Thanks to Raine and Crystal for beta'ing. Any mistakes are ours.

Copyright 1999 by

Cassandra was focused on her task. She shifted the riding skirt out of her way, as she scrutinized the horse's hooves, while it was eating. The braids she often wore at her temples were pulled back and kept her long hair out of her face. She was beautiful, as always.

And then there was Gwena. Such a small thing, but so breathtaking. Mistglow paused a moment to take in the sight of her. Bits of her long auburn hair had escaped her braid and curled against her cheek. The tilt of her grey eyes, coupled with the shape of her face (which he could just see in profile) made her appear very catlike. Her slender, strong fingers pushed the errant hair out of her face impatiently. Mistglow had felt those fingers in his fur, but she had been careful not to touch him when he was in human form.

As if form matters to me, he thought to himself. But it seems to matter to her, so I'll keep my mouth shut and not let either of them know how much Gwena's attention means to me in any form. He walked wearily into camp.

The two women looked up when the very bedraggled wolf walked into camp and threw himself down beside the fire. He was too tired to even think about changing back to human form.

Cassandra was surprised. "Glow, what are you doing back so soon? Did something happen?" She moved toward the wolf, but Gwena, being uncharacteristically quiet, busied herself with stirring the pot.

~Just didn't want to be gone long. It wasn't a good moon, either.~ Even through the magic Mistglow used to communicate with her, she could "hear" his weariness.

"Are you hungry? Can I get you something to eat?" Cassandra tried not to show her fright. It wasn't usual for Glow to be so tired. And he'd only been gone four days - the moon was just past full tonight. She turned toward the fire intending to get food for the exhausted wolf.

~Food would be good, yes.~  The wolf looked up at her.  ~You wouldn't happen to have a brush suitable for fur anywhere on you, would you?  I feel like I'm a mass of mats.~

"Yes, of course, I have one in the saddlebag." Cassandra moved toward her bedroll.

"I'll get you something to eat," offered Gwena, relieved to have something to do. She wanted more than anything to rush over to Glow and make sure he was okay.

~Thank you, Gwena. I'm starving.~  And for more than just food, he thought to himself. Gwena seemed to him to have become more lovely in the short time he was away.

As Gwena carried the bowl of meat over to where Glow lay exhausted, Cassandra found the brush and started once more toward the wolf. Then she paused, noticing the way Glow stared at Gwena, who was concentrating on the bowl in her hands. It was obvious to Cassandra that the two had become more attached.

Gwena grimaced internally. I wish this wasn't so difficult. I honestly think I am falling in love with my sister's lover. She set the bowl in front of Mistglow. You'd think that almost a month of being with both of them would have gotten me over this infatuation.

Mistglow barely had enough energy to eat. ~This is good, Gwena~ he told her as he gulped the food.

Cassandra laid the brush beside the wolf, and walked off to feed herself.

Gwena picked up the brush and started working out the snarls and snags in Glow's coat, trying hard not to pull too much. Some of the mats were quite difficult. Getting lost in concentration, she wasn't even aware of Glow watching her again.

Neither of them were aware of Cassandra observing them with a bittersweet smile. I should let them know I don't mind that they've fallen in love. Soon, though, there's no real hurry, yet.

Cassandra finished eating. After fixing a bowl for Gwena, she walked over to the others and sat down. She handed the bowl to Gwena, who laid the brush aside.

"Are we all agreed that Roland seems to be following the false leads we planted? If so, we need to decide where we want to take him to keep him away from Duncan." Cassandra figured business was a good way to distract them all from the personal tension.

~It did seem that way before I left, yes.~ Mistglow "spoke" with his eyes closed - only his ears followed their voices. ~Let's lure him south, where it's warm.~

"If we are going to go very far we will need more supplies. I don't mind living off the land, but at the pace we've been setting, we don't really have the time or energy to hunt and gather." Cassandra considered. "Of course, it depends on where we plan to go. I'd like to lure him across the water to France or even as far as Italy, if we can. We need supplies, but we can't take the chance of losing Roland's trail. I think you two should continue as you were before. Meanwhile, I'll take the horse and get supplies. There is a town not far to the east of here. Shouldn't be more than a day or two."

"How long will you need to rest, Glow?" Gwena asked the wolf. She had emptied her bowl and returned to brushing the mats out of his fur.

