HOME | DD

Description
body div#devskin0 hr { }

Colleen räv Brent , in:Prelude to the Journey (Part 1)
A Tale of Tums, by Rando.

Rando's Personal Note and Disclaimer

This story is, quite obviously, not going to be for everyone. It includes themes pertaining to Pregnancy of a Sudden and mildly Exaggerated sort, a Foxgirl Cleric to a Fertility Goddess going through said pregnancy, mild religious themes (quite obviously, the main character's a cleric) and a few other, mildly more serious themes. Oh, and it also includes a bit of worldbuilding, though not much. If these things don't interest you, then by all means, feel free to read something else! But, if these do interest you, then by all means, stick around; hopefully this tale's worth your time!

This is the first real story I've written in a long, long while. Months, at least. As such, expect some atrophy in my writing skills. Also, this is my first piece of Colleen-specific content in a long while. Most of this part was written in just the past few days (ca. 5/14/19), but the very beginning of it was a fair bit earlier. As said before, my writing skills may be subpar compared to my other works; regardless, I hope you enjoy reading this!

Also of note, this story's been in the works for a long, long while. The original idea came up back in October-November 2018, which was expanded upon in December-January, and partially written. Then, writer's block came on for a few months, and I stopped... But my inspiration came back as of late, so here's the finished product! And I'll go ahead and post a disclaimer that these backstory things are only 'dubiously canon', for what it's worth... Which isn't much, really.

Now enough of my blithering, and on with the tale!

Part Navigation
Part 1(You are Here) - Part 2
It was a gentle springtime in Tumentia, the numerous trees blossoming and the frigid temperatures of the previous winter giving way to warmth. Everyone around the town of Hemway had started to make preparations for the Celebration of Life and the Festival of Blossoms... Except for Colleen, who was resting on her bed following a day of healing and questing. Though she didn't feel like she had accomplished much during her day's work, she had made a fair amount of profit; enough to keep her sated and with a warm bed for at least another week or so.

The cleric sighed as she lay in her bed, gently rubbing at her swollen belly. She had but two kits when the day began - she had given her others to Wendy so she could go out in the first place - but now she carried four within her womb, her 'Overload of Life' having taken effect for both healings she gave. A few worries lurked in the back of her mind, with regards as to how she would be able to take care of so many kits... But those thoughts were quickly flushed out of her head, a simple phrase filling it in their stead.

'It'll all be okay...' Colleen thought to herself, affectionately rubbing the maternal orb of her stomach, before sitting up; a feat that was rather difficult with the added weight of her stomach. But, she still had some tea to drink, and a journal entry to write...

The Cleric reached over to the nearby teapot - positioned above an enchanted plate of stone, serving as a heating surface - and poured herself a cup of the substance, before adding a pair of sugar-cubes to the small cup. Meanwhile, she reached for her journal, and perched it atop her swell for reading... Only for it to be knocked off by a sudden thump from one of her kits, also nearly making her spill her tea.

"Oof..." She grunted, before gently setting down the teacup and picking up the journal again.

She opened the book, and flipped through its many pages... Before then stopping, and turning back to the first page.

...And gazing upon that singular page, memories started to echo in her mind... And she flipped the page again, and again, each time reading the words intently, and remembering just a little more about what happened back then...

Soon enough, the memories flooded back, playing like a moving picture in her mind. Her tea sat idly on the bedside table, growing ever-colder, as she recalled the events leading her to where she was today...
Colleen sat in her temple's private room, meditating to herself, trying to clear her mind... She had just gotten finished trying fruitlessly to make sense of an ancient tome, and she needed to relax. She was usually fond of uncovering said codices' 'secrets' - even if they were already widely-known and translated - but the fact that she didn't know Meecetongue or Sylvan really put a hamper on her research... So, she elected to meditate instead.

But, her meditation was interrupted rather quickly by a familiar voice calling out to her.

"Sister Brent?" The voice called out.

"...Yes, sister Mayes?" The fox-eared cleric opened her eyes to see one of her fellow clerics - Mia - dressed in similar robes to her own, though with her robes a shade of violet instead of azure. She also bore pointy ears like the foxgirl did, though hers were of a more feline suggestion.

"I have a message, it's... From the head-masters."

Colleen's ears perked up at this, and she stood as quickly as she could.

"They... Wish to see you, to assign you on your first quest."

Her heart raced. Her first quest... An initiation of sorts...?

"Right, I'll be right there." She said affirmatively, gathering her things, before exiting the private room.

The temple in Abaidton wasn't exactly the most opulent or regal of places, though it certainly wasn't simple... It was, however, overgrown with vines, moss and other foliage. A few pillars stood, supporting the roof above, with engravings depicting the holy symbol of Eveylene Cavas - the Goddess of Fertility - covering these pillars, and a few walls as well. A few other clerics were wandering the halls of the temple, with some occasionally glancing over to Colleen as she passed by.

The foxgirl was only brought in as an initiate - essentially a cleric-in-training - but a few short months ago, and she still expected at least another month or two of training before she could officially call herself a cleric proper... She didn't have the best control over her spells and rites, and if she was to be sent on some major quest, that could present... Problems.

Still, she wouldn't question the council's judgement. If she was to be sent on a quest... So be it.

Soon, Colleen entered into the council chamber, where the headmasters - the local leaders of the temple - would meet to discuss important matters, and where the treasurers, healers and others would come to discuss their own business.

"I'm here." She spoke, clasping her hands together, and holding them to her chest nervously.

"Ah, good." One of the seven - Anissa Keefe, a relatively young elven woman - nodded. "Hello, Colleen. I take it your training has been going well?"

"Well enough, at least... Still miscast my Vitality Rite every so often, and I still need to be studying more..." She muttered, averting her gaze from the woman.

Anissa gave a small chortle. "Oh, you needn't worry about that, you'll get it down eventually."

"Uhm... If you don't mind me asking, what was I, err... Called here for?" The foxgirl asked nervously.

The council looked to each-other, before then turning back to face the cleric-in-training.

"We have... A rather important quest for you." One of the other council-members - an aged human by the name of Cenric Coughlan - says. "We need you to... Transport a few flasks to the temple over in Beathabaile, roughly... Five days to the southeast."

"...Flasks?" Colleen asked, somewhat confused. This task sounded relatively simple...

"Indeed. It probably won't present many issues, but... It does need to be done." Anissa added.

"O... Kay, just the flasks?" The foxgirl continued.

"Yes, just the flasks. But, you mustn't open them." Cenric finished. "It's important that they remain sealed."

"Flasks, don't open them, get to Beathabaile... Five-ish days... I'll be right on it." Colleen said affirmatively, nodding to the council.

"Well, I do believe everything is settled. Go forth, our newest cleric!" Anissa concluded, smiling and giving an enthusiastic command.

Colleen's ears perked up at hearing that. She was referred to as 'cleric', not 'cleric-in-training'... Did that mean that after this quest was complete, she wouldn't be in training anymore? If so... She would finally be a proper cleric!

"O-of course! I'll get my things collected and be on my way!" She said excitedly, before rushing out of the chamber posthaste.

...

Colleen collected numerous items from her room in a frenzy, tossing them into a nearby leather backpack. These included her tea-set, a spare change of robes, her journal, her coinpurse and a few cloths for storing rations. She then grasped at a large leather bottle - a waterskin - and affixed it to her waist. She would fill it with boiled water before collecting her rations and heading out.

'...I'm actually going on a quest... I'm gonna be an actual cleric when I get back...!' She thought to herself, excitement building within her.

After collecting her things, she then proceeded to the temple's kitchen, retrieving a surplus of smoked meat and hard bread, wrapping both in cloth before filling her waterskin.

With her rations collected, her waterskin filled and her equipment packed, all Colleen needed now were the flasks she was to transport.

