Adventurers for Hire: Mother's Day Special

Tsaravi
15 Rain’s Hand 4E 182
Red Claw Tribe encampment, twenty miles east of Dune, Annequina
Another contraction sent waves of intense pain throughout Bhuki’s body, causing her to cry out and squeeze her husband, Do’Diraaj’s hand even harder. Ever the stoic warrior, Do’Diraaj only winced, despite the audible crack of bone. After what felt like an eternity, the contraction ended, and Bhuki gasped desperately for air. The midwife, an Ohmes Khajiit woman about Bhuki’s age, smiled and nodded her approval. “Very good Shaman. You’re nearly there!” She said in a soothing voice that just made Bhuki want to gouge out her eyes.

“You’ve been saying that for three damn hours!” Bhuki snarled. “How is this time any different?!”

The midwife looked up from her task, smiling warmly. “Because your first cub has crowned. When the next contraction hits, you’ll have to push!”

Bhuki was thrilled her babies were almost there, but terrified of what was coming next. “Bhuki doesn’t know if she can!” She sobbed. “This one is so tired, the only thing keeping her awake is the pain!”

Her husband Do’Diraaj, the chieftain of their tribe, gently stroked Bhuki’s head with his free hand. “Hey,” He said in a soothing voice. “what happened to that crazy Suthay-Raht bitch who threatened to turn me, a Cathay-Raht half again her size, inside out when we first met?”

Bhuki cried again. “She didn’t spend almost two days in agony trying to get two people out of her body, I did! I can’t do this Do’Diraaj! I’m too weak!”

Do’Diraaj took hold of Bhuki’s chin and moved her head so she was looking into his eyes. “You are not weak! Alkosh, Bhuki! You’ve endured pain that would’ve broken me in less than an hour for two days! You are far stronger than I could ever hope to be!”

The pride she felt from her love’s praise was quickly overwhelmed by the pain of another contraction. With a newfound confidence and determination, Bhuki bore down and pushed with all her might. Through the pain, she was dimly aware of the midwife calling on her apprentice to bring the tub of hot water into the tent. The contraction ended, and with a grunt Bhuki stopped pushing. “Very good Bhuki!” The midwife said. “Your first cub is almost out! One more push should do it, then the next one will come much more easily!” The midwife’s apprentice, a Suthay girl around fifteen years old, came into the tent carrying a tub of steaming hot water, which she set down by a pile of cloth blankets next to Bhuki’s feet, before kneeling beside the midwife. The next contraction hit, and Bhuki once again pushed, soon enough, the immense pressure she had been feeling in between her legs lessened considerably, and after a couple of seconds the most beautiful sound she had ever heard hit her ears, her baby’s cries. “Your first cub is here!” The midwife said as she handed the screaming infant to her apprentice, who immediately began cleaning it. “Just one more to go, and it’ll finally be over!”

As if on cue, another contraction hit, and with her last ounce of strength, Bhuki pushed. Just as the midwife said, Bhuki could feel her second cub moving much faster than the first. Within moments, she was greeted by the much louder cries of her second cub. It was over. Her strength gone, Bhuki began to fall backwards, but her beloved Do’Diraaj was able to catch her in time, and helped her to lie back on the bedroll gently. Do’Diraaj stroked her cheek, and smiled warmly. “You were amazing Love!” He said with a catch in his voice.

With a trembling hand, she reached up and touched her mate’s cheek. “You weren’t so bad yourself! Tell me about our cubs!”

Do’Diraaj looked over to where the midwife and her apprentice were cleaning the still crying twins, and let out a small gasp. “They’re boys! They’re really boys!”

“Oh!” The midwife exclaimed. “Those are just their umbilical cords, they’re girls Chieftain!” Bhuki couldn’t help but laugh.

“Oh, they’re girls!” Do’Diraaj said. “They’re the most beautiful girls I’ve ever seen!” Tears welled in his eyes.

