As the time draws near

As the time for this child to be born draws near, Kylerra is not sleeping because the child in her womb grows larger by the day and fights his confines.  He moves constantly making rest for Kyl something that is impossible.  After passing out from pain in Danyell's office, she has be put into a magical sedated state to help calm the child and help her sleep.  Vortagen called on the ancestors for help.  She is in and out of consciousness.  This is an account of her time sedated.

As the child inside of her begins to calm, Kylerra slips into a deep sleep, warm and safe in the strong arms of her mate.

A cool breeze blows across her face tickling her cheek. She can feel the warm sun caressing her body.  In the distance, she can hear the sounds of playing children.  She slowly blinks her eyes open and finds herself laying in a meadow.   The soft grass tickling her cheek, she blinks a few times to see if she is dreaming.  It feels completely real to her.  She slowly sits up expecting the pain and awkwardness of her swollen belly but feels nothing uncomfortable.  She looks down and sees a flat stomach and brief moment of panic threatens to engulf her.  As soon as the feeling comes, a warm wind whips around her whipping her hair about her face causing her to turn her face.  She sees in the meadow a child playing and laughing with a red haired woman.  The pair turns to Kylerra and smiles.  The women points and whispers something to the child who then laughs and runs to Kylerra leaping into her arms.

Kylerra smiles and laughs and holds the small boy then looks into his face and sees her mate staring back at her. Amazed and confused shes marvels at the dark haired boy with bright blue eyes.  She feels a hand on her shoulder and turns seeing the red haired.  She does not know her but something in her recognizes the women.  She smiles down at Kylerra.

“I hope you don’t mind, my child.  He is a spirited lad and you were sleeping so soundly.”  He voice had a Celtic lilt and somehow was familiar to her.  Kylerra stared at the women and then looked back at the child…..her child. Seeing a resemblance in the child and the women’s face, her head snapped up to look at the women again.  Tears begin to well up in her eyes as she realized who the women was.

“Mother…….” Her voice was choked and she began to sob.   Her mother, her real mother wrapped Kylerra in an embrace and held her and the child while she cry.

“Shhh, child.  All is well.  I am here.”

Once the sobs stopped, Kylerra leans back and sets the wiggling child on the ground.  She turns to her mother and smiles weakly.  “I……….”

“Do not speak, child.  I know the questions you have.  I heard Vortagen’s call to the ancestors to help and I came to you.  The spirit of your child….” Pointing to the child.  “He will be a joy to you and Danyell.  But he is a spirited one. An alpha like his father. “

“Mother” the word sounded strange coming from Kylerra’s lips.  “I have missed you.”  Kylerra realized that she did miss the mother she had not known.

The women sat down beside Kylerra took both of her hands in hers and spoke gently and softly.  “I am Neala.  Your father’s name was Weylyn and he was the alpha of our clan.   You were his pride and joy. “

“Mother, what happened, how did humans defeat us?  Garou are strong and powerful.” Kylerra heard herself ask.

“Child know that humans are the most dangerous enemy we have.  They are easily influenced by more powerful beings and they function with a mob mentality.  Someone had equipped the humans that attacked us with silver weapons that melted into our blood streams on contact.  There was no way that those of us who survived the initial attack could save the others.  You father fell fighting even with the silver coursing through his veins.  Many more humans than Garou died that day.  The rest of us fled to the mountains to protect the young.  It was just a matter of time before they found us.  I have watched you through Gaia’s eyes all of these years.  You have made me the proudest of mothers. Your strength, your resolve and yes, even your temper. They are your strengths and you come by them honestly. You have chosen the perfect mate and you have shown a diversity of character that has proven you will survive.  You test is about to come though, Kyl.  That child of yours will not be contained and he already is big like his sire.  I will stay with you here until it is time and I will watch over you during this birth.  Be strong and know that this child is strong.  It will take all of the strength you have birth him.”

Kylerra nodded to her looking at the child chasing a butterfly on all fours running through the meadow.

“Mother, how long do I have here with you?” she asked.

“As long as it takes, child.” Her mother replied.

Kylerra relaxes sleeping in Danyell’s arms and mumbles the name Weylyn. 

7th July 1870

Crandal has purchased the property behind ours for himself and Dana. I am very happy for them and instructed the builders to spare no expense on their home. We hired the same ones that built my house on Austral. Dana was always fond of that house. Tomorrow is Dana’s birthday so what better gift than her own home.

