Mwezi felt her emotions well up. She was panicked and scared and worried. There were many small battles here and there. The guys had all had a wound of some kind. Nothing serious but she never knew until they came home. She had argued that they didn't need to fight, they could let the people do it but she knew it wasn't fair. They would never ask their people to do what they couldn't. Her mates especially had a plan. They wanted to sneak Tazeem, catch him slipping. He had been running and hiding. Most of his wolves had been killed off while the innocent bystanders were allowed to live. Only after they swore fealty to Maui.
Mwezi's belly had grown and she had Sabine and the queens helping her prepare her for the birth. The doctor confirmed it was definitely more than one child, and the potions told her she was having three boys and a girl. She hated that she had started weird cravings. Namur had to start adding rare meats to her soups. It tasted delicious but it had gotten so she was just eating raw meat at this point. It was even more frustrating because they all could eat raw meat so it didn't narrow down who the father was.
"I'm so excited!! My first ever grand babies" Lu'Anna started to cry.
"MA wait do-n't" now Mwezi was crying.
There was a knock on the door and Maui cracked it open a little. "Um, is everything okay? I can hear and smell tears so…"
The Jaguar Queen laughed. "Yes, it's just baby tears. We're all excited!"
"Yeah excu-" Mwezi was cut short as her breath left her body and her legs felt wet. "OH OHOHOHOHOHOHSHIT!"
"MAUI GET IN HERE" Lu'anna called out. He burst into the room and lifted Mwezi into his arms. Sabine's head shot up as he carried Mwezi past her and into the birthing room. All Mwezi could see around him was Sabine's coat as she shifted and took off to get the others.
"IT'S TIME THE PUPS ARE HERE" Sabine called out before running back to the birthing room.
There was a hysterical clamor of limbs, fur and feathers as Paka, Kai, Tayir and Namur all dropped what they were doing, some literally, and sprinting to the birthing room as if their life depended on it.
They ran up to hearing Mwezi groan and half scream as her contractions started to hit. "Fuck I did NOT expect this!" She yelled.
"Are births different in your world?" The Jaguar Queen asked as she Help Lu'Anna finish set up.
"Yes and NOOOO" She screamed as another contraction hit "fucking hell. The contractions build up over several hours. They don't normally HIT LIKE THIS FUCK!!" She screamed again as the guys filled the room. Had she not been experiencing period cramps times ten she would have laughed.
Maui helped her on her feet and into a squat. Kai and Paka each took a hand. Tayir looked panicked and scared as when they first met while Namur looked like he might go pale. There was ruckus outside as hissing could be heard. The contractions were coming so fast Mwezi didn't process Nyoka's Voice as he slid into the room. He fought himself not to wind up around then as he stood in shock at the door. His heart nearly crumbled as he realized he would have missed this had he gone to the great sleep. He pulled his tail into the room and closed the door on Settin and Temmin trying to peek over and around him.
Water was poured into the basin below Mwezi. Herbs and flower petals spun around as the water sloshed about before settling. The room began to smell of calming and sweet scents. Lu'Anna began to sing and the fellow shifted in the room hummed along.
There was nothing but Mwezi's screams and labor breathing for some time until the first splash was heard. A russet red fur ball unfurled itself as it splashed around in the water. Lu'Anna lifted it up and out of the water and held it up in the light. "A cub! And he's a boy!" If he hadn't been already in tears Kai now cried in full elation. He was a father!
"You did this to MEEEEE!"Another contraction hit Mwezi and she pushed. "Sorry" She breathed heavily" I always wanted to say that. I love you, I'm not REALLY MAD. FUCK!" Mwezi stuck to pushing and within twenty minutes her 3 boys and one girl had arrived. Mwezis body slumped with exhaustion but her men caught her. Maui helped Kai get her into his arms while Lu'Anna placed the cubs in a fur lined basket.
Kaizo made it inside to greet his grand babies. "I give thanks to the Gods for my Daughter. For her ability to love my son beyond compare. She has helped my family grow in more ways than one and given us the gift of grandchildren. " Kaizo kissed each baby on the forehead.
Kai carried Mwezi to their room, passed their bed and into the filled tub. He rested her against the rolled towel to support her head while he disrobed them both. Kai took his time tending to her and cleaning her. He made sure each handful of water he rinsed her with had healing herbs in it. He kissed her face and pecked her lips, whispering sweet nothings to her. He laughed when she tried to help but nearly fell asleep.
