Chapter Text
There had been three eggs in this clutch. Laying them had gone smoothly, but it still left her a bit sore and tired as she took a moment to rest and think.
Elite Commander Amira knew she wouldn’t get to keep any of them. Even with that knowledge, she couldn’t help but feel attached as any mother would.
She was well aware of her purpose. She knew what Warbred were meant for, though that did nothing to ease her natural emotional response to becoming a mother once again.
She was in her mighty Beast form. Large and quadrupedal, her body structure could be compared to a mix of a bear and lion with hunched shoulder, digitigrade limbs, and head held low.
The light in her quarters reflected softly from her deep black chitin and thick mane. Stiff guard-hairs bristled from her shoulders and between them, adding to her powerful, imposing appearance. It faded into her tough chitin plates around her mid back.
Her three eggs were tucked between her large, clawed fore-paws protectively. Her long serpentine tail curled around her powerful hindquarters and rested on the floor beside her. Her long black antennae flicked slowly. The scents here were familiar; she was relaxed and calm in her quarters. She knew she and her eggs were safe.
Her pale eyes glowing softly from a black sclera flicked towards the door as she heard the heavy footsteps and clack of her Second in Command’s claws as he walked. Despite his scent being so familiar to her, her lip curled to reveal her sharp, plate-like teeth and long saber fangs in a low, warning growl due to the surge of maternal instincts racing through her. Her face, horns, and top teeth were bone-white in color, giving the impression of wearing a mask. Her long, elegant horns were an extension of her skull, thickest at the base and tapering to a point. They were subtly swayed in shape with a single branch towards the outside halfway up. She wore a headpiece between them, denoting her place as one of the Emperor’s Elites.
“Three…” She muttered to herself in concern. Her voice was a low, heavy guttural growl, though her tone was soft. She inspected them even if she wouldn’t really know for sure until the time came for them to hatch. Luckily for her, she wouldn't have to wait long. Warbred eggs hatched mere minutes after being laid.
She had every reason to feel anxious. Her kind rarely had more than one or two eggs. Three was incredibly rare, and often led to a failed clutch. If the clutch failed, she would be punished for her failure to go through with the Emperor’s orders. It wasn’t fair, but that didn’t change facts. The third egg was smaller than the other two. If the third one did not make it, the Emperor would at least have two choices for his new child. She hoped this was enough for her to not get punished for a failure she had no control over. Her antennae flicked up at the tiny peeping coming from within the largest of them.
As she watched the eggs, she thought back to their sire. Balik hadn’t been the Emperor’s usual choice for sire when she received orders to breed. The Emperor had even gone through the effort to summon him in from one of the remote outposts near a village near the border. He’d been a lean, slender thing with a long tail. He was more pretty than useful. That, she figured, was why he was delegated to some distant outpost. She hadn’t been too pleased to be paired with one so low ranking as Balik, but orders were orders. She’d done as she was told, but not without complaint.
She was among the Elites, the Emperor’s finest soldiers. A Commander tasked with a squadron of powerful Warbred soldiers protecting the innermost ring of the Royal City. The Emperor’s choice in sire for her current clutch made some sense with the intention behind the pairing. She had been bred to produce the Emperor’s child. The Emperor had no queen by his own preference, on top of being asexual. It made sense that he’d choose the Elite Commander who had successfully led several battles and a rather elegant sire. A royal child, after all, had to have a good pedigree. Of course he would want a combination of strength and good looks.
Her kind were his creation. Mighty warriors modified and selectively bred for generations from creatures known as Vhessen he’d acquired from the Empire of Lumivalis, long since fallen to legend and forgotten. They had been created by another Wyrm, according to what Warbred were taught, for a purpose. Failing that purpose, many Vhessen had been discarded and abandoned. Emperor Zarkhan, in his kindness and wisdom, had taken them in to shape them into his soldiers. They were an unstoppable army, to spread his borders and protect his Empire. To keep the peace within his borders. She had a deep sense of purpose and pride about her place in the army, even if she belonged to the Emperor. She existed to serve him and the Empire. Even if this meant bearing young for him to take and raise into his loyal warriors.
