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Colleen räv Brent , in:Prelude to the Journey (Part 2)
A Tale of Tums, by Rando.

Rando's Personal Note and Disclaimer

Much like my other tales, this isn't for everyone. It includes themes relating 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 a bit of worldbuilding. If these don't interest you, then by all means, feel free to read something else to pass the time. But, if these do, then continue on; hopefully this tale is enjoyable!

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. Some of this part's writing is months old, while some is just days or even hours old (by the time of writing this 'note', 5/14/19). Regardless, I hope you enjoy it!

As always, check out the first part before this one! But, if you already have, then...

Enough of my blathering, and on with the tale!
Part Navigation
Part 1 - Part 2 (You are Here)

After having paid for her room with the funding given by the retinue of bandits she had managed to... 'Pacify', Colleen slowly waddled towards - and into - the simple bed-chamber. Her legs had grown weary due to the newly-added weight of her swollen belly, and said weariness had extended to the rest of her body, as well. Her robes were quite visibly stretched thin over her distended middle, and her breasts felt sore and constrained within the upper portions of her robes, which were visibly taut, though thankfully nothing showed besides her cleavage; an intended 'feature' of the robes, apparently.

Slowly, the cleric shuffled forward into the center of the room, until she finally felt something give. Her legs buckled under the strain, and she fell; first to her knees, which took the brunt of the fall upon the rug-covered hardwood flooring. Soon thereafter, her belly came against the rug and floor with a faint whump, wobbling as it did so. The impact thankfully felt light, causing no injury to the foxgirl, or to the kits currently crammed within her; the two defensive spells she had cast earlier ensured that... Though the impact did knock the wind out of her.

"Oof..." She winced, putting a hand to her backside, before holding the other to her stretched, fecund orb. Many thoughts raced in her mind, about the events of the day, what had happened when the bandits assailed her, what lay before her now... It was overwhelming in many, many ways.

She tried to rationalize and make sense of her new predicament, coming to the conclusion that these babies were some sort of... 'Spell' or 'arcane effect'. Still, that rationalization had a flaw; namely...

  "W-when's this spell gonna wear off...?" She asked to herself, her expression overflowing with apprehension and worry, her eyes misty with the suggestion of tears. The spell was lasting for a really long time; most ended with just broken concentration... So it had to end soon, right?
'Yeah, it has to wear off soon...! This has to have some sorta time limit!' She managed to convince herself, though just barely.

...But, as she sat there, near-immobilized by her swollen belly, a new thought entered into Colleen's mind. One that, as she pondered upon it, made her eyes widen, her pupils shrink and her heart proverbially stop. She broke out in a cold, fearful sweat.
What if the spell wouldn't wear off...? Or what if it wasn't 'just a spell', as she insisted to herself earlier?

"...A-am I gonna have babies!?" Her breathing accelerated, the apprehension and worry from just a moment earlier surging forth to new heights. She hadn't considered the possibility of the spell not wearing off before whatever was inside of her wanted to come out... Or worse, that the spell simply wouldn't wear off at all.
'N-no, it has to stop eventually!' She denied the previous thought, and tried convincing herself that it was, in fact, just a temporary 'status effect' of sorts. It only helped marginally.
  Colleen continued sitting there, on the verge of breaking down, constantly reaffirming to herself on one simple 'fact'; "It's just a spell... I-it's just a spell...!" She muttered this mantra repeatedly in an earnest - if fruitless - attempt to calm herself.

This continued for a minute or so, until she felt a distinct pressure in her side; a thump, caused by one of her kits pressing out against her womb's walls. They moved.

"It's just a sp-oof...!" She winced again, cradling her abdomen in her arms.

It was then that she finally snapped, and a rather simple fact was finally driven through her thick skull. No matter how much she could try to deny it, these feelings, the kicks, the weight... The kits... They were all real. She could sense their vitality within herself even without spells, and that wouldn't change, no matter how much she insisted it was just a hallucination or arcane effect.
And at that moment, the floodgates finally opened, and Colleen gave way to gentle sobbing and crying.

For a solid minute, Colleen sat in relative silence, weeping about the sudden changes that had happened. Was this... Was it a punishment of sorts for opening the vial...? Was it a miscast that went awry? Some cruel wizard's prank? A simple coincidence...? She didn't know the answer. All that she did know, was that she was not pregnant when the day began, and now she was heavily so... The changes came so fast, she couldn't hope to cope with them even if she tried. Now she needed to explain her condition to the Temple, her family, her friends and others, and she had to be able to feed herself and these kits, and she had to be ready for if labor started while she was on the road, and...

She was, simply put, overwhelmed.

"Wh-what am I... What am I gonna do...!?" She whimpered out, cradling her abdomen as tears slowly rolled down her cheeks. She was indeed overwhelmed, completely and utterly; both at the prospect of motherhood being suddenly thrust upon her, and at the fear of ostracism, repudiation or excommunication for disobeying a direct command from the councilors and jeopardizing - or even failing - her entire quest. Her mind tried to process every last possibility and eventuality it could, which only served to put her into a deeper state of apprehension and stress...

    'What'll happen when I give birth? How can I afford to feed myself and triplets? What'll my fellow Clerics think of me? What'll my Family think...?' And numerous other thoughts plagued her mind, driving her yet further over the edge.

But, as she sat there, tears still flowing from her eyes, trying - and failing - to muster what little composure she had left, she did one of the few things she could think of; she prayed.

She couldn't think of anything else she could do at this point... And knowing how many clerics' prayers were answered with actual, powerful miracles, maybe the Goddess could provide her with some form of divine assistance...

  And so, the Cleric started muttering an orison, expressing herself as best as she could through her utterances, begging for assistance from Eveylene Cavas.

And, as Colleen prayed, she indeed felt something... But it didn't feel like an arcane effect, nor did it feel like a miraculous outworking of divine power. Rather, it was... Gentle, and calming, like a mother's embrace. A soothing, mollifying warmth encapsulated her, and a reassurance began to reverberate within the recesses of her mind; a thought more optimistic than the barrage of difficult questions that filled it but moments ago.

"...Maybe... M-maybe everything's gonna be okay. This'll take getting used to, but... Maybe this'll all work out in the end..." She spoke the thoughts that flowed through her mind, sniffling as she did so.

And as she thought and spoke, she glanced down at her swollen abdomen with a faint, familiar curiosity, before gingerly separating the robes covering it, exposing her belly plainly. Her skin had taken on a faintly pink hue near her swollen form's front, and it even seemed faintly shiny. It was most definitely drawn taut, she could feel the tightness and sensitivity just from her robes touching it... Undeterred by this, however, she laid one of her hands onto the now-exposed mass, and started slowly rubbing it.

"E-everything's gonna... Be okay... It'll all be okay..." She continued muttering this new mantra as the soothing warmth continued washing over her, bringing her a degree of peace. Her dejected and defeated countenance began to slowly fade, being replaced with one of serenity, though a trail from her earlier tears still remained.

'Things'll turn for the better... I may have to make adjustments, but... I can handle this.' The reassurances continued reverberating, bringing her further comfort.

And then, her thoughts were interrupted; a small, soft pressure pressed up against her hand, causing her ears to perk up. She lifted this hand up, and revealed the source of this pressure; it was one of her kits, kicking out where she was rubbing.

"...H-hey there, little guy." Her calmed expression turned to a faint smile as she tapped at what she presumed was the kit's foot with her index finger. Its foot retracted... And then pressed out again, a bit more vigorously this time. At seeing and feeling this, she finally gave way to a small, heartfelt giggle, and proceeded to repeat this process. Her spirits were finally lifted, and her fears and anxieties put into the back of her mind for the time being.

...Maybe, just maybe, everything was going to be okay...

...

After a few more minutes of recuperation and recollection, Colleen took her hands off of her belly and stood shakily, a newfound strength flowing through her legs. She used this burst of strength to quickly waddle to the bed and sit upon it - knowing that even with this second wind, she probably wouldn't be able to stand for long - before removing her pack and examining its contents.

...All four flasks she was tasked to transport, they were still there, and still sealed... Not even one had spilled. She hadn't failed her quest, not yet. She just needed to get one more town over, and then it would be complete...

"Thank the Goddess..." She muttered softly, sighing with a newfound relief. Some of her earlier worries were now completely refuted... And though some still remained, the reassurance still reverberated in her mind.

And with that reassurance, and the newfound calm flowing through her... Colleen decided that she was hungry, thirsty, and tired. Today was possibly the single most difficult day of her life, both as a cleric, and as a normal person. And the days ahead wouldn't be much easier... But, no matter what would happen, she could handle it. Of that, at least, she felt certain.

So, Colleen reached into her pack, and collected her rations, as well as the one luxury she brought with herself; her tea set. Tonight, she would feast; after all, she had to feed four mouths, now.

The cleric quickly set up her tea-set, putting some water from her waterskin into the pot, before setting it to boil. At the same time, she retrieved some bread and smoked meat from her bag, and quickly scarfed it down.

...It wasn't quite as filling as expected, but... It would have to do. She still had another entire day and a half to travel... And with more people to feed than just herself, she needed to be extremely careful with how she spent her rations.

Soon enough, her tea had finished brewing, and she quickly started drinking it. Tea helped calm her down, and with the gentle warmth still flowing through her... Perhaps it would help further.

And surely enough, it did; the serenity she felt earlier had intensified, leaving her to only contend with the exhaustion that flowed through her. But, before she could pass out, she needed to write of the day's events.

After setting her teacup near to the pot and plate, Colleen retrieved her journal, and wrote a new entry upon it.

'Day four of my quest. Late summer.

While little of note came during the earlier portions of this day, many new developments came with the later portions, particularly nearing the evening.

A group of bandits assailed me in an attempt to retrieve what little I had brought with me, so naturally, I defended myself... However, something wholly unexpected came from using my abilities; something I believe is tied to the vial I've been transporting these last few days.

I believe I am now... Pregnant. Heavily so.

Though I know myself to be carrying triplets, I know not how far along I am, nor when I am to give birth. But... I believe myself to be quite far along, judging by their movements, and I fear that their birth won't be too far off.

I also fear that I am not ready to take care of these children... Still, as a cleric of the Fertility Goddess, it is my duty to nurture and protect these kits with my life.

...Rather, it is my duty, both as a cleric, and as a soon-to-be mother.

Though I am uncertain about many things, I am certain of one thing; these babies are real. These kits, they seemingly 'manifested' when I used my clerical powers, but... They aren't simply some illusion, or magical entity. Their vitality is within me, I can feel it. A mere 'summon' of sorts wouldn't have this strong a life-force.