And so, the cleric-to-be rushed back to the council-chamber once more. On the way there, she saw a group of 'elite' clerics, knights and paladins collecting equipment, seemingly preparing for a journey. Were they to be her escort...?
And, once she had arrived at the chamber again, the councilors were there to greet her.

"...My my, you got ready fast..." Anissa seemed surprised.

"Of course; I'll have this quest done posthaste!" The foxgirl replied with an eager chirp.

"Oh, I'm sure you'll succeed; which is exactly why..." The elf started, before gesticulating and gesturing towards Colleen.

A purple 'necklace' and 'cape' of sorts - similar to the one already affixed to her robe, though adorned with a ruby-like jewel and golden 'connector' instead of her plain copper medal - came into view... Before then instantly replacing the one already affixed to her robe with a flash of light.

"A-a new band!?" Colleen was shocked. Bands - the medals and cape-necklace-things that clerics to Eveylene Cavas wore - were only given or further adorned for certain accomplishments, and clerics only got a jeweled band once their training was completed...

...She misunderstood earlier. Her being called a cleric instead of one in-training meant that she was already done with being in-training, not that she would be done with the completion of the quest.

"Indeed! For taking on this task so eagerly and earnestly, and for training so earnestly and consistently for the past few months, you've proven your readiness and worthiness to become a true cleric of Eveylene Cavas, the Goddess of Fertility."

"...T-thank you!" She bowed her head in gratitude, her excitement only growing more potent. Now that she was out of training... She could get new bands, she could be sent on more quests, she could-

'No, I need to focus! Quest first, celebration later!' She mentally spoke to herself, before bringing her focus back in line.

"Now then, cleric... Are you ready for your quest?" The elf asked once more.

Colleen answered with a resounding "Yes!"

The elf nodded, before holding up a case containing four metallic vials, each topped with some sort of waxy substance, black in color.

"...These look a bit different from... Normal potion containers." The foxgirl noted.

"It's a very important potion, can't risk spilling any!" Anissa spoke with a smile, before gesturing towards the door. "I'm sure you're prepared, so I won't delay your journey much longer. Any last questions?"
"Err, yes, actually! Will I be traveling with that group that's been gearing up?" Colleen asked curiously.
"Actually, you won't be; they're... Going on their own important quest. They will be aiding you, just not directly."
"...Oh." She nodded; this meant that she was, indeed, going alone... But she could handle a few days alone in the wilderness.
"If that's all... Best of luck on your quest."

"Yes, thank you! I'll be back by next week's end, I promise that!"

And with that, Colleen exited the council chamber. It was already evening... She would leave under the cover of night. If these potions were indeed this important, someone may try to take them... So she would start her travel when she would be least likely to be detected.

Plus, she still had to collect ink and the like for her journal...

...

Under the cover of darkness, Colleen exited the temple, and just as quickly left Abaidton behind. The forests ahead would provide nice cover from any weather, and would do well enough for a place to rest... But she still had to get at least a fair bit away from the town.

As she wandered down the dirt road, wondering what she would do once she finally returned successful, the cleric stopped for a moment.

"This spot looks good..." She muttered to herself, before pitching her tent next to a rather large tree. She had eaten just before starting her travels, so she didn't feel hungry... She would just write her journal entry for the night, and rest.

'Day one of my quest. Late summer.

I've finally been sent out on a mission by the councilors; and not only that, but I've been officially recognized as a proper cleric!

I'm unsure of what the journey ahead will bring, but I'm certain that I'll be successful in my quest. And then, once I am... I can start training further as a healer.

These vials I carry with me... I'm uncertain what they do - or what they even are - but I've been told to not open them. Still, I'm curious as to their contents...

My journey has only just begun at nightfall, and I've made little progress towards Beathabaile, but I should arrive within four-and-a-half days, if I maintain a steady pace.

I cannot wait to report of my success, and to begin my work as a proper cleric to Eveylene Cavas!

-Colleen räv Brent, Healing Cleric'

Having written in her journal, Colleen set the tome aside to dry, before lying down in her tent. The days ahead would probably bring troubles... But no matter what they brought, she could handle it.

Quickly, she fell to unconsciousness and gentle slumber...

And then, she awoke to the sounds of chirping birds, and to light shining through the tent's fabric.

The cleric sat up, looking around for a brief moment, before yawning. The night had passed almost instantly from her perspective, and today would be long; she wouldn't be near even a small village at her current pace, not until the fourth day of her quest... Still, she needed to press onward. She would need to ration her food carefully, and keep a steady pace ahead; she couldn't fail her first quest just from a lack of supplies!

"Right, let's get going... Not like I'll get to Beathabaile if I just sit here." She muttered, before removing some bread and meat from her pack, quickly eating it. While it didn't sate her fully, it was enough to keep her going. She could eat more later; she needed to conserve supplies as much as she could.

The cleric then got out of her tent, disassembling and folding it, before beginning her progress forwards once more. She prayed that the journey would be safe, expedient and without distraction.

...

    The remainder of her quest's second day was uneventful, by and large. A bridge was crossed as she exited the forest, and entered the vast hills and grasslands that covered much of Tumae, and she made significant progress... But otherwise, little could be said about her journey that wasn't already said. By the time nightfall had come, the cleric had already pitched her tent, and written her journal entry.

'Day two of my quest. Late summer.

The day has proven uneventful, which is both a blessing and a curse. I feared I may fall asleep on the road as I wandered through the forest; but though the occasional encounter with deer kept me on my toes, I haven't encountered any beasts that seek to make a meal of me, thankfully.

I exited the forest at roughly noon, which led into a hilly, grassy landscape. I spent less than an hour on breaks, if I estimated correctly; only taking short ones to rest, eat and relieve myself as necessary.

Hopefully the next day of the journey is as uneventful as this; I would rather not encounter bandits or the like...

-Colleen räv Brent, Healing Cleric'

She set the journal beside her and, soon thereafter, she passed out; though this night, her rest was uneasy, as the air around her felt unusually cold... Still, she had rested, and awoke much the same as the previous day. The third day had come.

And thus, with a meal and drink, and a relatively simple tent disassembly, Colleen had set out further on her journey. Today, she may have been out of the forest, but that wouldn't make her journey any quicker... Still, things were looking up. No distractions or unnecessary breaks were made, and everything was going smoothly.

...But, just as the sun reached its peak in the sky, dark clouds began to collect overhead. The rumbling of thunder picked up just an hour after noon had passed, and soon thereafter, the looming clouds gave way to rain; first a gentle drizzle, but then, a downpour.

Colleen rushed ahead in the rain, struggling against the now-muddy road. The terrain was starting to become unfavorable for her journey, and she feared that this would cause delays...

  'I should've brought a cloak...!' She thought to herself, continuing onwards for as long as she could. The dirt path beneath her had become bemired and difficult to walk in, and she herself was starting to get covered in rain and mud, as well...

The pouring continued, giving the foxgirl a fresh coat of rainwater and frigid winds in addition to the mud she had accumulated from her rushing. Eventually, Colleen deemed it necessary to make camp and shelter from the elements. The weather was highly unfavorable, and she didn't want to get ill... And she didn't want to get any more soaked than she already was.

Quickly, the cleric established her tent underneath a nearby tree - it was small in comparison to the one she used on the first day of her travels, but it would have to suffice - and sat within, shivering from the cold and wet fabric covering her.

She would have to wait out the storm, but at least she kept on foot for as long as she feasibly could. She didn't feel tired enough to sleep, however... So now she needed to pass the time.

After removing her old robes and donning a 'decency wrap' around her chest, Colleen reached into her backpack, and started examining the other things she had brought along. None of her stuff was missing, thankfully... Not her tea-set, nor her rations. She worried that she left something behind earlier in her journey, but that worry was seemingly refuted.

Then, she took note of the four flasks. Curiosity was still boiling within her from the very first day of her travels... She had suppressed it rather well up until now, but now that she was trapped in the rain with nothing else to do, that curiosity grew to uncontrollable heights.