Tiny squeaks brought her out of her thoughts, making her realize that the eggs had begun to hatch. The first of the three had already emerged, squeaking for its mother. The nymph was as black as its mother with the same white mask-like head, just like all Warbred. It was roughly two feet long from its snout to the base base of its tail. It’s eyes were closed. She leaned down to lick the fluids from the eggs from its form. She didn’t mind the taste. It was instinct to clean the nymph. It had its intended purpose, making the nymph squeak loudly and squirm with its little fanged jaw opening to voice its protest. She licked until its fuzzy little mane fluffed up. It was downy and soft, lacking the stiff guard-hairs of an adult of its kind. It attempted to push her snout away with a little fore-paw. It tried to crawl away from her snout and tongue. She nudged it towards her belly. Its little antennae flicked up as it caught her scent.
Warbred were insect-like creatures, but they had a surprising convergent trait with Mammalians. Along her belly were two unique pouches with openings between the two soft, furred plates where the soft fur turned to the thick armored plate that covered her rib cage and protected her vital organs. Her pouches were noticeably swollen, the sweet scent of the thick, milk-like fluid leaking from them drawing the little nymph in. It crawled the rest of its way towards her as its little fore-paws kneaded at her pouches. She tensed and grunted at the first muscle contraction in her midsection came in response to the Nymph’s touch, though the discomfort passed quickly as the nymph lapped messily at its first meal. It always felt strange when starting, but she got used to it quickly. She let out a low chuff, before turning to inspect the other two eggs. The second hatched. Like the first, she licked it clean and nudged it towards her belly.
The third hadn’t hatched yet. But she’d seen movement in the soft, leathery shell of the egg. It was a good sign, but it didn't always mean the nymph would make it out.
“Come, now…” She muttered softly. “I know you’re alive in there.”
She felt a pang in her chest as the egg still didn’t hatch. She didn’t want to have feelings for the nymphs. They didn’t belong to her, even if she’d carried and birthed them. But a mother’s instincts were still a mother’s instincts. Each time she had to take her nymphs to the palace to be taken to the Emperor, it hurt. She thought, perhaps, she’d get used to it in time. But she never did.
The eggs were normally taken down to special stasis chambers beneath the palace. Placed into a form of hibernation, surrounded by a powerful Time spell, which allowed the sleeping Warbred to age from nymph to adulthood in around a year’s time, instead of the sixteen to eighteen years they would take to grow to adulthood normally. She herself had emerged from the Time Chambers and been Awakened by the Emperor. A fact all Warbred shared in common.
Normally, she was a little more detached, but this time was different. One of these nymphs, however, would get to grow and mature like a normal bug. Growing from tiny nymph, to child, to teen, to adulthood. Raised as somebody’s child. And she would have no part in it. She would see the child, but never be able to interact with it. She knew the child would know nothing of her. It would belong to the Emperor, not her.
Finally, the tiny squeaking of the third nymph drew her out of her troubled thoughts again. She breathed out a sigh of relief as she saw that it had finally escaped its egg. Like the others, she licked it clean and guided it to crawl to her belly. There was a brief burst of squeaking and wiggling as the first two tried to push the third away. She huffed and let out a low grumble. There was plenty of milk for all three. She wasn’t going to let them push one of them away. The two bigger nymphs stopped squabbling at her grumble and let the third feed.
For two weeks, they would be hers. For two weeks, she’d be able to feel their pudgy little bodies against her belly and the soft fur of their manes against her snout. Catch their sweet scent with her long antennae.
She appreciated the brief amount of time she had with her nymphs, even if it was bittersweet.
After ten days, their little eyes opened. She watched them wobble about and try to explore the room.
They grew a little more mobile with each passing day. What should have filled her with a sense of pride only brought sadness. Each day they became more mobile was another day closer to when they would be taken away from her.
All too soon, the dreaded morning arrived. Amira prepared the nymphs, cleaning them with dutiful sweeps of her long tongue. She gathered them together, sitting regally with her head lifted as she waited.
