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Halcyon was having a rough time of things, and he took some time to ponder the life choices that led him to this moment. There were a lot of them. But he had arrived at his destination, safe and more-or-less intact. He pulled his heavy cloak over his shoulders and made his way toward the town square, his hooves clacking on the cobblestones as he went.

He got more than a few stares along the way. Satyrs were quite rare in this part of the world, and the reputation of his people preceded him, unfortunately enough. Several people pulled their wives and daughters closer to themselves as he strolled by, as if he might ravish them right there in the street at a moment's notice. He ignored them. Halcyon had a long life of getting used to ignoring such attention. He was, sadly, used to it. Nobody had thrown anything yet, so he considered that a solid step up from his last domicile. He'd come all this way for a chance at a better life.

He paused in his step for a moment as something roiled within him, and he groaned, giving his belly a poke.

"Hush, you two," he said, as he pulled his cloak a bit closer together, deftly hiding the noticeable swell that he had around the middle.

Yes, that was the ticket. A better life for him, and for the two new lives within him.

He'd gotten off of the hay cart that had agreed to give him passage to Azurevale for the last of his money and a few song requests, which was nice, and now, here he was. It was certainly much more metropolitan than his last long-term home. There had been a time when the idea of settling down in one place was positively ludicrous. He had the soul of a performer, after all, and his art was meant to be shared for the world! But that was a philosophy for a much younger man. Right now, the idea of settling down somewhere had a lot of appeal. But first, the ticket was finding such a place.

Easier said than done.

Still, he had high hopes for Azurevale. He hadn't even seen any signs with lists of unwelcome races!

"...It's kind of sad how low my standards are," he murmured to himself, as he made his way to the town square. That was always a good start. Right now, his resources consisted of everything he had on his person. That was never a good place to be, but at least it was a familiar place. When he was younger, he might have gotten out of it by picking some pockets or maybe running a simple con or two, but that was a good way to get run out of town. And it certainly didn't help the stereotypes. No, he had a much more reliable (if slow) way to get a few coppers in his pocket.

It was late afternoon, and the square was bustling. Perfect. Halcyon scanned the area, and soon found the right spot. It was a street corner, equidistant between the baker's stand and a tavern. Lots of foot traffic, and more importantly, people would be either inclined to stay still and enjoy their baked goods, or else slightly inebriated. Either way, he'd have an audience. Looking around to make sure that nobody would stop him, he whipped off his hat, tossing it onto the ground beside him, and unslung his lute from his back. A few people stopped to look almost immediately, and Halcyon wondered how many of them had seen a satyr before. He was considered quite striking by satyr standards, with his soft features, lightly bronzed skin, supple blonde hair and beard, well-polished horns, and, most noticeably of all, his odd eyes, one the soft green of summer grass, the other a vibrant golden yellow.

"Ah, good day to you, passers-by!" he said, leaning against the wall. "No doubt you have many important things to do, but why not take a moment to appreciate my craft?" He gave his instrument a strum. "Perhaps you'd like to hear the sagas of a great hero of ages past? The heart-rending tale of a tragic romance?" He leaned in and winked. "Or perhaps I could tell you all about the assets of a goblin tavern wench I met once?"

This got a few appreciative laughs. It always did. It never hurt to lean into the more harmless aspects of the stereotype a little bit. If people were laughing, they weren't throwing things. Smiling wide, Halcyon began to play.

As he got more into the music, crowds gathered around. Some stopped to listen for awhile, then left without saying a word. Some applauded. A few dropped coins in his hat, and Halcyon always made sure to thank them personally. Occasionally he'd strum a few bars about them, personally. That always went over well. And by the time he finished his performance, the sun was just starting to set. Halcyon looked into his hat to assess his loot for the day.

The hat contained an assortment of copper and silver pieces, as well as a few bits of random junk from people who thought they were being clever. Less than he'd hoped for, but more than he'd expecting. It would do for now. Whistling to himself, he scooped up his hat and made his way to a nearby inn. The sign proclaimed it to be known as the Goat's Head, which gave Halcyon a smile. The innkeeper gave him some odd looks, but held his tongue when Halcyon dropped some coins on the table.

