A New Venture: The End and The Beginning
#18 of A New Venture
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_I'd like to thank everyone who's noted, commented, favorited and enjoyed this series. It was a refreshing change of pace and I hope you'll enjoy this final chapter. _
Skarlath knew only a moment of pure panic and fear as he had stared up at the lions face and watched it furrow into a similar look. It had chased away the relaxed state that Artemis had been in when he had finished his peak. Now he just stared in something akin to fear and almost helplessness as he looked up towards Roan. The wolf wanted to say something that would be reassuring, but his stomach rippled with a pang that made him curl over slightly. It wasn't quite pain, but it was a sensation that made him feel almost queasy as the pressure grew inside of him. He curled forward slightly around his body as his lover stepped backwards and moved a hand down to touch his shoulder lightly. The gentle touch brushed against the curve of his shoulder while he panted softly under his breath.
"Skar?" The voice was thick and he looked up to see Artemis staring down at him with his brows furrowed still. "Love, it's okay, it's going to be okay. We're here. Roan's here, I'm here."
"Doctor?" He panted out as he felt the contraction fade and he hesitantly started to uncurl himself. One of Roan's massive hands moved down to lightly brush against the curve of his hip. The tender touch spoke volumes.
"I'm going to call him now! We need..." The normally put together Artemis straightened up and suddenly looked almost frantic. "Roan, keep him warm, get those covers for him. Make him comfortable. I'm going to go find that damned cell phone."
"I'll keep him warm." Roan's voice was a deep baritone as one hand pulled him upwards and he felt himself nestled against that muscled chest. He glanced up to find the stallion's face set in the same calm expression that he normally wore.
"Where did I put that damn phone?!" Artemis spoke under his breath as the white gold form suddenly started jogging towards the door.
Skarlath watched him as he felt his entire body strangely afire with sensations he had never expected. It made him feel slightly off kilter as he was left breathing shallowly through his muzzle and felt the broad hand stroking over his legs. The hand could have entirely covered his legs! No matter how strange he felt, he couldn't stop feeling amused at his leonine lover. The normally cool and collected Artemis had not only shown a sudden flush of nervous fear, but he had cursed. Something the put together lawyer rarely did even in relaxed settings. He tried to relax against Roan as the large stallion lowered his head and the velvety lips brushed against his head. With the massive form so close to him, he felt some of his fear uncurl.
"I'm not ready.." He spoke softly, so very softly he barely heard himself whisper the words. Apparently the stallion had.
"I know. It'll be alright, Skar, I promise. I'll be right here to help you and Artemis and the doctor." The voice was so deep and heavy that he could feel the vibrations from the chest against his back.
"It's happening too soon.. This wasn't supposed to happen for months." He spoke a bit more clearly before he felt his entire body shudder. The rippling along his stomach tensed up as he felt the contraction rock through him. It stole his breath for a moment until he whimpered out through clenched teeth.
"Shh..shh... just breath. Keep breathing, love." Roan's voice was warm and encouraging. "How could it be too soon? Our children want to meet us as badly as we wish to meet them." The hand moved to spread over his heavily swollen stomach and gave a gentle caress. "It could never be too soon."
"Wish..I was confident.." He panted as the last of the contraction passed. He felt strangely cold when faced with the sensation that this was it. It was time. It was surreal and strange. He knew that they had all gone through this for the sole purpose of this moment, but he hadn't expected it to arrive so quickly.
"Just breath. In and out, sweetling." The deep voice murmured softly in his ear. It was soothing, almost as soothing as the gentle fingers that stroked along his stomach in slow circles. "I'm here... Artemis is near by.. We love you, we'll always love you and we'll help you. Just relax, let yourself stop struggling. You're giving us the greatest gift we could ever want, a family, children, a home. We love you so..."