She didn’t have to wait long for the scent of Emperor Zarkhan to reach her flicking antennae, followed by the soft clicking of his claws on the marble flooring in the hall leading to her quarters. She turned to look towards her door.
She quickly gathered the three nymphs between her fore-paws as her door opened. The Emperor did not bother to knock. He had no need to.
He stood in her doorway, regal and elegant. He was a Dravhokonus, a creature commonly referred to as a Wyrm. He was naturally slender in build with broad shoulders, wearing a dark royal robe and sweeping cloak with silver accents. They complimented his smooth black chitin and the white markings tracing his plates. His clawed hands held his staff as he stood with his head lifted. His long tail, much longer than hers, trailed behind him. His long antennae and whiskers were in a relaxed but alert position. He had an aura of power and confidence. Everything about him demanded utmost respect. He was around six feet tall, which was not much taller than the average Enterran, but she knew that behind those silvery slit-pupiled eyes was a powerful apex predator that could rival a Warbred in strength and size. Dravhokonus, like her, had two forms. The form that gave them their title of Wyrm, and their smaller form which they used to more successfully blend in among normal folks.
“Your Majesty.” Commander Amira rumbled, dipping her great head in a respectful and graceful bow. Despite the guttural, growling nature of her voice, she kept it smooth and soft when addressing her Emperor. “They are ready, as you know, each as fine as the next.” She paused, hesitating for a moment. “But… I must ask, what will become of the ones you do not choose?”
“They will become a part of my army, as any other Warbred.” He replied, calmly. His voice was a low, pleasant tone, but held a deep power to it.
She had known what the answer would be, but she’d had perhaps a small sliver of hope that she’d be allowed to keep one of them in thanks for her service in providing his child. She wasn’t surprised, but she couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.
She looked down at the three nymphs. They could sense her unease. All three of them were tense. Her tension had increased once the door opened. Even if she hid it well, the nymphs had noticed. She carefully nudged the first of the three towards the Emperor with a fore-paw.
They had fine features, a tapered snout, and small nubs on their budding horns that would likely grow into some interesting shapes as they aged. Their limbs had little nubs that would develop into imposing spines like their dam. The nymph’s fuzzy mane stood on end as they were pushed closer to Emperor Zarkhan. As he crouched down to inspect them, they growled and hissed with their tail sticking straight up. Their antennae flicked forward as they showed their sharp little teeth. The Emperor tapped his chin in thought, the ticking of claw against chitin making the nymph hiss louder. He spent a moment inspecting the nymph, but he narrowed his eyes and shook his head. This one was too forward… too defiant. They would not be an obedient child.
Commander Amira gently pulled the puffed up ball of hissing nymph against her soft belly before nudging forward the next one. This one had a long tail, their form a little more slender. The curve of their horns would take on a nice shape as they aged. They, however, did not meet the Emperor’s gaze. They turned away with their mane puffing up. Their antennae tucked against their little horns as they hissed and let out a tiny whine. They lowered their head and skittered to hide behind their still growling and puffed up sibling with their tail tucked between their back legs.
The Emperor didn’t need to say anything for Amira to know he would not choose this one.
She nudged over the third. They had a soft mane, elegant features, and the longest tail of the three. Delicate and pretty, a tapered snout. They looked a fair bit like their sire in their build, naturally slim, but had great potential for strength. They turned to regard the Emperor curiously. Their antennae were tucked back against their horns nervously, but they seemed curious. They did not hiss or run away. They tilted their head a bit to one side, then the other as they looked back at the Wyrm.
Emperor Zarkhan picked them up to inspect them more carefully. They let out a little squeak, but didn’t try to get away.
“This one combines the best of your features with the best of their sire’s.” Zarkhan said. His whiskers flicked forward to gather the nymph’s scent. “Their scent is masculine.”
All Warbred were naturally hermaphroditic. Much like the Emperor’s own species. Their hormone balance could differ, and this would affect their pheromones. Amira’s was more feminine. The nymph’s was more masculine.
