There Are No Accidents
Story by Cederwyn Whitefurr on SoFurry
Aleisha, a Whitetail Anthropomorphic Doe and her human partner, are expectant parents, eagerly awaiting the birth of their firstborn - but things aren't entirely as they appear...
There Are No Accidents
© Cederwyn Whitefurr
23rd March, 2023
All Rights Reserved.
This Week's Writing Challenge: There are no accidents.
At least 1000 words, don't worry if you go over.
Tag all prompts with: WritingGroupChallenge.
Add all prompts to a separate folder.
Put the prompt description at the beginning of your story.
Aleisha twitched, black tipped ears laid back and her fur trembling with the stress she was under. Beneath the pale sheet, her heavily pregnant belly twitched and moved, the life within already making its presence known.
“Urgh," Aleisha moaned, squeezing her husband's human hand tight.
“Easy darling," Aaron spoke, gently wiping her forehead with a wet cloth. “A short few months and – oh, here's the doctor now..."
A young elk walked in, her dark chocolate head and eyes fixed on the clipboard, as she frowned and made a notation before she looked up and smiled.
“Mr and Mrs. Jameson, is it? Hello, I'm Doctor Savaris, I'll be doing the -"
With a frown, the Elk looked down at the clipboard again.
“Third trimester ultrasound... Your first? Forgive me, this seems a little unorthodox, hasn't anyone..."
“We don't have the best health insurance – we both work at a Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Sanctuary. We love what we do – yet – the benefits and pay... “ Aaron muttered, as he glanced at his wife, who trembled again. “I had to borrow money just to afford this and..."
“I understand, and I commend both of you! It's lovely, that you two give so much, most people wouldn't dream of it!" Dr. Savaris smiled.
“I understand," Dr. Savaris nodded in understanding. “Expenses keep coming, cost of living pressures and...now, Mrs. Jameson, how are you feeling? First time?"
Aleisha shuddered and nodded. “We've been trying for a few years – my dear husband and I..."
Dr. Savaris glanced at the human, who smiled and lightly kissed the whitetail doe's cheek.
“I understand there is still some – difficulty – in cross-species..." Aaron spoke, gently wiping his stressed partners forehead again.
“Oh, no, not at all – not anymore!" Dr. Savaris gentle voice told them. “No, we've made wonders in modern medicines and such, truly! I think a cross-species relationship is a beautiful and treasured thing!"
“Some – disagree - “ Aaron murmured, as he kissed the dark furred paw of his beloved.
“Sadly, they do," Dr. Savaris agreed. “Yet, they are in the increasing minority. You seem a little distressed, Mrs. Jameson. Do you wish for something to help you relax? I promise, it won't have any detrimental effect on your child."
“Our...child - “ Come the weak laugh from Aleisha. “After all those years - the countless trying..."
“Not that it wasn't pleasurable for both of us - “ Aaron smiled, then kissed her forehead.
Aleisha blushed, her inner ears turning crimson, before she glanced at the Elk, who smiled and nodded.
“You're truly both deeply in love, this is a beautiful thing. Now, I have a few things to take care of, so, shall we?"
Listening attentively, the Elk doe nodded twice, before she set aside the clipboard and proceeded to lift aside the sheet. Her eyes widened as she looked at the heavily swollen bump, the fur stretched taut like a drum.
“Woah..." Dr. Savaris exclaimed. “Wow, sorry, very unprofessional of me! I apologise. Alright, lets get this done..."
Carefully, she squirted some gel over Aleisha's swollen abdomen and picked up the ultrasound wand. Placing it against Aleisha's belly, the Elk frowned for a few moments, listening to the echo-dopplers swish-swish sound, as she moved the wand from side to side and back and forth, gazing at the screen.
“How, I mean - “ Aleisha gasped, as her unborn child kicked sharply.
“I..." Stammered Dr. Savaris. “That was quite a kick! Okay, so – wait..."
Aleisha gripped her husbands hand tighter, then glanced into his equally confused eyes.
“There's the leg's and..." Dr. Savaris muttered, then her eyes widened.
“Is there something wrong? Please, tell us..."
“Excuse me a moment, I just need to consult with another doctor – believe me, your fawns..."
Aleisha's eyes grew to the size of dinner plates. “Fawns...as in...plural?"
“Excuse me, please - “
Dr. Savaris left, her booted cloven hooves squeaking on the hard linoleum floor.
“We...we're having twins?" Aleisha asked, staring wide-eyed into her husbands equally confused look.
“Well, you do look like you swallowed a beach ball – twins... I just...I mean, we never planned..."
*
A few moments later, Dr. Savaris returned, a human doctor following alongside her. They were deep in conversation, before they approached the bedside. Both instantly adopted their Doctor face, and the human nodded courteously, exchanging handshakes with Aaron, then looking at Aleisha.
“Congratulations to you both! Now, Doctor Savaris here, now, easy, relax, its alright! Both fawns are healthy, happy and..."
Turning the monitor, Dr. Savaris glanced side-eyed at the other Doctor.
“You we're right... You're not mistaken..."
“Doctors, please...is there something wrong?" Aleisha whimpered, eyes wide and fear flooding her. “What's wrong with our fawns?"
“Medically? Nothing that we can see...however - “
Aleisha pushed herself up a little higher on the hospital bed, tears welling in her dark eyes.
“However..."
Both Doctors exchanged glances. “Your fawns are fine, healthy and developing amazingly well..."
Aleisha's stress rose, the monitor starting to squeal as her heart-rate skyrocketed.
“What's wrong with my fawns? Please, tell me!"
“There's a complication..." Dr. Savaris spoke quietly, her voice filled with consternation.
“What...sort of complication?" Aaron moaned, his own fear ratcheting upwards alongside that of his Whitetail doe partner.
“They're healthy, very healthy, we established that - “ Dr. Savaris kept her voice low.
“TELL ME!" Aleisha squealed.
Exchanging concerned looks again, the Doctors turned back to face the crying and borderline hysterical Doe, and her equally confused and upset human partner.
“They're, well... Fawn's..."
“Of course they are..." Aaron snapped, his temper rising. “She's a Doe, what, were you expecting puppies or something?"
“Sir, please, lower your voice - “ Doctor Savaris sighed. “This is a hospital, and I'd rather not have you escorted out by security and..."
“A boy and a girl, congratulations!" Exclaimed the human Doctor, as he moved the wand. “Lovely, healthy offspring, again, congratulations to you both!"
Slumping onto the chair beside the bed, Aaron burst into happy tears, clutching Aleisha's paw in a crushing grip.
“Twins, a boy and a girl..." He gushed, overcome.
Aleisha's eyes widened even further, before her ears went flat and her muzzle fell open, a look of horror mixed with bewilderment spreading across her cervine muzzle.
Dr. Savaris' words echoed in her mind like a ricocheting bullet – with almost as much damage...
Aleisha had heard, truly heard, Dr. Savaris' words...the inflection on one word in particular...
Fawns...
?