Bhuki took Do’Diraaj’s hand in both of hers. “They must be, if they can bring my Dragon Slayer to tears!” She said, calling him by her pet name for him, which began life as an insult before becoming a term of endearment.

“Would you like to cut the cords Chieftain?” The midwife asked.

“Absolutely!” Do’Diraaj said as he placed Bhuki’s hands on her chest. Bhuki looked up through the open flap in the tent’s roof to see the night sky. Shooting stars streaked across her vision. She tightly clutched the copper and silver crescent moons amulet that Do’Diraaj had given her on their wedding day, and said a silent prayer of thanks to Jone, Jode, and Mara for the priceless gifts she had received today.

“Very good, Chieftain.” The midwife said. “While we wrap up the newest members of our tribe, why don’t you help your wife sit up so she can hold them?”

Do’Diraaj took hold of one of Bhuki’s hands, and slid his free hand under her back. “Are you ready to meet our cubs?”

“I was ready nine months ago!” Bhuki said. Do’Diraaj gently eased her back into an upright position. A dull ache in her midsection caused her to wince audibly.

“Did I move you too quickly?” Do’Diraaj asked in a near panic, which made Bhuki smile.

“I’m just a little tender Dragon Slayer.” Bhuki said. “I would endure a hundred times worse to see my girls!”

Once she was upright, the midwife and her apprentice placed the crying bundles in each of Bhuki’s arms. “Shaman,” The midwife said. “this one is proud to present to you, your daughters.”

The instant her cubs were in her arms, Bhuki wept tears of pure joy. “Shh, it’s okay little ones, Mommy has you! She finally has you!” At the sound of her voice, the twins calmed down and started nuzzling into her breasts. Bhuki looked up to the midwife, smiling the biggest smile in her entire life. “Thank you! Thank you so very much!”

The midwife bowed her head. “It was Khajiit’s duty and great pleasure Shaman!” She then lifted her head. “You’ll be happy to know, they are both very healthy. As for the form your cubs will take, Jode is new, and Jone is waning, they will be Suthay-Raht, like you.” Although she would’ve dearly loved her cubs, even if they were tiny Alfiq or towering Senche-Raht, Bhuki was thrilled they would be like her. The midwife and her apprentice stood. “Now Shaman, we will leave you and your husband to bond with your cubs.” They left the tent, and closed the flap behind them.

Bhuki looked at her now sleeping twins. They had her amber, almost golden fur and black stripes, as well as her nose. They also had Do’Diraaj’s white muzzle, and like him, Bhuki could see they had white fur on their chests. They were identical in almost every way, with one exception, the twin in her right arm had black fur on her eyelids that also formed rings around her eyes, while the one on her left didn’t. Do’Diraaj put his arm around Bhuki, and gave her a Khajiit style kiss to the cheek. “They are absolutely beautiful.” Do’Diraaj said. “Our little Tahadi, and Khuta!”

“Diraaj?” Bhuki said. “I’ve been thinking about their names. While it would be a nice gesture to name them for our mothers, wouldn’t it be nicer if they had names that were truly their own?”

“That would be wonderful.” Do’Diraaj said. “I only picked our parents’ names because we couldn’t think of any before. What did you have in mind?”

Bhuki looked up through the open flap in the roof again, even more shooting stars streaked across the sky, she then looked back down to her cubs. “Shooting stars as well as the stars of the Mage marked their birth. How about Tsarina for the one with black eyelids, and Tsaravi for the one with amber eyelids?”

Do’Diraaj was quiet for a moment, likely deep in thought. “Tsarina, ‘Star Shine’, Tsaravi, ‘Starlight’. Yes.” He smiled. “Yes! I like them, there aren’t many around with those names! Tsarina and Tsaravi it is!”

Bhuki smiled with tears in her eyes. “Did you hear that girls? Your names are now Tsarina and Tsaravi!” A thought then occurred to her. “Actually, those were always your names! It just took Mommy and Daddy this long to realize it!” She then gave each cub a little Khajiit kiss to the forehead.