While we were out watching the construction, I saw Miss Puddlegum running from our house to hers. I went to check on her and found her sweating and quite flustered. I soon realized why when Matilda came down the stairs. At least it looked like the doll maid but her flesh was ….well, flesh! Somehow, the magic that had turned Gordon into the doll, Matilda, had been lifted from the youth. I was surprised to see Matilda wearing one of Accelsia’s outfits that she wore in Austral when we first arrived and could not help but smile at Miss Puddlegum assuring her that anything she needed from us was hers. Gaia has blessed them indeed. Miss Puddlegum was so exhausted that I left them to their joy and returned to the Estate. I must remember to ask her what we shall call the youth, he obviously shouldn’t be called Matilda any longer.
Vortegan has finally returned Accelsia to Caledon on this last trip. She was a site to see disembarking from his airship. Her hair unkempt and her wardrobe lacking in refinement but she will assimilate back into proper society well I believe. She always did prefer the civilized world to Dee.
Danyell was overseeing the building of the tower for Vortegan on the backside of the house. He has traveled so much and we wish for him to have a place other than his ship to call his own. This will also free up the spare room for Accelsia and Finna. They do seem to get along well. So, tomorrow it is furniture shopping again. I also MUST look into getting some clothing that is not so tight. This babe is growing quickly. I felt him kick the other day. I thought I would burst with laughter. If only Danyell could have felt it. So far, everything goes well. I need to speak with Danyell about the Doctor and whether or not we should tell him our nature before I must see him for my condition.
And blast it if I did not forget to give Miss Puddlegum the letter for her lawyer friend. I must do that post haste tomorrow. . I also must remember to ask her what we shall call the youth, he obviously shouldn’t be called Matilda any longer.

Night has fallen and sleep calls me to the arms of my Alpha.

My sister has been found and returned to me, thank Gaia.  Dana, Crandal, Vortegan and Danyell flew to London and finally found her working in a tavern.  She had walked through the back country from Liverpool to London.  Occasionally, she confused, that a farmer would take pity on her and give her a ride in a wagon.  Once in London, she found work in a tavern.  It is a good thing that Danyell would not let me go with them.  For, if I had, the tavern keep would be a dead man.  He beat her, leaving horrible bruises on her body.  She cringes away from any touch now and cowls in front of even the men of the pack.  I do not know how to make her feel any safer then she is here with us.  Dr. Hyde examined her at my request.  She has a couple of fractured ribs and contusions covering her.  He has ordered her to bed rest to aid in her recovery.

I will talk to Danyell about securing the funds to pay off the scoundrels in Ireland.  Miss Puddlegum has a lawyer acquiantence that she assures me should be able to assist me in getting the funds to the correct party to absolve any claim these monsters have on my sister. 

(Kylerra sits and pens the following note to take to Miss Puddlegum)

K.W.

To Mr, Grayson Heathford, Esq.

I write to you seeking advice on a legal matter involving my sister. I will get right to the point Mr. Heatherford, my father left a great amount of debt when he departed this earth. Some of this debt, he secured with “collateral” namely my sister. The men that my father owed money to are less than reputable and have attempted to press my sister into their “service” at a house of ill repute. I now have the means to pay fathers debt in full and wish to make good on this debt so these men will not continue to pursue my sister. I wish to send these funds anonymously and via channels that will not allow these men to know its origination. If these men come to Caledon seeking my sister, it could prove fatal.

I welcome any advice you can give me on this matter and look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Lady Kylerra Wytchwood



From Bridget......

Dearest sister,


I was so happy to hear of your return to Caledon. I cannot even imagine everything that you have been through these last years. Of course there is nothing that you can tell me that would make me love you any less. I have a confession to make about the state of your……condition. I fear that you will be angry with me for not speaking up earlier but I just did not know how or even if it was necessary after what father had done to you.

Sister, I remember that night when you were six years old as if it were yesterday. I was only eight but I knew that something was wrong with you that night. You tossed on your bed like a sickness had befallen you and you were pouring the sweat of a high fever. I had just gone to retrieve mother. When we returned and opened the door we saw you shift into the shape of a wolf. I remember mother screaming and father running to us. I was terrified but I knew it was just you. You looked like you were in pain so I tried to go into the room to help you. Mother held me back and you took off past us and out of the house. I knew that father had taken you to that man and I knew that he had done something horrible but I didn’t know what until I saw your scared neck. Father said we were to never speak of it again. It did not happen. Oh, Kylie, I am so sorry. I wanted to tell you before you married Richard but father forbid it. I had hoped that it would not ever come up again.