He lifted her from the tub and onto their bed. He wiped the excess water away before covering her. Mwezi wanted so much to see the babies and fought her sleep. She could hear the door crack and an exchange of words but not what they were. Some footsteps later she felt four small bodies next to her. Then she felt the bed dip with Kai's weight.
The cubs fussed around slightly before settling against Mwezi's body with their Father watching over them. Mwezi tired lying caressed her babies before finally succumbing to sleep.
~
"This is exciting but I'm worried. Our plans require Kai. We can't ask him now to join our efforts. He deserves to spend time with his cubs." Tayir fussed with genuine worry.
"We'll figure it out. In the mean time, Nyoka welcome home." Kaizo said.
Nyoka nodded. "I am happy I made it in time. Uh this is…..what ate your names again?"
"I'm Settin!"
"And I'm Temmin!"
"Right… anyway so they came to see if I was telling the truth and there's a Hyena and Vulture coming as well." Nyoka added.
"You mean you're really letting him in?" Settin fretted.
"But he's a five mark?" Temmin added with worry.
As if summoned Ke'elt and the Vulture were escorted in. They had both cleaned up and were much more presentable.
"Oh um. H-hi!" Ke'elt meekly waved.
The Vulture shifter looked around the room and stopped as he eyed Namur. "I thought your people long dead…" He said. Namur simply blinked. "Glad to know you're not. Stronger the hunter the better the pickings" He shrugged nonchalantly. Namur simply rolled his eyes unamused. "It seems there is truth to your words, not-so-feral snake. Mmmm. I will help in Kai's stead if it will help secure my chance with a mate."
Everyone looked around the table at one another before Namur spoke up. "We have made great progress in pairings and mating. Mwezi has taught the woman to look past things that would normally have us shunned. Bodily marring or scars, our species. But make no mistake she's not a miracle worker. You still have to make yourself presentable, as in staying clean. You'll also need to understand how to communicate with a woman. Not down or at. Not saying that you would but it's a standard…what did she call it?"
"Therapy," Paka replied.
Namur nodded "that."
The Vulture nodded. "I understand."
"What is your name?" Tayir asked.
"Vanerix." He replied.
"Wonderful then let us prepare," Kaizo interjected.
~
The abusive winds of the frozen tundra beat at the shifters as they hid in banks. The Sabertooths simply waited, as if stalking their prey from above.
Maui and a few other wolves trudged toward the wolf kingdom as bait while Jaguars laid low along the land that connected to the Tiger Kingdom.
Snow Owls traveled with the first two packs relaying information across the sky's that only they could hear and decipher through the winds.
Bears littered the caves knowing some of the people would try to run and hide during the battle. They waited silently in the shadows, the only sounds were their barely audible breathing and dripping of water from above stalagmites.
Elephants and Lions enforced the borders of the warmer lands while the Mammoths flanked with the Jaguars ready to provide solid cover and ramming power while keeping the short coat shifters warm.
For a long time there was nothing but quiet, wind or the actual animals going about their daily routines. The first callout. It echoed and traveled in an eerie reverb off the snow and mountains valley.
Another call out.
Then another.
Maui shifted to his hybrid form and the rest of his roaming party shifted with him. "I must admit Tazeem. I didn't think you'd be here on the front lines. It'll make this easier."
"You didn't think I'd come here alone did you?" Tazeem replied.
A massive pack of wolves rose from the surrounding snow mounds around them. Some of the wolves were on all fours, others hybrid shifted. Maui shook his head and let out a sigh. Then he let out a humorless chuckle.
"So what. You send them in to attack thinking you have the advantage. If you see them winning you come for me when I'm already down. Pathetic. Or if they start to lose you run like a cowardly welp and try to run and hide. You see I grew up with you. I know your tactics and tricks. You like to put in this face as if you're some great leader but everything you ever did or achieved was because of me. As my mate would say. Be so absolutely fucking for real right now." Maui looked perplexed as Tazeem tried to seem more dominant.
Tazeem smirked seeinly unphased but Maui knew better. "Ah yes this magical mate who just popped out of thin air. You were there to magically save her when she was taken? Please. A stray like you? How do we know you didn't plan it?"
Maui laughed. He laughed so hard he held his sides and doubled over. He covered his mouth to contain his laughs and avoid any avalanches. "That's your play? Her? How stupid do you think we are?" Maui retorted. "Come now brother. Send your lackeys. Let us be done with this."
There was an Owl call far off. It repeated. A woman behind Maui leaned over and said something to a wolf. There was a pause.
Then chaos.
Bodies clashed against one another. The sound of flesh and bodies being torn and ripped apart. Bones being broken and cries of pain. Maui cut through the clashing warriors and looked around for Tazeem. He was there waiting for Maui.