I believe the vial I am transporting is some sort of... 'Power-enhancer' or something. Maybe my life-energies are being strengthened by the vial, and whenever I cast one of my clerical abilities, the 'well' within me surges and overflows, leading to... Spontaneous generation. Perhaps it's a blessing from Eveylene Cavas herself, bestowing me with new life... Perhaps it's a miscasting effect amplified from exposure to the vapors of that potion. I'm uncertain with regards to any of these.

But... I feel something indescribable. A 'bond' of sorts, with these kits... A strong one.

Being a mom, and to triplets, no less... I'm not ready for it, not at all. But... I'm going to do my best, both before and after they've entered the world. For these babies, the Temple, the Goddess... And for myself.

It'll all be okay.

-Colleen räv Brent, Healing Cleric

Post-Signature... And I suppose for those brigands, too.'

Having finished writing in her journal, Colleen set the tome aside for the ink to dry, before closing her eyes. The exhaustion she felt was now overwhelming, and her body proverbially screamed to her for rest. She couldn't contend with it any longer...

And so, the cleric passed out.

...

Colleen stirred in the middle of the night, the anxieties and worries from earlier that day creeping upon her in her sleep; even despite the gentle warmth and reassurances, those fears still lingered within the back of her mind...

And then, she awoke at the witching hour, to the feeling of her kits kicking about actively, as if in a frenzy or panic.

"...W-what's wrong...?" The foxgirl asked in a confused manner, her ears folding down as she gently caressed her turbulent, swollen belly.

...And then, as if on some sort of cue, she felt the pressure from within her start to lessen... And saw her swollen form start to shrink, the kicks starting to grow weaker, and weaker...

The cleric quickly stood in surprise and concern, clutching at her stomach as she saw it start to fade back into its smaller, 'normal' size. In a panic, she used one of the few spells she knew to 'scan' herself...

...They... They were disappearing. Their vitality... Their entire being was just fading!

"W-what!? Nonono, this shouldn't be happening!" She yelped, hugging at her stomach as she desperately attempted to maintain even just one of the triplets' vitality, their life-force... Only to feel it fade from her proverbial grasp.

The cleric sat there, clutching at her now-flat stomach, before starting to gently sob. A cold feeling of emptiness flowed through her...

  And then, Colleen woke up with a start, quickly cradling her very real belly in her arms, breathing rapidly as she took in her surroundings.

It was early in the morning, a small amount of sunlight shining in through the nearby window. Everything was just as she left it when she fell asleep; the lamp was still lit, her teapot was still on its heating plate, her journal still lay beside her, and her belly was still swollen and taut, full of life.

"...I-it was... Just a dream..." The anxious cleric took in a deep breath, letting out a heavily relieved sigh as she then rubbed at her stomach tearfully.

A small, gentle kick pushed out near her navel, and she gave a relieved smile, her breathing finally normalizing. They weren't disappearing... They were okay. That was all just a nightmare...

That's when another thing clicked in her mind; as much as she was afraid of being a mother... She was truly concerned about these kits. They were hers, after all; she felt a unique bond to them... She loved them, as crazy as it sounded for only having carried them for a little under a day.

"O-okay, okay... Good morning in there...?" She lightly drummed her fingers over her abdomen, looking at it intently...

A few kicks responded to her call, causing the cleric to giggle a bit... And then, her stomach rumbled.

"...Hungry?" She asked.

The movements returned, this time much more vigorous.

"Oof!" She grunted at the unexpected barrage of thumps. "I-I'll take that as a yes!"

Colleen then stood, adjusting her robes to once more cover her tumultuous swell, before putting away her tea-set and journal, and walking out into the inn's hallways.

She wandered into the main room, paid for - and ate - a hearty breakfast, and then started on her way from the inn, to her destination. She'd make it there by nightfall, if everything went according to plan...

...

The cleric stopped her trek as the sun reached its peak in the sky, her legs finally starting to feel the strain of keeping her heavily pregnant form mobile. She quickly took a seat on a nearby log, giving out a small grunt as her backside met said log, her belly resting snugly and heavily in her lap.

"Okay, are you three good in there...?"

Thump. A pair of bumps pressed upwards rather vigorously, causing her chest to wobble a bit.

"Good, good... We're halfway there, just hang in there. But, before we go on... Lunch?"

THUMP! A third bump prodded out near her navel, the force of the kick surprising the cleric.

"Nnf... That's a yes!" She giggled, before opening her pack and reaching for her rations.

But as she did so, she heard a rustling behind her. She quickly - as quickly as she could, at least - jolted upright, turning around as quickly as possible, leaving her pack perched upon the log.

...It was a... Wolf? It was larger than normal, though, and it gazed at her with hungry eyes... Before it then growled loudly.

"Oh, oh no-" She spoke, before then drawing her healer's rod. It seemed to be alone; unusual for a wolf, but nonetheless still dangerous to her and her kits.

The beast then started approaching, baring its teeth, letting out a loud bark. If she stood her ground, it would likely back down, but... She wouldn't take any risks, not so close to her quest's completion, and not with three extra passengers to protect.

...She then felt a candle ignite in her mind. She could give her smoked meat to the beast, and then book it!

Colleen approached the beast, which readied itself to lunge... Before she then promptly grasped at her bag, pulled out her rationed supply of smoked meat, and tossed it at the hungry wolf.

It immediately diverted its attention towards the meat, and started chomping on it. Colleen took this opportunity to snatch her bag and run as fast as a very pregnant foxgirl could.

  Thankfully, the wolf didn't seem to give chase. Still, she kept a rapid pace, not wanting to find out if there was, in fact, more than one; or whether or not her rations were just a pre-meal snack to it.

But, as she continued on the trail, she hit a literal snag; her sandal got caught on a root, leaving her tumbling forwards.

"Uwah!" She yelped, before shifting her weight in an attempt to land on her backside, rather than on her stomach.

This attempt, thankfully, worked. Her kits remained unharmed... Though her butt was quite sore from the hardness of the impact, and she felt pain in her lower leg.

The cleric winced as she looked at what happened to her leg; a cut, and not a small one. The wound started seeping with red... The sight of it drove her to nausea.

Colleen always grew queasy when she saw blood and other... Viscera, in pretty much any situation. This led to some minor strife with her parents, as her father was a fisherman, and taught her to gut and clean fish at a relatively early age... Which led to her losing her lunch numerous times after helping him at his work. Still, what she was seeing at the moment wasn't anything too severe, compared to seeing fish entrails...

'Still... Best to not risk an infection...' She thought to herself, before holding her hand to the wound, and muttering a small prayer.

The wound glowed with a golden light - as did her healer's rod - and it immediately mended, the blood flowing back within the wound as it sealed shut... And then, she immediately felt a familiar pressure in her stomach.

"...Uh-oh-" She could barely utter out, before feeling the pressure reach a peak as another kit entered into her womb, crowding it yet further. "-Oof!"

As she was already on the ground, there was no risk of her losing balance, but her robes were now under the threat of rupture... And they were riding up more than ever before, her belly having 'torpedoed' yet further.

Now with yet another mouth to feed in her belly, Colleen decided that she couldn't delay her travels any further, lest something like that happen again... After a few minutes of recovery, she got up, and pressed onwards to her destination. She didn't want to risk more encounters with wild beasts or bandits, or more insidious forces...

The trek that remained was, thankfully, uneventful. However, skipping lunch entirely left the foxgirl weary, and left her passengers rowdy. Her last ration of bread wasn't enough to sate them, which resulted in them kicking and squirming about in dissatisfaction, causing the cleric to have to stop for rest more than she desired. Even despite this, she progressed at a pace far faster than she had anticipated, and eventually came upon the town she had been trekking to - Beathabaile - an hour or two before sunset... Far ahead of schedule; she had expected to arrive at the witching hour, or later.

And so, Colleen arrived at her destination ahead of time, completely exhausted as she reached the steps up to the entrance of the local temple to Eveylene Cavas. She briefly wondered what the local clerics may think of her condition... Before continuing forward anyways, and gently knocking at the temple doors.

Soon enough, they would open, revealing a somewhat older man in clerical robes, with a jeweled medallion hanging from his neck. His own band; adorned with silvery metal, hanging ribbons and rings. Clearly a venerable cleric, possibly even a headmaster.

"Hello?" The man would ask, peering through the door.

"H-hello, I've come with... An important package, and a message from my temple's council. M-may I come in?" Colleen asked, holding a hand to her stomach, supporting herself on the doorway. She was unassuming, but her hair was disheveled from her rushed trip, and her robes looked worse for wear; dirty, mildly torn and stretched to their limits.

"Oh, of course! If you're the cleric from the Abaidton Temple, though, we've received the message already... Arcane messaging is rather quick." He chortled lightly.

"Ah... How long ago?" Colleen nodded slowly, before grunting at a hard kick to her side.

"Just yest- Oh, how have I not noticed until now...?" The man looked down to Colleen's stomach with surprise. "Quickly, come in! We'll provide food and... Care, for one blessed by the Goddess, such as yourself."

Colleen took this offer without hesitation, entering the temple as quickly as her feet would take her. Which, now that she had been walking for practically the entire day, wasn't quickly at all.

As she entered, a few of the local clerics gazed towards her, before politely smiling and waving. The man led her into a private chamber of sorts - likely a place to meditate, pray or hold meetings - and allowed her to sit on a nearby bench.

"I'll return as soon as possible, and we can discuss your journey, and... Your current blessing. Then, I'll have you shown to the guest bedchamber, and I'll have a few other clerics sent to offer ministrations. Your feet and back must be killing you... Proverbially, of course."

"I-I appreciate it... B-but maybe some food first?" On cue, the cleric's stomach rumbled, and her kits began kicking up a storm.

"Of course, of course! You'll enjoy a feast tonight, of that you can be certain." He nodded, quickly dashing off.

Now left to her own devices, Colleen rubbed her belly uneasily. She was exhausted, but her kits seemed to have boundless energy and a lacking amount of patience. She was famished, but at the same time, she felt full... But full of babies, not food.

"Huff... C-can you guys please calm down?" She muttered, drumming her fingers over her swell. "I know you're hungry, I am too... W-we're eating soon, just stop kicking so much, please..."

Thump. One of the four kits firmly planted its foot towards her chest, causing her to wince, and causing her chest to bounce ever-so-slightly.

"Nnh... I-I'll take that as a no..." She sighed, before cradling her belly once more.