I am glad that it seems to be something that is controllable and I look forward to meeting your friends there. Actually, that brings me to my situation. I don’t know where to begin. After father pasted away, most of his estate debts fell to me. We were able to get most of them paid for but one dealing with a less than reputable source. We tried to get them to dissolve the agreement as father was dead but they saw their opportunity to ruin more lives and took it. Robert took extra work and I washed laundry to try cover the loan but when we were unable to meet their deadline, they came to collect. Kylie, father had put me up as collateral for his loan!! I begin to believe that is what he did with you as well. The men operate a house of ill repute. Robert lost his life defending me, Kylie. They took me but I managed to escape. Your letter reached me right before the night I left. Margaret was able to sneak it to me. I have fled Ireland and have made it to Liverpool on the isle. It is my hope to make my way south and then eventually to the mainland. The money that Margaret slipped me has run out and I am not sure if I can safely take work anywhere. I am at the mercy of kind strangers where I can find them. I am not sure if or when I will be able to receive further letters from you but I will write to you often to let you know where and how I am.

Your loving sister,
Bridget

20th of June, 1870

Bridget,

I have just received the letters that you sent. I am not sure even where to begin. I was glad to hear that you still wanted to hear from me given the nature of my last letter and the information contained therein. I will try to update you on as much as possible with what is going on in life and then I wish to hear all about what is going on with you.

First, let me say that leaving for Dee was the best thing that could have happened given the situation. Having discovered that I was not human but Garou was a shock to say the least but it made so much sense to me after processing it all. Danyell felt that I needed to be somewhere where Dana and I could both fully embrace what it meant to be Garou. We could not do that here in Caledon or Austral. The beginning was rocky and I would shift unintentionally every time I got angry. It took a lot of time and practice to not “wolf out” but once I learned to control it, it was the most amazing thing. In that form I am fast and strong. Even in human form I have the heightened senses. I can smell things that most cannot even smell when it is pointed out to them. It makes if very hard for someone to sneak up on me. I also heal at an alarming fast rate. Last week, I broke my leg trying to make a ridiculous jump and it was mostly healed by the next morning. I was attacked and shot with arrows once and it was healed within hours! I could not believe it but it is one of the benefits of being Garou.

For a while, I was worried about Accelsia but she has shifted into wolf form and seems to have very little of her father in her. She is wild though as she always was. She is gone into the woods for long periods of time. Danyell assures me that she will be fine until he can return to Dee to retrieve her. I have seen nothing of Richard since we left Steamlands but I imagine he will show again. This time, I will have the control and the power to finish him. I no longer fear him and that is a huge step for me.

So many things happened while I was in Dee. First and mostly important of all, Danyell and I were joined in a handfasting. We are married, Bridget! I am very happy. I have a book of paintings that one of the local townsfolk did of the handfasting. I hope to show it to you. I truly wish you could have been there. Now, just so you know, the reason I am able to write to you again is that we have returned to Steamlands. We are in Caledon Downs staying on property that Miss Puddlegum has offered us. We left Dee because the threat of the Drow incursion was more than Danyell wanted me exposed to in my current condition. Yes, I am with child. It is exciting and scary at the same time. It is evidently very dangerous for a Garou to carry a child as shifting cause both mother and pup harm. But Caledon is low key and low stress and therefore perfect.

So as soon as we get settled in well and before it becomes more of a danger to travel, I am coming to Ireland to see you dear sister. I will bring my friend Finna. She is a creature of beautiful and a wonderful mid-wife. I hope a visit will be welcomed. I will wait to hear from you to make sure before I come.

Your loving sister who has missed you something terribly,

Kylerra

The Return to Caledon

Kylerra climbs out of the Cloud Hopper and takes in the familiar but long forget smell of Caledon. The steam powered smoke filled air that hung thick about the city. To most people coming from a place like Dee, the scent would be offensive yet it was familiar and brought back memories for her. She wondered if those she knew before were still around; Alix and Austin, Wendy. She would have to call on them.


They had changed into the most appropriate clothing they had to arrive in Caledon but did so under the cover of night so as not to draw attention to themselves until such a time as they could make themselves less conspicuous. Danyell led Kylerra and Finna toward a Victorian house still under construction then knocked on the door. Miss Puddlegum opened the door and a smile sprang to her face at seeing them. She beckoned them in, retrieved tea for the party then she and Danyell went off to discuss business leaving Kylerra explaning as much as she could about Caledon to Finna. The land wight and Crandal would have the most difficulty adapting to life in Caledon.