~I should be ready to travel tomorrow.~ He rolled over onto his side to let her get at the tangles on his chest. ~Nothing keeps a werewolf down long.~

Gwena hesitated, suddenly assailed by the memory of Glow when she first saw him at the cabin. Gwena remembered his lightly muscled chest when in human form. Being afraid Cassandra would feel her desire, Gwena handed the brush to her. "You two should have a chance to spend some time together before we go our separate ways again." Getting to her feet and picking up the bowl, she added, "Why don't I take care of the dishes and leave you alone to get reaquainted."

Cassandra shook her head and began working the tangles out of Glow's belly fur. The wolf, meanwhile, had fallen asleep.

The rest of the day went quietly, with Glow napping off and on. Gwena did her best to stay out of the way and spent most of her time following Kantos. Cassandra spent her day trying to decide if her reasons for keeping quiet about her awareness of the deepening relationship between the two most important people in her life, might not be completely altruistic. Am I jealous? Or is it really not time to tell them? Cassandra finally decided that for whatever reason, it was not yet appropriate to let them reveal their feelings.

The next morning, after agreeing to a place to meet up, she mounted the horse and started toward the village. Gwena and Glow took off in wolf form to track Kantos. As they trotted along, Glow noticed that she was as comfortable as a wolf now as she was as a lynx just a few weeks ago.

~Quite an improvement, you know.~

~What?~ Gwena was startled out of her thoughts. She wondered if confessing her feelings for Glow might not be the best for all of them. What if he doesn't feel the same? After all, a little flirting didn't mean Glow felt anything deeper for her. Revealing her feelings might just embarass them all. It was much harder resisting the attraction she felt when they were both in the same form. At least when she was in human, or another animal form, while he was wolf it was easier to pretend.

~You're starting to actually look like a wolf in wolf shape now.~ Glow grinned at her, then sniffed the air. ~There's a stream over there - let's detour for a quick drink.~

As Gwena started to turn toward the stream, Glow pounced. He swept her off her feet and rolled her over and over. He gently nipped at paws thrust into his face as Gwena tried to get her feet under her. When Glow jumped back, tongue hanging out with laughter, Gwena pulled herself to her feet.

~What was that for?~ she asked him.

~If you're going to be a wolf, you have got to stop being so serious all the time.~ Glow chided her. ~Play is very important within the pack. It eases tension. Come on. I'll race you to the stream.~

The two bounded off toward the stream. Glow, with his entirely unfair size advantage, beat her and was already drinking when she came up.

Gwena came up beside him and started to drink. Suddenly, she took a small leap forward and came up with a large fish in her mouth. Two gulps, and it was gone.

Glow stared at her for a second or two. He had never seen her eat anything raw.

~Hungry, are you?~ he asked.

Gwena looked at him, embarassed. ~I guess the shapechange took more out of me than usual today.~

~Should we hunt?~ All of the sudden he was concerned for her. She was trying to shrug her unusual behavior off, but Glow could see that the spirits within her were in a turmoil.

~I just ate breakfast. I shouldn't be so hungry. I'll be fine.~ Gwena took two steps and turned. ~Maybe another fish. That should be enough.~ She bounded into the water and, in a few seconds, had found another fish even larger than the first and gulped it down.

Mistglow decided that there were simply too many things he still didn't know about immortals, and more that he didn't know about Gwena. Surely she knew herself better than he did. He decided to just to keep an eye on the spirits' activity, and let her keep her own council. He waited patiently for her to finish her fishing.

After the third fish, Gwena came out of the stream slowly. She shook the water off her coat and then stood looking at Glow with slightly glazed eyes. She sat down and shook her head dazedly. ~This isn't right. I don't feel like I should.~ She looked at Glow with panic growing in her eyes and voice.

Glow raced to her side. ~What's wrong?~

~It can't be.~ She seemed to be talking to herself more than Glow. ~There are no immortals around but Kantos and Goddess knows he isn't close enough.~

Glow was becoming alarmed. ~Can't be what? Isn't close enough for what?~

Gwena looked at him and glanced back at the stream hungrily. She turned back to him with a frown evident in her posture. ~Glow, did Cassandra ever explain about how immortals reproduce?~

~All Cassandra ever told me was that she couldn't get pregnant from me.~ Glow sniffed the wind cautiously. ~What is it you're trying to tell me?~

~As far as Cassandra and I know, Immortals are only able to breed with each other. But they don't know that they can and do procreate. I know it sounds confusing, but there's an amnesia and instinct that takes over; a kind of 'heat' if you will. A female immortal must find an immortal male to mate when this happens. We figure it's triggered by proximity, among other factors. Kantos hasn't been close enough for long enough. Not to mention there has to be some attraction and I am not attracted in the least to Kantos. Never have been.~ Gwena suddenly leapt up and raced a few yards away, startling Glow. When she returned she had a dead rabbit in her mouth.