Soon, the older cleric returned, with a platter of fresh food. Colleen could smell it coming from more than a room over... And it drove her kits into even further of a frenzy.

"Sorry for the wait, here's your meal. More is available, should you still be hungry." He passed the plate to the hungry, expectant foxgirl, who then proceeded to eat it expediently, using her belly as a sort of table to house the plate.

It wasn't a perfect 'table', but it sufficed for how long the food lasted; that being mere seconds.

"...More?" The man asked, clearly surprised at the younger cleric's appetite.

Thump. Another series of kicks - and another stomach-rumble - seemingly answered his question.

"...More..." Colleen answered sheepishly, her face turning pink as she averted her eyes.

The man politely nodded, quickly taking the plate and going off.

...

After two additional platters of food, Colleen lounged on her side, rubbing her belly. Now she felt overly full in two ways... But at least she felt satiated now.

"Is that enough?" The man asked, a faint amount of concern in his voice.

"Y-yeah, that's good, thank you." The foxgirl nodded, her ears folded down to her head.

"Very well. If more is needed later, simply give the word." He bowed his head politely, smiling. "Now, then... I'm sure you're wondering why you've been chosen for this quest, what those other travelers have been doing, and what you've been transporting?"

Colleen pondered for a moment, before nodding in response to all three questions.

"Then please, allow me to explain." He said, holding a similar vial to the one the now-pregnant cleric had been transporting.

"...What is that stuff...?" Said now-pregnant cleric asked.

"This is a special substance. I'm not permitted to explain how its made, nor its more... Unique aspects - it's dangerous to have such knowledge - but I can give its name, and what it basically is."

He held the vial up, and the metal seemingly turned transparent... Revealing a pink fluid, which occasionally pulsated with a pink-and-gold glow.

"This is known as The Lifeblood. It is probably the single most potent fertility and restoration potion in existence. Even a whiff of its fumes can have powerful effects."

Colleen perked up at the mention of its fumes, before her ears folded, and she held a hand to her stomach. That was why she got pregnant...?

"My apologies if this sounds rude, but... I'm assuming you got curious, and uncorked the vial?" The man asked, though his tone remained non-accusatory, more curious than anything.

"...Y-yes..." She said, her eyes growing teary... Before she then bowed her head in shame. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have-"

"Hush; you needn't be hard on yourself, since no mistake was made." He said with a gentle tone.

"...What...?" Colleen was confused. 'I was told to not open it under any circumstances, and I opened it anyways... How is that not a mistake?'

"Curiosity is perfectly normal! And none of the potion was lost, so no harm was done. The reason you were told to not do so was primarily... For the substance's safety. The Lifeblood is in ridiculously short supply, and we wish to save every last drop for important circumstances."

"I... See." The cleric muttered.

"However, the reason we told you to not do so was also for your own safety. You see, we are unsure of what direct consumption of the substance could do; nobody has ever consumed the substance without it being diluted to extreme degrees. That, and even its fumes have... Effects. More likely than not, you only breathed in the fumes, and were only exposed for a few minutes at most."

"...Yeah, I only breathed it in for a bit... S-smelled fruity, could even taste the sour in my mouth for an hour after. What'd happen if it was for longer, though...?"

"Simply put... Pregnancy." He said plainly.

"...That already happened with 'minimal exposure'..." The cleric gestured to her belly.

"More extreme than this." He continued, before stopping. "I cannot elaborate on it, but exposure to this can be... Debilitating with large enough amounts, or a long enough exposure time."

"R-right..." She sighed. "And... Why do my spells make more babies happen?"

The man seemed confused for a moment, before drawing his own healer's rod; a wrought iron rod, tipped in a familiar cabochon. He held his hand to the cleric's stomach firmly, causing her to flinch... Before he then channeled his own life-energy into a spell.

"...By the Goddess... My apologies, I just didn't realize how strong these kits' vitality was." He let loose a faint chuckle. "But, I believe I figured out the vague cause of it."

"...What is it?"

"Well, it would seem that your exposure... Filled your 'well' of 'mana' - or rather, the life-energies that we clerics draw from to cast our 'spells' - to bursting, and your body now thinks that this overfull state is its new 'normal'."

Colleen's ears perked up.

"You mean... I'm 'backed up', or have some sorta 'buildup' in me, or something like that... And when I cast a spell and drain some of it, it overflows as it tries to 'refill'?" She added.

"Exactly! When you drain enough of that 'mana', your body restores it, but it gets too much and it overflows."

Her ears drooped again, and she gained a new, dejected look.

"So this'll happen every time I cast a spell...?" She muttered.

"Not every time. Some spells are simply too weak or efficient to trigger that 'overflow' reflex, and some suppress that reflex entirely during and for a while after casting. Small, simple spells are perfectly usable without... Sudden parthenogenesis as a side-effect." He finished.

The cleric simply nodded, making a mental note of this.

"Is there anything else you wish to know?" He then asked, standing upright from his crouched position.

"...A-are they... I know this is gonna sound stupid, but... Are they permanent?" She asked with mild concern.

"Yes, indeed. If you don't mind me prodding... Why ask?"

"...I had... A nightmare last night, about them... D-disappearing." She gazed at her belly, her expression still one of faint worry.

"Mm... You needn't fear. They aren't going anywhere any time soon... Unless you transfer them, of course."

"O-okay..." She sighed with some relief, before continuing. "How long do I have until they... Come out?"

"Oh, until birth? That... Isn't for certain. Usually it's a month after exposure, potentially two. But, due to how you've been creating them... I'm uncertain. If you don't feel yourself ready, we can supply a few... Delay potions."

"...Is delaying the birth... D-dangerous?" She sounded concerned again.

"It can be if you delay it for too long, but... There are rituals to ease delivery, should you need to delay it for a considerable amount of time. That, and with a fellow cleric to aid you, it should be perfectly safe, no matter how long you must take to prepare yourself." He concluded.

"R-right... I think... I think I'll take those. I'm... Not ready to be a mom, not yet." She said, letting her head hang down.

"Very well. You needn't feel defeated; not many are ready when they discover they're expectant, and considering you're near-due and only... 'Discovered' this pregnancy within the last few days, your acceptance of your condition - and the notion of being a mother at all - is admirable." He smiled. 'It's almost as if she's got Meece blood in her, considering how quickly she accepted her new condition... A rather good thing, in this case.'

Colleen just nodded again, slowly adjusting herself to sit upright.

"...And what about those other travelers...?" She then continued.
"Oh, they... Were a distraction, to put it bluntly."
"Dis... Distraction?"
"Indeed. See, we wanted any... Potential thieves to believe that the heavily-armed-and-armored group had the valuables, while we sent a novice cleric to deliver the actual artifact; in this case, the potions."
"...Okay, but... Why me in particular?"

"To be frank... No particular reason. You showed promise and were seemingly willing, and so you were picked."

The novice cleric looked down, slowly nodding as she listened to the older cleric speak.

"Anything else, blessed one?" He asked once more. "Or shall I show you to your bedchambers for the evening, and have the other clerics provide the aforementioned... Ministrations?"

"One last thing. I, err... A-Awakened to my new... Condition, after encountering some bandits on the road... Are... A-are the babies in me theirs?"

"Oh, unfortunate to hear that... I had hoped your journey would be one with little trouble. But, as to your question; no, they aren't. I could explain further, but... You probably aren't interested at the moment." He concluded, before adding, "Now, shall I show you to the bedchambers?"

"...Y-yes, please... I need some rest before I start my trek back to Abaidton." She muttered.

"Very well; come with me!" The older man concluded, extending a hand to help her up.

She quickly took it, and stood with the older cleric's aid. Then, he led her out of the private room, and into a room labelled 'Guests' with a small plaque.

The room was open and well-furnished, with wooden flooring and stone walls, a large bed, a desk and chair for writing, a table for sitting and eating, a window with curtains, and a few other amenities.

"Hopefully you enjoy your stay. The other clerics will be here as soon as they can be to offer ministrations; get comfortable while you're waiting!" The man said, before exiting the room, shutting the door behind him.

Colleen took this opportunity to remove her dirtied, damaged and stretched robes entirely, electing to don her cloth 'decency wrap' around her chest. While her breasts did indeed feel sensitive as she wrapped the strip of cloth around them, she cared more about her appropriateness than her comfort.

Despite this, however, she didn't put on anything else, instead leaving herself in just her undergarments. Her belly hung fairly low in front of her, the weight of the swell forcing her to lean back to maintain balance.

"You guys are heavy." She muttered, cupping her hands underneath the fecund orb, before hefting it up and feeling its weight, bobbing it up and down. "R-really heavy..."

She then let her stomach sag back down, before making her way to the bed, and lying on it. She was tired, but she had to keep awake for a bit longer, for these other clerics to provide their 'ministrations', whatever they may be.

As she lay there, the cleric pondered what the days ahead would bring her... She would obviously need to make herself a living to take care of her kits, and she would need to explain her condition to her family, friends and acquaintances. But, how could she live her life as a healer if she got increasingly pregnant every time she cast a spell...?

'I don't wanna give up, but... How am I gonna be able to heal people when even my simplest healing spells cram another kit in here...?' She questioned, gazing down at her stomach.

...And that's when something clicked in her mind. If she joined an Adventurer's Guild, she could get the funding needed to sustain herself and her kits, and she could use those questing opportunities to help others! It'd also be a perfect reason to delve into more complex clerical abilities... And perhaps, in time, she could learn how to control her sudden baby-creation so she didn't end up debilitatingly pregnant?

The idea was convincing enough for the cleric. She could go join a guild, and help even more people... It was everything she wanted!

...Her 'daydreaming', however, was interrupted by the creaking sounds of the door opening. In came two other clerics, their robes azure, and their bands coppery, with blue jewels.

"Hello, blessed one!" The frontmost cleric spoke.

"T-there's no need to be so formal! You can... You can call me Colleen." She stammered a bit. 'Blessed one' was a common euphemism for 'pregnant woman' amongst the followers of Eveylene Cavas, for... Obvious reasons, relating to her being a Fertility Goddess.

"Very well; me and my assistant are here by orders of councilor Terance Alvey. He said that you're... Still acclimating to your condition."

"...Yeah, I am. Uhm... W-what is it that you're planning on doing?" She asked curiously.

"Oh, probably applying some liniment to ease the sensitivity and stretching, ensuring the kits are healthy with a few blessings, a back massage to help ease the pain... The normal treatment."