“You would think you were choosing your favorite from a clutch of Felis hatchlings.” Amira said. She barely kept the festering bitterness out of her voice as her mane bristled slightly.
Her tone did not escape the Wyrm. His slit pupils contracted slightly, though he made no other visible sign of disapproval. “As you know, you are no better than such.” He did not raise his voice, but his tone held a dangerous edge to it. “You are Warbred. I made you. You are mine. You should be grateful to have the honor of being the one to bear my Prince.”
Her mane bristled further, antennae tucking back. “Even if this child will know nothing of his mother.” She muttered. She knew it wasn’t smart to question the Emperor, but she could not help the emotional response to this whole thing. A single look from the Emperor made her dissent die where it started, her antennae tucking fully against her horns as her head lowered in quiet submission. She kept her gaze steady despite the storm of emotions and thoughts racing through her mind. She was loyal and well disciplined, which had gotten her to the position of Elite Commander. She wanted to bare her fangs and growl, she wanted to snatch her nymph back and keep all three of them with her forever, but she knew better. She knew she could lose her position at the Emperor’s whim….. Or worse. Her heart rate increased with the storm of emotions, though she kept her breathing steady and did not show it on the outside.
“As you know, he is mine. Not yours.” The Emperor spoke firmly, meeting Amira’s gaze without wavering. She was physically larger, but he was very much in control. His smooth voice held that dangerous edge still. His intense gaze softened, though, as he turned to regard the nymph he held.
“Yes…” He said. “I will choose this one.” His voice was softer now, holding a hint of warmth. “I will name you Erevoss… Son of Shadow. My little Prince.”
That bit of warmth did help Amira relax a bit. At least this nymph would be raised as the Emperor’s son, loved and cared for. This, at least, helped her feel slightly better about this whole thing.
He finally turned to the still silent Commander as he adjusted the weight of the nymph in his arms. “I will allow you another night with the other two, but I expect them to be delivered to the Palace tomorrow morning. They will be fine Warriors.”
“I hope so…” Amira muttered to herself as she picked up the smallest of the nymphs by the scruff to take it back to her bed which had become a nest over the past two weeks. The nymph curled and tucked their limbs and tail against their belly as they yawned. Their little tongue poked out as they blinked sleepily. Their mother turned to regard the Emperor briefly. “For their sakes….”
Emperor Zarkhan had already turned his back to her and left the room, walking away with his new son, little Prince Erevoss, in his arms. He did not hear her final comment.
Zarkhan took the nymph with him from the Barracks. Each of the Warbred Squadron he walked past dipped their heads in respect to him, though he could feel their eyes following him curiously as he left the Barracks to meet his Royal Guards. The four tall and muscled green Skathara, resembling stag beetles, waited beside the fancy royal wagon pulled by a pair of shiny blue Kalar, beetle like beasts that served the function of horses. He climbed in and settled on the cushioned seat for the ride back to the palace with his new son in his lap.
Erevoss remained calm for the ride, though curious. His antennae flicked constantly as his balance adjusted to each bounce of the wagon. He was unsettled by the sound of the wheels crunching over cobblestone at first, whining quietly from time to time. Though he got used to it after a few minutes. He began to get restless. The Emperor moved the curtain aside so the nymph could see outside. That kept Erevoss occupied until they arrived at the Emperor’s private courtyard. Attendants got to work tending to the Kalar and wagon as the Emperor passed through a large gate guarded by more Skathara. The soft creak and clang of the gate being closed behind him made the nymph jump.
The fresh smell of grass and flowers filled the air, carried by a warm and pleasant breeze flowing through the leaves overhead. The trickling water from the sparkling fountains all around gave the entire area a tranquil feel. Erevoss, however, tucked his little head against Zarkhan’s chest with his antennae tucked back against his horns with a quiet whine. All of this was so very new to the little nymph. All he knew was the cozy room he’d spent his first two weeks of life in. The smell and feel of his mother and siblings, the soft carpet beneath his little paws, the soft nest in her bed. Everything was so bright and new.