She retrieved one of the metallic flasks. On it was an inscription with numerous symbols on it; one depicting a rabbit, another depicting a mouse, another depicting a carnation and lotus leaf, and a final one depicting a sphere of sorts... Potentially the full moon?

"Strange..." The cleric remarked, before examining the other side of the vial.

The other side bore the symbol of the Temples of Eveylene Cavas... She predicted it would, at least, so that was no surprise. The remainder of the vial remained plain, with the black wax cork sealing it being the only other notable feature of it.

...Her curiosity finally hit a peak. For a moment, she hesitated, but soon she removed the 'cap' from the flask.

Almost immediately, the entire tent was filled with the scent of... Fruit? Citrus, maybe? And besides that, a sour taste started to linger in Colleen's mouth... Her vision briefly went blurry, but it quickly regulated back to normal, and she could feel... Something. She couldn't discern what, exactly, but it felt... Off.

"Eh...?" She let out a confused noise, before re-corking the vial, not bothering with looking inside to peer at the potion, let alone tasting it. Even just uncorking it once seemed to have some sort of effect... And she didn't really want to know what it was.

Knowing the fumes may linger, Colleen opened the flap into the tent, and allowed the scent of citrus to waft out into the environment. She could've sworn that the muddy grass near her tent had glowed faintly for a few moments... But, she ignored it, and pulled out her journal; thankfully, no water had gotten into her backpack, and the pages were preserved.

'Day three of my quest. Late summer.

My curiosity finally got the better of me, and I elected to open one of the four flasks. To my surprise, I could immediately smell something vaguely... Fruity, and get a sour taste in my mouth. I also feel a vague... Malaise of sorts, even a few minutes after exposure, and for a few moments after it, my vision faded somewhat...

I know not what this means for me, but I fear the worst. I should've listened to the councilors, and just left the flask sealed... I'm sure to be scolded or lectured for this when I arrive at my destination.

I had to delay my journey comparatively early today, as a rather vicious storm has blown in... I only hope this storm will have passed by the time I awaken in the morning.

...And I hope tomorrow brings fewer distractions and delays. I wish to see my quest complete as soon as possible, so I can hold to my promise of making it back home before the next week's end.

May the Goddess continue protecting me, and granting me these relatively uneventful days; though hopefully that includes less inclement weather for the rest of my travels...

-Colleen räv Brent, Healing Cleric'

With that, the cleric sighed, and grasped her tea-set. If she would have to wait, she would enjoy some tea before she tried going to bed.

Removing the teapot, arcane plate, cups and containers - all packaged in a convenient 'box' of sorts - from her backpack, Colleen set up the heating plate and teapot, pouring water into the latter. She then grasped a few leaves and herbs from the containers within the box, and blended them together, before adding them to the pot once it was sufficiently heated.

'With this blend... It should help with getting to sleep.' She thought to herself, patiently waiting for the tea to brew while gnawing on some dried, smoked meat.

Soon enough, the tea had finished brewing, and the cleric poured herself a cup. It smelled quite nice...

'And at least that fruity smell's gone. It was nice, but... A bit overpowering...' She also thought to herself, before sipping on her infusion.

...Within a few minutes, she had finished the entire pot of tea, and was snoring loudly, unconscious.

Her rest that night was also uneasy, as she felt unnaturally frigid... But more than that, she felt... Isolated. She wasn't near any friends, family or other associates - nay, she wasn't near anyone - and the whole experience was... Unsettling to her. She felt... Lonely. Add to that the anxiety of having literally just disobeyed a direct order, and her worrying about how the headmasters would react...

Those feelings would have kept her up for the entirety of that night, if it weren't for the copious dosage of 'sleep tea'. But nonetheless, she awoke the next day, famished and exhausted.

Colleen grumbled and shivered as she sat upright, her hair disheveled and her body cold. She heard chirping, and heard a distinct lack of rainfall... But the terrain was probably still muddy from the downpour. Her journey would, nonetheless, still continue, but it would likely be at a slower pace than before.

"Ugh..." She muttered, retrieving some bread and meat from her ration bags, before consuming both. She didn't feel full, but she wasn't hungry anymore, either... It would be enough.

She then packed away her tea-set, donned new robes, and rushed to exit and disassemble her tent for further use.

As she exited, she noticed the grass around her tent's entrance seemed to have grown taller, and flowers seemed to have sprouted spontaneously... She disregarded this for the most part, but it did linger for a bit in the recesses of her mind. Nonetheless, the tent was quickly dismantled and packed away, ready for reassembly later.

Colleen thus continued forwards on her journey, the muddy road seeming just a bit more solid than earlier. She was slowed, but not as greatly as during the downpour itself... Which was excellent, since if she was, the journey may have ended up extended by an entire extra day, or potentially even two.

Still, her day was going to be a long one... She could just feel it.

...

As the day marched on, the roads dried up more fully, and Colleen could continue her journey at her fastest pace. Another forest separated her from the nearby village of Ishild's Retreat, but last time, it wasn't horrible going through the woods...

With a quick snack in substitution for a late lunch, and a swig from her waterskin, the cleric ventured into the forest, unsure of what her travel within would bring.

  The brush was thick around the road's edges, with little light escaping through the canopy above... Still, there was enough for the way ahead to be lit, allowing her to progress. That, and the trail in the forest was surprisingly dry... She estimated herself to have been wandering within the forest for a little over an hour when she came upon a clearing of sorts. She could see what looked like the abandoned hulls of carriages, and the smoldering pit of a campfire. Someone was here not too long ago...

"...Hello...?" The cleric called out, readying her concealed healer's rod - her divine focus - and gazing around carefully.

Her question was met with rustling from nearby brush, and an unfamiliar, brutish figure appearing in front of her.

"Why hey there, little lady." The individual said, his voice gruff. From their looks, they seemed to be a dog-person, with a disheveled beard and fancy - if torn - hat over his head. The sheathed arming sword at his side was a clear enough indicator of a combatant.

Colleen's ears twitched as she heard footsteps behind her. She was surrounded, undoubtedly by bandits.

"Brigands..." She muttered, drawing her healer's rod readily.

"Woah, woah, lady. We ain't here to hurt ya'. Just give yer' shiny things an' all, and you can go right on by." The bandit ahead of her said, holding a hand readily to his blade.

"But if you don't wanna comply... We just might have to." The voice behind her said. It bore no discernible accents, and didn't seem particularly... Deft in any manner, judging just from their footfalls. Likely a human or other 'simple' beast-person. Definitely masculine.

"...I'm sorry, but I can't. I'm on a quest from-" She spoke, attempting to explain her situation, before being interrupted.

"Oh, now that's a shame..." A third voice interrupted her. She couldn't tell where it was from, and it sounded too... Androgynous to tell if it was a man or a woman. "Looks like she's too attached to her coin for her own good. Let's help her lighten up, eh?" It chortled lightly, before breaking into a shout. "Get 'er, boys!"

The bandit ahead of her grinned maliciously, before drawing his arming sword fully, and charging ahead. At his current speed, he would reach her within just a few seconds.

The footfalls behind her were faster. She didn't have much time to react before one or the other attacked her. She had to act, quickly!

Colleen planted her feet firmly into the ground beneath her, and held her healer's rod aloft. She had already prepared to cast a defensive spell before they began their assault, and now, all she had to do to activate it was to invoke its name...

"Blessing of the Goddess!" She called out, bracing herself for the armoring spell to take hold...

And then, a bizarre feeling built up within her. A pressure surged in her lower abdomen, alongside a warmth that she couldn't place the source of... In mere moments, however, the pressure reached a head, and her abdomen ballooned outwards, taking her by complete surprise.

"Oof!?" She yelped out, clearly caught off-guard by the sudden growth.

"...The hell!?" The bandits said in unison, before immediately stopping in their tracks.