Colleen simply nodded at their explanation, leaving her hands perched atop her belly.

"Right, that... That sounds nice..." She muttered.

"Then we won't delay! Joslyn, get the oils, I'll get started with the massage."

...

After an hour or so of 'treatments', Colleen laid back in her bed, feeling an overwhelming amount of physical relief. Her back wasn't aching anymore, her belly-skin wasn't tingling from just the air, and she felt deeply calmed.

"I hope that will do?" One of the two asked.

"Y-yeah, this is perfect..." Colleen replied, practically melting into the mattress beneath her.

"Very well; rest easy!" The other - evidently named Joslyn - chirped, before the two summarily retreated from the room.

The now-alone cleric gazed down at her stomach. It glistened faintly in the lamp-light, the liniment applied to it helping ease the tingling and giving her skin further elasticity.

"You four awake...?" She asked...

A single, light kick answered her question; probably not. More likely than not, they were asleep by now...

Colleen smiled, briefly sitting up, before retrieving her journal and writing supplies from nearby. She would write, and then rest.

'Day five of my quest. Late summer.

I have arrived at Beathabaile today, slightly ahead of my expected schedule, considering days three and four had caused... Delays.

I now know the cause of my sudden pregnancy; it is, indeed, the 'well' of life-energies within me overflowing... I need to be careful with what clerical powers I use from hereon, lest I get even more pregnant...

Thankfully, it would seem that the clerics here are rather accepting of my condition, and of my curiosity... Still, I know not how the clerics back at Abaidton will react. I hope favorably...

My three kits have become four, as well; an encounter with a large wolf, and a subsequent sprint away, resulted in me injuring my leg; I healed it to prevent infection, and... Three babies increased to four.

I'll need to be careful... If I hurt myself and can't mend the wound through mundane means, I'll end up with more in my belly... And as it stands, even just four is difficult to maintain.

Still, I cannot shake the feeling that this 'trait' is some sort of 'gift'... Even though I've only had a majority of these kits for a little over a day now, I feel a near-inseparable link to them... They're also eminently healthy, from what the other clerics say; and quite strong and energetic, too... I've felt that strength and energy for the past day-and-a-half, now; their kicks are a clear enough indicator.

I've made plans to head further towards the coast - to the city of Hemway - after I return to Abaidton. There's a well-established Adventurer's Guild there, and if I join it... I can help people far and wide, and make enough money to keep me and my kits fed. Potentially for the rest of our lives.

I wonder what the councilors - and Mia - will think of me when I return... I hope they don't mind.

-Colleen räv Brent, Fertility and Healing Cleric'

With the entry in her journal complete, Colleen set the tome on the nearby end-table, and got underneath the covers of the bed, before falling asleep with a familiar, comforting warmth basking over her...

  Her rest, unlike the previous nights, was bountiful and steady. She didn't have nightmares or anxieties plaguing her mind... She didn't have to worry about her babies just disappearing... Her mind was tranquil.

She dreamt of her hometown, of going fishing with her father, and of enjoying a meal with her fellow clerics, even while heavily pregnant.

Still, though, the cleric had to wake. And so it was, her eyes slowly fluttered open as a birdsong chirped in through the nearby window, and as sunlight basked upon her face.

"Mmh..." She held a hand out to shield her face from the sun, before looking down to herself.

A mountain of blankets stood just a bit below her chest, concealing her fertile dome. Removing the blankets revealed the mass of belly quite clearly, the surface of it still faintly shiny.

"Good, good..." She smiled, before fully uncovering herself, and sitting upright... Which took considerable effort, her belly taking up a majority of space in her lap, extending to her knees.

It seemed to be mid-morning, the light shining in from the window providing clear illumination to everything in the room. Colleen glanced over to the bedside table... And saw a case of sorts, arrayed with potions.

She picked one up out of curiosity, and saw a symbol on its flask; a pictogram depicting a noticeably pregnant woman, an hourglass and a few lines around her belly.

She then looked to the case, and saw a note. She picked it up, and started reading from it. It explained the pictogram perfectly, in just a few, brief words.

"One bottle delays delivery for a month..." She read the card aloud, before promptly uncorking the vial.

The potion was pinkish, but with a faint lavender tinge to its hue... And it smelled vaguely like lavender, as well.

She then proceeded to drink it down, feeling it briefly sit heavily in her stomach. It was rather thin, and tasted sour, much like The Lifeblood's vapor... But, the sour taste quickly turned medicinally bitter, causing the cleric to cough a bit.

Her belly briefly glowed with a faint, pink light... Which then faded, leaving her feeling full; at least, full in the baby sense. In the food sense, she felt peckish.

"...Okay, guys, want breakfast?" She asked, lightly caressing her belly. The sensitivity was mostly faded by now, it felt like...

Her kits, seemingly upon hearing the word 'breakfast', broke out into a frenzy, squirming and kicking about. Colleen seemed surprised by their sudden activity, but didn't feel winded after the kicks... Maybe she was finally adjusting a bit.

"We'll be having a big one, then! And then, we're going home... And to our new home, if everything goes well..." She said, still wondering if she would even be accepted by this guild, considering her massively pregnant state...

But, those thoughts left the cleric behind as she stood, and saw something neatly folded on the nearby dresser. She looked the folded cloth over curiously, before unfurling it.

...It was her robe, but clean, and... She could sense faint magic flowing through it. She could tell it was hers; the band was identical, the colors were identical, and it was still mildly 'attuned' to her through said band.

She donned the robes, and found them to be well-fitting, no longer stretched to their limits. Her belly still caused the fabric to stretch, but no longer was it transparent, nor was it under any threat of tearing just from growth.

"Ooh... I think they enchanted these...!" The cleric muttered, admiring herself in the nearby mirror. Her orange hair was still unkempt, but... She couldn't be bothered to fix it.

Her tail swayed behind her as she then exited the bedroom, and proceeded towards the dining hall. She could smell the food, even from here... And her kits could evidently sense it, somehow... They continued their squirming for the most part; at least, one of them did. The other movements that came were either lethargic reactions to the one's hyperactivity, or potentially from dream-movements.

She didn't mind them, either way; they felt funny to her, but not in a bad way.

...

After enjoying a feast of a breakfast, Colleen was left stuffed and satisfied, leaving her with just a few things to get done with... Packing her things, and starting her journey back home. She just needed to go to her room...

On her way there, though, the councilor from the previous evening walked by, and took notice of her.

"Oh, good morning, blessed one." Terance - at least, she assumed the man was Terance - said.

"Good morning, councilor Alvey." She replied.

"...I suppose that means Rikki and Joslyn used my name, then. I forgot to formally introduce myself last night, I must apologize." The councilor bowed his head.

"No, no, I forgot, too... I'm Colleen. Colleen räv Brent." She bowed her head in response.

"Well, I suppose it couldn't have been helped... Ah well." Terance shrugged. "A pleasure to be properly introduced, miss Brent."

"Same, councilor."

"I suppose you're going to head your way back to Abaidton here soon?" He asked out of curiosity.

"Yeah. Gonna start packing as soon as I get back to the room, actually." Colleen admitted, adjusting her band a bit.

"Well, I actually need to ferry something to the temple there... Perhaps you'd be interested in a ride on the carriage we're sending?" He asked, holding up a medallion of sorts; probably a holy relic, or valuable coin or something.

"...Y-yes, please!" She responded, smiling. Things were looking up... A carriage-ride could potentially get her to Abaidton in just one or two days if they rushed!

"Then it's settled. The carriage departs by noon's light; you have about... Three hours until they start headed that way. Safe travels, blessed one!" He calls out, before rushing to some other business...

Well, now she had a ride home. Things were definitely better than yesterday... And with a carriage, she would be home in no time flat.

Now, to pack, and travel...

...

After two thankfully uneventful days of travel, Colleen arrived back in Abaidton. As she stepped out of the carriage, she was met by a few of her fellow clerics; including Mia.

"Collee-" She started calling out, before stopping at noticing the cleric's new... Addition. "...Colleen, what happened!?"

"...Too much to explain, Mia..." She sighed, rubbing her stomach. "But, before you ask... Yes, I am pregnant."

"But... But how!?"

"I can't explain right now... I'll send you a letter explaining everything I can later. Right now... I need to see the council." She said, before rushing off.

The other clerics gave confused glances towards her, but she was generally left to her own devices...

And then, she entered the council chamber.

"...Colleen, is that you?" A familiar voice rang out. It was Anissa.

"Y-yes, it is, headmaster Keefe." She said. "I've finished my quest successfully, but..."

"...You opened the vial, I am aware." The elf said, before lightly sighing.

"You are...?" The foxgirl asked, her ears folding as she held her belly in her arms.

"Yes, Terry told me." The councilor briefly closed her eyes. "You aren't in any trouble, but... Why did you, after we told you not to?"

"...I was... C-curious, and I was stuck in my tent from a storm, so... I-it got the better of me."

"...Fair enough, you always were rather... Well, curious." She said. "Regardless, thank you - and congratulations - for completing your quest, Colleen. We may have some new-"

"Err, b-before any of that... Can I just say something?" Colleen interjected.
"Sure, what is it?"

"I... I think I'm going to depart for a while." She stated succinctly.

There was silence for a few moments.

"...What?" Anissa sounded confused.

"I'm... I'm going on a personal quest. I'm going to be headed to Hemway." She spoke up.

"...Alright, but... Why? I thought you were going to continue your training."

"...P-personal reasons. I can't elaborate, I'm sorry."

"Very... Very well then, I suppose. I do hope your quest is a safe one; may the Goddess grant you safety and plenty." Anissa bowed her head politely.

Colleen nodded at this, bowing her own head.

"Thank you, headmaster." The foxgirl finished, before retreating from the room.

Just being in there made her incredibly anxious... And now, her anxiety was climbing again. She was about to go on a quest that she wasn't even certain she could succeed at...

But still, she knew, deep in the back of her mind, one simple fact...

'It'll all be okay...' She thought to herself, walking away from the council-chamber, and to her own room, to retrieve what few things she had left behind.

When she arrived at Hemway, a new quest - no, an entirely new journey - would begin... Her journey as an adventurer.

Slowly, Colleen's mind returned to the present day. Her journey was still ongoing, her life as an adventurer having started half a year ago, back in early autumn... Things were different from back then, but she was doing well-off. Her life was changed, but she believed it to be for the better.

And though the kits in her belly weren't the same ones as back then, she felt a similar bond to them... And she loved them, just as much as she loved her first four.

The End.