The deep voice murmured in his ear like the soft rumble of thunder. It was strangely relaxing when the stallion kept stroking his stomach. He was only vaguely aware when he felt something soft slide beneath his head as he felt as if he were being lulled into a trance. The gentle touch of those massive fingers against his body were the lightest of caresses that made him pay more attention to that then the next contraction that hit. The muscles of his abdomen tensed up and clenched until he let out a whining sound. The entire time he heard the soft words of love, adoration and comfort as the soft large lips brushed against his forehead in a gentle kiss. The softest touch that was meant to reassure him and he let himself relax even when he felt himself panicking that all of this was happening so soon. Was it really so soon?
He felt chagrin that the reason this was happening was because he had spent so much time indulging when he had been told not to. He couldn't even feel ashamed of those times, they had been worth it. He'd never felt anything so intense as his changed and large lovers as they had enjoyed him and he had enjoyed them. He tried to concentrate more on Roan's voice as he closed his eyes and felt the heat extending to every part of his body. His fur felt as if it were making things even hotter as the fingers gently probed inwards along the soft roundness of his stomach. The movement made him feel the shifting and pushing of the young lives that he held within him. He drew in a shuddering breath and sighed it out again as he concentrated on his breathing. In and out, in and out, in and out. He just had to keep going and pray that the doctor came soon. He didn't think any of them knew about birthing other then the basics!
Artemis felt his heart pounding in his ears and frustrations mount as he paced in front of the house. He knew he shouldn't have. He also knew that anyone who drove by would see a lion that was far larger then any lion that had ever been born. Likely the neighbors would be asking questions before too long, but that wasn't on his mind. What was on his mind was wondering where the damn doctor was. He couldn't even stop cursing in his own mind as he felt a rush of helplessness. This was supposed to happen with the doctor here already, it was supposed to be in a bed rigged for the birth and controlled with machines that would make sure everything would go smoothly. He couldn't stop cursing himself mentally for leaping ahead and letting his desires get the best of him. He should have stopped himself before even approaching the already heavily pregnant wolf! He knew the consequences.
He stopped his restless walking and turned his head towards the back yard with his brows furrowed. He wanted nothing more than to be by the wolf's side, but he didn't want to scare Skarlath. He wanted him calm and relaxed. Roan was good at that. The big stallion could remain cool in the worst situations. He sent up a thankful prayer for that fact as he twitched his ears at the sound of a car. His heart lifted in his chest as he saw a flash of metal along the road only to see it turning away to continue along the road. But not before veering slightly and he saw a flash of a face pressed up against the window. Apparently they were getting an eyeful. Not that he cared right now. Let them get an eyeful! They were welcome to it. He sighed and dropped down to sit on the front porch and tapped his claws against the pillar that held up the roof. Where was he?
Artemis tried to reassure himself by playing with the phone in his hands. It was so small compared to his palm and fingers, but he could at least turn it around and around. He had barely had time to talk to Skarlath about the actual birth, though he had managed to have a quiet aside with Roan. He wanted to kick himself. Why had he thought that an experimental drug would be alright to have cubs? He should have never suggested this! He wasn't even sure if Skarlath had heard the doctor talking about birthing procedures. They didn't even have their rooms ready save for the cribs that still needed put together. He caught himself fretting over the lack of a nursery that still needed tended and laughed. Of all the things for him to fret about at the moment, that was one of the last things that should have been on his mind!
The lion watched as car after car drove past. Some went by without any recognition of the massive lion sitting on the steps, others though slowed down or swerved as the drivers got a better look. He didn't care, all he cared about was being able to see if he could spy the one he wanted. It seemed as if hours had passed when he saw a car driving quite close to one that was puttering along. He lifted his head up as he saw the signature blue of Dr. Lupe's car as it twisted its way down the road and stepped away from the house. He glanced down at the comparatively small cell phone held in his hands. Twenty minutes, at least it hadn't been too long! Well long enough. It had felt like an eternity. He pushed himself up onto his feet as the car twisted away from the road and turned itself up along the drive to come to a halt.
"It's about time!" He reigned in his temper and flushed slightly. This wasn't like him. He licked his lips, "I mean, I thought you'd be able to get here sooner."