Do’Diraaj gave his daughters a kiss of his own. “Welcome to the tribe sweet ones!” He whispered.


Gazes-At-Stars
8 Mid Year 4E185
Shadowfen Hatching Pools, Black Marsh
Keeshein was intently focused on her egg. Her one egg. When the Argonian seamstress left Chorrol with her husband, the adventurer Reedakus, she had three. When she learned she was pregnant, Keeshein was overjoyed as it was, it was painfully rare for Argonians outside of Black Marsh to even conceive, but when she laid three eggs, she was over the moons. She didn’t want to press her luck any further, she wanted to ensure her Hatchlings got the best start possible, she wanted to hatch them at the same Hatching Pools where Reedakus had been born, so they may drink the sap from the same Hist tree their father had.

Initially, Reedakus refused, he insisted the sap Keeshein could produce from her breasts would be more than sufficient until the Hatchlings were twelve, when they would need to drink directly from a Hist tree to become sexually mature. Eventually, Keeshein’s insistence eroded Reedakus’, and they travelled to Black Marsh. The journey through Cyrodiil was uneventful, as Reedakus knew the best routes to avoid trouble. It wasn’t until they left Stormhold that they ran into trouble. In the middle of the night, their camp was attacked by a large, black-scaled creature with a mouthful of needle-like fangs. Before they could react, it had snatched two of their eggs right out of Keeshein’s arms, and fled into the darkness. Reedakus followed, leaving Keeshein behind with their last remaining egg, which she held protectively in an iron grip. Nearly an hour later, Reedakus returned, covered in blood, and empty-handed. He didn’t have to say anything, Keeshein let out a wail, for she knew her babies were dead, because of her.

The following day, they arrived at the Shadowfen Hatching Pools. Keeshein was distraught, and refused to let her egg out of her sight, even to rest. For days she sat unmoving, keeping a watchful eye on her last remaining egg, despite the insistence from her husband and the attendants that she rest, or the assurance from the guardians that they would protect her egg with their lives. She finally agreed to a compromise, she would sleep, as long as Reedakus would take over watching the egg as she did so. The arrangement worked perfectly, once she was able to get a few nights sleep, she became far less worried over her egg, and more confident in those protecting it.

One night, Keeshein was roused from her sleep by Reedakus. “Keesh! Keeshein! Wake up!” He whispered as he gently shook her.

“What? Reed?” Keeshein groggily mumbled. “What’s happening?”

Reedakus simply said: “It’s time!”

With those two simple words, Keeshein was instantly awake, and immediately made a b-line for the pool that held her egg. Keeshein was intently focused on her egg. Her one egg. And the crack that had formed on top. The egg was shaking quite vigorously, its occupant clearly wanted out now! Reedakus caught up to Keeshein, and knelt beside her so he too could witness their Hatchling’s arrival into the world. The crack widened, and a set of tiny, green-scaled fingers pushed their way out, the Hatchling had its father’s coloring, that’s for sure. Keeshein reached out her hand to the fingers, which instantly hooked onto her index finger. “Yes, it’s me!” She said. “It’s Mama! Come out to me!” As if responding to her summons, more cracks formed on the egg, and shards began breaking off. Within a minute, the upper half of the egg was gone, save for one shard, which stubbornly clung to the green-scaled Hatchling’s head. With a chuckle, Keeshein removed the offending debris from the bewildered Hatchling, revealing it had some of her coloring as well. Purple scales covered the Hatchling’s brow ridges and cheeks. And in between its horns, tiny purple feathers were growing in.

The Hatchling opened its yellow eyes and stared at its parents in awe. “Look!” Reedakus said. “It has your eyes!”

Keeshein slid her hands under her Hatchling’s arms, causing a hissy little laugh, then lifted it up out of its egg. She then lowered it into the pool, to clean it and give it its first lungful of water. Once the Hatchling was clean, she took it out of the water and cradled it lovingly in her arms. “There, much better, isn’t it?” The Hatchling nuzzled into Keeshein’s breasts, but then its attention became focused skyward. Keeshein followed her child’s gaze to the clear night sky and dazzling array of stars overhead. “Oh, do you like the stars little one?” She asked. The Hatchling didn’t respond of course, it just kept gazing at the stars.

