Time goes quicker between the two of us [Canaan]

[Circinae]

oh, my love, don't forsake me. take what the water gave me ..

The first sound of her name wipes clean the countless days between them and his touch is welcomed, met with the pressure of her own soft lips against any bare inch of him that she can find. Silently, like all the countless prayers she offered to the night sky when the stars seemed brightest, tears draw invisible lines over her warm cheeks and stain his pelt. To have him so close again was all she had ever wanted. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily,” She says, finding the courage to joke even though the laughter comes with sharp pain, “especially not now.” She exhales.

In the dark, warm recesses of her wide belly there comes a flutter of movement. Her skin undulates, rising in soft mounds where hooves push for room in an already crowded space. The irony of their reunion is too good to be true but she reasons that the jump had finally sapped the last of her will and energy. Ripping through time to travel instantly was more work than it looked. “I know we have a lot to catch up on but these two won’t wait.” Circinae explains, letting the subtle mention of twins slip casually from her cache of secrets.

Her breathing comes in short gasps now, a hissing note following each footstep as she moves stiffly away from him. When she first discovered that she was carrying two, her fear had overwhelmed her. Now - she’s right where she belongs. Fear has no place in her mind or heart anymore. Steadily, easily, she lowers herself onto shaky knees and comes to a rather ungraceful rest. “I’m glad that you’re here.” She moans, throwing her head over her shoulder to pin him with bright eyes. An exhausted laugh tumbles past her lips and then she is prostrate on her side, shallow gasps racking her lungs while her body heaves with the effort of what’s to come.

There is only a little complication. The first foal slips easily into their world, gold and green and favoring Canaan more than she could’ve hoped for. Her second is turned backwards, a breach birth, and the pain her child gives is agonizing. Circinae cries out but never gives up, only stopping to view them with half-lidded eyes once there is nothing left to give. Both boys, nearly as similar as twins can get. One sports her green, the other her blue, and they share a tinge of Canaan between them in their color. Absolutely perfect.

Bloodied and tired she rises, eager to greet the first and check over the second as they too find their feet. She’s as proud as a newly-minted mother can be, nibbling them softly here and there while pleasurable noises erupt from her chest. The water wolf is so enraptured by her get that she’d momentarily forgotten about the father. Canaan isn’t far and with a start she remarks, “Two colts!” Looking between them it’s not hard to see that her winged counterpart is responsible for making them, but the green-framed colt is almost the spitting image of his father. Circy reaches forward to tap her nose lightly on the elder twin. “Would you like to name one?”

Circinae