"I'm sorry, I had to grab a few things from the office." The large bull stepped out of the car and leaned over just enough to snag a bag that had been sitting on the seat next to him. "I didn't quite believe you when you said it was time. It wasn't supposed to be for a few more weeks."
"Ahh...well.." Artemis coughed a bit as he padded towards the fence and opened it up. "Perhaps the drugs work faster then you anticipated?"
"Perhaps." The long look the doctor gave him wasn't one of belief, but he kept the innocent expression firmly on his face. "Let's go see if these are real contractions or just phantom ones. I'd be surprised if he was ready to birth so soon. And you shouldn't have been sitting on the steps like that. You'll be lucky if someone didn't snag a photo..."
Roan sat up in the massive barn with an anxious feeling, but not so worried as Artemis as the lion fussed over the placement of the covers, the pillows, the blanket spread out beneath the pregnant wolf. He watched with a slight hint of amusement at the jerky movements that seemed to be uncontrolled by the large lion. He felt worried as well, but he could see Skarlath's eyes following him as the doctor helped him into a more comfortable position. It was one that allowed him to rest his back up against a set of pillows, though it made it more apparent that his belly was swollen. He could even watch the ripples that ran over the belly as the contractions happened even before the wolf let out a soft breathy sound in his throat in reaction.
Artemis seemed to be more concerned over the pillows then anything else, but the stallion knew it was simply a front. His eyes kept wandering to the swollen stomach as the doctor talked in a soothing almost jovial voice. The stallion felt a swell of pride at that swollen stomach and the way the wolf kept shifting to move a hand up against it. He had to stop himself from stroking over it, but he couldn't stop the arching of his neck. The other two seemed to almost regret that it was happening so fast, but he was eager. He was eager to see his colt and just as eager to see the little cubs that would grow up to call him Father. In it all he had never stopped knowing that he would be a father to all of them no matter that another had sired two of them. He would teach them all as if they were his own.
He hadn't wanted to wait. He had wanted to meet them the day he had seen them in the grainy screen of the ultrasound. He knew then that he would be proud to call them his own. He snorted softly as the doctor strapped a machine right over the swollen belly. As if any children they produced would be in trouble. Just looking at how Skarlath was handling himself spoke volumes of strength as the moments ticked by. No, he didn't regret any moment that he had spent loving his wolf or his lion. They had shared so much in the last few days that he could only imagine what the future held for all of them. He sighed out softly so that his nostrils flared open and moved a hand over to give into the urge to stroke along the swollen stomach and was rewarded with a playful slap to his paw by Artemis.
"He needs to make sure everything is going alright." The lion tilted his head up to look at him and the large stallion curled his lips up in a grin.
"I could tell him it was, our children will be beautiful." He grinned down at Skarlath to see the wolf half laughing before a gasp made him tense up slightly as a contraction rolled through him again.
"Well it's certainly not phantom pains or anything that shouldn't be happening when one is in labor." The doctor looked up and frowned a little bit. "If you three had planned on spending your days enjoying yourselves you should have just had me stay, but no harm in the time it took me to get here."
"Look at him, can you blame me?" Roan tilted his head so that his forelock fell rogueishly in front of his eyes as he grinned at the doctor. "As well ask me to walk away from a beautifully laid out table."
"I'm to blame too." Skarlath's voice was a little meek as his ears splayed to either side of his head. His violet hair was tucked behind each ear giving a clear view of his face. "I instigated some trouble after all."
"I can imagine you are all to blame," The doctor gave his head a shake. "Well you're well along. Soon we'll start to see a few changes to allow for the birth. These will be a little different from typical births, but it's all to the better."
"Ch-changes?" Skarlath's ears paled a little bit and he swallowed. Roan instinctively moved in closer and give one of those soft ears a nosing. Likely his lover was thinking about the painful birth that he had heard others experienced. After all, his changed reproductive system only had one way for them to pass from him.
"Not so frightening as you might think. The drugs we gave you should trigger a change to your girth." Dr. Lupe gestured down towards Skarlath's loins and Roan flicked his ears up in interest. "It will allow things to progress without pain or risk of harm to you or the little ones."
