The moon was full the night of the great storm. Lightening flashed across the sky like Zeus himself threw them. The thunder boomed and rumbled across the countryside like enormous horses stampeding. It was one of the great storms, ones that happened once every six and a half to seven years. It was claimed by the Gypsy's to be a time fraught with magical energy. Most anything could happen, things that wouldn't normally occur. On such a night two mystical beings found themselves in the great storm. Only one would walk away alive, the other would leave a legacy behind that would alter the residences of this island forever.
Biting her lip, Wakanda suppressed the pain of the contractions. The stress of the transformation had brought on labor a week or so early. With Cyeir in pursuit she had no choice but to change into her humanoid form. The next contraction was so strong she had to sit down on a low rock, she leaned back against the rock formation panting as the child pushed at the entrance, wanting out. Stifling a scream she felt her water break; A strong contraction hit causing her to push. Grabbing a nearby stick she bit on it as she delivered her little one. Timing each muffled scream with the thunder she soon gave birth to a baby girl. Wakanda noticed the birthmarks... stripes all over her little body. The little ones hair resembled a mane in most aspects. A result of being in Zebra form while pregnant with the child. Due to Cyeir being in hot pursuit she was unable to transform sooner, causing the child to be marked in such a way to bear the marks of the Zebra forever. She was only one of her kind.
Wakanda sobbed as the baby's heartbeat slowed. Before she could perform a check on the child she heard a noise a little ways behind her. Spotting burrow she wrapped the infant in her robe, placing a rock over the entrance an obliterated all traces of the birth. She managed to use the rocks to hide the path she took, most of the way. At the end of the path there was nothing but sand and sage. It was there Cyeir found her and told her this was her last change to accept him as her mate or die. She
replied in one word, “NEVER!” “Then death it is for you. I will find your kin and make one of them my mate. One day I will get what is rightfully mine!” Her lifeless body drops soundlessly to the desert floor, never to rise again.
Ambrogio saw the figure kill the woman, he held back till it slinked away. Checking her pulse he confirmed she was dead. With a sigh he turned to go, figuring to head home to make sure his family was safe and secure. His wife was expecting their firstborn anytime now. He paused, unsure if he heard a sound, listening between thunder claps, straining to see if he could hear it again. A small cry, like that of a one struggling for life. Getting on his hands and knees he listened carefully, finally locating the noise under a rock. He saw a burrow, reaching in he locating a bundle. It was warm, but the heat was fading fast. Unwrapping the bundle confirmed his fears; it was a newborn, only an hour old.
As Ambrogio held the infant he felt the life force leaving her tiny body. He started chanting a life spell, rubbing herbs an incense on her forehead. Kneeling with the infant in his arms he touched her to Mother Earth asking her blessing, then raised her to Father Sky. Lightening flashed as the magic flowed from the souls of his feet up his body to the infant raised up in the air. Coinciding with a loud thunder clap the infant let out a heart cry. Ambrogio smiled, tears streaming down his face. The joy of life always made him glow with happiness.
Wrapping the baby girl up in the robe she was found in, he tucked her under his tunic, dashing home as the heaven let loose with a torrent. He arrived home just in time to witness the birth of his first born son. He smiled at the blessing of expecting one child and getting two. She was loved instantly by his wife, an adopted as one of their own. Their son was named: Ambrogino Tomasso Taddeo. They agreed upon a name for the unique little girl: Velia Zeta Donata Taddeo. She would be a savior of her people someday.
The Storm of Life –Part I
By Dea