Meanwhile, the Canines were teaming with litters being whelped. The midwives and doctors didn’t have enough staff on hand with the births they were delivering. The alpha of their clan stepped where he could, but many of the women screamed at him to leave. When the Wolf elder came back, he was ushered to the hospital. The panicked alpha rushed up to him.
“Gene! We’ve had an influx of women go into labor. What do we do?”
He placed his hands on the wide-eyed alpha. His gruff voice soothed even the antsiest member. “We’ll contact the other kinsmanship and ask for their assistance, Braden.”
Braden calmed soon as he heard the idea. It was simple that he hadn’t thought of it in his state. “I-I should’ve thought of that, but I tried to help where I could.”
“And you were rightly booted from the room. Am I right?”
He nodded his head. “I wasn’t going to do anything.”
A midwife passed their line of sight. Gene called her. “Inform the other clans. We need assistance with labor and delivery here.”
The woman nodded curtly before rushing to the office to make the call. Gene returned his attention to Braden. “None of those women were your sisters, mother, wife, or family. They are only your kinship. I have told you, we have only our animals that tie us together. You have no relations to those women outside of that.”
Braden nodded his head. “I hear you, Elder Gene, but I can’t just sit back and allow them to go without help. That’s part of the duties being an alpha.” He motioned to all the people in the small hospital.
Gene sighed. The thought popped into his mind once more. Elders should be the alphas instead of their guide. Braden was a young pup thrust into being an alpha too soon. “You’re a grand alpha, Braden, but you’ll be better when you start using your head first.”
Braden’s head drooped. Gene could see his wolf ears flop down as if they were on his head. “Yes, Elder Gene.”
Braden headed out of the hospital but was stopped. “Braden?”
“Yes?” He kept his head down.
“Do you know if any of the pups had the sun sign?”
He raised his head. “No, we are fortunate to not be saddled with the shifterless.” Braden left the hospital.
Gene breathed in relief. A shifterless in the canine clan would not go over well. Yes, in normal canine packs it’s much more loving, but these animals are complicated with human emotions and actions. The way they run their kinsmanship is different to a pack. Soon after, the door opened to an influx of help coming into the hospital. Much to his relief, he went to the office to ensure the safety of their pups, When a shriek turned his attention to one of the rooms. Everyone was speaking at once. Gene got up and went to the door. He bellowed so they could calm down and listen. “What is the problem?”
An elderly midwife opened the door. He peered over her to see blood on the floor and sheets. “We have a mother who is having complications, elder. We’re doing an emergency c-section.”
He nodded his head. “Do what needs to be done for the mother.”
She slowly nodded and closed the door.
After all, the excitement of ten women going into labor at the same time. The elder went to the nursery to inspect the children. Every single babe was swaddled in a blanket. Some in hues of pinks, blues, greens, and yellows. Sometimes an elder can look at a newborn and sense a familiarity with their kin. Gene only could feel a handful of the two dozen children that will grow to transform into a form of canine. It was a shame. One child that had the strongest pull on him had black hair. Darker than the moon. He sensed this child would be special in their kinsmanship. He called over an attendant and pointed. “The child there with hair darker than the darkest night. Who’s child is he for?”
The man ruffled through the chart. “He’s for Samantha Jones.”
Gene grunted in acknowledgement and headed to her room. When he got there, it was the same room they were doing the cesarean. Rapping on the door, he opened it. The woman laid on the bed groaning in pain. Her bleary eyes connected with his. Her head rolled to the side before she spaced out. She was in no shape to talk. Gene just wanted the name of the child. He wanted to ensure they would have the best of everything, even if it was to the detriment of their alpha.
He left the room and headed home. He passed Braden outside with his head down. Gene looked at the young man and continued walking past him. Braden was a good alpha, Gene could admit that, but he was too tenderhearted to do what is necessary to ensure their thriving community.
Over in the reptile kinsmanship, a few of their eggs were hatching. Someone who struggled with normal pregnancy opted to lay eggs. The incubation period was shorter than the normal birth. Solomon had gotten to the incubator to see a young hatchling emerge from their shell.