"Room for the next... three nights, let's say?" said Halcyon. "And a hot meal, if you would. Whatever you've got prepared will be fine."

"Whatever you say," said the man. "Just don't cause no trouble. And ifin' you try anything with the wenches, yer out on yer arse."

"I wouldn't dream of it," said Halcyon, fighting back the urge to roll his eyes. It didn't do to talk back to people who would be overseeing your meals. The food was fairly simple - beef and potato stew - but it was warm and filling, and he could always do with more of that. And nobody thought twice when he asked for thirds, which was a bonus. He never meant to take so much, but he was eating for three at the moment.

As the days went by, Halcyon fell into something of a routine. Wandering about town, busking to make ends meet, as well as taking the occasional odd job that people weren't too picky about. People still tended to give him a wide berth, but he was definitely making progress. If he managed his spending carefully, he'd be able to afford some permanent lodging soon. The innkeeper at the Goat's Head even let him perform for the patrons in the evenings, which was a definite plus. He wasn't exactly drawing crowds from miles around, as he had dreamed of in days long passed, but he was pulling in regular tips.

This routine managed to stay fairly stable for over two weeks, and some of the regulars at the inn even knew Halcyon's name, if pressed a bit. It was progress! And he'd made out well on tips, as well. There had been more silver than copper in his hat, for once. Halcyon went to bed that night with high hopes for the future.

Unfortunately, he was woken up that evening by troubles in his present. Halcyon found himself roused from uneasy dreams by persistent pains from his midsection. At first, he contented himself to think that perhaps it was just indigestion, but as the pains persisted, he let himself realize what it had to be.

"No," he winced, prodding his swollen middle. "Not now, please, not now, couldn't you at least wait until I find someplace proper to live?"

The harsh pain that ran through him indicated that no, they could not. Halcyon knew one thing for sure; he was not going to give birth in a dingy inn. And so, he got up, wrapped his cloak around himself, and set out into the night.

In truth, he had been dreading this moment for some time. Getting pregnant in the first place had been the result of a mistake, a dalliance with a fellow satyr that he had met on the road many months ago. He had been so happy to be with another of his kind after spending such a long time wandering that he hadn't allowed himself to consider the consequences of such a happening. But those consequences came, and now he had to deal with them to the best of his ability.

One thing was for sure. Halcyon would need some supplies if he was going to do this right. He was still getting his bearings around town, but he was fairly certain there was an apothecary not far from the inn. After a few wrong turns, and after stopping a few times to weather a particularly intense contraction, he managed to find it. The bell over the door jingled as he pressed his way in. The bored-looking woman manning the counter gave him the eye as he made his way in.

"Keep those hands where I can see 'em," she said, as he approached the counter. Under any other circumstances, that remark would have encouraged Halcyon to take his business elsewhere. He leaned up against the counter and winced as another contraction rumbled through him, and another patron gave him an odd look.

"Bad potato in my dinner," he said, laughing lightly before turning back to the counter. "I need a few things. Some lemongrass, chamomile and some willow bark extract, and also a bottle of wood alcohol, as pure as you have." He dropped a handful of silvers onto the counter.

She looked him over again, then shrugged, gathering up his items and placing them into a small woven satchel. Then she took up the money, inspecting the coins carefully and counting them twice.

"And I was wondering if you could perhaps direct me to the town doctor?" he said, as he accepted the satchel. "My... mate is having a baby, and I fear she may need some aid."

"That'd be Dr. Lancaster," said the woman at the counter. "He's out of town. Won't be back for another three days. His apprentice is watching the place, but just between you and me, the boy can barely find his arse with a map. You'd have to go over to Crimson Valley to find him."

"Oh, don't worry," said another patron. "I'm sure if you ask nicely, somebody'll have a barn stall they're not using! Might even clean it out first if you ask nicely!"