"...Th-this isn't the defensive spell I was looking for...!" She said in a panic, feeling at her now-swollen belly.

...It felt... Firm. Surprisingly so... And taut, like a piece of fabric drawn tight... And it was heavy, forcing her to change her posture slightly to accommodate the weight. That, and her navel was popped out, rubbing against the fabric of her robes uncomfortably...

"She looks-" The bandits stared in confusion for a few moments, piecing things together.

"...I-I look-" Colleen's breathing accelerated as she progressively lost more of her composure.

"-Pregnant!?" They all spoke in confusion, though the cleric spoke more in a state of panic.

A few brief moments pass, before the speech continued.

"I think... I think she is!?" The bandit behind her spoke, the sound of metal clattering against the ground causing the cleric to flinch.

"I think I am...!" Colleen said simultaneously, clutching at her belly with both her hands. She was immensely worried at this point.

Another few seconds passed, allowing their minds to work a bit more before they continued talking again...

"Is... Is it mine?" The dog-bandit asked, his own sword dropping to the soil below.

"Is it... O-oh no, is it theirs!?" The cleric asked in a frightened manner, before collapsing to her knees. This shouldn't be happening...!

The bandits seemed to remain frozen in place, confused as to this foxgirl's new burden... Until one dropped in from above, landing behind the cleric with complete silence.

"Lady..." The androgynous voice spoke, putting a hand to the cleric's shoulder, startling her.

She turned around to see a figure looming over her, covered in darkly-colored garb, with a scarf covering most of its face. The ears were unmistakably feline, but... The sheer surprise of an intimidating bandit being practically on top of her was too much, and she instinctively raised her healer's rod once more, invoking another defensive spell.

"B-BLESSING OF THE GODDESS!" She shouted fearfully.

...The pressure grew more intense, her abdomen glowing faintly for a few moments, before it suddenly surged outwards. Her robes felt tight as her belly increased in size once more, the round shape turning ever-so-slightly oblong. The sudden growth knocked the wind out of Colleen.

"Oof!" She grunted, one of her eyes closing.

"Wha-!?" The rogue backed up and held their arms up defensively, before letting them down. "...Wow... That... That one's mine, isn't it!?" They said, almost sounding... Excited?

"O-oh Goddess, another...!" She grunted out another 'oof' as she desperately tried backing up, still panicked and confused.

The three bandits and singular cleric sat in their respective positions, completely silent. Colleen trying to understand the gravity - and gravidity - of her situation, and the bandits trying to make sense of this sudden creation of life happening before them.

Eventually, the three bandits convened, talked and seemed to agree on something... Before turning to the cleric once more.

"...Lady, we'd... Like t'apologize for our behavior." The dog-bandit said, letting his head hang down. "We were plannin' on payin' for a ride to Hemway with the money from yer' coinpurse and shiny things, y'see, but... It's against our code to hit a woman with kids in 'er. 'Specially when those kids're seemin' t'be ours..." He scratched the back of his head.

"Yeah, we're... Gonna go ahead and help you to get to Ishild's Retreat. That's where you were headed, no?" The cat-person continued, undoing the scarf covering his face. Well, she could definitely tell that it was a he, now...

"...Y-yeah, I was..." Colleen muttered, still holding a hand to her stomach. In the back of her mind, a simple mantra echoed, helping her to cope with her current situation; 'It's just a spell, it's just a spell...'

"Right, it's settled then, lady. Let's get you there." The third bandit spoke, coming into view, finally. They indeed looked to be human, wearing simple clothes, with a scimitar at their side.

Colleen briefly nodded, before holding a hand up. The trio of bandits quickly came to her aid, helping her upright, before beginning to lead the way to the village ahead.

"Should be about a half an hour's walk. Think you'll be a'ight until then?" The human asked. "...Name's Widogast, by the way."

   "...Y-yeah, I should be fine..." She muttered, before uttering even more softly her own name; so soft, it was practically inaudible.

"Right, let's get goin' then. Cadwalader, you scout ahead. Jonny, help the poor lass with walking." He continued.

"Can be done, can be done..." The cat-bandit muttered in reply, before immediately lunging into the canopy above.

"Right, lady. Nobody's gonna be able to hurt ya' with us around." The dog-bandit - evidently 'Jonny' - boasted, moving to the cleric's side.

And then, the human bandit charged forwards... Before promptly tripping on an unseen root, falling flat onto his face with a loud 'thud'.

"Agh, Gods-dammit!" The human shouted, clutching at his face, writhing on the floor.

"...Dammit, Widogast, can't you not fall over whenever you take the lead?" The feline felon shouted down from above at the human.

"This is why ya' let me lead the charge! I can actually take a faceplant!" The canine criminal continued where Cadwalader left off.

The cleric, feeling herself go into 'autopilot', rushed forwards to the bandit's aid. She held the rod to his head, and remained silent, as the writhing stopped.

...And then, the pressure intensified again, and her belly bulged out even more, taking on a 'torpedoed' shape. Her robes were drawn tighter around her stomach, and even her chest was starting to feel uncomfortable from the changes happening... The whole surface of her belly was starting to tingle from contact with her robes, the skin obviously growing sensitive.

"...Hey, I feel-" Widogast started, removing his face from the dirt, before looking over to the yet-larger cleric. "...Now that one's definitely gotta be mine..."

Colleen was left speechless at this point, no longer able to process what was happening... She had entered an oblivious, half-catatonic state, her stress having simply accumulated too quickly for her to accommodate and acclimate. The bandits seemed to have noticed this, as they didn't attempt to talk to her any, instead just leading her ahead, towards the village.

...

Eventually, the group of four arrived. Colleen had, by this point, managed to recover from her previous stupor, and was now anxiously contemplating what this sudden development meant for her future...

Her thoughts, of course, were then interrupted by the bandits.

"We've arrived, lady." Jonny said softly, before turning to the other bandits.

"Think we should... Share?" Widogast asked.

"Of course, she's pregnant, you dolt! We aren't monsters!" Cadwalader said in response.

The three turned to the confused cleric, all retrieving a pouch from their bags, passing them to her.

"Take it. It's some'a our... Acquisitions." Jonny started once more.

"Yeah. A bandit's life isn't for a lady such as yourself, especially not when with child. And... Nor is it for said children." Cadwalader continued.

"Use that money, give 'em good lives, or find 'em a good home. For us." Widogast finished.

Colleen stood there, surprised and still confused, before faintly nodding.

"A-alright." She stuttered.

"Good. Be safe, lady." Cadwalader said.

"...Oh, one last thing. Would ya'... Name 'em after us?" Jonny asked, sounding ever-so-slightly excited.

"Ooh, good point... Someone to remember us by, in case the guards finally get us, eh?" Widogast chortled a bit.

"I'll... I-I'll consider it..." Colleen muttered under her breath, cradling her belly defensively.

"Good enough for me. Let's be off, boys; there's more loot to steal, and more guards to stay the hell away from." The cat-bandit once more spoke, before the three seemingly disappeared as soon as they had appeared.

Colleen was alone again, now with three bags of stolen valuables, and three... What she presumed were spell-babies.

This situation was almost exactly the kind that she wanted to avoid...

The cleric slowly made her way to the village's inn, entering the establishment.

"Hello! How can I help-oh deary me, you look a bit... Worse-for-wear, ma'am." The innkeeper said, looking over to Colleen.

"Hi..." She muttered back, before placing down a few coins from one of the three bags of valuables. "A n-night's stay, please."

"Of course! Your room's the first to the right, down that hallway." The innkeeper pointed down the hallway to the cleric's left.

Colleen curtly nodded, and trudged towards said room, the day - and her belly - weighing heavily upon her. She was stressed beyond belief... And that stress would only build, until proverbially exploding out. She needed to calm down, and she needed to relax...

