Blood from Stone [AU]

[GamesMaster]

Brianne stares at him, frozen. Nobody prepared me for this!!!

"Carriage! Call a carriage, get her to Don's place. Everyone's there. Varric will pay."

[Smith Family]

Kyle stares a moment, then nods jerkily and jerks back to the door only to freeze. Jaina is in the doorway, a shoulder bag resting on her hip. ''Kyle, what are you doing?''

''Baby- carriage-''

''Get over here,'' she snaps, causing him to lurch forward. With an eyeroll, she reaches across her stomach and slaps him, hard. ''Kyle, breathe! Take a damn breath. Gods, you weren't half this bad with the other two. Go hire a carriage like Miss Brianne said.''

Kyle stares a moment, then nods. ''Right. I... sorry, I'll... fetch a carriage. Sorry.'' Reaching down, he helps Brianne to her feet before hurrying off.

[GamesMaster]

Brianne smiles at him, then turns to Jaina. "If you planned this somehow--" she threatens, before shaking her head. "Gotta run. We sent Will on ahead, and Seli and everyone, and I've got to get Don and Car!" 

[Smith Family]

''Oof, I wish! Two weeks past due. No, just the gods having their laugh, I suspect,'' Jaina says back, rubbing her stomach. ''Bless you for doing all this.'' Will is with Lina, so that's her done as well. ''I'll send Kyle to get Marian and Garret when he gets back, save you some steps. They should be at class today I think?''

[GamesMaster]

"I think?" she offers, tilting her head. "That'd be great. Thanks!" 

And then she's off and running again. Two more stops: Don, then Carver.

[NPCs]

Don and Miki are indeed at the main temple in Cattown, currently getting their asses handed to them rather smartly by a most terrible foe. A skilled, cunning and much more dangerous combatant than either male, or indeed, both males together. 

Ari.

In the corner, Cadmus is supposedly reading reports above the latest batch of roof farms. Truthfully, he's watching his children and muffling his snickers with dismal success.

[GamesMaster]

Brianne slips into the temple, hesitanting, not wanting to interrupt. Not because she's afraid -- but because it's damn enjoyable to see girly-girl Ari kicking Miki's ass.

A lot.

Still, she only gives it a few seconds of enjoyment before she clears her throat. "Don!" she says, urgently, 'coincidentally' timed so that when he glances over his twin smacks him in the head. 

Don hisses, flinching. "Low blow!"

"Your enemies don't fight fair," hisses Ari right back.

"I assumed my sister would!"

"See what happens when you assume?" sing-songs Ari right back.

Brianne smirks, then shakes her head. "No, no time. Kits!"

Don's full attention snaps back to Brianne. "Kits?! Now?!"

"Now," she agrees with a nod. "The manor."

Then all three purebloods are scrambling for the door, Brianne barely stepping aside in time to let them out.

[Tethras Clan]

Four, as Cadmus has lifted his robes up enough to allow him to run as best he can at his age after them, barely pausing long enough to nod his thanks to Brianne. Well. That was... easily done. Least no-one ran her over this time...

[Carver Amell]

"You need to be firm with him," suggests Carver, putting a hand on young Javier's shoulder. "He's not sure you mean it when you say it like that. You need to be firm and sure of yourself, so your dog understands what you want. Now. Tell him to fetch, and this time, mean it."

The dog isn't a Mabari, only a retriever --  but Javier shows promise, and if Carver can teach him how to handle a dog, maybe he can work his way up to earning a Mabari pup. The merikos gnome was a wild one; a teen on the cusp of aging out of the orphanage, he was full of anger and spite that masked the kind of fear Carver knew well. The boy needed a place to belong, work to do with his hands, and he was keen to learn swordplay and join Carver's new company. 

It's good to give back, Carver notes with a small smile, as Brianne skids around the corner. I wonder if Beth feels the same about Bri?

"Kits!" Brianne calls, and all other thoughts vanish from Carver's mind. 

"Put Lucy away," Carver instructs the youth, snatching up his cloak and sword. "Tell the others, I won't be back today. My sister's gone into labor," he adds, seeing Javier's puzzled expression.

"Labor...?"

"She's having kits!" 

Then Carver and Brianne are leaving, scrambling out of the training yard in a rush, side by side.