~Are you telling me there might be some immortal around here that you know and like?~ Glow asked.

~Not one of us,~ she answered, while tearing into the rabbit voraciously. ~He would have to be close enough to feel. It must be something else!~ She finished the rabbit and looked up at Glow. ~One of the first signs is an uncontrollable hunger. I was ravenous when I woke up, which means if this is an immortal heat, then it's already well into time.~ Gwena got to her feet and started pacing, panting heavily.

~You're in animal form, Gwena. You've told me you can't feel another immortal unless you're in human form.~ Glow began pacing, sniffing the wind for intruders.

He stopped, stiff legged, when he caught Gwena's scent. There was a female wolf in heat beside him. Worse, she was a female he loved. What will Cassandra think? went through his head fleetingly. Then Gwena rubbed against him, and he shivered with pleasure. Before either of them could stop themselves, the deed was done. Glow threw himself down on the ground afterwards in utter, speachless dejection.

Gwena lay panting. ~Glow, we have to find Cassandra. I can't do this by myself. It's going to be so hard to face her. But I've tried to shapeshift and I can't. I'm stuck. This has never happened before. If this goes the way it would normally, we have about 18, maybe 24 hours, before ...~ Gwena trailed off, looking at him. She was terrified.

This was so alien to anything she and Cassandra had ever seen during immortal birth. They had figured out the only reason either of them knew the truth about immortal reproduction was because of their link. When one forgot, the other remembered. They had started watching other immortal women and had amassed a great store of information. This, though, was not covered in any of their records. She could feel the pregnancy beginning within her - a pregnancy that should not be. Glow was not an immortal.

Then Gwena thought of her soul sister and her heart twisted in pain. She felt she was going to be the cause of Cassandra's agony. She looked at Glow and could tell he was as upset as she was.

Glow stared at her. Then he got up and sniffed. Not a hint of the smell of heat was anywhere about her. Now she smelled entirely like a wolf about to give birth. He howled, long and full of pain - pain for Cassandra. She had been betrayed by both of them. That was all the grief he allowed himself, though. Gwena was frightened, and he laid down beside her to offer comfort. He pulled his scattered thoughts together.

~We should follow her. She doesn't have that much of a lead. We can travel more quickly than she can.~ He licked her ear. ~If you can travel, that is.~

~I think so. For awhile at least.~ Gwena stuggled to get her paws under her, feeling shaky and off-balance. Once she was up, she bumped Glow's side in comfort. ~Maybe eventually she'll understand and forgive.~ Gwena wanted to howl her own pain, but found herself panting heavily. The gestation period could be exhausting, but this weakness was unusual. ~We better find her quickly Glow, or you will have to go on and bring her back. Let's go.~ She trotted slowly off.

He paced at her side. Her condition worried him. I wish those spirits she carries would just...the thought trailed off as another occured to him. He stopped in his tracks.

~We don't have to chase her, Gwena.~ He pushed the panting, smaller wolf down. ~The spirits can reach her for us. You rest.~

Glow shifted swiftly back to his human form. He pulled a necklace off over his head, revealing a simple cord holding a large amber bead. Seating himself comfortably on the ground, he began whispering to the bead. The language he was using was one Gwena didn't understand. Still, she felt the buildup of energy around the bead. The bit of amber began to glow. While Mistglow still whispered, the bead abruptly cracked. He jumped a little, then set the two halves down in front of him.

"Well, I suppose I should be happy that particular spirit will even do this task for me. This certainly isn't part of its nature." He shook his head.

~I don't understand. But if it means Cassandra will come here, and I don't have to move, I'll wait for another time to understand. Perhaps we can find a good place to wait.~ Gwena was still torn between the relief that her sister would be with her for this terrifying experience, and her grief for the pain she knew this would cause.

"Yes, what's most important now is to find some shelter in case of a storm." He picked the broken bead up again. "Can you use that anklet of yours while in this form?"

~The spirit stays with me in animal form. So, yes it can help. If I can focus.~ Gwena stretched out on the ground to concentrate. A few seconds later she became restless. ~There's a perfect place not too far away. I can make it.~ She staggered upright and started off.

 He followed her, still in human form. They found a nice, dry little cave. Mistglow began clearing an area in front of the cave for the fire they'd need tonight.

"Tell me what I can expect," he asked her, managing to keep his voice calm and even despite his inner turmoil.