Her newfound burden was making both incredibly difficult.
Continued in Part 2

Part Navigation

Part 1(You are Here) - Part 2

Description
body div#devskin0 hr { }

Colleen räv Brent , in:Prelude to the Journey (Part 1)
A Tale of Tums, by Rando.

Rando's Personal Note and Disclaimer

This story is, quite obviously, not going to be for everyone. It includes themes pertaining to Pregnancy of a Sudden and mildly Exaggerated sort, a Foxgirl Cleric to a Fertility Goddess going through said pregnancy, mild religious themes (quite obviously, the main character's a cleric) and a few other, mildly more serious themes. Oh, and it also includes a bit of worldbuilding, though not much. If these things don't interest you, then by all means, feel free to read something else! But, if these do interest you, then by all means, stick around; hopefully this tale's worth your time!

This is the first real story I've written in a long, long while. Months, at least. As such, expect some atrophy in my writing skills. Also, this is my first piece of Colleen-specific content in a long while. Most of this part was written in just the past few days (ca. 5/14/19), but the very beginning of it was a fair bit earlier. As said before, my writing skills may be subpar compared to my other works; regardless, I hope you enjoy reading this!

Also of note, this story's been in the works for a long, long while. The original idea came up back in October-November 2018, which was expanded upon in December-January, and partially written. Then, writer's block came on for a few months, and I stopped... But my inspiration came back as of late, so here's the finished product! And I'll go ahead and post a disclaimer that these backstory things are only 'dubiously canon', for what it's worth... Which isn't much, really.

Now enough of my blithering, and on with the tale!

Part Navigation
Part 1(You are Here) - Part 2
It was a gentle springtime in Tumentia, the numerous trees blossoming and the frigid temperatures of the previous winter giving way to warmth. Everyone around the town of Hemway had started to make preparations for the Celebration of Life and the Festival of Blossoms... Except for Colleen, who was resting on her bed following a day of healing and questing. Though she didn't feel like she had accomplished much during her day's work, she had made a fair amount of profit; enough to keep her sated and with a warm bed for at least another week or so.

The cleric sighed as she lay in her bed, gently rubbing at her swollen belly. She had but two kits when the day began - she had given her others to Wendy so she could go out in the first place - but now she carried four within her womb, her 'Overload of Life' having taken effect for both healings she gave. A few worries lurked in the back of her mind, with regards as to how she would be able to take care of so many kits... But those thoughts were quickly flushed out of her head, a simple phrase filling it in their stead.

'It'll all be okay...' Colleen thought to herself, affectionately rubbing the maternal orb of her stomach, before sitting up; a feat that was rather difficult with the added weight of her stomach. But, she still had some tea to drink, and a journal entry to write...

The Cleric reached over to the nearby teapot - positioned above an enchanted plate of stone, serving as a heating surface - and poured herself a cup of the substance, before adding a pair of sugar-cubes to the small cup. Meanwhile, she reached for her journal, and perched it atop her swell for reading... Only for it to be knocked off by a sudden thump from one of her kits, also nearly making her spill her tea.

"Oof..." She grunted, before gently setting down the teacup and picking up the journal again.

She opened the book, and flipped through its many pages... Before then stopping, and turning back to the first page.

...And gazing upon that singular page, memories started to echo in her mind... And she flipped the page again, and again, each time reading the words intently, and remembering just a little more about what happened back then...

Soon enough, the memories flooded back, playing like a moving picture in her mind. Her tea sat idly on the bedside table, growing ever-colder, as she recalled the events leading her to where she was today...
Colleen sat in her temple's private room, meditating to herself, trying to clear her mind... She had just gotten finished trying fruitlessly to make sense of an ancient tome, and she needed to relax. She was usually fond of uncovering said codices' 'secrets' - even if they were already widely-known and translated - but the fact that she didn't know Meecetongue or Sylvan really put a hamper on her research... So, she elected to meditate instead.

But, her meditation was interrupted rather quickly by a familiar voice calling out to her.

"Sister Brent?" The voice called out.

"...Yes, sister Mayes?" The fox-eared cleric opened her eyes to see one of her fellow clerics - Mia - dressed in similar robes to her own, though with her robes a shade of violet instead of azure. She also bore pointy ears like the foxgirl did, though hers were of a more feline suggestion.

"I have a message, it's... From the head-masters."

Colleen's ears perked up at this, and she stood as quickly as she could.

"They... Wish to see you, to assign you on your first quest."

Her heart raced. Her first quest... An initiation of sorts...?

"Right, I'll be right there." She said affirmatively, gathering her things, before exiting the private room.

The temple in Abaidton wasn't exactly the most opulent or regal of places, though it certainly wasn't simple... It was, however, overgrown with vines, moss and other foliage. A few pillars stood, supporting the roof above, with engravings depicting the holy symbol of Eveylene Cavas - the Goddess of Fertility - covering these pillars, and a few walls as well. A few other clerics were wandering the halls of the temple, with some occasionally glancing over to Colleen as she passed by.

The foxgirl was only brought in as an initiate - essentially a cleric-in-training - but a few short months ago, and she still expected at least another month or two of training before she could officially call herself a cleric proper... She didn't have the best control over her spells and rites, and if she was to be sent on some major quest, that could present... Problems.

Still, she wouldn't question the council's judgement. If she was to be sent on a quest... So be it.

Soon, Colleen entered into the council chamber, where the headmasters - the local leaders of the temple - would meet to discuss important matters, and where the treasurers, healers and others would come to discuss their own business.

"I'm here." She spoke, clasping her hands together, and holding them to her chest nervously.

"Ah, good." One of the seven - Anissa Keefe, a relatively young elven woman - nodded. "Hello, Colleen. I take it your training has been going well?"

"Well enough, at least... Still miscast my Vitality Rite every so often, and I still need to be studying more..." She muttered, averting her gaze from the woman.

Anissa gave a small chortle. "Oh, you needn't worry about that, you'll get it down eventually."

"Uhm... If you don't mind me asking, what was I, err... Called here for?" The foxgirl asked nervously.

The council looked to each-other, before then turning back to face the cleric-in-training.

"We have... A rather important quest for you." One of the other council-members - an aged human by the name of Cenric Coughlan - says. "We need you to... Transport a few flasks to the temple over in Beathabaile, roughly... Five days to the southeast."

"...Flasks?" Colleen asked, somewhat confused. This task sounded relatively simple...

"Indeed. It probably won't present many issues, but... It does need to be done." Anissa added.

"O... Kay, just the flasks?" The foxgirl continued.

"Yes, just the flasks. But, you mustn't open them." Cenric finished. "It's important that they remain sealed."

"Flasks, don't open them, get to Beathabaile... Five-ish days... I'll be right on it." Colleen said affirmatively, nodding to the council.

"Well, I do believe everything is settled. Go forth, our newest cleric!" Anissa concluded, smiling and giving an enthusiastic command.

Colleen's ears perked up at hearing that. She was referred to as 'cleric', not 'cleric-in-training'... Did that mean that after this quest was complete, she wouldn't be in training anymore? If so... She would finally be a proper cleric!

"O-of course! I'll get my things collected and be on my way!" She said excitedly, before rushing out of the chamber posthaste.

...

Colleen collected numerous items from her room in a frenzy, tossing them into a nearby leather backpack. These included her tea-set, a spare change of robes, her journal, her coinpurse and a few cloths for storing rations. She then grasped at a large leather bottle - a waterskin - and affixed it to her waist. She would fill it with boiled water before collecting her rations and heading out.

'...I'm actually going on a quest... I'm gonna be an actual cleric when I get back...!' She thought to herself, excitement building within her.

After collecting her things, she then proceeded to the temple's kitchen, retrieving a surplus of smoked meat and hard bread, wrapping both in cloth before filling her waterskin.

With her rations collected, her waterskin filled and her equipment packed, all Colleen needed now were the flasks she was to transport.