"See? Not so bad." He grinned down at his wolf as Artemis leaned over to rest a tawny white gold hand on one red shoulder. "You could even end up my size in that area!"
"I'd fall over!" Skarlath laughed slightly, and though he remained tense some of the fear left his eyes as he pressed into the touch from his lovers. Roan gave him a gentle kiss.
"You're going to do beautifully..." He murmured and felt that rush of pride fill his chest until his neck arched until his chin nearly touched the upper portion of his chest. He was about to become a Father.
"Now, you...." Roan lifted his head as the doctor pointed at him. He splayed his ears to either side.
"I hope you're not about to ask me to leave." Some part of him sparked dangerously as he narrowed his eyes. "I may be big, but I'm not going to miss out on the birth of our children."
"Nothing of the kind." The bull gave a small smile. "I didn't have time to get any of the on call nurses here with me, and its likely that they won't show up in time with how he's progressing so you can behave as part of what I need equipment wise and you..." The bull pointed towards Artemis. "Can help me as well."
"I'd do anything." He shifted up and felt his ears lightly brush against the roof of the building. He twitched them back. "But I think my hands are a bit big to get very involved, sir."
"Your hands are what I need. You're going to hold them with a blanket over them to accept the infants. You're warm enough that you'll act as a sort of incubator to make sure they don't take chill. Artemis can help me by helping clean them up."
"Me?!" Artemis' voice cracked slightly in an uncharacteristic moment of shock and, to the stallion's ears, fear. "I don't know about that..." Whatever he was unsure of was broken off by a high pitched whine as the trio stared down to find Skarlath squirming against the makeshift bed.
Skarlath wanted to snicker at poor Artemis' situation, and he would have if he wasn't feeling suddenly flushed all the way to his ear tips. He let out a soft whining sound as his stomach contracted again and he pushed back against the pillows behind him. He suddenly found a massive paw taking his own gently as Artemis seemed to hover over him. His ears were back and the sky blue eyes peered down at him with a mingling of nervousness and excitement showing on his face. The wolf opened his lips to speak when he squirmed a bit more against the bed. Something felt strange, almost wrong as he parted his muzzle and lolled his tongue out to pant shallowly. He couldn't see himself, not well as he sat up, but he could feel himself slipping free from his sheath. He darkened all the way up to his ears in embarrassment as he felt the cool air brush against his cock tip.
"It's alright, its natural." The doctor leaned over and placed a hand on his red furred stomach and gave it a gentle press with his fingers. "Just relax yourself and keep breathing. Roan? You were helping earlier can you do it again?"
"Of course.." The stallion's tone sounded as if it were a silly question and one of the broad hands moved to shift behind his back and supported him.
He wanted to say something, to apologize or try to ignore it, but the warmth just started to grow. As his cock pushed upwards he could feel it growing hotter and it felt more then just swollen. He could almost feel his heart beat against the pulse of it and he squirmed against the massive hand that supported his back. The stallion's deep voice seemed to override his other worries as he spoke about breathing in and out. That deep firm voice was just enough to take his concentration partially away as he felt h is tapered tip slipping up higher and higher against his stomach. It wasn't until he squirmed and felt his knot slip free and push his sheath down entirely that he let out a soft cry and bit his lower lip. He tried not to think about the fact that he was erect, but instead concentrated on the breathing as his stomach tensed again and he felt the muscles working down in a contraction that nearly made him arch his back up from the blankets.
The heat from his shaft didn't go away now that he was hard, it just increased. Everything felt too swollen, too sensitive. He could feel his skin brushing against his fur until he was writhing back and forth against the pillows. He drew in a breath only to whimper it out as he tried to keep in time with Roan's voice, but something wasn't right! It didn't feel right at all! He opened his mouth to say when he arched his hips up and snapped his eyes open wide. His cock tip seemed to swell before his eyes. It wasn't unnatural, instead it seemed as if it were hardening. But it was already hard! It was just growing as the tip swelled open wider and wider, far wider then the slender modest tip that had been there. The girth pushed higher up on his belly so that he could see it belly and he parted his jaws entirely as felt it throb slightly.