Upon Danyell and Miss Puddlegums return, she led them out of the house and to a property not far from her home that she told Danyell he could use as he saw fit. Kylerra smiled at their friend’s fortune as before they left steamlands, Miss Puddlegums financial situation seemed dire indeed. Miss Puddlegum said that she would have Kylerra’s trunk of clothing sent to her once they were settled there and that she had intercepted letters from Kylerra’s sister that were in the trunk as well.

Kylerra paused. Bridget…..she had almost forgotten how long it had been since her last correspondence with her. She looked forward to hearing from her and writing back to her to let her know all that had happened. Danyell informed Miss Puddlegum that he would have builders come in the morning to erect Wytchwood Estates and Kylerras heart lept. She loved the floating house that had been above the EZC head quarters in Austral and was thrilled for at least for the time being, it would be home again. Miss Puddlegum said that she had a couple of rooms that could help house some of the pack as well.

The next days were a blur of building, moving and getting situated and settled. Kylerra decorated she and Danyell’s room with the deer skin rug that Mort had given them for our handfasting. It was one piece of Dee that she insisted on. Kylerra did not know if she could even sleep in a normal bed again. Danyell was understanding as he gave into her whims. Crandal was taken as a full member of the pack and Danyell ran up the EZC flag once again in Caledon. Dana would take my place as his right hand as far as the EZC business and Crandal joined them as well. Danyell would not have me in combat or even training for such in my current state. As much as she hated the thought, Kylerra knew he was right. She would fine gentler arts to occupy my time. Maybe more time spent with Miss Puddlegum and her acquaintences.

Old friends seemed to find us easily. Kath Blackheart visited us almost as soon as we set up and joined the EZC unit as well. He brought with him a young Hungarian named Peter. Quiet but polite fellow. They hoped to get to know him more in the future. Kylerra's trunk arrived at Wytchwood Estates two days after they arrived.  She pulled the uniforms and dresses out and carefully laid them out for inspection. Kylerra knew that she would have to get more or have them altered as her condition progressed. There was just no room for a pregnant belly in those garments. As she lifted a purple dress out of the trunk, a bundle of bound letters dropped to the floor. Kylerra stopped handing the dress off to Finna and gathered them as if they were a fragile child. She sat down at the desk and slowly opened them one by one and read them. Once done, she drew out some parchment and a quill and begin to write a letter to her sister to attempt to tell her all that had happened in Dee.