And so, the cleric-to-be rushed back to the council-chamber once more. On the way there, she saw a group of 'elite' clerics, knights and paladins collecting equipment, seemingly preparing for a journey. Were they to be her escort...?
And, once she had arrived at the chamber again, the councilors were there to greet her.

"...My my, you got ready fast..." Anissa seemed surprised.

"Of course; I'll have this quest done posthaste!" The foxgirl replied with an eager chirp.

"Oh, I'm sure you'll succeed; which is exactly why..." The elf started, before gesticulating and gesturing towards Colleen.

A purple 'necklace' and 'cape' of sorts - similar to the one already affixed to her robe, though adorned with a ruby-like jewel and golden 'connector' instead of her plain copper medal - came into view... Before then instantly replacing the one already affixed to her robe with a flash of light.

"A-a new band!?" Colleen was shocked. Bands - the medals and cape-necklace-things that clerics to Eveylene Cavas wore - were only given or further adorned for certain accomplishments, and clerics only got a jeweled band once their training was completed...

...She misunderstood earlier. Her being called a cleric instead of one in-training meant that she was already done with being in-training, not that she would be done with the completion of the quest.

"Indeed! For taking on this task so eagerly and earnestly, and for training so earnestly and consistently for the past few months, you've proven your readiness and worthiness to become a true cleric of Eveylene Cavas, the Goddess of Fertility."

"...T-thank you!" She bowed her head in gratitude, her excitement only growing more potent. Now that she was out of training... She could get new bands, she could be sent on more quests, she could-

'No, I need to focus! Quest first, celebration later!' She mentally spoke to herself, before bringing her focus back in line.

"Now then, cleric... Are you ready for your quest?" The elf asked once more.

Colleen answered with a resounding "Yes!"

The elf nodded, before holding up a case containing four metallic vials, each topped with some sort of waxy substance, black in color.

"...These look a bit different from... Normal potion containers." The foxgirl noted.

"It's a very important potion, can't risk spilling any!" Anissa spoke with a smile, before gesturing towards the door. "I'm sure you're prepared, so I won't delay your journey much longer. Any last questions?"
"Err, yes, actually! Will I be traveling with that group that's been gearing up?" Colleen asked curiously.
"Actually, you won't be; they're... Going on their own important quest. They will be aiding you, just not directly."
"...Oh." She nodded; this meant that she was, indeed, going alone... But she could handle a few days alone in the wilderness.
"If that's all... Best of luck on your quest."

"Yes, thank you! I'll be back by next week's end, I promise that!"

And with that, Colleen exited the council chamber. It was already evening... She would leave under the cover of night. If these potions were indeed this important, someone may try to take them... So she would start her travel when she would be least likely to be detected.

Plus, she still had to collect ink and the like for her journal...

...

Under the cover of darkness, Colleen exited the temple, and just as quickly left Abaidton behind. The forests ahead would provide nice cover from any weather, and would do well enough for a place to rest... But she still had to get at least a fair bit away from the town.

As she wandered down the dirt road, wondering what she would do once she finally returned successful, the cleric stopped for a moment.

"This spot looks good..." She muttered to herself, before pitching her tent next to a rather large tree. She had eaten just before starting her travels, so she didn't feel hungry... She would just write her journal entry for the night, and rest.

'Day one of my quest. Late summer.

I've finally been sent out on a mission by the councilors; and not only that, but I've been officially recognized as a proper cleric!

I'm unsure of what the journey ahead will bring, but I'm certain that I'll be successful in my quest. And then, once I am... I can start training further as a healer.

These vials I carry with me... I'm uncertain what they do - or what they even are - but I've been told to not open them. Still, I'm curious as to their contents...

My journey has only just begun at nightfall, and I've made little progress towards Beathabaile, but I should arrive within four-and-a-half days, if I maintain a steady pace.

I cannot wait to report of my success, and to begin my work as a proper cleric to Eveylene Cavas!

-Colleen räv Brent, Healing Cleric'

Having written in her journal, Colleen set the tome aside to dry, before lying down in her tent. The days ahead would probably bring troubles... But no matter what they brought, she could handle it.

Quickly, she fell to unconsciousness and gentle slumber...

And then, she awoke to the sounds of chirping birds, and to light shining through the tent's fabric.

The cleric sat up, looking around for a brief moment, before yawning. The night had passed almost instantly from her perspective, and today would be long; she wouldn't be near even a small village at her current pace, not until the fourth day of her quest... Still, she needed to press onward. She would need to ration her food carefully, and keep a steady pace ahead; she couldn't fail her first quest just from a lack of supplies!

"Right, let's get going... Not like I'll get to Beathabaile if I just sit here." She muttered, before removing some bread and meat from her pack, quickly eating it. While it didn't sate her fully, it was enough to keep her going. She could eat more later; she needed to conserve supplies as much as she could.

The cleric then got out of her tent, disassembling and folding it, before beginning her progress forwards once more. She prayed that the journey would be safe, expedient and without distraction.

...

    The remainder of her quest's second day was uneventful, by and large. A bridge was crossed as she exited the forest, and entered the vast hills and grasslands that covered much of Tumae, and she made significant progress... But otherwise, little could be said about her journey that wasn't already said. By the time nightfall had come, the cleric had already pitched her tent, and written her journal entry.

'Day two of my quest. Late summer.

The day has proven uneventful, which is both a blessing and a curse. I feared I may fall asleep on the road as I wandered through the forest; but though the occasional encounter with deer kept me on my toes, I haven't encountered any beasts that seek to make a meal of me, thankfully.

I exited the forest at roughly noon, which led into a hilly, grassy landscape. I spent less than an hour on breaks, if I estimated correctly; only taking short ones to rest, eat and relieve myself as necessary.

Hopefully the next day of the journey is as uneventful as this; I would rather not encounter bandits or the like...

-Colleen räv Brent, Healing Cleric'

She set the journal beside her and, soon thereafter, she passed out; though this night, her rest was uneasy, as the air around her felt unusually cold... Still, she had rested, and awoke much the same as the previous day. The third day had come.

And thus, with a meal and drink, and a relatively simple tent disassembly, Colleen had set out further on her journey. Today, she may have been out of the forest, but that wouldn't make her journey any quicker... Still, things were looking up. No distractions or unnecessary breaks were made, and everything was going smoothly.

...But, just as the sun reached its peak in the sky, dark clouds began to collect overhead. The rumbling of thunder picked up just an hour after noon had passed, and soon thereafter, the looming clouds gave way to rain; first a gentle drizzle, but then, a downpour.

Colleen rushed ahead in the rain, struggling against the now-muddy road. The terrain was starting to become unfavorable for her journey, and she feared that this would cause delays...

  'I should've brought a cloak...!' She thought to herself, continuing onwards for as long as she could. The dirt path beneath her had become bemired and difficult to walk in, and she herself was starting to get covered in rain and mud, as well...

The pouring continued, giving the foxgirl a fresh coat of rainwater and frigid winds in addition to the mud she had accumulated from her rushing. Eventually, Colleen deemed it necessary to make camp and shelter from the elements. The weather was highly unfavorable, and she didn't want to get ill... And she didn't want to get any more soaked than she already was.

Quickly, the cleric established her tent underneath a nearby tree - it was small in comparison to the one she used on the first day of her travels, but it would have to suffice - and sat within, shivering from the cold and wet fabric covering her.

She would have to wait out the storm, but at least she kept on foot for as long as she feasibly could. She didn't feel tired enough to sleep, however... So now she needed to pass the time.

After removing her old robes and donning a 'decency wrap' around her chest, Colleen reached into her backpack, and started examining the other things she had brought along. None of her stuff was missing, thankfully... Not her tea-set, nor her rations. She worried that she left something behind earlier in her journey, but that worry was seemingly refuted.

Then, she took note of the four flasks. Curiosity was still boiling within her from the very first day of her travels... She had suppressed it rather well up until now, but now that she was trapped in the rain with nothing else to do, that curiosity grew to uncontrollable heights.

