Pregnant auras were a curious thing. They didn't necessarily betray the existence of little ones right away, but Bastille found that in studying Luna and Margaery's auras, he could detect the emergence of separate ones the closer they got to birthing. It was... peculiar, but he appreciated the minor detail nonetheless -- it meant that as his mentor (or former mentor, he supposed) approached her due date, he was hyper aware of it, able to track her easily and to know that it could be any moment now. He may have overcome his need to stalk Luna every where, ensuring that Beck couldn't snatch her again, but at times like these that protective flare could emerge.

So, he was checking up on her constant, and when he realized that she was going into labor he camped out at her side resolutely, too stubborn to go anywhere. He could have gotten Rin, he supposed, but he didn't want to interrupt her quiet moments with her new children -- and her lost children, for that matter. There was little Rin or Rad could do for her in the middle of labor that she couldn't do herself, and therefore Bast stayed still, monitoring her aura and watching her clean her kits gently.

"They're nice names," he said quietly, once it seemed that Luna had settled slightly. He felt vaguely at peace here, in the quiet, but Luna tended to have a calming effect on him -- he would be interested to see her channel that kind steadiness towards some children of her own. He was studying the two kits, repeating their names to himself, when Suiteheart burst in.

There was a flare of irritation -- did she really think she belonged here, when she could barely function as a mother herself? -- but Bastille simply ignored her entirely, keeping his focus on Luna and the kits. He felt a vicious twist of protectiveness, as if Suiteheart might infringe of the kits and ruin them in some way, and he did acknowledge her finally when she asked if Luna needed anything. "She's fine," he said, flatly, "She has water and herbs." She doesn't need you.

Hazel had never witnessed a birthing before, and that wouldn't change now. She appeared after the kittens were born, following after Suite and, consequently, Bastille. She did her damnedest to ignore him and the quite hostility that was bared towards them, and grit her teeth against it. Hearing the chill in his tone towards Suite almost had Hazel opening her mouth to tell him that Suite could give comfort and advice - something Bastille was unable to do. But that was for another day.

She wanted to see the babies - the little people she could help raise, if Luna let her. Hazel had always wanted younger siblings; Mother would gripe and complain about how her failed litter would have been ten times better than Hazel, and all she could think was that at least there would be someone else in the house.

"They're gorgeous, Luna." Hazel breathed, lips curving upwards. Her awe and reverence towards the situation easily overcame her own issues, and she found herself wishing the babies could open their eyes now. "Congratulations. You're going to make a wonderful mother."

★ — hazel — "speech" — seven months — the ascendants — tags — ★