Grumbling to himself, Halcyon stormed out of the apothecary as best as his condition would allow. He didn't know what he expected, really. Well, if he was quick about it, perhaps he could gather up his camping supplies and make for the woods, far away from anyone else. Then maybe he could play it up like the babies were foundlings, and from there-

"Excuse me?"

He looked up, startled at the stranger approaching him. He was a slight man, shorter than Halcyon. He was within a few years of Halcyon's age, or at least the equivalent by human standards. His dark hair, tied into a neat bun at the back of his head, had some streaks of gray in it. He was also very clearly not from around here, as evidenced by the fact that his skin was several shades lighter than that of the rest of the townsfolk.

Halcyon was just about to tell the man to fuck off, but something about him made him hesitate. Maybe it was the man's kind eyes, peering out from a pair of the thickest spectacles Halcyon had ever seen.

"I'm... fine, thank you," he said. "I just have someplace to be, very urgently, so if you'll excuse me--"

"Off to see to your 'mate'?" he said, smiling at him. "I'm sure that she will be very pleased with your purchases. Lemongrass for a soothing incense, chamomile for relaxing tea, willow extract for pain relief, and, of course, alcohol for sterilization. Not bad for an amatuer, I have to say."

Halcyon narrowed his eyes. "Who do you think you are?" he said. "What business is it of yours what I bought for my... my mate?"

The man shook his head. "I've been doing what I do for well over a decade, I can see all the signs. You've been doing an excellent job of hiding it, but there are some things that you can't hide. The way you've been walking alone is enough of a dead giveaway." He lowered his voice a bit. "I'm guessing you're still in early labor. Your first, I'm guessing? It's only going to get worse from here."

Halcyon was absolutely dumbstruck. The man offered him a hand.

"Come with me," he said. "I live on the outskirts of town and I've got a cart right over here. You wouldn't have to walk."

"And why should I?" snapped Halcyon. "How do I know you won't just murder me and make my hide into a rug?"

"How do I know that you won't just kill me and rob my home while I sleep?" the man said, still smiling. "I guess you'll have to trust me. However, I can assure you that your secrets will be safe with me."

Halcyon had no idea what to make of the man. But as another sharp cramp made itself known, he couldn't bring himself to just tell him to run along.

"Look," the man said, "I know you don't have any good reasons to trust me. Nor to trust any human. It can't be easy for you out there. But I only want to help you. And your child."

Halcyon considered the man. Ultimately, he decided that, whatever sort of person this man was, he was better than the woods. "I'll come with you," he said. "But I swear, even I even think that my child is in any danger, you'll find out how much harm can be wrought with a common lute string."

The man nodded, and motioned for Halcyon to follow. He led him to where a small cart with a mule hitched to it was waiting. With some difficulty, the stranger helped Halcyon into the back of it.

"So what can I call you?" said the man, as he untied his mule.

"You can call me Halcyon. Or Hal, if you'd prefer."

"It's very nice to meet you, Hal. My name is Ben."

~*~

Once they had been out of the boundaries of the town, Ben had insisted that Halcyon open up his cloak so that he could take a look, putting his hands on it as another contraction hit.

"Feels like one has just about shifted into place," said Ben. "Twins, I'm assuming. Have your waters broken yet?"

"No, not yet," said Hal, shaking his head. "Look, I'm willing to acce[t that you're one of the rare humans who has no quarrel with satyrs. But you're really not bothered at all by the fact that I'm a man?"

Ben just shrugged. "It takes all sorts. You wouldn't even be close to the strangest new parent I've ever helped. Hoo, the stories I could tell you. Get comfortable, we're almost there."

They reached Ben's home not long after. It was a cozy cottage, almost disgustingly picturesque. Ben helped Halcyon off the cart and lead him inside. The inside was cozy as well, but also cluttered, with various tools, bottles and keepsakes strewn about.

"Get undressed and make yourself comfortable," said Ben, taking off his cloak and hanging it up. "I'll make some tea and get some things together."

Halcyon quickly got undressed. He had to admit, it was quite a relief. Modesty was not a concept that came naturally to satyrs, and among their own kind, they typically chose to forego any sort of clothing at all. Just being naked again was quite freeing.