She retrieved one of the metallic flasks. On it was an inscription with numerous symbols on it; one depicting a rabbit, another depicting a mouse, another depicting a carnation and lotus leaf, and a final one depicting a sphere of sorts... Potentially the full moon?

"Strange..." The cleric remarked, before examining the other side of the vial.

The other side bore the symbol of the Temples of Eveylene Cavas... She predicted it would, at least, so that was no surprise. The remainder of the vial remained plain, with the black wax cork sealing it being the only other notable feature of it.

...Her curiosity finally hit a peak. For a moment, she hesitated, but soon she removed the 'cap' from the flask.

Almost immediately, the entire tent was filled with the scent of... Fruit? Citrus, maybe? And besides that, a sour taste started to linger in Colleen's mouth... Her vision briefly went blurry, but it quickly regulated back to normal, and she could feel... Something. She couldn't discern what, exactly, but it felt... Off.

"Eh...?" She let out a confused noise, before re-corking the vial, not bothering with looking inside to peer at the potion, let alone tasting it. Even just uncorking it once seemed to have some sort of effect... And she didn't really want to know what it was.

Knowing the fumes may linger, Colleen opened the flap into the tent, and allowed the scent of citrus to waft out into the environment. She could've sworn that the muddy grass near her tent had glowed faintly for a few moments... But, she ignored it, and pulled out her journal; thankfully, no water had gotten into her backpack, and the pages were preserved.

'Day three of my quest. Late summer.

My curiosity finally got the better of me, and I elected to open one of the four flasks. To my surprise, I could immediately smell something vaguely... Fruity, and get a sour taste in my mouth. I also feel a vague... Malaise of sorts, even a few minutes after exposure, and for a few moments after it, my vision faded somewhat...

I know not what this means for me, but I fear the worst. I should've listened to the councilors, and just left the flask sealed... I'm sure to be scolded or lectured for this when I arrive at my destination.

I had to delay my journey comparatively early today, as a rather vicious storm has blown in... I only hope this storm will have passed by the time I awaken in the morning.

...And I hope tomorrow brings fewer distractions and delays. I wish to see my quest complete as soon as possible, so I can hold to my promise of making it back home before the next week's end.

May the Goddess continue protecting me, and granting me these relatively uneventful days; though hopefully that includes less inclement weather for the rest of my travels...

-Colleen räv Brent, Healing Cleric'

With that, the cleric sighed, and grasped her tea-set. If she would have to wait, she would enjoy some tea before she tried going to bed.

Removing the teapot, arcane plate, cups and containers - all packaged in a convenient 'box' of sorts - from her backpack, Colleen set up the heating plate and teapot, pouring water into the latter. She then grasped a few leaves and herbs from the containers within the box, and blended them together, before adding them to the pot once it was sufficiently heated.

'With this blend... It should help with getting to sleep.' She thought to herself, patiently waiting for the tea to brew while gnawing on some dried, smoked meat.

Soon enough, the tea had finished brewing, and the cleric poured herself a cup. It smelled quite nice...

'And at least that fruity smell's gone. It was nice, but... A bit overpowering...' She also thought to herself, before sipping on her infusion.

...Within a few minutes, she had finished the entire pot of tea, and was snoring loudly, unconscious.

Her rest that night was also uneasy, as she felt unnaturally frigid... But more than that, she felt... Isolated. She wasn't near any friends, family or other associates - nay, she wasn't near anyone - and the whole experience was... Unsettling to her. She felt... Lonely. Add to that the anxiety of having literally just disobeyed a direct order, and her worrying about how the headmasters would react...

Those feelings would have kept her up for the entirety of that night, if it weren't for the copious dosage of 'sleep tea'. But nonetheless, she awoke the next day, famished and exhausted.

Colleen grumbled and shivered as she sat upright, her hair disheveled and her body cold. She heard chirping, and heard a distinct lack of rainfall... But the terrain was probably still muddy from the downpour. Her journey would, nonetheless, still continue, but it would likely be at a slower pace than before.

"Ugh..." She muttered, retrieving some bread and meat from her ration bags, before consuming both. She didn't feel full, but she wasn't hungry anymore, either... It would be enough.

She then packed away her tea-set, donned new robes, and rushed to exit and disassemble her tent for further use.

As she exited, she noticed the grass around her tent's entrance seemed to have grown taller, and flowers seemed to have sprouted spontaneously... She disregarded this for the most part, but it did linger for a bit in the recesses of her mind. Nonetheless, the tent was quickly dismantled and packed away, ready for reassembly later.

Colleen thus continued forwards on her journey, the muddy road seeming just a bit more solid than earlier. She was slowed, but not as greatly as during the downpour itself... Which was excellent, since if she was, the journey may have ended up extended by an entire extra day, or potentially even two.

Still, her day was going to be a long one... She could just feel it.

...

As the day marched on, the roads dried up more fully, and Colleen could continue her journey at her fastest pace. Another forest separated her from the nearby village of Ishild's Retreat, but last time, it wasn't horrible going through the woods...

With a quick snack in substitution for a late lunch, and a swig from her waterskin, the cleric ventured into the forest, unsure of what her travel within would bring.

  The brush was thick around the road's edges, with little light escaping through the canopy above... Still, there was enough for the way ahead to be lit, allowing her to progress. That, and the trail in the forest was surprisingly dry... She estimated herself to have been wandering within the forest for a little over an hour when she came upon a clearing of sorts. She could see what looked like the abandoned hulls of carriages, and the smoldering pit of a campfire. Someone was here not too long ago...

"...Hello...?" The cleric called out, readying her concealed healer's rod - her divine focus - and gazing around carefully.

Her question was met with rustling from nearby brush, and an unfamiliar, brutish figure appearing in front of her.

"Why hey there, little lady." The individual said, his voice gruff. From their looks, they seemed to be a dog-person, with a disheveled beard and fancy - if torn - hat over his head. The sheathed arming sword at his side was a clear enough indicator of a combatant.

Colleen's ears twitched as she heard footsteps behind her. She was surrounded, undoubtedly by bandits.

"Brigands..." She muttered, drawing her healer's rod readily.

"Woah, woah, lady. We ain't here to hurt ya'. Just give yer' shiny things an' all, and you can go right on by." The bandit ahead of her said, holding a hand readily to his blade.

"But if you don't wanna comply... We just might have to." The voice behind her said. It bore no discernible accents, and didn't seem particularly... Deft in any manner, judging just from their footfalls. Likely a human or other 'simple' beast-person. Definitely masculine.

"...I'm sorry, but I can't. I'm on a quest from-" She spoke, attempting to explain her situation, before being interrupted.

"Oh, now that's a shame..." A third voice interrupted her. She couldn't tell where it was from, and it sounded too... Androgynous to tell if it was a man or a woman. "Looks like she's too attached to her coin for her own good. Let's help her lighten up, eh?" It chortled lightly, before breaking into a shout. "Get 'er, boys!"

The bandit ahead of her grinned maliciously, before drawing his arming sword fully, and charging ahead. At his current speed, he would reach her within just a few seconds.

The footfalls behind her were faster. She didn't have much time to react before one or the other attacked her. She had to act, quickly!

Colleen planted her feet firmly into the ground beneath her, and held her healer's rod aloft. She had already prepared to cast a defensive spell before they began their assault, and now, all she had to do to activate it was to invoke its name...

"Blessing of the Goddess!" She called out, bracing herself for the armoring spell to take hold...

And then, a bizarre feeling built up within her. A pressure surged in her lower abdomen, alongside a warmth that she couldn't place the source of... In mere moments, however, the pressure reached a head, and her abdomen ballooned outwards, taking her by complete surprise.

"Oof!?" She yelped out, clearly caught off-guard by the sudden growth.

"...The hell!?" The bandits said in unison, before immediately stopping in their tracks.

