{Alex}
The day after the attack the unthinkable happened, Lily woke up screaming and crying. She had been laying by my side and I just held her, not sure what to do. “What’s going on?” I asked, fear filling my heart. Was something wrong with her or the baby? Warm liquid flooded the bed as she screamed. Did she just wet the bed? No, there was some blood and it smelled foul. Oh god her water just broke. It was happening. “Help.” I weakly called out and in the blink of an eye the other women were in the room with us and all I could do was hold Lily as she cried. I remember seeing the children before they were taken away, but all my attention was on Lily. Suddenly Lily’s mother was with us taking over everything. Thank God someone was here who knew what to do. She had the women clean Lily, get clean towels and a pan of hot water. Lily was just screaming and crying until Uta reached out to touch her.
“Silly girl. She needs to push or the little one won't come out. “Gardenia said, pushing Uta away. Soon Healer was in the room with us. He took over flooding Lily with healing magic.
“Just pain control. Keep pushing dear.” He commanded. “You are doing fine.” A tall elf woman came in holding a rag and moved between Lily’s legs.
“I can see the top of the head.” She said looking up at the other two. Yeamds, ran in to help. She was a slender hare woman with long floppy rabbit ears that hung down the side of her face. She looked tired, but happy. “Good and now the shoulders.” The elf said smiling.
“The child is healthy and ready to join this world.” Yeamds said. Lily let out a scream and pushed with everything she had and then a sound came to me that broke every fiber of my being. It started off small and quickly became a howl. A baby was crying, MY baby was crying. I looked down slowly to see small dark ears flex as the baby protested the cold air it had been forced into. It had settled in. I was a father. The elf cleaned my child and handed her to Lily who was breathing hard and crying. I kissed her forehead and hugged her tightly. She was amazing, this child was amazing, this whole fucking day was amazing. God, I hadn't even had breakfast yet. How long have we been here like this? I didn’t know and just didn’t care.
“You did amazing my Honey Bunny.” I said softly. She kissed me and held her arms out as the elf handed her the swaddled baby. Lily opened her nightgown and the child latched on like a champ. Healer and Yesmds healed Lily back to full health. Once done I looked up at them gratefully. The new elf leaned down and hugged Lily and me.
“You have a beautiful baby boy.” She said crying slightly.
“Thank you all.” Lily said to everyone. I was just too stunned to speak. I had a son. I looked down at the little bunny boy with a short patch of thin black hair, two small ears moved around listening to everyone. His eyes were closed so I couldn’t see their color, but it didn’t matter. He was beautiful. I would raise him to be strong, brave and loved. He seemed to hold every dream I could ever have and every moment in my life I had ever wanted. “What shall we name him?” Lily asked me. I kissed her and laughed as I pulled away, wiping my eyes and looking around. With everything that had happened, I had forgotten to name my own child or even think of a name. I just shook my head, unable to speak. My mind went back to the anime I used to love and only one name came to mind that would be fitting.
“Kakarot.” He had black hair and would be a strong lovable man.
“What does it mean?” Lily asked not taking her eyes off the suckling baby.
“It means carrot, I think, but it was the name of a powerful warrior who all others hoped to beat one day.” I said with a slight chuckle.
“Kakarot sounds like a lovely name.” Yen said, reaching out to touch the top of the baby’s head. The kids were brought in, and it quickly became one of the best days of my life. “Master, he has two sets of ears.” Somehow,, he had both human and beast ears. Somehow it made him all the more precious. Lily kissed the top of Kakarot’s head and smiled. I had a son and wanted to scream it to the top of the world. As I looked at the child in Lily’s arms something inside me changed. It was like a part of myself had been missing and now I was whole, and I wanted so much more. Lily pulled away, burping my boy and handing him to me. I looked into his closed eyes and smiled. I would kill anyone in this world who threatened any of my children. Mai came in holding her egg and passed it to me as I handed Kakarot off to his grandmother. She delighted in rocking the tiny child and making soothing sounds. I held the egg with the same feeling. I couldn’t wait until it hatched, and I could welcome another one of my children into this world. I felt drunk with love and wanted even more. Like a man destined to die of the drink, I kissed each one of my women hoping each would soon bare my children. Yen may already be holding one of my children and she held her belly as she watched Kakarock getting passed around. Uta looked over at me with a hungry look in her eye and I could see the same look in Hena and Midna. Hena wouldn’t need a potion, but the other two would and after meeting Kakarot Savage, I would welcome so many others into this world.