"Easy, it's alright, this is normal." The doctor's voice wasn't sharp with panic, and the sound of it over Roan's voice started to calm him down. Artemis' hand gripped him a bit more firmly.
"It's alright. We're here." The large lion's purring voice came without the frantic edge it had held earlier. It made him calm down slightly.
Skar felt each beat of his heart through his enlarged cock. It throbbed and beat as it started to grow larger almost as if it were timed with each rippling contraction that had him squirming against the broad hand that supported him. His breathing came harder as his knotted shaft soon reached up high enough that it nearly brushed against his chest. The tip with its broad cum slip rose up over his belly as a clear wetness spilled along it. It clung from the tapered tip to dribble down against his fur. It was as large as Roan's had been when he was normal sized. The broadness of it easily spanned the width of his wrist and then some! He swallowed a whimper as the pressure he had been feeling started to build up. It started along the lower section of his belly that made him push his legs down against the ground.
He dimly heard voices over his head, but they didn't seem to matter. The only thing that mattered was the intolerable pressure that was building almost to the breaking point. He flattened his ears down against his head and he felt his lion's muzzle rubbing against his hair. He curled his toes slightly before his whine hit a harder pitch as he squeezed along the muscles of his stomach. He flexed them down without thinking about it only to see his cock pulsing above him. The flexing movement made him aware that as he pushed the need grew. He flexed muscles he wasn't even aware he had as he felt something stirring inside of him. It slid along his lower belly until he became aware that his sheath was being stretched out as he pushed and worked harder. He threw his head back and let out a weak cry as his cock began to stretch and bulge around the knot.
"Easy..easy..work at your own pace..." He heard Roan's voice, but there was a spark of excitement as the stallion's head was craned over his body. He seemed to be watching avidly.
All that was in the back of his mind as he pushed again, this time harder and felt his cock straining and stretching. The passage and muscles started to be pushed aside by the passage of something far larger then what was meant to pass through it. The pressure continued to grow to the point he was letting out weak little noises under his breath. They were rapid and sharp as he opened his eyes to see the bulge travelling along his cock. It wasn't pain, but the pressure was nearly to that point. It wasn't something that made him writhe and scream, instead it was just enough discomfort to make him work to push upwards. The tip of his cock started to yawn open as he felt a hot splash of wetness dribble out along his belly. It spilled down and dribbled over the edge as he arched his back to let out a harsh cry.
It was almost a poignant release as his cock finished the stretching pressure and he felt something slide from the opening to the noise of the room. The stallions voice was loudest before he heard a faint thin wail erupt into the room. He opened his eyes and found himself supported by Roan's hands alone as Artemis crouched near the doctor. The massive lions eyes glimmered with unshed tears as he hovered over something cupped in the bulls hands. Skarlath felt a sudden surge of emotions welling in his chest as he saw a small damp form held there. The rounded ears were furred with rust red color while there was a hint of pale blonde fur along the head. It hit him with a shock that made him aware that he had done it. They'd done it. The small leonine hands could be seen as the doctor held him and he swallowed back tears. He opened his jaws just as the next contraction hit making him tremble and writhe backwards against Roan's broad hand that held him in place.
Artemis stared down in a moment of dumb founded shock at the small cub that was held in the broad bulls hands. The little one was pure red from nose to tail tip, all save the hint of blonde-red hair along his head between his ears. The rounded ears were flattened to his skull while that tiny muzzle worked soundlessly for a moment. He felt a rush of fear before a thin wail rose up on the air and pierced his ears as the cub, their cub got his first lungful of air and used it to announce his presence to the world. His heart flipped in his chest as he felt his throat close down in desire to cry. He fought it off as he swallowed roughly and moved his hands to help clean the small infant. The clothe was soft as he wrapped the tiny form and found Roan's hand spread ready to take him.