An attendant then led the new family to the Hist tree in the center of the Hatching Pools. There were many couples and families around the tree, and many newborn Hatchlings clinging to its trunk. The attendant brought Keeshein and Reedakus to a clear area of the tree. As though triggered by their very presence, thick amber-colored sap began leaking from under the bark. Almost instinctively, Keeshein placed her Hatchling at the foot of the tree, and it instantly clung to the trunk and began vigorously licking the sap leaking down to it. The attendant then produced two goblets and collected some sap with them. She then presented the filled goblets to Keeshein and Reedakus. “Drink.” She commanded.

They took the goblets. Keeshein examined the glowing amber contents. “Why?” She asked.

“So you may learn the name the Hist has chosen for your Hatchling.” The attendant warmly said.

Without hesitation, Keeshein and Reedakus drank the Hist sap. Instantaneously, Keeshein’s mind was filled with images, thoughts, and feelings that were not her own. She felt the immense joy the Hist felt for her becoming a mother, and also the great sorrow for her tragic loss on the journey there. She saw images of her own hatching, as well as Reedakus’, and couldn’t help but laugh at how adorable he was as a Hatchling. There were images of her parents bringing her back to Black Marsh, so she could once again lick the Hist sap, and become a woman, accompanied by similar images of Reedakus, allowing her to see his late parents. And all through these images, thousands of voices kept repeating the same word over and over. “Xileelhassehs.” She repeated aloud when the vision ended. “Gazes-At-Stars!” She said in Tamrielic. “I know his name! I know he’s a he! That was incredible!”

Reedakus knelt to Gazes-At-Stars’ level, and placed a hand on his back. “A son. I have a son!” He said with a catch in his voice. He cleared his throat, then stood up and faced the attendant. “How long will he have to remain here?”

“It varies with each Hatchling.” The attendant said. “Some are ready in a week, it’s rare for them to stay longer than a month. But in the end, it all depends on him, he will know when it’s time to go home.” She gestured to a nearby pair of bedrolls. “As you can see, accommodations have been set up for you. Congratulations, I will leave you now.”

Once they were alone, the new parents sat with their new Hatchling, who was still happily licking up sap. “So, we’re parents now.” Keeshein said, the reality of it sinking in now that their Hatchling was actually here.

“Yeah.” Reedakus said. “I know this will sound cliched, but it feels like just yesterday that I met you at the Oak and Crosier during the New Life Festival, now here we are, three years later.”

“Scared?” Keeshein asked, trying (unsuccessfully) to hide her own fear.

“Terrified.” Reedakus said. “We’re not off to the best start, losing two of them before they even hatch. Can you ever forgive me?”

That question truly caught Keeshein off-guard. “Forgive you? You blame yourself and not me?”

“I failed to save them.” Reedakus said, his voice heavy with sadness. “I promised you I’d keep them safe, and I failed.”

Keeshein put a hand on her love’s shoulder. “Reed, it wasn’t your fault, it was me. All three of our Hatchlings would be alive now if I hadn’t been so stupid and insisted they be born here in Black Marsh.” She looked to the ground, and began to cry. “I’m a terrible mother!”

Reedakus brought Keeshein into a tight hug. “You will be a wonderful mother! You wanted our Hatchlings to have the best possible start in life, and you stopped at nothing to make it happen.” He then broke the hug and held her by the arms. “Blaming ourselves for what happened won’t change what happened. All we can do is carry on, and ensure our son has the best life possible.”

Keeshein looked to Gazes-At-Stars, who was still licking Hist sap, completely oblivious to the emotional exchange behind him, and rubbed his head. “You’re right. Gazes-At-Stars is our top priority now, chastising ourselves accomplishes nothing.” She then looked back to Reedakus. “We just had a baby, this should be a time of joy. No more of this brooding!”

