I Become the Baby Tiger in a Beast Taming World

Chapter 118 - 115: Labor Pains??

TWO WEEKS LATER--LAMMERMOOR MANOR

I wake up to Lightning’s calm voice in my head.

[It’s time.]

Time? Time to get up? Time for more training?

Lightning licks me. Okay, okay, I’m getting up.

[It’s time.]

She repeats the word calmly.

[I know. I know I have to get up.]

She is completely calm. [Yes. You have to get up. You have to meet your cubs.]

Wait. Full stop. Cubs???

I’m awake in the blink of an eye.

[Cubs? The cubs are coming?]

It’s too early. Isn’t it? On the other hand, this is a magical virtual world, and speeding up nature isn’t unheard of, because players get impatient. We are magical tigers, bonded to mages.

CUBS! The cubs are coming.

At least the den is set up here in Lammermoor Manor, where we stopped after our trip to the Mushroom Forest. Lightning was too uncomfortable to travel from there, so we decided to spend time in our other home for a change. The healers thought that the strain of the trip might have accelerated her pregnancy.

And now, Lightning is giving birth here.

I blast the alert to Kaline. [Kaline! Cubs!]

Sleepy voice. [Blaze. Go away. I’m sleeping.]

[KALINE! I’ve ever asked for anything. Cubs are coming.]

Those are the magic words. Instantaneously, she wakes up. [Then I’m coming! Hans is coming!]

I stand and pad over to Lightning, who is lying on the cushions, trying to control her breathing. She looks ready to pop. More beautiful than I remembered. She has become so swollen and round with my cubs. I know that this is a virtual prison, but I can’t ignore the joy I feel at becoming a father.

Nuzzling her, I reassure her. [What do you need?]

[Just be here with me.]

I can do that. I stay close to her, comforting her in this sweet moment before the chaos.

[Are you scared?]

I shouldn’t say that. I should not put that thought in her head.

She stares at me through golden eyes. [Are you?]

I’m supposed to be comforting and spout cliches, but I can’t do that to say my life. [It’s all new. Of course I’m scared. But I’m ready, too.]

That gets me a face wash with her affectionate tongue. [I couldn’t do this with anyone but you.]

Awww. Warm and fuzzy feelings vie with trepidation.

[Are you really going to risk your cubs in this tournament?]

I ignore System the way I usually do. If I have to respond, I respond. But I’m not afraid to just pretend not to hear its subtle, and not-so-subtle, barbs.

"It’s TIME?"

Hans’ voice is a hopeful, timorous echo in the room. He drops to one knee beside Lightning and lays his hands on her comfortingly.

Kaline, Minette, Lamant, Vedette, Elandior Lammermoor, Maartenwitz, Niall, Tomas, and Kasz have all joins us, along with Lobo, Gussie, and everyone else. Master Taba and the Lammermoor healer are on hand to fuss over Lightning. We have a full house to attend the birth of the cubs. As Maartenwitz informs us all, the birth of beasts in a tamed beast house is a big deal.

Abruptly, Lightning gets up and pads over to a sheltered corner of the den. It’s cool, shaded, out of sight. Gussie squawks, "Did we upset her?"

"No," Kaline pipes up. "Tigresses like to give birth in private. Except for Blaze, I don’t think she wants any of us too close. Unless there is a problem."

I ask System. [Is that true?]

It answers. This is neutral ground. Factual. [Yes. But you had better guard her, and keep out anyone who might disturb her during this delicate process.]

I don’t know where System is getting its information, because from what I know, giving birth is NOT delicate. Maybe it means "sensitive." Who knows?

I pad over to the shady spot and sit just outside, a respectful distance from Lightning’s refuge, but still close enough should a problem arise.

"What happens next?" Vedette asks.

Kaline rattles off facts. "The cubs will come out in a sac that Lightning will clean from them."

"A sac, yes," Minette says with a proud smile. "It protects them when they are being born. Then, she will bathe the cubs with her tongue. She will stay with them for a week. Their eyes won’t be open for several days."

Kaline beams. "It’s all so exciting."