Trying to distract himself from the slowly-building pain, Halcyon looked around at the eclectic decor in the cottage, wondering where a village midwife got such strange items. His eyes fell upon what he was reasonable sure was a Gnoll war spear mounted over the fireplace. He was about to ask about how the man had come into possession of that when an even stronger pain hit him, like a bolt of lightning through his nethers. When he could see straight again, Halcyon was painfully aware of a spreading wet patch that he was now sitting in, and he groaned.

"I suppose tea will have to wait," said Ben. Halcyon blinked. He'd been so lost in the pain that he hadn't noticed the man approaching. "How bad is the pain?"

"Bad," groaned Halcyon, rubbing his belly. "Really bad!"

"I'm going to check your dilation," said Ben, who was rubbing some kind of ointment into his hands. Spread your legs, please."

Halcyon nodded, doing just that. Despite the direness of the situation, Halcyon felt a much more pleasant jolt as Ben probed his fingers inside of his passage. It had been months since he'd been touched by anyone save for himself, and it was nice. He couldn't stop himself from letting out a muffled moan.

"You're dilating very nicely," said Ben, looking up. "It shouldn't be too much longer if everything proceeds normally. Is there anything I can do for you in the meantime? A massage? Some incense? Maybe something a bit more intimate?"

Halcyon laughed. "I don't think there's anything that I need that you would be willing to- wait, what was that last one?"

Ben smiled a bit. "I've been known to practice some rather unorthodox methods of helping a birth along," he said, nodding. "I haven't met many satyrs before, so please, correct me if I'm wrong. But I know that your culture has a much heavier focus on physical affection than most human cultures. Is it not traditional for birthing parents to be stimulated by a loved one while they deliver? I would be more than happy to oblige you."

Halcyon's face went blank. In his long years on the road, he'd grown accustomed to not being touched as regularly as he would have liked. When you're among humans for long stretches of time, it's an adjustment one has to make. But hearing that offer, even from a complete stranger, gave Halcyon a warm sensation in his heart that he'd thought he'd forgotten.

"I would like that very much," said Halcyon, spreading his legs a little further, presenting his plump nether lips to the midwife in all their glory. "You seem very good with those fingers of yours. Why don't you show me? There's no need to be gentle, I assure you."

Ben nodded, cracking his knuckles for a moment. With one hand, he started to run his fingers along Halcyon's outer lips a few times, before plunging them inside, and it wasn't long before they found a very particular spot, causing Halcyon to cry out. Halcyon had been with a great many partners of many different species before, but he'd never been met a human who was so quick to find the right places to touch.

Ben rubbed him in a steady rhythm for some time, starting to build up the pleasure. But just as Halcyon had started to grow comfortable, Ben surprised him by bringing his other hand around to tug at Halcyon's elongated clit, rolling it between his fingers. This elicited a much louder cry. Halcyon could feel another contraction rolling through him, but this one was subsumed by another, much stronger sensation. It had been far, far too long since he'd had a partner who knew how to do things right! Ben changed up his motions at just the right time, adding an additional finger into Halcyon's passage and beginning to quickly steadily stroke his clit. Halcyon could feel an orgasm building up, even as the pains began to quicker.

"Nngh... go harder!" he moaned. "I'm almost there, keep going, just keep... NNNGH!"

And with that, Halcyon felt an explosion of sensation as Ben brought him home, squeezing his clit hard just as a big contraction hit him. And this one felt different, as if his climax had shaken something loose.

"I feel something," said Halcyon, groaning. "I... think I need to push!"

"You seemed to be fully dilated," said Ben, putting a hand on Halcyon's belly. "And the first kid appears to be descending. So if you're feeling the urge, then do it."

Halcyon nodded. This was it. He knew it. "Help me stand?" he asked. Ben nodded, pulling Halcyon to his feet and helping him over to the wall. Halcyon planted himself firmly against it, and as soon as he felt the urge, he gave in, squatting down slightly as he began to push. And in a big way, he could feel it. After all this time, his kids didn't want to wait much longer. The contractions kept on building up, and Halcyon let out a prolonged groan as he continued to bear down.

