid herself back down and let the child nurse. Blessed be, Zera'im. You were really a great help to me. As for my son, the boy....I have a feeling you want to do your own ritual with him, you may, please bless his body for me, and offer the corpse to the Goddess and God, for it was their will for him not to live. I trust that later on, when I'm ready for a son, the God and Goddess will bless this earth with him. For now, Lillith is my most concern. spoke Panda, her voice calm, but put in a tone to where it was on the more stern side of things, a signal of the Taurus woman's stubbornness that Lillith herself would more than likely inherent. Fact was, Panda could feel the energy of her child already, and it seemed as if the girl was going to be a fiery one. Both Panda and Venom would need to be careful with this one.
Panda then yawned lightly and her chocolate eyes moved from Zera to Venom, and then back to Zera. Tomorrow brings a new day for all of us. We need to discuss our future here in Anathema. spoke the woman, her voice serious as it's ever been. It actually was strange to hear such words in such a tone come from the Furcas. It made one wonder what she was planning in that ingenious mind of hers.
Sorry this took so f’ing long. You can archive it now. / +441
In Character
Zera’im watched the family for a moment, as they looked upon their new life, and her heart where it should have been joyous suddenly felt sorrowful. She turned from them then, not showing this outwardly, save perhaps Venom might have seen it in her aura, but she masked it well. She had placed all of her instruments and supplies away, and all that was left to deal with was the small form wrapped in linens. She picked up the small thing, it was cold now, lifeless; Zera sighed. Then Panda spoke, offering the body to her to with as she pleased, if she would only bless if for the new mother.
Zera’im nodded sagely, I will offer it then, bless it and burn the body outside of these caverns. No need to have the spirit feel as if it must linger here… She then went to her room for a moment, and placed the body in a cloth bag so that she may carry it outside with little attention given to what it may be. The collie women then joined the couple again, sitting down on the floor in the lotus position as Panda spoke of their future here.
Zera’im knew that there was something foretelling beneath Panda’s words and she closed her eyes for a moment. Panda and Venom were wandering souls, this much had been made clear to the shaman when she had first met them. Now that their daughter was born perhaps Panda was thinking about finally following her wandering heart. Zera’im frowned, though she agreed that this path was something that the family would eventually fulfill, there was no need to hurry now, especially with a newborn. Opening her eyes again Zera’im looked at her friends.
Yes, we shall discuss it, but please, let no hasty decisions be made. I will support you in what you will, but I must advise against leaving Anathema right away, if this is what you intend. She reached out and stroked the fuzzy head over the mewing pup gently, Little Lillith is strong, but get her a chance to grow here first, for a little while at least. Zera’im smiled up at Panda, showing that she was genuine.
Standing up then, the collie woman bowed slightly to the couple, I will leave you two to get to know your daughter, and I will go rest. If you need anything of me, let me know. And with that the collie woman took her leave into the small room that was given to her. She laid in her bed then for a while before sleep finally found her, with tears in her eyes.
