Throughout today, Rev's body had been feeling slow and heavy. And inexplicably drawn to lay in the Blue Bowl - where nodeer would be able to see him. Except his father - and Nine. Nine was unexpected. He'd known the deer for a while, but didn't really think that he cared enough about a three-horned deer's doings to come sit by him. But he did. As did his father. Something in them seemed to know that it was indeed.. time. And even what it was time for. From his buried position in the grasses and flowers, he could view Saosin on the hill across from the Bowl, and Virgil on the other. Such sweet stags, to look out for him like this. 88 was there too, sitting demurely on the opposite side. But Rev knew that she considered this her home - he was probably invading. Apologies later, he reminded himself.

But then, he had nothing to think about but the PAIN. Leonardo nosed his neck lightly, and while he was grateful for the contact and support, the splitting pain in his stomach was almost enough to drive him mad. He could feel every bit of it. The clawing. The headbutting. The tiny hooves inside, digging away at his internal structure, kicking it away as if they were moving aside dirt to get deeper into a badger hole, or making a hole themselves. In a sense, they were. And at that moment, he understood that there were more than one inside his body. More deer milled around. Ephire, on the hill near Virgil. Both stags keeping close watch, ears erect, and antlers a formidable barrier between the hill and Revtheyr. Doe curled up demurely beside them, a little bit away from his father, watching in a protective manner as the miracle Rev had asked for, finally came to be.

"You're going to be fine..." Leevi soothed, curling up beside him, and giving him another gentle nuzzle. "Do you want me to get you something?"

With a rather-embarrassing moan, Rev asked for water, writhing as the pain intensified, then died down again. He felt it.. them.. Clawing and scratching through. When Leonardo returned with the water, Rev only had the stomach to lap at it weakly before lying again on his side, head in the grass, and panting. Was this what does went through?

Leevi gave him a reassuring lick. "Try to relax. It will ease the pain."

Easy for him to say. His lucky father would never have to endure this. And endure WAS the correct word. It was torture, to say the least.

The pain continued, growing worse and worse. His infected hoof was NOTHING to what this was, and he imagined that if ever he split a hoof, or banged into something - it would seem to be a mere scratch after this amount of sheer agony. A tiny hoof finally flung itself into daylight, followed by another.

"You're doing fine, son..." Leonardo calmly told him, licking him again.

The hole the fawn had made was torn even wider by a curious head, blinking as the baby flopped onto the ground. Rev was too tired to lick the fawn clean of blood, so Leonardo took care of that, and gladly. As he was licking the fawn, tears came to his father's eyes.

"I'm so proud of you..." the older deer whispered. "You're a father now."

Rev reflected on that statement, and found a quiet satisfaction in it. Yes. He was. A father. Even if he HAD made a mistake in asking for what he could not have achieved by himself, he WAS a father. To this lovey fawn... to something that he'd never expected to have. The wound in his side was starting to numb, probably because he was getting used to the pain. Another jolt of agony came, however, as another hoof-hole appeared in his already bloody side, followed by a smallish head. The tearing open of the second wound was what did it. Rev's body shut down, his sight went black. He passed out with the knowledge that his father was with him, as was Nine. They would watch out for him. So would Virgil, Doe, Ephire, 88, Saosin... everyone watching and guarding.
----
When again he woke, he heard the squirming and weak bleating of not one, not two, but FOUR fawns. Each one distinct, with a cry that grated on a nerve inside him. Not one of annoyance - but one of need. He needed them. They needed him. Weakly, he raised his head, and started to lick at the newest to emerge. His side was healed. No doubt the Gods were granting with one hand, and taking with another. He had his life - and they wanted him to keep it. Not that he would have traded it for anything at this point.

Seeing his son awake, Leevi looked over in concern at his drooping eyes. "Are you okay?"

It was all he could do to keep his eyes open. So much energy had been drained out of him for the birth and the healing, that he was akin to a ragdoll. Not much use for anything at the moment.

"You should rest..." Leevi suggested. "I'll look after the little ones." Then, after a moment. "Son... Ty would be proud of you.. just as much as I am."

Rev smiled a little, and tears trickled down his muzzle. But they were tears, for once, of joy. Leonardo saw these, and turned to leave, but a quick lick from Rev, and an explanation convinced him to stay. "Happy tears, dad...." Rev murmured. "Happy tears."

Nine looked down as the tired father gave his white coat a soft lick. "Thanks..." Rev said quietly. "For being here."

The white stag grinned, and shrugged as much as a deer can. "Was nothing! They're beautiful... You should rest, kay? I'm sure Tyerk would be proud, wherever he is.."

More tears trickled down. "S'what... dad said..." Rev slurred.

Nine tilted his head a bit, understanding - but still confused at the same time. "Hmm?" He hadn't known Ty that well, and did not seem to understand Revtheyr as well as Tyerk had. Another shrug.

"What are you gonna name them, anyway?"

As if in reply, Leevi shoved one of Rev's new sons closer to his face. The little fawn reared in a pitiful manner, and headbutted the side of his father's face, harmlessly.

"This is your father little one. Your great father." he said, causing Rev to blush a bit.

The fawn headbutted him again. Rev chuckled tiredly. "Ow.... little crash there? .... Crash... I like that..."

Contemplating this, he smiled back at his father. Leevi gave a soft nuzzle. "Four healthy fawns. You're lucky."

A slight nod. He was. Very lucky, and very lucky that he had such friends and family to watch out for him. His father, he knew, cared a great deal. And Nine? Even though he'd never met him, he was staying by his side.

Nine left after a little while, giving Rev his apologies. Sleep was calling the new father, and soon he must heed the summons... but now... Names. Before he drifted, he would give them names.

Two fawns seemed to be almost completely identical. One black leg, one white leg... and Revtheyr's coat. The white and black were opposite legs - but still... they were identical in every other way. One of these fawns was the one that had butted into him.

"Crash...." he murmured, tongue running over that precocious fawn. "Your name will be Crash. And you..." He glanced to his twin.

He thought about how kind the forest had been to him. How much he had experienced. How willing others were to help him. And even how the Gods blessed him four times over. Quite a charitable place, this was...

"Charity." he said, with an air of finality. "You are Charity.. for the sense of it in this place."

The other two weren't identical, but just as beautiful. Tears slid down his fur as he thought about what he had gone through. What hole was left in his heart. And that hole could be mended. Time... time, and raising these beautiful children. They had brought him a sense of peace. A sense of..

"Hope." he said, naming the third. "You.. are Hope. Because you have brought that to me - you and your brothers."

The last one seemed more still than the others. Less likely to move around. But it was less like illness, and more like patience. A waiting game. But what would a fawn have to wait for? What could possibly be going through that tiny brain of his? Could dark thoughts be lurking there? Darkness... it was the other side of light.

"Seth." he said, quietly. "For as there is new life, there also had to be death. You will remind me of that. And remind me of what I lost."

He dragged his tongue over each of his children in turn, eyes starting to close. Somehow, he felt Leonardo settle closer to him. Warmth flooded his body and his spirit. An overwhelming happiness threatened to drag him into a reverie. But he stayed that thought for another time. Sleep called again. And this time, he answered. His head lay quietly on the ground, as he maneuvered his legs under himself. Each fawn, he called to by name, beckoning them to his warm side. As they curled up there, he could feel each one, a warm and soft cushion for his broken heart. Oh please.. please....please let them live.... Please..... Darkness settled like a warm blanket, drawing him into fantasies of sweet grass, and endless meadows.