Mewzi held her breath as she waited for the owl to report. It had seemed like everything around her faded away except for the sounds of the messenger's voice.
"Maui has engaged with the false king in battle. The rest of the wolf troops are either defeated or being engaged." was all she heard before the children in her arms started to fuss. Kai and his parents helped her feld them before they managed to settle down again.
Kai cupped her cheeks and kissed her deeply. The world seemed to fall away, if only but for a moment. "You are tired, my love. You have given birth to our beautiful cubs and simultaneously watched the rest of your mates go off to war. It is a lot. I know you are strong but you need to rest. Please. If not for you than for the babies." he pleaded.
"That's not fair…." Mwezi whispered but he knew he was right. She just didn't want to miss a beat. The battle or her babies. But she could feel the sleep clawing at her like gaunt hands from the shadowy corners of her subconscious. Either she'd cave or her body would force her down and the throbbing behind her eye didn't help. "Okay…" she muttered in defeat.
"Ma and Pa have the kids. Let's get some rest." Kai offered but Mwezi shook her head.
"It's okay the babies need you." she counter offered.
"As does my mate, love of my life and mother of those children. I know you. You will not sleep so comfortably alone. You like to let your mind wander. Please. Let me be there for you the way you'd be there for us" he retorted.
Mwezi couldn't help the tears as they fell but Kai wiped them away. He lifted her effortlessly into his arms like a bride and carried her into a room. "Where are we?" she asked, confused. Kai easily stepped over the massive tail in front of him and there was a sliding noise on the floor. Glowing yellow eyes stared at Mwezi from the side of the room before moving closer.
Before she realized it, she and Kai were laying down and covered by the scales around them. Nyoka lowered himself out of the shadows and hugged Mwezi. She would have leapt into his arms had he not tuckered her in with his tail. "You're so big…" she whispered. She wasn't used to seeing him in this form. She seemed so small compared to him.
"All the better to keep you safe my love." was all he replied as he nuzzled her face. "Sleep." he laid his body behind her as Kai cuddled up to her from the front.
Mwezi didn't realize she had fallen asleep but she knew it had been some time. She could feel the sun warming her face as she slowly cracked her eyes open. Once realization dawned on her she tried to jolt upright but Nyoka's body kept her safely pinned. Her heart rate shot up as she began to panic and Nyoka stirred behind her. "Shhh it's okay. It's okay. You're okay, the babies are okay, look." He moved his tail and there they were, curled up in bear form sleeping. "We haven't gotten word yet or we would have woken you. Kai went to eat and get you food."
As if summoned, Kai entered the room with some maids behind him. They carried trays of food, some from this world and some Mwezi had shown them how to make. There was a loud rumble from her stomach that would have turned her red with embarrassment if not for the melanin in her skin. The babies woke up but only after smelling the food as well. She was surprised they could eat solids right after birth. Kai sorted out a plate for all of them. Kaizo and Lu'Anna came into the room and helped feed the kids so Kai could focus on Mwezi.
"Yanno ...my parents would have a whole fit but I know they would love to be here…seeing the kids…." She said in between bites.
Kaizo nodded. "I wish we could have met them. I know they were great people to raise a beautiful daughter like you. Not just in looks but in mind and heart. You have given my son and by proxy, this family, the greatest gift ever. Love. You have loved him regardless of our world's purview and things that we judge one another one. Thank you."
"Thank you." Lu'Anna added.
Mwezi cried quietly as she ate and nodded, her mouth full.
They sat together eating and playing with the babies. The scene burned into Mwei's mind forever.
There was a knock on the door and the owl came in. "We have word."
-
Maui stood across from Tazeem, heat radiating off of his body. Blood trickled down his fur and stained the snow below him. Some his own, most his brothers. His body shuddered as he took a deep breath, his lung laboring with the wound at his side. Tazeem propped himself up with one arm as he bent over in pain. He coughed up blood and it spattered in front of painting the snow a dark red. His body grew weak and he shifted back into his human form.
Maui stared down at him, at full height. The weight of years of running, hiding, being unable to exist peacefully had all rushed fourth into this moment and Tazeem knew he was at Maui's mercy."Please, I yield. The kingdom is yours." Tazeem pleaded meekly. Maui's eyes shifted to meet Tazeem and Maui huffed. Tazeems eyes shifted from Maui's eyes to next to him and back so quickly Maui wouldn't have caught it without looking.
Maui spun and claws raked along his chest and arm that blocked his face. The attacker didn't get a second chance as a jaguar lept at them and locked jaw on their neck. They used the momentum of the leap to spin around and snack their neck before ripping it clean off. Paka caught Maui before he face planted, the large jaguar supporting the even bigger wolf. There was a sound as Tazeem made his move, shifting and lunging at Maui. Paka pushed Maui up and Maui shifted into his hybrid form. He gripped Tazeems muzzled with both hands and Roared in his face. He pulled at Tazeems maw and the lesser wolf realized his mistake too late.
With pure force Maui tore Tazeems mouth open before yanking and ripping his muzzle clean off. Tazeems body shifted as it died, his entire mouth missing as he choked on his own blood. Maui shifted into his human form and Paka caught him. "GET ME A MEDIC NOW!" he yelled out. A hawk was already overhead and carefully grabbed Maui while Paka jumped on his back.
The Hawk flew with a purpose as they cleared the mountain range. They landed, setting Maui down on a bed and the healers went to work. Paka jumped off its back and it flew off again while he watched the doctors work like a well oiled machine. He was worried. For Maui but also for Mwezi. She was not going to handle this well, even if Maui made it. He debated on telling the owl to not say anything but he knew it wouldnt bode well if she found out he hid it. He hit himself over the heart a few times as his chest turned. "Fuck fuuck FUCK!" he called out as he left the area.
"You, I have a report only for the queen and close family. This is super important, it's delivered exactly as I tell you."
-
"Paka reported that the war was won but there is one final battle ahead. Maui was injured. He is with the healers and they are working on him-" The owl looked at Mwezi, "-he is strong and responding well. He isn't going anywhere without you. Focus on the babies and he'll bring the big guy home to you." he reported before leaving.
Mwezi could feel the screamed tear from her throat but she stopped herself. Her body shook with a deep seated pain and then rage. She wished Tazeem was alive so she could kill him herself. But she swallowed her hurt, rage and fears and looked at her sleeping children. Tears streamed down her face as she coughed. "I want updates as they happen." she said blankly. One of the babies walked over to her and she picked them up, and kissed their nose. "Hello my precious love."
The baby bear sneezed and caused her to jerk her head back. Kai choked on his laugh as he took the baby and she wiped her face. "When will you name them?" Nyoka asked.
"Oh!" Mwezi slapped her hand over her mouth. "We didn't talk about names!" Kai laughed and shook his head.
"It's okay it happens. We normally wait for the naming ceremony but I think we can bend the rules a little. What do you think?"
They had deliberated with one another, surprisingly everyone kept out of the process. She had assumed she'd get some peanut gallery opinions but everyone let her and Kai talk it out.
"Sana." She kissed her daughter's head. "Ansei and Jahani." She kissed the boys heads.
Kai kissed her forehead. Then her eyes and finally her cheeks. "Beautiful names for my beautiful family. Now we wait for Maui's speedy recovery." Mwezi nodded as she leaned into him and the kids climbed into their laps.