B.C.E. [PART 2]

"He'll come downstairs looking tired and happy." Shadow told her.

#

Echo smirked and rolled into a proper position.

"Put yor legs around me."

"Same here... As soon as I found out I was pregnant, I wanted to leave. And I know Sunny pleaded with Echo to go, but Troy's their home. They would rather fix it's problems than leave which... Well, it's admirable."

*

Sunny did so, grinning.

Luna blinked. "Happy? About what?"

"Grown. Folk. Talk," Sol said, emphasizing each word. "Don't you worry your little red tail about it."

"...Fine," she said with a pout.

*

"That's understandable. From what we heard, the both of them really had to struggle to make it to where they are now. To finally make it and leave just like that... Sol doesn't look it, but he's also very loyal to this city, even with our... struggles."

Star shook her head, smiling softly. "Men and their loyalties to cities, I guess."

Mani laughed gently. "I suppose. But with this war started, we can't leave, not when so many on counting on people like us."

"Whether or not they want to count on us. And with everything Echo and Shadow have done to make this city better for us, I think leaving would be an injustice."

"Exactly. Besides, if Troy were to fall, wherever we run-it's most likely to be sacked as well."

"Yup." She sighed. "I think Shadow would be crushed if Troy fell... After all this work... It would probably crush me, too."

"Yeah." Her smile faded some. "As far as I know, Troy is the only safe haven for mixed-breeds and interracial relationships... I just hope, first and foremost, we all survive this war."

The hedgecat laid a hand on her belly, trembled slightly. That honestly hadn't even been something she'd thought about. "I... yeah..."

Mani winced slightly, noticing Star's reaction. "...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..."

shadow laughed.

"So how old are they?"

H

Echo placed himself inside her.

"This time try and hold on without my help. Let's see who falls first."

"Five years," Sol responded. "Six within a month's time. And they're curious about everything. Not much escapes these two."

"How about a magic trick?" Shadow looked at them.

"You like magic?"

Luna beamed. "Do I ever!"

Yue nodded shyly. "I guess. Dad does all kinds of neat tricks for us."

Shadow held up a coin in one hand and placed another behind his back.

"See this?"

Sunny grinned. "Bring it on, hedgehog."

*

"No, it's okay. I just... don't think of things like that. I think of life before I think of death."

Echo began to pump inside of her.

They both nodded. Sol simply smirked, sitting back comfortably. No power display; just simple illusion techniques, huh? He knew plenty of these himself, but it was always fun to watch someone else.

*

"I understand. It's just... for so long, I've wished for death, let alone dealt with it, so I suppose I can talk about it a little more carelessly than most others. Not a trait I'm most fond of."

Shadow closed his hand around it and brought out his other hand, open. He held them out in front of the children.

"No coin in my other hand." He then closed the second hand and opened the one with the coin in it. The coin was gone.

"Whoa!" Luna leaned closer, trying to get a better look. "Where'd it go?!"

Shadow laughed.

"Check your ears. I'm sure your dad puleld plenty of money out of them." He said, knowing it wasnt there.

Star shook her head. "You're just more realistic than I am. In some ways, I envy your mindset."

*

She bit her lip, clung to his hips.

Luna blinked, spun on her dad as she checked her ears, Yue following suit. "Hey! Are you in on this, Dad!?" Luna accused.

Sol laughed, putting his hands behind his head. "My hands are clean this time." He slyly hid a pair of coins in his hands.

*

She shook her head, frowning. "It's more hatred than actual realism."

Shadow laughed, flipping the coin in his other, formerly empty, hand.

%

Echo placed her on the gorund so he could move his hands to her breasts and forcefully rub.