The lion felt a moment of hesitation and stubbornness. He had only just held his son, but he fought it off with a good natured smile at the warm red eyes that stared down at him. Losing all sense of self consciousness he tucked the soft cloth around the wriggled damp body to place it in the warmth of the stallion's palm. No creature in the world would better oversee the little ones safety then the massive gentle stallion who looked near to tears himself. He stared down just as Skarlath let out another sound. This one sharper as his body shifted against the palm that held him and Artemis found himself caught up as the wolf started to push again. He flicked his ears up and tried to clear his eyes as he moved a paw up to gently rest on that swollen belly as if he himself could coax the little ones out faster!
It seemed as if it happened too fast and at the same time an eternity passed as Roan watched the second small lion cub emerge from the engorged member. The pale flash of fur and the shock of seeing a brilliant red tail sported on an obviously leonine body was washed away with a rush of love. The little cub in his palm was so tiny he could barely feel the weight, and he struggled against the blanket that captured him. He was soon joined with his brother as the pale cub was wrapped up and he looked down to see red ears and a very pink nose working as he let out a soft coughing noise. Soft for him, loud for the rest save for Skarlath who was pushing against his palm for all his might. His legs spread slightly against the ground as his muzzle was spread open wide.
The stallion had never felt quite so helpless as he did watching his lover struggle and he could do nothing but encourage and speak softly. The third little one, was not so little and it became obvious the moment that Skarlath let out a harsh cry that he was having problems. Rather then stand back he watched as Artemis stepped forward and started to gently massage along the dark red shaft. He moved from the base as the swell of the foal started to be coaxed upwards not only by the wolf's exhausted muscles, but by the gentle firm touch of the fingers that wrapped around it and pulled upwards slowly. He heard a soft whine spill out from the wolf that ended in a ragged gasp just as he saw the opening at the tip blossom open around a very dark red nose and a pair of soft velvety lips. It was almost startling as the size grew larger and larger by the moment as the cock tip was spread to allow the muzzle to slip out.
Roan let out a sound in his throat as he watched Dr. Lupe move to cup the head as the small damp body was pushed free. The dark hide was nearly black save for the wrists, lower leg and nose that were all flame red. The colt was nearly double the size of the smaller lion cubs and the mane stuck up in spikes along the arch of his neck. The little creature blinked his eyes and let out a sharp squeal as he kicked out hooves in the grasp of the doctor while Artemis tried to use a towel to dry him off. The stallion held his breath as he stared at the perfect colt being held, as perfect as the cubs held in the palm of his hand. A beautiful mingling of himself and Skarlath created together. Before he could stop himself he felt his eyes tearing up and the first hot drop sliding down along the edge of his cheeks and towards the ground.
"Let..me see..." The panted hoarse breath came from near by and he looked down to see the dazed slightly glazed eyes of Skarlath trying to look at the little ones. Roan couldn't stop himself from letting out a laugh as he shifted his broad palm for the wolf to see the two cubs nestled there.
"I told you they'd be perfect." His voice sounded strange to his own ears as he swallowed roughly. "Just perfect."
"Much more then perfect..." Artemis' voice was just as rough as he cradled the wriggling long legged foal against him.
In the middle of a shed, behind a grand house set off from a beautiful road a trio curled together in a nest of blankets. They were their own home, their own family, their own joy as they held between them three children that were bundled warmly. Eyes met each other over them and smiles were exchanged as they seemed to exclude everything else save themselves. Their journey had come to an end, and what a beautiful journey it had been. A moment of perfect harmony, accord, love, and joy that was multiplied by having one another at each other's sides. Their cheeks were wet with tears shed out of the pure joy of the moment as they examined and delighted of the perfection of their little ones. Not even the darkening outside world or the bull that was carefully putting away his equipment disturbed them. Roan's broad arms encircled his lion and wolf as they rested against one another. A new start. A new venture. A new life. For all of them.
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Enjoy my stories? Check out my newly published books! Available in E-book and paper back formats! http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/KalanAnara
Enjoy my stories? Check out my newly published books! Available in E-book and paper back formats! http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/KalanAnara
Enjoy my stories? Check out my newly published books! Available in E-book and paper back formats! http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/KalanAnara