Starting over....Again

Kylerra slowly rises from the pillows on the cave floor. Her head aches and her body, already feeling odd with the life that was growing inside of her, is stiff. This should have been a time of joy for and happiness for her. She cradles her belly unconsciously as she looks into the fire. She is aware of the movement about the cave as Dana and Crandal gather what little possessions they own and prepare to head to Danyell’s ship, the
Selene Cloud Hopper. Feeling the touch on her arm she looks up to see Dana smiling at her.
“It will all be fine, Kyl. He knows what is best..” Kylerra weakly returns the smile.
Kylerra was not sure however that all would be fine. Danyell had once spoken of the dangers and risks of a Garou bearing a child. Shifting was a danger to both her and the child and she had already shifted once in this
condition unknowingly. She paused touching her belly and could not help but smile despite this knowledge. She was truly carrying his child within her and the forest spirit said it was a boy.
There was the matter of where they would go. Where would a pack of feral werewolves be accepted? Danyell had not spoken of his actual plans but she was sure a stop in Caledon would be on the list. Miss Puddlegum would be ecstatic with the news she was sure. She was like a sister to Danyell.  Kylerra smiled to herself. She liked the women that had stood as Danyells second at their handfasting. For the first time, since she had burned the dresses many moons ago, she regretted the rash action. She had very little to wear that was not furs or leathers and she could not see putting the itchy breaches and jacket that she wore as Danyell’s bodyguard when he employed her in the EZC back on again. That would be one of the first things that she would have to take care of upon arrival at their destination. Maybe Miss Puddlegum would still have the second trunk that Kyl had left in Caledon before they left.
Danyell had arisen early in that morning to ready the ship for the journey.  Though we had not seen him in a while, Danyell said that Vortagen would be meeting us at our destination. Kyl was sure that he was not sad to leave Dee. He had never stayed their permenantly anyway as the lands magic made his "skills" difficult. He was never able to tap the magic and bend it to his needs. He would be glad, she was sure, to return to more familar lands and Kyl would be glad to see more of him. He had become as a brother to her.
She moved about the cave as if in a dream state, she hated leaving Dee but with the threat of the Drow and knowing that she would not be able to sit out of a fight if it came to that. She hoped that Cora would come before they left the cave that day. She wanted a chance to say goodbye. It did not look as though that would happen. She had much to thank the elf for and it was for her that she hated leaving the most. The pack had brought the elf happiness it seemed. Danyell was as a brother to her. But she would understand, she always understood much when others could not see the grander picture. She stepped out to the balcony and looked out on the forest then looked back at her deifur. She had expected that Dana would go with them. Because Kylerra and Danyell were the closest thing she had to a family, she would not stay behind. What she had not expected was that Crandal would request to go as well. She watched as Crandal was hoisting the last of the crates in his shoulder to carry to the ship. She was glad he had found them. He seemed to please Dana. She liked seeing her deifur smiling.
Even more surprising was the forest wight, Finna, who had approached her earlier that day in human form and asked to leave with them. She made a good argument as she would make the perfect mid-wife for Kylerra so Danyell did not tell her “no”.
Kylerra turned again looked out over the forest. Mort was out hunting again. Kyl did not think she wanted to be around for the packing. She was sure that though the news was happy news, Mort did not want to see them go.  Kylerra would miss her the most. She let her thoughts slip back to that first meeting when Mort showed up at the same time as Gideon, Azazel as he was then. She was a bold pup but knew more about who she was than Kylerra did at the time. Kyl remembered the look in Morts eyes when Danyell grabbed
her and pinned her against the wall demanding an explanation of her arrival at the same time as the possessed elf. Mort calmly and with resolve, spoke of who and what she was and she had become Kylerra’s sister from that point on.
She turned to Dana and spoke.
I am going to the tree top, deifur.” She spoke quietly to Dana. “I want to see it one last time before we leave the island.” Dana nodded to her. She noted the concern in Dana’s eyes but she did not try to stop her. She
stepped out of the cave and climbed around to the council area. She paused for a moment looking around before she climbed the ropes up each level emerging at the top of the tree. The calm pool of water gurgling a welcome to her. She had loved it up here from the very beginning. Ever since the first time she had come up here and found a strange human sitting looking out over the water entranced. She remembered Runa trying to get the human’s attention by poking him with her toes. Kylerra could not help but smile.  She had so many wonderful memories of Dee. She walked to the edge and looked out. She could not help but laugh lightly remember that just a week before she had leap from this very spot trying to make the ridge and missed, landing hard and breaking her left rear paw. It's a good thing that she heals so quickly. The smile quickly faded when she remembered that she had been in wolf form…..a danger to her current state. Funny, how the fall from such a height did not worry her though. She moved so that she could see the city back lit by the rising sun. She would have to get used to being among humans again she supposed.
She suddenly regretted some of the things that she had said to Arturos on their last meeting. She would not leave the isle without at least attempting to apologize to him. He was definitely one of the good ones.
She did love Dee. Tears slowly rolled down her face as she stood there.  She squeezed her eyes shut. She smelled his approach long before he reached her. He approached her with the grace that only the Alpha of the pack has, his energy washing over her. He had been so distracted lately and she had feared that the news of her condition would not please him. She felt first the hand on her shoulder and then his arms as one and then the other wrapped around her shoulders and he nuzzled into her neck. She breathed a sigh of relief. His touch had the ability to calm her. She turned and looked into his eyes and he smiled at her. She could see the
weariness on his face and knew that the decision to leave Dee was not one that he had made lightly. She suspected that he had known her condition long before she did. She loved this man more than words could ever describe and knew that he knew what was best and she would follow him anywhere.
“You realize that I will need to return at times as my elf needs me?” he spoke gently, slipping his hand to her belly. “You will have much to distract you soon anyway. You will not even know I am gone in those times.”
He smiled, a playful tone in his voice.
Kylerra nodded, “Of course I understand that and I will always miss you. I, too, hope to return occasionally.”
He nodded understanding. They stood there holding each other for a moment before Danyell spoke again.
“Are you ready, Mela?” he spoke gently. She loved the elven language the she had adopted some words from but "Mela" was her favorite. It meant "my love" and eternal love that only elves can experience due to the length of their lives.
She leaned up to kiss him, exhaling all of her worries. “Yes”
He nodded at her and stepped back shifting into his natural form. She watches him change much as she did the first night he shifted in front of her in the ruins many moons ago and before she ever knew what she was. He then gently gathers her up in his arms and leaps over the edge carrying her safely to the ground below. Setting her down, his speaks in the growling voice of his wolf, “Go and say your goodbyes then meet us at the ship.”
Nodding, she obeys and walks towards the cheese makers shop……