Reedakus leaned his head against Keeshein’s. “Yes, this is one of the happiest days of my life! And I know many more are sure to follow. I love you Keesh!”

“I love you too Reed!” Keeshein said. She stroked Gazes-At-Stars’ back. “And Mama loves you, my Hatchling!”


J’Khasha
20 Frostfall 4E 185
Oak and Crosier third floor, Chorrol, Cyrodiil
“AAUUGGHHH!!” Another scream came from Mama and Papa’s room, which caused the two-year-old Ohmes-Raht Khajiit Zahra to bury her face into Aunty Alayna’s swollen tummy, knowing that Mama let out that scream. Aunty Alayna, an Ohmes Khajiit, stroked Zahra’s back. “Oh, sweetness! It’s going to be all right!”

Zahra shook her head vigorously. “No! Mama hurt! Baby hurt!” She then heard a man cry out from Mama and Papa’s room. “Papa hurt too!”

Aunty Alayna gave a slight laugh at that last one. “Yes, your Mama’s in pain.” She placed a hand on her large tummy, that the grown-ups claimed had Zahra’s new cousin inside. “But take it from someone who’s been through this before. It’s a different kind of pain than what you’re thinking, a pain that’ll actually help to bring your sibling into the world.”

How could Aunty say that? Pain was pain, and it was not helpful! “Mama hurt!” Zahra reiterated. “Baby hurt!”

“I never thought about it before,” Uncle Ra’Zhaar, a Dagi-Raht, said in his funny accent. “but this would be pretty painful for the baby too!”

“Zhaar, dear,” Aunty said with a fake smile. “I’m trying to calm the poor girl!”

“I mean, put yourself in the cub’s position.” Uncle Ra’Zhaar continued. “There you are, minding your own business, in the nice, quiet, warm, and cozy little room you’ve spent the last nine months, the totality of your existence by the way, when suddenly, without warning, the walls start closing in on you!”

“Zhaar,” Aunty said through gritted teeth. “this isn’t helping!”

Uncle Ra’Zhaar then started acting like he was being squeezed by some outside force, causing cousin Risha to slide away from him to the other side of the couch. “Now you’re getting squeezed through a tiny tunnel, like paint out of a tube. Every couple of minutes, you get a small respite and you think: ‘Great, it’s over,’ only to have it start again, over and over, until you’re forced through an opening less than half your size, out into a cold, strange world! It wouldn’t just be painful, it must be downright terrifying!”

That vivid image, plus another scream from Mama, caused Zahra to break down in tears and hug Aunty Alayna tightly, earning a shout of “Crybaby!” from her big meanie cousin Risha.

“Was it something I said?” Uncle Ra’Zhaar asked.

Aunty Alayna wrapped her arm around Zahra. “My loveable jackass.” Aunty muttered. “Sweetness, there’s nothing to worry about, your Mama and the cub will be just fine! You’re proof of that!”

Zahra looked up at Aunty, and wiped away her tears. “Whaddya mean?”

Aunty was about to answer when Mama let out another scream, this time accompanied by a scream from Papa. Zahra could then hear Papa’s muffled voice come from their bedroom. “Easy Zai! I’ve only got the one hand!”

“Shut up you bastard!!” Mama’s barely muffled voice replied. “You did this to me, so you need to suffer toooOOOAAUUGGGHHHH!!” Her last word became a scream, to which Papa joined in.

“As I was saying,” Aunty continued, unfazed. “two years ago, you were the baby your Mama was giving birth to, and you turned out fine, right?”

Zahra sniffed and nodded. “Uh-huh.”

“And four years ago,” Aunty said. “before you were born, I gave birth to Risha, and we’re fine, right?” She gave a reassuring smile.

Zahra stopped crying and returned the smile. “Yeah!”

“So, there’s no reason to worry now!” Aunty said. “Before you know it, your baby brother or sister will be here, and this whole day will just be a memory!”

“Okay!” Zahra said, feeling much better about all of this.