~I am not really sure. This has never happened like this before. So far though, this has pretty much followed the pattern, with the exception of the father.~ Gwena was thoughtful. ~And of course, I've never given birth in wolf form before. If it continues in the normal pattern, I will go into labor in a little under eighteen hours. The birth is accompanied by a quickening. You will need to be far enough away at that time not to get caught in it. Over the following few hours I will gradually feel the instinct to...~ Gwena stopped.

The pain of what was to come suddenly brought her grief. The memories of previous births and lost children overwhelmed her. It was only during this time that she could truly remember her babies. The rest of the time they were simply stories. She and Cassandra kept records for each other.

"Are you alright?" Mistglow asked, seeing the pain in her eyes. He took her in his arms, hugging the wolf close.

~It's so hard. To feel such compulsion to abandon your child and know you won't even remember. Having no control over your own body. Seeing yourself laying your child somewhere and walking away and not being able to stop. It's only gotten easier since Cassandra. She takes them and makes sure they are safe. All that does is ease the guilt, not the grief. But this time! Oh, Glow, what if it's a wolf or some kind of hybrid? Who can we find to take the baby? I am so afraid. And even if it is human, how can I ask Cassandra to be responsible for finding a home?~

Gwena was despondent. She had been panting heavily, continuously since laying down. Now, she moaned in fear and pain.

"I'm here. Cassandra will return. We will figure this out, I promise." He held her close for a moment. Is there anything you will need before the child is born?"

~No, just a cloth for the baby. Cass will have something suitable. Just don't leave me, at least until she gets here. Please. I really am frightened.~

Gwena paused, the next words difficult to utter. ~If Cass can't accept what's happened, will you be willing to do whatever's necessary? I don't mean the birth itself. Just afterwards? Please, Glow, it means everything. Losing so many, you think it would be easier each time, but it gets harder. Duncan was the last and I thought my heart would break for certain. And then, when Cass spoke the prophecy about him, I was so afraid for him. I still am. He has a hard life before him and I just wish I could make it easier. He has a good family, though, and Cass says he will be happy, at least some of the time. I guess that's all we can expect.~ Gwena looked up at the man holding her. ~Have you been happy most of your life?~

"No. But I have been happy enough." Mistglow rubbed the heavy fur below her ears. "Don't worry about the baby, Gwena. I will find it - her - a foster family if Cassandra leaves us. And we are making Duncan's life easier, by keeping Kantos away from him."

~Her! You know it's a girl, then. Of course! I've been so worried I wasn't even aware it is a girl.~ Gwena moaned suddenly and shifted uncomfortably. ~Glow, now are we going to tell Cass what happened? She should be here soon. She wasn't that far away.~

Approaching hoofbeats heralded Cassandra's arrival while Glow fussed over the small wolf. He couldn't bear to look Cassandra in the eye and buried his face in Gwena's fur when she arrived.

Cassandra entered the clearing in front of the cave at a run.

"What's happened?" She crouched down next to Gwena in near panic. "Are you injured? The spirit said something big had happened."

As she spoke she was running her hands over Gwena, checking for injuries. She rocked back on her heels in startled relief. No injuries, only the sense of new life. Catching Glow's guilty expression, she suddenly remembered her vision of them with startling clarity.

"Oh, my loves!" She sighed sympathetically. "I never thought it would be so soon!" She kept one hand in Gwena's fur while claiming Glow's hand with the other. "I should have said something earlier. Now see - I have both of you worried!"

Glow looked up at her as she continued. "I saw this in the very beginning."

Gwena suddenly whimpered as a spasm passed through her. ::Cass, this can't be happening. And it doesn't feel right. I can barely walk and I hurt. I can't change!:: Through the link, Cassandra could feel Gwena's terror.

Cassandra stroked her fur soothingly. "You're going to be fine. Just relax. You are tensing up and that's making it worse. I'm telling you I saw this! It will be okay."

Cassandra looked up at Glow tenderly. Cupping his face with her hand, she said, "Don't worry. She and your daughter will both be fine. But you need to be strong for them. This won't be like anything you've ever seen before."

"What can I do to help? I've helped birth everything on four legs and some humans, too. But I don't know...." He buried both hands in Gwena's ruff and held her. "Gwena said something about a quickening?"

"When immortals give birth, the mother and child experience a type of quickening. You will have to be far enough away not to get hit. But that won't be for another twelve hours or more. How long ago did this happen?" Cassandra was being matter of fact, hoping it would ease the guilt both Gwena and Glow were experiencing.