Part Navigation
Part 1 - Part 2 (You are Here)

Description
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Colleen räv Brent , in:Prelude to the Journey (Part 2)
A Tale of Tums, by Rando.

Rando's Personal Note and Disclaimer

Much like my other tales, this isn't for everyone. It includes themes relating 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 a bit of worldbuilding. If these don't interest you, then by all means, feel free to read something else to pass the time. But, if these do, then continue on; hopefully this tale is enjoyable!

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. Some of this part's writing is months old, while some is just days or even hours old (by the time of writing this 'note', 5/14/19). Regardless, I hope you enjoy it!

As always, check out the first part before this one! But, if you already have, then...

Enough of my blathering, and on with the tale!
Part Navigation
Part 1 - Part 2 (You are Here)

After having paid for her room with the funding given by the retinue of bandits she had managed to... 'Pacify', Colleen slowly waddled towards - and into - the simple bed-chamber. Her legs had grown weary due to the newly-added weight of her swollen belly, and said weariness had extended to the rest of her body, as well. Her robes were quite visibly stretched thin over her distended middle, and her breasts felt sore and constrained within the upper portions of her robes, which were visibly taut, though thankfully nothing showed besides her cleavage; an intended 'feature' of the robes, apparently.

Slowly, the cleric shuffled forward into the center of the room, until she finally felt something give. Her legs buckled under the strain, and she fell; first to her knees, which took the brunt of the fall upon the rug-covered hardwood flooring. Soon thereafter, her belly came against the rug and floor with a faint whump, wobbling as it did so. The impact thankfully felt light, causing no injury to the foxgirl, or to the kits currently crammed within her; the two defensive spells she had cast earlier ensured that... Though the impact did knock the wind out of her.

"Oof..." She winced, putting a hand to her backside, before holding the other to her stretched, fecund orb. Many thoughts raced in her mind, about the events of the day, what had happened when the bandits assailed her, what lay before her now... It was overwhelming in many, many ways.

She tried to rationalize and make sense of her new predicament, coming to the conclusion that these babies were some sort of... 'Spell' or 'arcane effect'. Still, that rationalization had a flaw; namely...

  "W-when's this spell gonna wear off...?" She asked to herself, her expression overflowing with apprehension and worry, her eyes misty with the suggestion of tears. The spell was lasting for a really long time; most ended with just broken concentration... So it had to end soon, right?
'Yeah, it has to wear off soon...! This has to have some sorta time limit!' She managed to convince herself, though just barely.

...But, as she sat there, near-immobilized by her swollen belly, a new thought entered into Colleen's mind. One that, as she pondered upon it, made her eyes widen, her pupils shrink and her heart proverbially stop. She broke out in a cold, fearful sweat.
What if the spell wouldn't wear off...? Or what if it wasn't 'just a spell', as she insisted to herself earlier?

"...A-am I gonna have babies!?" Her breathing accelerated, the apprehension and worry from just a moment earlier surging forth to new heights. She hadn't considered the possibility of the spell not wearing off before whatever was inside of her wanted to come out... Or worse, that the spell simply wouldn't wear off at all.
'N-no, it has to stop eventually!' She denied the previous thought, and tried convincing herself that it was, in fact, just a temporary 'status effect' of sorts. It only helped marginally.
  Colleen continued sitting there, on the verge of breaking down, constantly reaffirming to herself on one simple 'fact'; "It's just a spell... I-it's just a spell...!" She muttered this mantra repeatedly in an earnest - if fruitless - attempt to calm herself.

This continued for a minute or so, until she felt a distinct pressure in her side; a thump, caused by one of her kits pressing out against her womb's walls. They moved.

"It's just a sp-oof...!" She winced again, cradling her abdomen in her arms.

It was then that she finally snapped, and a rather simple fact was finally driven through her thick skull. No matter how much she could try to deny it, these feelings, the kicks, the weight... The kits... They were all real. She could sense their vitality within herself even without spells, and that wouldn't change, no matter how much she insisted it was just a hallucination or arcane effect.
And at that moment, the floodgates finally opened, and Colleen gave way to gentle sobbing and crying.

For a solid minute, Colleen sat in relative silence, weeping about the sudden changes that had happened. Was this... Was it a punishment of sorts for opening the vial...? Was it a miscast that went awry? Some cruel wizard's prank? A simple coincidence...? She didn't know the answer. All that she did know, was that she was not pregnant when the day began, and now she was heavily so... The changes came so fast, she couldn't hope to cope with them even if she tried. Now she needed to explain her condition to the Temple, her family, her friends and others, and she had to be able to feed herself and these kits, and she had to be ready for if labor started while she was on the road, and...

She was, simply put, overwhelmed.

"Wh-what am I... What am I gonna do...!?" She whimpered out, cradling her abdomen as tears slowly rolled down her cheeks. She was indeed overwhelmed, completely and utterly; both at the prospect of motherhood being suddenly thrust upon her, and at the fear of ostracism, repudiation or excommunication for disobeying a direct command from the councilors and jeopardizing - or even failing - her entire quest. Her mind tried to process every last possibility and eventuality it could, which only served to put her into a deeper state of apprehension and stress...

    'What'll happen when I give birth? How can I afford to feed myself and triplets? What'll my fellow Clerics think of me? What'll my Family think...?' And numerous other thoughts plagued her mind, driving her yet further over the edge.

But, as she sat there, tears still flowing from her eyes, trying - and failing - to muster what little composure she had left, she did one of the few things she could think of; she prayed.

She couldn't think of anything else she could do at this point... And knowing how many clerics' prayers were answered with actual, powerful miracles, maybe the Goddess could provide her with some form of divine assistance...

  And so, the Cleric started muttering an orison, expressing herself as best as she could through her utterances, begging for assistance from Eveylene Cavas.

And, as Colleen prayed, she indeed felt something... But it didn't feel like an arcane effect, nor did it feel like a miraculous outworking of divine power. Rather, it was... Gentle, and calming, like a mother's embrace. A soothing, mollifying warmth encapsulated her, and a reassurance began to reverberate within the recesses of her mind; a thought more optimistic than the barrage of difficult questions that filled it but moments ago.

"...Maybe... M-maybe everything's gonna be okay. This'll take getting used to, but... Maybe this'll all work out in the end..." She spoke the thoughts that flowed through her mind, sniffling as she did so.

And as she thought and spoke, she glanced down at her swollen abdomen with a faint, familiar curiosity, before gingerly separating the robes covering it, exposing her belly plainly. Her skin had taken on a faintly pink hue near her swollen form's front, and it even seemed faintly shiny. It was most definitely drawn taut, she could feel the tightness and sensitivity just from her robes touching it... Undeterred by this, however, she laid one of her hands onto the now-exposed mass, and started slowly rubbing it.

"E-everything's gonna... Be okay... It'll all be okay..." She continued muttering this new mantra as the soothing warmth continued washing over her, bringing her a degree of peace. Her dejected and defeated countenance began to slowly fade, being replaced with one of serenity, though a trail from her earlier tears still remained.

'Things'll turn for the better... I may have to make adjustments, but... I can handle this.' The reassurances continued reverberating, bringing her further comfort.

And then, her thoughts were interrupted; a small, soft pressure pressed up against her hand, causing her ears to perk up. She lifted this hand up, and revealed the source of this pressure; it was one of her kits, kicking out where she was rubbing.

"...H-hey there, little guy." Her calmed expression turned to a faint smile as she tapped at what she presumed was the kit's foot with her index finger. Its foot retracted... And then pressed out again, a bit more vigorously this time. At seeing and feeling this, she finally gave way to a small, heartfelt giggle, and proceeded to repeat this process. Her spirits were finally lifted, and her fears and anxieties put into the back of her mind for the time being.

...Maybe, just maybe, everything was going to be okay...

...

After a few more minutes of recuperation and recollection, Colleen took her hands off of her belly and stood shakily, a newfound strength flowing through her legs. She used this burst of strength to quickly waddle to the bed and sit upon it - knowing that even with this second wind, she probably wouldn't be able to stand for long - before removing her pack and examining its contents.

...All four flasks she was tasked to transport, they were still there, and still sealed... Not even one had spilled. She hadn't failed her quest, not yet. She just needed to get one more town over, and then it would be complete...

"Thank the Goddess..." She muttered softly, sighing with a newfound relief. Some of her earlier worries were now completely refuted... And though some still remained, the reassurance still reverberated in her mind.

And with that reassurance, and the newfound calm flowing through her... Colleen decided that she was hungry, thirsty, and tired. Today was possibly the single most difficult day of her life, both as a cleric, and as a normal person. And the days ahead wouldn't be much easier... But, no matter what would happen, she could handle it. Of that, at least, she felt certain.

So, Colleen reached into her pack, and collected her rations, as well as the one luxury she brought with herself; her tea set. Tonight, she would feast; after all, she had to feed four mouths, now.

The cleric quickly set up her tea-set, putting some water from her waterskin into the pot, before setting it to boil. At the same time, she retrieved some bread and smoked meat from her bag, and quickly scarfed it down.

...It wasn't quite as filling as expected, but... It would have to do. She still had another entire day and a half to travel... And with more people to feed than just herself, she needed to be extremely careful with how she spent her rations.

Soon enough, her tea had finished brewing, and she quickly started drinking it. Tea helped calm her down, and with the gentle warmth still flowing through her... Perhaps it would help further.

And surely enough, it did; the serenity she felt earlier had intensified, leaving her to only contend with the exhaustion that flowed through her. But, before she could pass out, she needed to write of the day's events.

After setting her teacup near to the pot and plate, Colleen retrieved her journal, and wrote a new entry upon it.

'Day four of my quest. Late summer.

While little of note came during the earlier portions of this day, many new developments came with the later portions, particularly nearing the evening.

A group of bandits assailed me in an attempt to retrieve what little I had brought with me, so naturally, I defended myself... However, something wholly unexpected came from using my abilities; something I believe is tied to the vial I've been transporting these last few days.

I believe I am now... Pregnant. Heavily so.

Though I know myself to be carrying triplets, I know not how far along I am, nor when I am to give birth. But... I believe myself to be quite far along, judging by their movements, and I fear that their birth won't be too far off.

I also fear that I am not ready to take care of these children... Still, as a cleric of the Fertility Goddess, it is my duty to nurture and protect these kits with my life.

...Rather, it is my duty, both as a cleric, and as a soon-to-be mother.