It was at that moment that Mama let out more of a loud grunt than a scream. Papa could be heard saying: “That’s it Zai! Just push! PUSH!!” The grunt ended with a short scream, then there was a scary silence. A couple of seconds later, a high-pitched crying could be heard coming from Mama and Papa’s room.

Aunty and Uncle were thrilled by this, and Aunty gave Zahra a big hug. “Congratulations, sweetness! You’re now officially a big sister! Welcome to the club!” Zahra didn’t know what to think of this, she had never been a “big” anything, she had always been the baby of the family.

A short while after the crying stopped, an Imperial woman in brown robes came into the living room from the main hall. “The birth went perfectly.” She said with a warm smile. “Zaikhala and the baby are resting comfortably. When they are ready for visitors, Dro’Khalash will bring you in. Congratulations, and farewell.” She left with another brown robed Imperial in tow, carrying an empty wooden tub with a red stained sack inside.

After what felt like forever to Zahra, though in reality it was closer to ten minutes, Papa, a seven-foot tall, one armed Tojay-Raht, came into the living room. He was doing that weird thing that grown-ups did sometimes, where they smile while crying. “It’s a boy!” Papa said. “I have a son!”

Aunty started “smile crying” too. “Congratulations Khal! That’s wonderful!”

Papa walked around to the front of the couch and knelt to Zahra’s level. “Hey sweetheart! There’s someone who’s very excited to meet you!” He reached out his one arm and hoisted up Zahra, who immediately latched onto his neck. He then carried her through the main hall and into his and Mama’s bedroom.

Mama, a Suthay, was sitting up in bed, leaning back against the headboard, holding a cloth bundle to her bare chest. Zahra had never seen Mama look so happy or so tired before. Mama looked up from the bundle, and somehow gave an even bigger smile than she already had. “Hello sweetheart!” Mama said, her voice even scratchier than normal. “Come meet your baby brother!” Papa set Zahra down on the bed next to Mama. Mama pulled the bundle away from her chest, revealing that it was in fact a baby Khajiit wrapped in a blanket. He started to make a fuss, but a few quiet shushes from Mama settled him down.

The baby had Papa’s black fur, but not his spots, instead he had markings more like Mama’s, with black stripes forming an almost “M” shape on his forehead. His ears were floppy and folded, while his eyes were shut tight, hiding their color. Zahra instantly fell in love with this adorable little fuzzball. “What’s his name?” Zahra asked.

“Khasha.” Mama said. “Ma’Khasha, after your Paw-Paw.”

Zahra rubbed Ma’Khasha’s little nose with her finger. “Hi Ma’Khasha! I your big sister, Zahra!” Ma’Khasha sniffed Zahra’s finger, then started sucking on it, making Zahra giggle. “His tongue tickles!”

Mama and Papa giggled too. “I think he’s saying that he likes you sweetheart!” Mama said.

Zahra was thrilled to be hitting it off with her baby brother so quickly. “I like you too Ma’Khasha!” Ma’Khasha let out a squeaky little yawn, and Zahra pulled her finger out of his mouth just before he snapped it shut. “He must be real tired Mama! His eyes won’t open!”

“Yes,” Mama said. “he’s had a very big day! And his eyes won’t open for quite a while, but that’s not just because he could use some sleep, his eyes aren’t ready to open yet. Until then, he’s going to need his big sister to help look out for him. Do you think you can do that sweetheart?”

Zahra looked up and smiled at Mama. “Yes Mama! I can be a good big sister!” She then gave Ma’Khasha a little Khajiit kiss to the forehead. “I gonna take good care of you Ma’Khasha!” She whispered. “You can count on me!” Ma’Khasha purred quite loudly at this.

Papa gave Zahra a kiss on the cheek. “I think he knows he’s in good hands.” Zahra smiled at the praise as she watched her new baby brother drift off to sleep in Mama’s arms. She didn’t know what adventures awaited them, but she was ready to be by his side through them all.

The End.