He watched as each egg hatched, inspecting every inch of their body. So far, no sun was anywhere on them. When the last egg hatched, a child with white hair emerged. Their pupils were narrowed into slits. A soft hissing could be heard from the child.
Soon, several women came in, holding their bulging bellies. One woman spoke on behalf of them all. “Sss-Solomon! Where are the doctorsss? Or nurssesss?”
He informed the women of the aid that was sent. “We’re down to a sss-skeleton crew. The canines had an influx of deliveries.”
The outspoken woman nodded her head. “I ss-see, but we also need to be assisted. Will they come to our aid as we came to theirs?”
Solomon nodded his head. Right then, the king cobra came into the hospital. He stood tall and commanded everyone’s presence. “Ss-Solomon, did my egg hatch?”
He turned to the man and held up a hand. “One moment, these women are going into labor. I need to get them settled first. Taerin.”
Taerin sat down and waited. For all his commanding presence, he was a leader of leaders. The kind of alpha their reptile kinsmanship needed. Solomon ushered the women into separate rooms and called for their nurses on staff. He then made the call to the canines, asking for their nurses and doctors back.
When he was finished with that, he gave Taerin his undivided attention. “There were a few eggs that hatched. Which incubator was yours in?”
Taerin stood up and headed towards the room. “It was in incubator twelve. Did you ss-see an egg from there?”
Solomon walked with him. They reached the incubator with the white-haired child. Taerin gasped and smiled. “He looksss jusst like a Ghosst ssnake. Hiru.” He pressed his face against the glass.
Solomon committed the name to memory. “He is a reptile shifter.”
Taerin turned to him, then back. “Whether a reptile shifter or of the other three kinsmanship. He’s my son and I’ll love him, regardless.”
Solomon thought the words were sweet, but the reality is a reptile shifter could be deadly. Even if he didn’t think his son would be, others would. It’s uncommon for a baby to display their potential shifting features. He kept those thoughts to himself as Taerin cooed over Hiru. The sky brightened as the sun made its ascension across the sky. The primates were dealing with their own intense labors. Several of the women had gone into premature labor. One woman had been begging for a c-section but was denied. “Miss, you’re not in dire straits. The least you could do is push and we can go from there.” Lina knew they wouldn’t listen to her. The child in her belly was anything but normal. She could feel it. She believed it with her soul. Her child hardly ever moved. It was as if she was carrying around a stone inside her stomach. There were no tender flutters, or random kicks. Just a lump in her belly that siphoned nutrients from her. She couldn’t go to any of the other hospitals, they w
Preschool is a time when all little shifters learn to be friends, care about each other, and keep the bonds strong between clans. It's where they learn more than what they have been taught by their families. Their influences grow. The outside world isn’t as small as it once was. They have people they want to be around. Ari King and Rei Kang have been the yin and yang of the clan from the moment they could walk and talk. Whereas Ari King is the boisterous one, Rei Kang is the quiet one. Their differences were magnified when they went to preschool. Hiru encompasses all the positive qualities of a reptile shifter as a child should. Samuel was a high-energy child. Kataya was the quiet child that all the children enjoyed being around. Each of the children was different in their own ways but none were cruel. They enjoyed being around each other. Hiru couldn’t help but tease Kataya about her gold streak. While the rest of her hair was jet black. It never bothered her. Ari King would try to
Lina wasn’t sure how to answer her. The moon goddess selected all who shifted, and only one was chosen to be shifterless until their coming of age. “We should ask the elder sweetheart. How about that?” Kataya nodded her head. “Ok then.” Lina tried to think back to the day Kataya was born, but she was so drugged up. That day was just a blur. “So, was that why you didn’t tell me how school was?” She shrugged. “No, I was going to tell you, but Hiru said something that just didn’t sit right with me.” Lina frowned. “Is he the one that called you a bastard? Although Kataya, I do not want you to use that kind of language.” She looked down at the counter. “Yeah, but he only heard it because of the other girls. They say I have to be a bastard if I haven’t had any animalistic changes.” “Well, we’re primates. We’re closer to humans than most animals. Did they ever think of that?” “But mom we don’t even look alike.” Lina shrugged. “Genetics are weird.” She sighed. “But mom you look like
Sanchez moved to the floor. His right index knuckle lifted her flesh to see the sun mark. He groaned in annoyance. His kinsmanship had the bastard child of the sun. Something in him snapped. Despite her father being the king, he didn’t want this little brat in his clan. She needed to leave. Suffer so much that she chose the moon goddess. He bellowed. “After school, you will come to the temple. No excuses and no exceptions.” Manuella finally entered the room to see him kneeling on the floor too close for comfort to the young child. “Sir, their parents wish to speak with you.” Sanchez got up and purposely bumped into her. Kataya stumbled over her clothing. Manuella came to help her up. “I’m sorry, little one.” Kataya hurried to dress. The feelings of being exposed for this long and having the elder be rude to her was enough to make tears trickle down her cheek. Her voice held back the tears threatening to fall. “Why are you sorry?” Manuella attempted to make light of the situation.