Though I am uncertain about many things, I am certain of one thing; these babies are real. These kits, they seemingly 'manifested' when I used my clerical powers, but... They aren't simply some illusion, or magical entity. Their vitality is within me, I can feel it. A mere 'summon' of sorts wouldn't have this strong a life-force.

I believe the vial I am transporting is some sort of... 'Power-enhancer' or something. Maybe my life-energies are being strengthened by the vial, and whenever I cast one of my clerical abilities, the 'well' within me surges and overflows, leading to... Spontaneous generation. Perhaps it's a blessing from Eveylene Cavas herself, bestowing me with new life... Perhaps it's a miscasting effect amplified from exposure to the vapors of that potion. I'm uncertain with regards to any of these.

But... I feel something indescribable. A 'bond' of sorts, with these kits... A strong one.

Being a mom, and to triplets, no less... I'm not ready for it, not at all. But... I'm going to do my best, both before and after they've entered the world. For these babies, the Temple, the Goddess... And for myself.

It'll all be okay.

-Colleen räv Brent, Healing Cleric

Post-Signature... And I suppose for those brigands, too.'

Having finished writing in her journal, Colleen set the tome aside for the ink to dry, before closing her eyes. The exhaustion she felt was now overwhelming, and her body proverbially screamed to her for rest. She couldn't contend with it any longer...

And so, the cleric passed out.

...

Colleen stirred in the middle of the night, the anxieties and worries from earlier that day creeping upon her in her sleep; even despite the gentle warmth and reassurances, those fears still lingered within the back of her mind...

And then, she awoke at the witching hour, to the feeling of her kits kicking about actively, as if in a frenzy or panic.

"...W-what's wrong...?" The foxgirl asked in a confused manner, her ears folding down as she gently caressed her turbulent, swollen belly.

...And then, as if on some sort of cue, she felt the pressure from within her start to lessen... And saw her swollen form start to shrink, the kicks starting to grow weaker, and weaker...

The cleric quickly stood in surprise and concern, clutching at her stomach as she saw it start to fade back into its smaller, 'normal' size. In a panic, she used one of the few spells she knew to 'scan' herself...

...They... They were disappearing. Their vitality... Their entire being was just fading!

"W-what!? Nonono, this shouldn't be happening!" She yelped, hugging at her stomach as she desperately attempted to maintain even just one of the triplets' vitality, their life-force... Only to feel it fade from her proverbial grasp.

The cleric sat there, clutching at her now-flat stomach, before starting to gently sob. A cold feeling of emptiness flowed through her...

  And then, Colleen woke up with a start, quickly cradling her very real belly in her arms, breathing rapidly as she took in her surroundings.

It was early in the morning, a small amount of sunlight shining in through the nearby window. Everything was just as she left it when she fell asleep; the lamp was still lit, her teapot was still on its heating plate, her journal still lay beside her, and her belly was still swollen and taut, full of life.

"...I-it was... Just a dream..." The anxious cleric took in a deep breath, letting out a heavily relieved sigh as she then rubbed at her stomach tearfully.

A small, gentle kick pushed out near her navel, and she gave a relieved smile, her breathing finally normalizing. They weren't disappearing... They were okay. That was all just a nightmare...

That's when another thing clicked in her mind; as much as she was afraid of being a mother... She was truly concerned about these kits. They were hers, after all; she felt a unique bond to them... She loved them, as crazy as it sounded for only having carried them for a little under a day.

"O-okay, okay... Good morning in there...?" She lightly drummed her fingers over her abdomen, looking at it intently...

A few kicks responded to her call, causing the cleric to giggle a bit... And then, her stomach rumbled.

"...Hungry?" She asked.

The movements returned, this time much more vigorous.

"Oof!" She grunted at the unexpected barrage of thumps. "I-I'll take that as a yes!"

Colleen then stood, adjusting her robes to once more cover her tumultuous swell, before putting away her tea-set and journal, and walking out into the inn's hallways.

She wandered into the main room, paid for - and ate - a hearty breakfast, and then started on her way from the inn, to her destination. She'd make it there by nightfall, if everything went according to plan...

...

The cleric stopped her trek as the sun reached its peak in the sky, her legs finally starting to feel the strain of keeping her heavily pregnant form mobile. She quickly took a seat on a nearby log, giving out a small grunt as her backside met said log, her belly resting snugly and heavily in her lap.

"Okay, are you three good in there...?"

Thump. A pair of bumps pressed upwards rather vigorously, causing her chest to wobble a bit.

"Good, good... We're halfway there, just hang in there. But, before we go on... Lunch?"

THUMP! A third bump prodded out near her navel, the force of the kick surprising the cleric.

"Nnf... That's a yes!" She giggled, before opening her pack and reaching for her rations.

But as she did so, she heard a rustling behind her. She quickly - as quickly as she could, at least - jolted upright, turning around as quickly as possible, leaving her pack perched upon the log.

...It was a... Wolf? It was larger than normal, though, and it gazed at her with hungry eyes... Before it then growled loudly.

"Oh, oh no-" She spoke, before then drawing her healer's rod. It seemed to be alone; unusual for a wolf, but nonetheless still dangerous to her and her kits.

The beast then started approaching, baring its teeth, letting out a loud bark. If she stood her ground, it would likely back down, but... She wouldn't take any risks, not so close to her quest's completion, and not with three extra passengers to protect.

...She then felt a candle ignite in her mind. She could give her smoked meat to the beast, and then book it!

Colleen approached the beast, which readied itself to lunge... Before she then promptly grasped at her bag, pulled out her rationed supply of smoked meat, and tossed it at the hungry wolf.

It immediately diverted its attention towards the meat, and started chomping on it. Colleen took this opportunity to snatch her bag and run as fast as a very pregnant foxgirl could.

  Thankfully, the wolf didn't seem to give chase. Still, she kept a rapid pace, not wanting to find out if there was, in fact, more than one; or whether or not her rations were just a pre-meal snack to it.

But, as she continued on the trail, she hit a literal snag; her sandal got caught on a root, leaving her tumbling forwards.

"Uwah!" She yelped, before shifting her weight in an attempt to land on her backside, rather than on her stomach.

This attempt, thankfully, worked. Her kits remained unharmed... Though her butt was quite sore from the hardness of the impact, and she felt pain in her lower leg.

The cleric winced as she looked at what happened to her leg; a cut, and not a small one. The wound started seeping with red... The sight of it drove her to nausea.

Colleen always grew queasy when she saw blood and other... Viscera, in pretty much any situation. This led to some minor strife with her parents, as her father was a fisherman, and taught her to gut and clean fish at a relatively early age... Which led to her losing her lunch numerous times after helping him at his work. Still, what she was seeing at the moment wasn't anything too severe, compared to seeing fish entrails...

'Still... Best to not risk an infection...' She thought to herself, before holding her hand to the wound, and muttering a small prayer.

The wound glowed with a golden light - as did her healer's rod - and it immediately mended, the blood flowing back within the wound as it sealed shut... And then, she immediately felt a familiar pressure in her stomach.

"...Uh-oh-" She could barely utter out, before feeling the pressure reach a peak as another kit entered into her womb, crowding it yet further. "-Oof!"

As she was already on the ground, there was no risk of her losing balance, but her robes were now under the threat of rupture... And they were riding up more than ever before, her belly having 'torpedoed' yet further.

Now with yet another mouth to feed in her belly, Colleen decided that she couldn't delay her travels any further, lest something like that happen again... After a few minutes of recovery, she got up, and pressed onwards to her destination. She didn't want to risk more encounters with wild beasts or bandits, or more insidious forces...

The trek that remained was, thankfully, uneventful. However, skipping lunch entirely left the foxgirl weary, and left her passengers rowdy. Her last ration of bread wasn't enough to sate them, which resulted in them kicking and squirming about in dissatisfaction, causing the cleric to have to stop for rest more than she desired. Even despite this, she progressed at a pace far faster than she had anticipated, and eventually came upon the town she had been trekking to - Beathabaile - an hour or two before sunset... Far ahead of schedule; she had expected to arrive at the witching hour, or later.

And so, Colleen arrived at her destination ahead of time, completely exhausted as she reached the steps up to the entrance of the local temple to Eveylene Cavas. She briefly wondered what the local clerics may think of her condition... Before continuing forward anyways, and gently knocking at the temple doors.

Soon enough, they would open, revealing a somewhat older man in clerical robes, with a jeweled medallion hanging from his neck. His own band; adorned with silvery metal, hanging ribbons and rings. Clearly a venerable cleric, possibly even a headmaster.

"Hello?" The man would ask, peering through the door.

"H-hello, I've come with... An important package, and a message from my temple's council. M-may I come in?" Colleen asked, holding a hand to her stomach, supporting herself on the doorway. She was unassuming, but her hair was disheveled from her rushed trip, and her robes looked worse for wear; dirty, mildly torn and stretched to their limits.

"Oh, of course! If you're the cleric from the Abaidton Temple, though, we've received the message already... Arcane messaging is rather quick." He chortled lightly.

"Ah... How long ago?" Colleen nodded slowly, before grunting at a hard kick to her side.

"Just yest- Oh, how have I not noticed until now...?" The man looked down to Colleen's stomach with surprise. "Quickly, come in! We'll provide food and... Care, for one blessed by the Goddess, such as yourself."

Colleen took this offer without hesitation, entering the temple as quickly as her feet would take her. Which, now that she had been walking for practically the entire day, wasn't quickly at all.

As she entered, a few of the local clerics gazed towards her, before politely smiling and waving. The man led her into a private chamber of sorts - likely a place to meditate, pray or hold meetings - and allowed her to sit on a nearby bench.

"I'll return as soon as possible, and we can discuss your journey, and... Your current blessing. Then, I'll have you shown to the guest bedchamber, and I'll have a few other clerics sent to offer ministrations. Your feet and back must be killing you... Proverbially, of course."

"I-I appreciate it... B-but maybe some food first?" On cue, the cleric's stomach rumbled, and her kits began kicking up a storm.

"Of course, of course! You'll enjoy a feast tonight, of that you can be certain." He nodded, quickly dashing off.

Now left to her own devices, Colleen rubbed her belly uneasily. She was exhausted, but her kits seemed to have boundless energy and a lacking amount of patience. She was famished, but at the same time, she felt full... But full of babies, not food.

"Huff... C-can you guys please calm down?" She muttered, drumming her fingers over her swell. "I know you're hungry, I am too... W-we're eating soon, just stop kicking so much, please..."

Thump. One of the four kits firmly planted its foot towards her chest, causing her to wince, and causing her chest to bounce ever-so-slightly.