::About half hour after we left you. It'll be closer to sixteen, seventeen hours.:: Gwena answered, chagrined.

"Not long after you left," Glow answered as well, not privy to their psychic communication. "It all happened so fast - if only I hadn't been in wolf...."

Cassandra realized they would have to get everything out in the open before this went any further. They would all have to work together to deliver this baby. She settled back, sitting with her legs crossed, and studied both of them. Neither would meet her eyes and the sorrow in Glow's body posture brought tears to her eyes.

"Both of you listen to me! I am not hurt or upset or disappointed. This was meant to be. I saw it in the very beginning. This child will be very special, very blessed and very important to the future of all of us."

Gwena looked up at Cassandra, still heavily panting. Placing her nose against Cassandra's hand, Gwena thought ::Sister mine, I'm sorry. I don't understand how this happened. This isn't supposed to be possible. How can you ever forgive me?::

Glow reached out and touched Cassandra's face with tentative fingers. "We never wanted to hurt you, my generous one! But I have to confess that I've been attracted to Gwena since she came to the cottage. I've never been so disloyal." His hand dropped. "How can you ever forgive such a betrayal?"

"I need to apologize to both of you." As the two of them looked at her startled, Cassandra continued, "I knew how you felt. I was okay with it, but something kept holding me back from telling you. I thought there was plenty of time. I'm sorry for not telling you sooner. But this needed to happen and if I had told you, it might not have. Prophecy is so hard to interpret. I had to go with the feeling, and it was that I should hold my tongue. I don't blame either of you! I love you both and I am happy for you. Be happy for yourselves!"

Gwena whimpered with pain as another wave washed over her. Cassandra stood up as Glow tried to comfort Gwena. "I need to get my things. There are several herbs which have a beneficial effect on immortal birth. Just keep her calm for now." Cassandra walked back to the horse.

"What did we do to deserve her, Gwena love?" he whispered into the wolf's ear.

Gwena licked his cheek and closed her eyes, starting to pant again. No matter what Cassandra said, this was terrifying. She had done many things while in animal form, but going into heat and giving birth as an animal had never occurred to her. She was really dependent on Cass' assurance all would be fine. Without her sister's assistance, she felt this experience would be impossible.

Gwena sank back against Glow's arms, relieved that Cassandra really seemed okay. It had been a very long time since Gwena had allowed herself to feel anything serious for anyone except Cassandra. I should have known she would have already realized our feelings. I never could keep a secret from her. Cassandra walked up with her belongings from the horse. After depositing them on the ground, she started rummaging through them.

Cassandra and Mistglow busied themselves with caring for Gwena, being careful not to leave her alone. After the herbs had taken effect, they even got some sleep. As the two women had predicted, labor began about sixteen hours after Cassandra had gotten back. When Cassandra told Glow it was time for him to take cover, he was relaxed enough to laugh.

"Don't forget it's a werewolf beside you, Cass! A little lightning and such is not going to hurt me."

As the birth began, so did the quickening. When the pup slid out into Glow's hands, the last of the lightening faded off. There were several trees burning, but it was damp enough they had no fear of an uncontrollable blaze. Cassandra was sitting at Gwena's head looking down at Glow and the pup. Feeling a tingle, she glanced down to see the familiar mist beginning to form around Gwena which signaled a shapeshift. She heard Glow yelp and lifted her eyes to see the mist had formed around the pup also.

"Put her down, Glow. You don't want to be in contact with her during a shapeshift." Glow gingerly placed the pup on the forest floor and backed up a step.

Cassandra moved back a bit away from Gwena. When the mist cleared, an exhausted woman lay on the blanket. The cry of a baby rent the air.

Cassandra moved closer to Gwena and picked up a cloth soaked with lavendar water. She gently began to wash Gwena's face. Glow wrapped the baby in a cloth and brought her to Gwena's side. Gwena opened her eyes and reached for her daughter. As Glow placed the little girl in her mother's arms, he sniffed her scent. He would never forget it.

Cassandra leaned over Gwena and smiled at the baby. "Welcome to the world, StarSong. You are a special little lady."

Gwena looked up at Cassandra and smiled tiredly. "That's a good name, but she will probably need another for the public. Did you see another name?" Cassandra shook her head, still mesmerized by the tiny girl, so recently a wolf pup.

Gwena smiled at Glow. "Any particular name you like?" He shook his head. Gwena placed a kiss on the top of her daughter's head. She whispered, "Then I name you Dagda StarSong."

Back to: The Tower

Back to: Chapter One

Back to: Chapter Two

On to: Chapter Four (coming soon!)