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{Snowdrop Cottontail}
She was lying in bed with Gen and Ket. She lay on his right as he was slightly larger and very warm. She liked listening to him breathe, but doubt had filled her heart. Master had a new baby bunny. She had never seen a black-haired bunny before. It was strange and the way that everyone acted made her feel left out. “Do you think Master will sell us off now?” She asked the other two.
“Stupid.” Gen said blowing a raspberry. It made her smile. He liked to make her smile. “Big brother has a big heart. Did he cast out Lily when big sis Uta and I came to live with him? No. Now we have big sis Yen, big sis Mai, and big sis Midna. Don’t lick me, Ket.” He said squirming. All three laughed and smiled.
“Gen right. Smart.” Ket said, licking his arm again. This brought another round of laughter. The door opened and all three fell quiet. They knew they should be trying to sleep right now, but it was hard with how exciting the day had been. Snow looked over to see Grandma. She walked in and sat on the end of the bed. Grandma looked happy.
“I thought I’d take some time to talk to you three. I know all the adults are focused on the new baby, but that doesn’t mean they don’t care about you. Do you understand?” All three nodded at the older bunny woman.
“Grandma, can you sing to us?” Snow begged.
“Sing?” Ket asked. “Sing what?” Grandma laughed and smiled at the children in the bed. She hummed, it was the bunny’s lullaby.
“Dry your eyes, little bunny babe.” she started, and all three children closed their eyes. “Dry your eyes, little bunny babe. Can’t you see that I am here, there’s nothing for you to fear. So, dry your eyes my little bunny babe.” She kept going, switching between humming and singing. She felt Gen’s breathing slow, and Ket started snoring. It should have bothered Snow, but having the other two so close was nice. She knew that she loved them both and never wanted to be apart from them. Grandma stopped and she stood. “Go to sleep Snow. You are safe now.” Grandma said humming as she made her way to the door. Snow just lay there listening to Gen’s breathing and heartbeat. It was strong and steady. It helped her sleep.
{Guldisa Deveros}
She sat in her office crying. He had killed her daughter. The orb had frozen on his face as he looked back at her. It was clear that Alex was Lord Savage. Her daughter had tried to kill the father of her children. It was a mark of shame on Guldisa’s soul and something she will have to take to her grave. As far as those children would ever know their mother had died in a duel, honorably. She reached out a shaking hand and grabbed the orb, throwing it into the fire to watch it explode in the heat. Everything she did and would ever do would be for her family's honor and name. Lord Savage would pay, but only when they had an army. Once she had her composure, she made her way to the family workshop and found her new slaves waiting. Elves sat on a bench waiting for her. “Sorry to keep you waiting. I have brought you here to build the future of Knights. We will rip this world apart.” She said boldly. The elves just looked at her blankly. It was all a waste of time. “Just build new Knights.” She said coldly. Their collars glowed and they stood as one walking to the workshop. She rubbed her forehead and made her way to the twin’s room. Both sat quietly playing with blocks. Both liked wearing the same clothing so she could never tell who Alexia was and who was Amanda, but it didn't matter to them. Both were wearing a light-yellow dress that fell to the floor. It was odd how little sound they made, like there was something broken in them. Maybe it was the part that Savage had added, but the girls just didn’t want to make noise or be around people. She nodded to them, and both nodded at the same time back. At least they weren’t too demanding.
She walked back to her office and pulled out a hidden stash of strong wine. Her daughter was dead, her granddaughters were strange, and her house had taken a hit to its honor today. She wasn’t sure what was going to happen or if anything would ever be okay, but she would work hard to make sure House Deveros came out on top.