"Nnh... I-I'll take that as a no..." She sighed, before cradling her belly once more.

Soon, the older cleric returned, with a platter of fresh food. Colleen could smell it coming from more than a room over... And it drove her kits into even further of a frenzy.

"Sorry for the wait, here's your meal. More is available, should you still be hungry." He passed the plate to the hungry, expectant foxgirl, who then proceeded to eat it expediently, using her belly as a sort of table to house the plate.

It wasn't a perfect 'table', but it sufficed for how long the food lasted; that being mere seconds.

"...More?" The man asked, clearly surprised at the younger cleric's appetite.

Thump. Another series of kicks - and another stomach-rumble - seemingly answered his question.

"...More..." Colleen answered sheepishly, her face turning pink as she averted her eyes.

The man politely nodded, quickly taking the plate and going off.

...

After two additional platters of food, Colleen lounged on her side, rubbing her belly. Now she felt overly full in two ways... But at least she felt satiated now.

"Is that enough?" The man asked, a faint amount of concern in his voice.

"Y-yeah, that's good, thank you." The foxgirl nodded, her ears folded down to her head.

"Very well. If more is needed later, simply give the word." He bowed his head politely, smiling. "Now, then... I'm sure you're wondering why you've been chosen for this quest, what those other travelers have been doing, and what you've been transporting?"

Colleen pondered for a moment, before nodding in response to all three questions.

"Then please, allow me to explain." He said, holding a similar vial to the one the now-pregnant cleric had been transporting.

"...What is that stuff...?" Said now-pregnant cleric asked.

"This is a special substance. I'm not permitted to explain how its made, nor its more... Unique aspects - it's dangerous to have such knowledge - but I can give its name, and what it basically is."

He held the vial up, and the metal seemingly turned transparent... Revealing a pink fluid, which occasionally pulsated with a pink-and-gold glow.

"This is known as The Lifeblood. It is probably the single most potent fertility and restoration potion in existence. Even a whiff of its fumes can have powerful effects."

Colleen perked up at the mention of its fumes, before her ears folded, and she held a hand to her stomach. That was why she got pregnant...?

"My apologies if this sounds rude, but... I'm assuming you got curious, and uncorked the vial?" The man asked, though his tone remained non-accusatory, more curious than anything.

"...Y-yes..." She said, her eyes growing teary... Before she then bowed her head in shame. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have-"

"Hush; you needn't be hard on yourself, since no mistake was made." He said with a gentle tone.

"...What...?" Colleen was confused. 'I was told to not open it under any circumstances, and I opened it anyways... How is that not a mistake?'

"Curiosity is perfectly normal! And none of the potion was lost, so no harm was done. The reason you were told to not do so was primarily... For the substance's safety. The Lifeblood is in ridiculously short supply, and we wish to save every last drop for important circumstances."

"I... See." The cleric muttered.

"However, the reason we told you to not do so was also for your own safety. You see, we are unsure of what direct consumption of the substance could do; nobody has ever consumed the substance without it being diluted to extreme degrees. That, and even its fumes have... Effects. More likely than not, you only breathed in the fumes, and were only exposed for a few minutes at most."

"...Yeah, I only breathed it in for a bit... S-smelled fruity, could even taste the sour in my mouth for an hour after. What'd happen if it was for longer, though...?"

"Simply put... Pregnancy." He said plainly.

"...That already happened with 'minimal exposure'..." The cleric gestured to her belly.

"More extreme than this." He continued, before stopping. "I cannot elaborate on it, but exposure to this can be... Debilitating with large enough amounts, or a long enough exposure time."

"R-right..." She sighed. "And... Why do my spells make more babies happen?"

The man seemed confused for a moment, before drawing his own healer's rod; a wrought iron rod, tipped in a familiar cabochon. He held his hand to the cleric's stomach firmly, causing her to flinch... Before he then channeled his own life-energy into a spell.

"...By the Goddess... My apologies, I just didn't realize how strong these kits' vitality was." He let loose a faint chuckle. "But, I believe I figured out the vague cause of it."

"...What is it?"

"Well, it would seem that your exposure... Filled your 'well' of 'mana' - or rather, the life-energies that we clerics draw from to cast our 'spells' - to bursting, and your body now thinks that this overfull state is its new 'normal'."

Colleen's ears perked up.

"You mean... I'm 'backed up', or have some sorta 'buildup' in me, or something like that... And when I cast a spell and drain some of it, it overflows as it tries to 'refill'?" She added.

"Exactly! When you drain enough of that 'mana', your body restores it, but it gets too much and it overflows."

Her ears drooped again, and she gained a new, dejected look.

"So this'll happen every time I cast a spell...?" She muttered.

"Not every time. Some spells are simply too weak or efficient to trigger that 'overflow' reflex, and some suppress that reflex entirely during and for a while after casting. Small, simple spells are perfectly usable without... Sudden parthenogenesis as a side-effect." He finished.

The cleric simply nodded, making a mental note of this.

"Is there anything else you wish to know?" He then asked, standing upright from his crouched position.

"...A-are they... I know this is gonna sound stupid, but... Are they permanent?" She asked with mild concern.

"Yes, indeed. If you don't mind me prodding... Why ask?"

"...I had... A nightmare last night, about them... D-disappearing." She gazed at her belly, her expression still one of faint worry.

"Mm... You needn't fear. They aren't going anywhere any time soon... Unless you transfer them, of course."

"O-okay..." She sighed with some relief, before continuing. "How long do I have until they... Come out?"

"Oh, until birth? That... Isn't for certain. Usually it's a month after exposure, potentially two. But, due to how you've been creating them... I'm uncertain. If you don't feel yourself ready, we can supply a few... Delay potions."

"...Is delaying the birth... D-dangerous?" She sounded concerned again.

"It can be if you delay it for too long, but... There are rituals to ease delivery, should you need to delay it for a considerable amount of time. That, and with a fellow cleric to aid you, it should be perfectly safe, no matter how long you must take to prepare yourself." He concluded.

"R-right... I think... I think I'll take those. I'm... Not ready to be a mom, not yet." She said, letting her head hang down.

"Very well. You needn't feel defeated; not many are ready when they discover they're expectant, and considering you're near-due and only... 'Discovered' this pregnancy within the last few days, your acceptance of your condition - and the notion of being a mother at all - is admirable." He smiled. 'It's almost as if she's got Meece blood in her, considering how quickly she accepted her new condition... A rather good thing, in this case.'

Colleen just nodded again, slowly adjusting herself to sit upright.

"...And what about those other travelers...?" She then continued.
"Oh, they... Were a distraction, to put it bluntly."
"Dis... Distraction?"
"Indeed. See, we wanted any... Potential thieves to believe that the heavily-armed-and-armored group had the valuables, while we sent a novice cleric to deliver the actual artifact; in this case, the potions."
"...Okay, but... Why me in particular?"

"To be frank... No particular reason. You showed promise and were seemingly willing, and so you were picked."

The novice cleric looked down, slowly nodding as she listened to the older cleric speak.

"Anything else, blessed one?" He asked once more. "Or shall I show you to your bedchambers for the evening, and have the other clerics provide the aforementioned... Ministrations?"

"One last thing. I, err... A-Awakened to my new... Condition, after encountering some bandits on the road... Are... A-are the babies in me theirs?"

"Oh, unfortunate to hear that... I had hoped your journey would be one with little trouble. But, as to your question; no, they aren't. I could explain further, but... You probably aren't interested at the moment." He concluded, before adding, "Now, shall I show you to the bedchambers?"

"...Y-yes, please... I need some rest before I start my trek back to Abaidton." She muttered.

"Very well; come with me!" The older man concluded, extending a hand to help her up.

She quickly took it, and stood with the older cleric's aid. Then, he led her out of the private room, and into a room labelled 'Guests' with a small plaque.

The room was open and well-furnished, with wooden flooring and stone walls, a large bed, a desk and chair for writing, a table for sitting and eating, a window with curtains, and a few other amenities.

"Hopefully you enjoy your stay. The other clerics will be here as soon as they can be to offer ministrations; get comfortable while you're waiting!" The man said, before exiting the room, shutting the door behind him.

Colleen took this opportunity to remove her dirtied, damaged and stretched robes entirely, electing to don her cloth 'decency wrap' around her chest. While her breasts did indeed feel sensitive as she wrapped the strip of cloth around them, she cared more about her appropriateness than her comfort.

Despite this, however, she didn't put on anything else, instead leaving herself in just her undergarments. Her belly hung fairly low in front of her, the weight of the swell forcing her to lean back to maintain balance.

"You guys are heavy." She muttered, cupping her hands underneath the fecund orb, before hefting it up and feeling its weight, bobbing it up and down. "R-really heavy..."

She then let her stomach sag back down, before making her way to the bed, and lying on it. She was tired, but she had to keep awake for a bit longer, for these other clerics to provide their 'ministrations', whatever they may be.

As she lay there, the cleric pondered what the days ahead would bring her... She would obviously need to make herself a living to take care of her kits, and she would need to explain her condition to her family, friends and acquaintances. But, how could she live her life as a healer if she got increasingly pregnant every time she cast a spell...?

'I don't wanna give up, but... How am I gonna be able to heal people when even my simplest healing spells cram another kit in here...?' She questioned, gazing down at her stomach.

...And that's when something clicked in her mind. If she joined an Adventurer's Guild, she could get the funding needed to sustain herself and her kits, and she could use those questing opportunities to help others! It'd also be a perfect reason to delve into more complex clerical abilities... And perhaps, in time, she could learn how to control her sudden baby-creation so she didn't end up debilitatingly pregnant?

The idea was convincing enough for the cleric. She could go join a guild, and help even more people... It was everything she wanted!

...Her 'daydreaming', however, was interrupted by the creaking sounds of the door opening. In came two other clerics, their robes azure, and their bands coppery, with blue jewels.

"Hello, blessed one!" The frontmost cleric spoke.

"T-there's no need to be so formal! You can... You can call me Colleen." She stammered a bit. 'Blessed one' was a common euphemism for 'pregnant woman' amongst the followers of Eveylene Cavas, for... Obvious reasons, relating to her being a Fertility Goddess.

"Very well; me and my assistant are here by orders of councilor Terance Alvey. He said that you're... Still acclimating to your condition."

"...Yeah, I am. Uhm... W-what is it that you're planning on doing?" She asked curiously.

"Oh, probably applying some liniment to ease the sensitivity and stretching, ensuring the kits are healthy with a few blessings, a back massage to help ease the pain... The normal treatment."