My mind isn’t even on the tournament, even though that is the key to our freedom. We can bring Lightning and the cubs along. Or maybe I will have to go alone. Whichever it is, we’ll manage.

I was hoping that the cubs wouldn’t come this soon, but maybe it’s a blessing that they are about to emerge in the world. That way, we don’t have to worry about her having safety and privacy so far away from our cozy tiger den. I am sure the tournament is not set up for babies.

Elandior, Hans’ father, soothes Lamant and Minette. "Now, this may not be your tiger den with the same amenities, but the singing crystals have kept the expectant mother calm..."

"You’re family, Elandior," Minette assures him without missing a beat. "This is a happy event for all of us."

I guard Lightning. My human instincts are no help here. This is a tiger birth, and Lightning needs space and quiet in which to give birth.

Sitting erect, I keep watch, warning everyone away. I can feel Demos stalking by the way the grass moves. He’s not very delicate anymore. I can smell Gussie fretting. They all want to be by Lightning’s side, but they can’t. Just try and get past me.

"When will it happen?" Kaline exclaims.

[Shhh.] For once, Kaline’s chatter makes me nervous. [Kaline, don’t pressure her. She needs to be relaxed. She needs total quiet.]

Kaline sounds chastened. [Sorry. I will keep quiet.]

[Lightning understands you are excited.] I reassure her with a warm fuzzy through the link. That seems to cheer her.

I sit perfectly still, even though my paws itch. This grass of Elandior’s is not as soft as the one in our Riddlehoeven tiger den. However, the itchiness and the coarseness are small irritations. And if I weren’t so impatient, I wouldn’t even notice them.

How long does it take for cubs to be born?

I have to wait. And wait.

[Lobo?]

He keeps his distance, but his big wolf eyes stare into mine. [Yes, brother?]

[System or the game did a number on me, didn’t it?]

His eyes are wise. It’s so annoying. [What does it matter? You are having children. Consider this a trial run for you and Amber.]

[It’s a digital game. It’s not real.]

My words are absurd. The dangers have been real. I’ve been physically hurt in the game. So have Lamant, Gussie, and others.

Lobo woofs. [Wait until those cubs appear. Then it’ll be real.]

A trial run for Amber and me. Why does that sound so appealing?

[BLAZE.]

It’s Lightning. Her cry is a spark, igniting a protective flame within me.

[Lightning? My love?]

[Come closer. Please.]

How can I resist that siren’s call? I lope over to the shadowed alcove, where the silhouette of Lightning strains mightily. I can smell life being born. I can smell fluid.

[They are coming, Blaze. OH! OH! I can’t--]

I rally. This is MY mate. [Yes. Yes you can. Think of our babies. They’re waiting to be born. They’re almost out. I can smell it.]

Her breathing is a windstorm. [Yes. Yes. They are almost out. OHHH!]

Grunts and growls and roars. A final yowl when she bears down for that final push.

Then, the smell of dampness, of fluid from the sac, and finally, the sound of Lightning licking the cubs. After that, lusty wails.

My heart is going to burst.

I pad over to Lightning, my vision piercing the dark veil. And lo and behold, I see the most beautiful sight of my life.

Two tiny golden cubs, eyes squeezed shut in little slits. Damp, tiny balls of fur.

[Can I?] My voice is breathless.

[Of course, silly.]

I tiptoe toward them and gaze down on the little balls of perfection. Our cubs.

The entire tiger den is silent. Everyone must have heard the cubs’ first wails by now. Yet they are all giving us our privacy.

I nuzzle the cubs. Pure softness, sweetness, and innocence. Our cubs. They mew and purr.

[They are perfect.]

Lightning rests her forehead against mine. [This is everything.]

I can’t speak. My heart is too full. Even in this insane all-consuming fantasy digital/real world, I can still find joy. And miracles.

[Yes. They’re everything. I suppose we should let the others see them.]

Lightning purrs. [Not yet.]

[I suppose you’re right. They can wait.

We stay like that, a proper little family. Two beautiful cubs and parents who love them.

[Are they boys or girls?]

Lightning purrs. [One of each.]

How is it possible to be this happy? I must be dreaming. Because Lightning’s next words don’t seem real.

[Oh Josh...]