"...Th-this isn't the defensive spell I was looking for...!" She said in a panic, feeling at her now-swollen belly.

...It felt... Firm. Surprisingly so... And taut, like a piece of fabric drawn tight... And it was heavy, forcing her to change her posture slightly to accommodate the weight. That, and her navel was popped out, rubbing against the fabric of her robes uncomfortably...

"She looks-" The bandits stared in confusion for a few moments, piecing things together.

"...I-I look-" Colleen's breathing accelerated as she progressively lost more of her composure.

"-Pregnant!?" They all spoke in confusion, though the cleric spoke more in a state of panic.

A few brief moments pass, before the speech continued.

"I think... I think she is!?" The bandit behind her spoke, the sound of metal clattering against the ground causing the cleric to flinch.

"I think I am...!" Colleen said simultaneously, clutching at her belly with both her hands. She was immensely worried at this point.

Another few seconds passed, allowing their minds to work a bit more before they continued talking again...

"Is... Is it mine?" The dog-bandit asked, his own sword dropping to the soil below.

"Is it... O-oh no, is it theirs!?" The cleric asked in a frightened manner, before collapsing to her knees. This shouldn't be happening...!

The bandits seemed to remain frozen in place, confused as to this foxgirl's new burden... Until one dropped in from above, landing behind the cleric with complete silence.

"Lady..." The androgynous voice spoke, putting a hand to the cleric's shoulder, startling her.

She turned around to see a figure looming over her, covered in darkly-colored garb, with a scarf covering most of its face. The ears were unmistakably feline, but... The sheer surprise of an intimidating bandit being practically on top of her was too much, and she instinctively raised her healer's rod once more, invoking another defensive spell.

"B-BLESSING OF THE GODDESS!" She shouted fearfully.

...The pressure grew more intense, her abdomen glowing faintly for a few moments, before it suddenly surged outwards. Her robes felt tight as her belly increased in size once more, the round shape turning ever-so-slightly oblong. The sudden growth knocked the wind out of Colleen.

"Oof!" She grunted, one of her eyes closing.

"Wha-!?" The rogue backed up and held their arms up defensively, before letting them down. "...Wow... That... That one's mine, isn't it!?" They said, almost sounding... Excited?

"O-oh Goddess, another...!" She grunted out another 'oof' as she desperately tried backing up, still panicked and confused.

The three bandits and singular cleric sat in their respective positions, completely silent. Colleen trying to understand the gravity - and gravidity - of her situation, and the bandits trying to make sense of this sudden creation of life happening before them.

Eventually, the three bandits convened, talked and seemed to agree on something... Before turning to the cleric once more.

"...Lady, we'd... Like t'apologize for our behavior." The dog-bandit said, letting his head hang down. "We were plannin' on payin' for a ride to Hemway with the money from yer' coinpurse and shiny things, y'see, but... It's against our code to hit a woman with kids in 'er. 'Specially when those kids're seemin' t'be ours..." He scratched the back of his head.

"Yeah, we're... Gonna go ahead and help you to get to Ishild's Retreat. That's where you were headed, no?" The cat-person continued, undoing the scarf covering his face. Well, she could definitely tell that it was a he, now...

"...Y-yeah, I was..." Colleen muttered, still holding a hand to her stomach. In the back of her mind, a simple mantra echoed, helping her to cope with her current situation; 'It's just a spell, it's just a spell...'

"Right, it's settled then, lady. Let's get you there." The third bandit spoke, coming into view, finally. They indeed looked to be human, wearing simple clothes, with a scimitar at their side.

Colleen briefly nodded, before holding a hand up. The trio of bandits quickly came to her aid, helping her upright, before beginning to lead the way to the village ahead.

"Should be about a half an hour's walk. Think you'll be a'ight until then?" The human asked. "...Name's Widogast, by the way."

   "...Y-yeah, I should be fine..." She muttered, before uttering even more softly her own name; so soft, it was practically inaudible.

"Right, let's get goin' then. Cadwalader, you scout ahead. Jonny, help the poor lass with walking." He continued.

"Can be done, can be done..." The cat-bandit muttered in reply, before immediately lunging into the canopy above.

"Right, lady. Nobody's gonna be able to hurt ya' with us around." The dog-bandit - evidently 'Jonny' - boasted, moving to the cleric's side.

And then, the human bandit charged forwards... Before promptly tripping on an unseen root, falling flat onto his face with a loud 'thud'.

"Agh, Gods-dammit!" The human shouted, clutching at his face, writhing on the floor.

"...Dammit, Widogast, can't you not fall over whenever you take the lead?" The feline felon shouted down from above at the human.

"This is why ya' let me lead the charge! I can actually take a faceplant!" The canine criminal continued where Cadwalader left off.

The cleric, feeling herself go into 'autopilot', rushed forwards to the bandit's aid. She held the rod to his head, and remained silent, as the writhing stopped.

...And then, the pressure intensified again, and her belly bulged out even more, taking on a 'torpedoed' shape. Her robes were drawn tighter around her stomach, and even her chest was starting to feel uncomfortable from the changes happening... The whole surface of her belly was starting to tingle from contact with her robes, the skin obviously growing sensitive.

"...Hey, I feel-" Widogast started, removing his face from the dirt, before looking over to the yet-larger cleric. "...Now that one's definitely gotta be mine..."

Colleen was left speechless at this point, no longer able to process what was happening... She had entered an oblivious, half-catatonic state, her stress having simply accumulated too quickly for her to accommodate and acclimate. The bandits seemed to have noticed this, as they didn't attempt to talk to her any, instead just leading her ahead, towards the village.

...

Eventually, the group of four arrived. Colleen had, by this point, managed to recover from her previous stupor, and was now anxiously contemplating what this sudden development meant for her future...

Her thoughts, of course, were then interrupted by the bandits.

"We've arrived, lady." Jonny said softly, before turning to the other bandits.

"Think we should... Share?" Widogast asked.

"Of course, she's pregnant, you dolt! We aren't monsters!" Cadwalader said in response.

The three turned to the confused cleric, all retrieving a pouch from their bags, passing them to her.

"Take it. It's some'a our... Acquisitions." Jonny started once more.

"Yeah. A bandit's life isn't for a lady such as yourself, especially not when with child. And... Nor is it for said children." Cadwalader continued.

"Use that money, give 'em good lives, or find 'em a good home. For us." Widogast finished.

Colleen stood there, surprised and still confused, before faintly nodding.

"A-alright." She stuttered.

"Good. Be safe, lady." Cadwalader said.

"...Oh, one last thing. Would ya'... Name 'em after us?" Jonny asked, sounding ever-so-slightly excited.

"Ooh, good point... Someone to remember us by, in case the guards finally get us, eh?" Widogast chortled a bit.

"I'll... I-I'll consider it..." Colleen muttered under her breath, cradling her belly defensively.

"Good enough for me. Let's be off, boys; there's more loot to steal, and more guards to stay the hell away from." The cat-bandit once more spoke, before the three seemingly disappeared as soon as they had appeared.

Colleen was alone again, now with three bags of stolen valuables, and three... What she presumed were spell-babies.

This situation was almost exactly the kind that she wanted to avoid...

The cleric slowly made her way to the village's inn, entering the establishment.

"Hello! How can I help-oh deary me, you look a bit... Worse-for-wear, ma'am." The innkeeper said, looking over to Colleen.

"Hi..." She muttered back, before placing down a few coins from one of the three bags of valuables. "A n-night's stay, please."

"Of course! Your room's the first to the right, down that hallway." The innkeeper pointed down the hallway to the cleric's left.

Colleen curtly nodded, and trudged towards said room, the day - and her belly - weighing heavily upon her. She was stressed beyond belief... And that stress would only build, until proverbially exploding out. She needed to calm down, and she needed to relax...

Her newfound burden was making both incredibly difficult.
Continued in Part 2

Part Navigation

Part 1(You are Here) - Part 2