Colleen simply nodded at their explanation, leaving her hands perched atop her belly.

"Right, that... That sounds nice..." She muttered.

"Then we won't delay! Joslyn, get the oils, I'll get started with the massage."

...

After an hour or so of 'treatments', Colleen laid back in her bed, feeling an overwhelming amount of physical relief. Her back wasn't aching anymore, her belly-skin wasn't tingling from just the air, and she felt deeply calmed.

"I hope that will do?" One of the two asked.

"Y-yeah, this is perfect..." Colleen replied, practically melting into the mattress beneath her.

"Very well; rest easy!" The other - evidently named Joslyn - chirped, before the two summarily retreated from the room.

The now-alone cleric gazed down at her stomach. It glistened faintly in the lamp-light, the liniment applied to it helping ease the tingling and giving her skin further elasticity.

"You four awake...?" She asked...

A single, light kick answered her question; probably not. More likely than not, they were asleep by now...

Colleen smiled, briefly sitting up, before retrieving her journal and writing supplies from nearby. She would write, and then rest.

'Day five of my quest. Late summer.

I have arrived at Beathabaile today, slightly ahead of my expected schedule, considering days three and four had caused... Delays.

I now know the cause of my sudden pregnancy; it is, indeed, the 'well' of life-energies within me overflowing... I need to be careful with what clerical powers I use from hereon, lest I get even more pregnant...

Thankfully, it would seem that the clerics here are rather accepting of my condition, and of my curiosity... Still, I know not how the clerics back at Abaidton will react. I hope favorably...

My three kits have become four, as well; an encounter with a large wolf, and a subsequent sprint away, resulted in me injuring my leg; I healed it to prevent infection, and... Three babies increased to four.

I'll need to be careful... If I hurt myself and can't mend the wound through mundane means, I'll end up with more in my belly... And as it stands, even just four is difficult to maintain.

Still, I cannot shake the feeling that this 'trait' is some sort of 'gift'... Even though I've only had a majority of these kits for a little over a day now, I feel a near-inseparable link to them... They're also eminently healthy, from what the other clerics say; and quite strong and energetic, too... I've felt that strength and energy for the past day-and-a-half, now; their kicks are a clear enough indicator.

I've made plans to head further towards the coast - to the city of Hemway - after I return to Abaidton. There's a well-established Adventurer's Guild there, and if I join it... I can help people far and wide, and make enough money to keep me and my kits fed. Potentially for the rest of our lives.

I wonder what the councilors - and Mia - will think of me when I return... I hope they don't mind.

-Colleen räv Brent, Fertility and Healing Cleric'

With the entry in her journal complete, Colleen set the tome on the nearby end-table, and got underneath the covers of the bed, before falling asleep with a familiar, comforting warmth basking over her...

  Her rest, unlike the previous nights, was bountiful and steady. She didn't have nightmares or anxieties plaguing her mind... She didn't have to worry about her babies just disappearing... Her mind was tranquil.

She dreamt of her hometown, of going fishing with her father, and of enjoying a meal with her fellow clerics, even while heavily pregnant.

Still, though, the cleric had to wake. And so it was, her eyes slowly fluttered open as a birdsong chirped in through the nearby window, and as sunlight basked upon her face.

"Mmh..." She held a hand out to shield her face from the sun, before looking down to herself.

A mountain of blankets stood just a bit below her chest, concealing her fertile dome. Removing the blankets revealed the mass of belly quite clearly, the surface of it still faintly shiny.

"Good, good..." She smiled, before fully uncovering herself, and sitting upright... Which took considerable effort, her belly taking up a majority of space in her lap, extending to her knees.

It seemed to be mid-morning, the light shining in from the window providing clear illumination to everything in the room. Colleen glanced over to the bedside table... And saw a case of sorts, arrayed with potions.

She picked one up out of curiosity, and saw a symbol on its flask; a pictogram depicting a noticeably pregnant woman, an hourglass and a few lines around her belly.

She then looked to the case, and saw a note. She picked it up, and started reading from it. It explained the pictogram perfectly, in just a few, brief words.

"One bottle delays delivery for a month..." She read the card aloud, before promptly uncorking the vial.

The potion was pinkish, but with a faint lavender tinge to its hue... And it smelled vaguely like lavender, as well.

She then proceeded to drink it down, feeling it briefly sit heavily in her stomach. It was rather thin, and tasted sour, much like The Lifeblood's vapor... But, the sour taste quickly turned medicinally bitter, causing the cleric to cough a bit.

Her belly briefly glowed with a faint, pink light... Which then faded, leaving her feeling full; at least, full in the baby sense. In the food sense, she felt peckish.

"...Okay, guys, want breakfast?" She asked, lightly caressing her belly. The sensitivity was mostly faded by now, it felt like...

Her kits, seemingly upon hearing the word 'breakfast', broke out into a frenzy, squirming and kicking about. Colleen seemed surprised by their sudden activity, but didn't feel winded after the kicks... Maybe she was finally adjusting a bit.

"We'll be having a big one, then! And then, we're going home... And to our new home, if everything goes well..." She said, still wondering if she would even be accepted by this guild, considering her massively pregnant state...

But, those thoughts left the cleric behind as she stood, and saw something neatly folded on the nearby dresser. She looked the folded cloth over curiously, before unfurling it.

...It was her robe, but clean, and... She could sense faint magic flowing through it. She could tell it was hers; the band was identical, the colors were identical, and it was still mildly 'attuned' to her through said band.

She donned the robes, and found them to be well-fitting, no longer stretched to their limits. Her belly still caused the fabric to stretch, but no longer was it transparent, nor was it under any threat of tearing just from growth.

"Ooh... I think they enchanted these...!" The cleric muttered, admiring herself in the nearby mirror. Her orange hair was still unkempt, but... She couldn't be bothered to fix it.

Her tail swayed behind her as she then exited the bedroom, and proceeded towards the dining hall. She could smell the food, even from here... And her kits could evidently sense it, somehow... They continued their squirming for the most part; at least, one of them did. The other movements that came were either lethargic reactions to the one's hyperactivity, or potentially from dream-movements.

She didn't mind them, either way; they felt funny to her, but not in a bad way.

...

After enjoying a feast of a breakfast, Colleen was left stuffed and satisfied, leaving her with just a few things to get done with... Packing her things, and starting her journey back home. She just needed to go to her room...

On her way there, though, the councilor from the previous evening walked by, and took notice of her.

"Oh, good morning, blessed one." Terance - at least, she assumed the man was Terance - said.

"Good morning, councilor Alvey." She replied.

"...I suppose that means Rikki and Joslyn used my name, then. I forgot to formally introduce myself last night, I must apologize." The councilor bowed his head.

"No, no, I forgot, too... I'm Colleen. Colleen räv Brent." She bowed her head in response.

"Well, I suppose it couldn't have been helped... Ah well." Terance shrugged. "A pleasure to be properly introduced, miss Brent."

"Same, councilor."

"I suppose you're going to head your way back to Abaidton here soon?" He asked out of curiosity.

"Yeah. Gonna start packing as soon as I get back to the room, actually." Colleen admitted, adjusting her band a bit.

"Well, I actually need to ferry something to the temple there... Perhaps you'd be interested in a ride on the carriage we're sending?" He asked, holding up a medallion of sorts; probably a holy relic, or valuable coin or something.

"...Y-yes, please!" She responded, smiling. Things were looking up... A carriage-ride could potentially get her to Abaidton in just one or two days if they rushed!

"Then it's settled. The carriage departs by noon's light; you have about... Three hours until they start headed that way. Safe travels, blessed one!" He calls out, before rushing to some other business...

Well, now she had a ride home. Things were definitely better than yesterday... And with a carriage, she would be home in no time flat.

Now, to pack, and travel...

...

After two thankfully uneventful days of travel, Colleen arrived back in Abaidton. As she stepped out of the carriage, she was met by a few of her fellow clerics; including Mia.

"Collee-" She started calling out, before stopping at noticing the cleric's new... Addition. "...Colleen, what happened!?"

"...Too much to explain, Mia..." She sighed, rubbing her stomach. "But, before you ask... Yes, I am pregnant."

"But... But how!?"

"I can't explain right now... I'll send you a letter explaining everything I can later. Right now... I need to see the council." She said, before rushing off.

The other clerics gave confused glances towards her, but she was generally left to her own devices...

And then, she entered the council chamber.

"...Colleen, is that you?" A familiar voice rang out. It was Anissa.

"Y-yes, it is, headmaster Keefe." She said. "I've finished my quest successfully, but..."

"...You opened the vial, I am aware." The elf said, before lightly sighing.

"You are...?" The foxgirl asked, her ears folding as she held her belly in her arms.

"Yes, Terry told me." The councilor briefly closed her eyes. "You aren't in any trouble, but... Why did you, after we told you not to?"

"...I was... C-curious, and I was stuck in my tent from a storm, so... I-it got the better of me."

"...Fair enough, you always were rather... Well, curious." She said. "Regardless, thank you - and congratulations - for completing your quest, Colleen. We may have some new-"

"Err, b-before any of that... Can I just say something?" Colleen interjected.
"Sure, what is it?"

"I... I think I'm going to depart for a while." She stated succinctly.

There was silence for a few moments.

"...What?" Anissa sounded confused.

"I'm... I'm going on a personal quest. I'm going to be headed to Hemway." She spoke up.

"...Alright, but... Why? I thought you were going to continue your training."

"...P-personal reasons. I can't elaborate, I'm sorry."

"Very... Very well then, I suppose. I do hope your quest is a safe one; may the Goddess grant you safety and plenty." Anissa bowed her head politely.

Colleen nodded at this, bowing her own head.

"Thank you, headmaster." The foxgirl finished, before retreating from the room.

Just being in there made her incredibly anxious... And now, her anxiety was climbing again. She was about to go on a quest that she wasn't even certain she could succeed at...

But still, she knew, deep in the back of her mind, one simple fact...

'It'll all be okay...' She thought to herself, walking away from the council-chamber, and to her own room, to retrieve what few things she had left behind.

When she arrived at Hemway, a new quest - no, an entirely new journey - would begin... Her journey as an adventurer.

Slowly, Colleen's mind returned to the present day. Her journey was still ongoing, her life as an adventurer having started half a year ago, back in early autumn... Things were different from back then, but she was doing well-off. Her life was changed, but she believed it to be for the better.

And though the kits in her belly weren't the same ones as back then, she felt a similar bond to them... And she loved them, just as much as she loved her first four.

The End.

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