"That's it, you're doing just fine," said Ben, who was crouching down behind him. "It's just about ready to crown. Rest for a moment, give yourself time to stretch, and push when it feels right."

Halcyon nodded. It hurt in ways he couldn't even describe, but he felt none of the panic or dread that had been following him these past few months. He had been fully prepared to give birth out in the middle of the woods. This was better than he ever could have imagined. And now, his kids were coming into the world into a place that was safe and warm. This thought gave him strength as he pushed again, and now, he could feel the first kid spreading him apart as its head emerged from his nethers.

"It's coming out fast!" said Ben. "Keep on pushing, I've got it!"

Halcyon took several more deep breaths, then grit his teeth as he bore down again, thanking the gods for the naturally-broad hips that all satyrs were gifted with, be they man, woman, or anything in-between. He let out a cry - almost a bleat, he was ashamed to say - as he felt the shoulders stretch him apart, and with one great release, he felt it slip free from him.

"The first one's out!" said Ben, rubbing the newborn satyr down with a clean linen before wrapping it up. "It's a boy. His sibling should be joining him soon."

Halcyon looked down at his newborn son and smiled. He was absolutely beautiful, but there was no time to get lost in that at the moment. Ben was absolutely right; satyr twins very seldom waited long before joining their sibling. It was only mere minutes later before he felt the urge again, and he needed no prompting before giving into it. This one felt harsher than before, and as he pushed, he felt a great deal more strain, like the baby was barely moving at all. Shortly after, he could feel Ben's fingers probing into him once again.

"Don't panic," he said. "But the kid's coming out in breech position. I need you to change positions, okay? Get down onto your hands and knees, carefully as you can. I haven't cut the cord yet."

Halcyon nodded weakly, bowing his legs and stepping carefully as he knelt down onto the floor and got onto his hands and knees. Ben had laid out a fur rug, seemingly in anticipation of Halcyon's need to do just this. He situated himself as comfortable as he could, spreading his legs apart, and he could feel Ben feeling around.

"Alright, now," said Ben. "When you feel another contraction, go ahead and push."

Halcyon nodded, leaning lower to the ground and panting heavily. Come on, baby, he thought to himself. Come on out, we're waiting for you...

As if the kid could hear his thoughts, Halcyon felt another intense contraction, and he gave his all into it, sweat beading down his brow as he down as hard as he could. He could feel his nethers beginning to stretch open once again, slower than before but just as inevitably.

"Come on, you've got this, keep pushing!" said Ben. "I've just about got the feet free, keep going! Your daughter wants to meet you!" Halcyon smiled at that despite. A boy and a girl. A good omen! He bore down again, feeling his kid's body begin to slip further and further out, aided by Ben.

"Alright," he said. "You're almost there, just the head is left! This is going to be the tricky part, just hold on, wait for it... now! PUSH!"

And push he did. Halcyon could feel Ben's fingers reaching past the baby's head, helping her out of his body as he bore down, until finally, it gave way, and he collapsed onto the fur below.

"Perfect," said Ben, as Halcyon carefully turned around and sat up, just to be handed two squirming bundles. "You have a perfectly healthy pair of twins!"

Halcyon looked down at them, overcome with joy at the sight. All of the pain and hardship that his unexpected pregnancy had put him through was suddenly all worth it.

"Thank you," said Halcyon. "Thank you so much. I don't know how I can best thank you. I should write a song about you, or maybe an epic poem."

Ben let out a snort. "Please," he said. "Who would want to read about me? Knowing your children are healthy is all the thanks I need."

Halcyon smiled. There really were good people out there. He didn't run into them often, but it was always something worth remembering when he did. And he would make sure that his children remembered, too. "In that case," he said. "I wouldn't say no to that tea. And a hot bath."

"I can provide both of those things," said Ben, getting up and busying himself once again. "At the same time, if you wish."

Halcyon let himself relax in his seat, clutching his children tight. "And then," he added, "you can tell me where you got that spear."