They walked up to one another and began circling each other. Maui's coat ruffled as he huffed at the smaller shifter in front of him.
There was a acreetch from above as an Eagle dove at Maui. Another screech was heard as a strong dirty yellow beak clamped down on the eagle neck breaking it. The Vulture circled the area before dropping the dead shifter, now in human form, between them.
"So that's how it is brother! Using ferals to help you win your war!" Tazeem shouted.
Venerix landed and shifted smoothly. "Says the so-called Alpha who 7sed a bird for a sneak attack. And they call us feral…" he retorted with a bored expression.
There were explosions in the distance and bird cries. Mammoths rammed through packs of wolves. Some Jaguars on their back keeping the Eagles off them.
In the mountains the saberbtooth's speed, power and agility on the slopped and rocket terrain gave them the upper hand to wolves used to flat spaces and small hills. They worked their way down the mountains while the Mammoths and Jaguars worked their way up.
Hawks flew in with supplies and the medics. The wounded were tended to before being lifted out with the dead. Owls circled overhead to protect the makeshift camps and warn them if anything was coming. Bears met with the wolves in the tunnels and cave systems, Ke'et showing them how he and the Hyenas pack hunted to help them against the numbers of the wolves.
~
Nyoka stayed behind with Kai, Mwezi and the twins. His tongue flicked out of his mouth with nerves. He knew the fighting had probably begun and felt helpless. But then he remembered he was protecting Mwezi and didn't feel as bad. Sure he'd get no action but he got to help with the babies and keep her safe until then went back home or the cold sleep took him for the winter.
There was the sound of bells and his head snapped to the front door.
"Intruders!" The twins said in sync.
"You two get the queen. I'm going to Mwezi." He ordered and slithered away. The twins went to do as they were told. Nyoka found Mwezi in a panic and she tried to get the babies to stop panicking. She lured them in with milk and they drank happily as they got sleepy. Mwezi couldn't stop the tears streaming down her face. Kai did his best to reassure her as Nyoka shifted to enlarge himself and circle around them a few times.
Kaizo and Lu'anna were escorted into the room by the twins and six guards that surrounded them, weapons at the ready. There were crashes and sounds of things breaking, people screaming as they fought or animal sounds of those who shifted.
Then it got quiet. Too quiet. Mwezi bit onto a leather strip to try and contain the choked sob she had been holding in as she cuddled her babies close to her. Nyoka covered them with his bodies as eagles burst into the room, through the window, shrouded by the darkness of night.
Shards of glass rained over them like random projectiles. Nyokas scales bounced most of them off, others nicking the scales but not him. The twins curled up around some of the guards but they weren't as big as Nyoka. The bears fought their best, taking some of the birds out before getting killed themselves.
The twins shifted and scratched at some of the birds. They spat poison into their open wounds and eyes.
Lu'anna shifted with Kaizo and stood defensively around Mwezi.
Nyokas tail smacked the Arial shifters away and there through the parting of the bodies stood the general with a feral look of rage and hate on his face. "This is for my son!"
Kai hybrid shifted and roared, his claws extending. Nyoka hissed and bent his head down, coating Kai's claws in the poison from his sack. He kept the birds at bay with the twins, poisoning or crushing them while Lu'anna and Kaizo made quiet work of the few that tried to slip through.
The general and Kaizo met head on. While the general was leaner and faster, Kaizo had power and strength.
Claw marks raked down the generals arms and backs. Kai tooth slow thoughtful breaths with talon cuts on his leg and chest. They ran at one another and Kai ducks low in a full squat. He shifted fully and uppercut with both arms, his poison coated claws raking through armor, skin, muscle and bone in some places from thigh to face in the general's body. He shifted back to his Hybrid form and Spartan kicked the general away in his chest.
The room grew quiet again as the last bird fell. All that could be heard was Mwezi's cries and the generals labored breathing. "Kai, please!" She sobbed trying to do what? She didn't know.
Kai walked over to the general and pressed a foot to his chest. Blood gushed out the wound causing the general to choke on some. "Do me a favor? Tell your son I said hello." Kai instructed before Nyoka dislocated his jaw and ate the general.
More guards came in and cleared out the bird bodies and fallen guards. Kai lifted Mwezi and the babies into his arms and followed his mother out of the room, his father protecting his rear with the twins behind him. Mwezi noticed his limp but he gave her a look as she tried to say something. She decided to keep shut as they walked into the healing room to be cared for.
An Owl shifter ran into the room "we received word from the battlefield….."