The shrill cry of an infant jolted Elunara out of bed. She grabbed a robe as she went out of the door and put it on as she made her way to the twins' room. Yanking open the bedroom door she was shocked to find Laithion on the floor. She rushed over and scooped the newborn into her arms. "Shh, hush now, sweetheart, I've got you. Mommas got you."
Varian stepped in behind her. "What happened?"
Furious, she pushed past him and growled at a nearby guard. "WHO WAS IN HERE?"
"No one! We swear!" The guard held up his free hand. "We've been out here all night."
"A newborn doesn't just climb out of a crib!"
"Well, they didn't come through the door." The other guard shook his head.
"You lunkheads need to keep your fucking ears open when you're on duty! Someone tried to snatch my children." She turned and went back into the room. Carefully laying Laithion back in the crib, she turned for the window. Looking out at the three-story drop, she examined the window.
"Uh, Elunara." Varian's voice intruded on her investigation.
"What?!" She snapped at him, barely looking back.
"You'll want to see this."
She turned around fully. "What are you...?" She stared as Laithion pulled himself up on the side of the crib. "By Elune!" Rushing over, she barely caught Laithion as he awkwardly flapped his wings, toppling him over the side. "You're not even a day old! What the hell?" When she looked in the other crib, Andryxia was curled up on her side. Elunara put a cautious hand in the crib and touched the newborn's side.
Andryxia twitched and whimpered. Concerned, Elunara laid Laithion back in the crib. Gently, she turned Andryxia on her back. Andryxia blinked up at Elunara before starting to wail. Elunara scooped up her child and began to rock her gently. "No, no. No need for this fuss. Momma didn't mean to wake you." Laithion pulled himself up the side again. He reached out towards his sister, patting her on the head.
Varian shook his head. "How is this even possible?"
"You got me." Elunara frowned. "I guess I should get the torture of feeding them out of the way." She adjusted Andryxia in her arms and shifted her breast. Andryxia shook her head and shoved the breast out of her face. "Uh, that's new."
"Maybe she doesn't know it's food?" Varian stepped over to them and ran his fingers over Andryxia's forehead.
"Hold on." Elunara squeezed her nipple until the milk came out. "Come on, little one, we're just trying to get you fed." Elunara got milk on her fingers and pushed the fingers into Andryxia's mouth. Andryxia shook her head again and began to wail.
"Didn't Wrathion say whelps ate meat?"
"But they're not... well, hell. I'll try anything at this point. Get Laithion for me, will you?" She adjusted Andryxia again and tugged her robe closed. After changing a pair of diapers on wiggling infants, they tucked the infants into the double stroller. When they exited the room and the guards snapped to attention. Elunara frowned. "I'm sorry I called you both lunkheads."
"It's alright." Said one.
"You were scared for your babies." Said the other.
"We should get Emaline up too." Varian nodded his head towards his little girl's room.
"Of course."
Together, the five of them made their way down to the royal kitchens. The servants brought out highchairs for the infants, and Elunara carefully placed Andryxia in one, while Varian did the same with Laithion. The servants looked perplexed.
The head of the kitchen frowned. "I thought they was born yesterday."
"They were." Elunara sighed.
"Then how come they sit so good now?"
"Beats the hell out of me. Bring me meat and fruits, and we'll see what we can feed them." Elunara rubbed her sore breast. "And some form of container for my breast milk."
"Right away, mum." The woman turned and began barking out orders at the kitchen staff.
Little plates of ground meats were sat out, along with some cubes of soft fruits. The twins eagerly reached for the plates of meat. Resigned, Elunara placed the plates closer to the twins. Both began grabbing handfuls of ground meat and stuffing it in their mouths.
"Mommy, why do the babies want meat?"
"Because their daddy is a dragon. Though why they act like they are seven or eight months old is beyond me. Even from the time we picked them up to now, they're already holding themselves up too well."
"Dragon whelps are born ready to hunt." Everyone turned their attention to Alexstrasza. "We feed them their first meals when they hatch, then teach them to hunt their own meals shortly after. They gorge themselves at every meal until we are able to teach them restraint."
Elunara turned back to the twins. "Human and night elf babies are helpless for the first few years of their lives. In the first year they drink milk, not moving to little mushes of food at six or seven months, and not off the breast until at LEAST a year. Most mothers give milk for up to two."
Alexstrasza regarded the children still stuffing their faces. "These infants are unique. How that will play out will be anyone's guess."
Wrathion cocked his head to the side. "Well, they are mine. As I wanted. We should all learn together. I brought Alexstrasza because I figured that as a mother, she would be the best one to consult."
"The Ruby Dragonflight tends to all the eggs of the various flights. I will send someone to help you tend to your pair. I wanted to see them for myself."
Tapping her fingers on the table, Elunara debated. "While I typically raise my children myself. I did have help with Darguni in his first few years. I will accept any help you give."
"It's the least I could do, given the circumstances."
Andryxia began closing her eyes, even as Laithion continued to stuff his face. Andryxia curled up against the tray and dropped off to sleep. Elunara scooped her up and tucked her into the stroller. "One down, one to go." When Laithion began squishing the meat between his fingers, not really putting any in his mouth, Elunara took the plate away and began cleaning his hands.
After everyone was fed and cleaned and the twins tucked in the stroller, Elunara eyed the dragon pair. "Can you watch the twins while Varian and I get dressed?"
"Of course." Alexstrasza took the stroller from Elunara.
Wrathion knelt in front of his children. Laithion was drooping his head. "I am intrigued by this development. I was expecting whelps or regular children, not this combination of the two."
"Around here, make no assumptions." Elunara shrugged, before walking past him.
----
Once dressed, the family convened in the throne room. "I want to walk with my children in the sun." Elunara put her hands on her hips. "The family got to see them yesterday, but they saw newborns, not whatever it is I have now." She turned to Varian and reached out a hand. "Will you walk with me Sugarlove? Being out would do you some good."
He took her hand with a nod. "You are correct, as always."
"And who would hold MY hand?" With a smirk on his face, Wrathion held out a hand.
Emaline reached up and took his hand. "I will."
Wrathion blinked down at the child. "Oh! How... um, sweet of you."
Elunara smirked back. "That seems settled. Let's walk."
----