TRIGGER WARNING: INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR WITH A MINOR He relaxed his grip. “I know, but if she is, we mustn’t let it get out. That could ruin our standing and cause her problems.” “We would have to keep this secret for a decade. Do you think we can?” He shrugged his shoulders, then kissed her hand. “I don’t know, but we need to get the elder here tonight.” He turned to Lina. “Have we ever checked her for the mark?” Lina thought about it. “I don’t remember. We had help the first few years, so I never bathed her and then she was old enough to do it herself. What if she has it?” Melius shook his head. “You call the elder over and we’ll get confirmation. He’ll have to bring someone with him since she’s a girl.” Lina nodded her head. She looked past her husband to their daughter, studiously doing her assignments. The black hair faded to the background against the golden streak in her hair. “Yeah, I call them. You go help Kat.” He started to walk away but stopped. “Whatever happens, w
She opened the door to the stall furthest away from the main door. Kataya sat on the seat, pulling her knees up to her chest. Tears streamed down her face. Hiru wasn’t always like that. There was a time when he was the kindest of them all. They used to play together all the time. Their parents were together a lot when she was a toddler. She couldn’t fathom what had changed and why he acted more like a jerk than before. The bathroom door opened. A group of girls came inside cackling. “Did you see her face?” “Did you see that unsightly ass?” “I can’t believe she even came to school. I wouldn’t have if I knew I was shifterless.” They quieted down. One spoke in a whisper. “Didn’t she run into this bathroom?” One of the girls started pushing the doors in to check each stall. She got to the last one and smirked. “Aw, Kat, feeling ashamed that she showed the entire school her lower half.” The other girls snickered. “Who knew you were such a slut! I’m glad I’m not as easy as you are.” S
Kataya knew what was going on before the teachers did. Immediately, she kneeled in front of him to soothe him. “Ari?” She spoke softly while touching his hair. “Ari King, you’ll cause the change to happen before your body is ready. Remember, Ms. Tanis says we have to remain calm? We can’t continue to let our emotions get the better of us?” He unfurled his hands from around the arm of the chair and breathed out. His shoulders relaxed. Ari King kept his eyes closed until the rush of anger subsided. He looked immediately at Kataya. A tiny tug nagged at the depths of his heart. “I’m alright Kat.” Ari King wasn’t sure what it was that his ten-year-old heart was trying to convey. Hiru glared at the way she kneeled in front of Ari King. An emotion he wasn’t familiar with bubbled up, causing him to lash out. “Why do you care so much? You won’t ever shapeshift, so why don’t you take your ugly self off the mountain! No one will want you here.” Ms. Tanis called his name sharply. “HIRU! We do
He was right; they weren’t taught that. Their community was so close-knit and intertwined that they’ve never gone outside of the mountain. “We don’t leave the mountain for a reason, but I can understand your question. Just remember that just like you, Kataya is going through changes. Everyone knows you showed your abilities from the moment you were hatched. Some just take a little longer to figure out what that is.” He beamed. Hiru had heard from his father how his snake-like abilities were so powerful that his body couldn’t contain it at birth. His narrowed slit and forked tongue were prominent. She patted his head. “You’re a good kid Hiru. Whatever is going on in your developing brain, I want you to know that you won’t have many friends if you bully them.” His smile faded. “Yes, ma’am.” “Make sure you apologize to Kataya and Ari King.” He nodded his head.