He kept his head tucked as Zarkhan headed inside his home on the Palace grounds. His palace was large, with the main governing areas more accessible to the public while his private home was like a palace of its own. It had its own kitchens and staff. Nobody was permitted there without direct permission from him. It would be a safe place to raise his new son.
He arrived at the quarters he’d had prepared for his son Elana, a butterfly-type Lepidian, awaited him. She was a loyal and hardworking attendant, hand chosen to be his new child’s nanny. She was proud of being given this position. It was an honor to serve her Emperor by helping look after his child.
The Lepidian bowed gracefully, her shimmering blue wings spreading out as she did so. She resembled a Blue Morpho butterfly in her colors. She was nicely curved with shapely hips covered in soft, black fur. Like all female Enterrans, she lacked breasts, instead having a soft mane of fur covering her chest and shoulders. Long, flowing black furlike hair framed her delicate face and shining blue eyes. Her antennae curled gracefully, their position relaxed. She turned to look at the nymph. Erevoss no longer hid against Zarkhan’s chest. He’d started looking around again with his antennae flicking to take in the new scents as he looked around the room. A room was a little more familiar to the little nymph than the courtyard outside.
“Goodness… they are larger than I expected.” Elana said softly.
“You should have seen his dam. Commander Amira is quite an impressive specimen.” The Emperor replied. “His name is Erevoss.”
“A Prince, then?” Elana asked.
“As I had hoped.” The Emperor agreed with a nod. “If none of them had been masculine, or the more fitting among them was feminine, I would have accepted a daughter. I preferred a son, and I am pleased the most fitting of her clutch was masculine.”
“He is quite cute.” She smiled gently, reaching out to run her hands through the nymph’s soft mane. Erevoss leaned forward to flick his antennae over the pretty butterfly’s hand at her touch. He explored her pleasant, sweet scent. The Emperor had chosen an herbivorous Enterran for a reason. Their scent was softer, less threatening, and he figured his new son would take to her more quickly than the tall, muscular beetle-like Skathara that served as his royal guards.
“He will be a fine son. I will tend to him while you go to the kitchens and bring some Bovek milk to feed him. If their milk is not suitable for him, I can acquire it from some of my Warbred.”
Bovek were a domesticated Enterran animal that resembled something between a large beetle and an isopod. Like cattle, they were commonly kept for their milk and meat, though their chitin had many uses as well. Like Warbred, they had brood pouches adapted to produce a milk-like substance for their nymphs.
Elana bowed. “Yes, your Majesty.” She said. She left to do as she had been told.
Emperor Zarkhan set Erevoss down on the floor, then sat on one of the large, cushioned chairs in the room to watch the nymph.
The room was beautiful, fancy with marble flooring covered in fine, ornate rugs. There were large windows and a beautiful balcony, though the doors were locked for now. The curtains were drawn, leaving the room lit by a soft chandelier above. The room was far too large for such a young nymph, but he would grow into it. There were a few small pads on the floor, with pheromone attractant. Warbred nymphs instinctively knew not to toilet in their nest. The pads would provide a place for the tiny thing to relieve himself somewhere easy to clean, with the pheromone attractant there so he knew where to go.
Erevoss was hesitant. His antennae flicked quickly, all around. His head tilted from side to side as he took a few wobbly steps. The rugs felt different than he was used to. Everything smelled different. The nymph whined quietly as he wobbled around. His movement was not unlike a tiny kitten learning to walk, his tummy pudgy and round and limbs awkward and shaky. He held his tail low, though occasionally flicked it back and forth to try to keep his balance.
“Your dam is not here, Erevoss. I am your father now. You will not be seeing her again.” Zarkhan said as he watched the nymph slowly search out wider in the large room. Of course, Erevoss didn’t understand him. He looked back at the sound of the Emperor's voice, then whined again, more insistently. He looked so tiny and vulnerable in such a large room. After a bit more wobbling about, the nymph whined louder, and then began to cry. His plaintive cries, of course, could not reach his mother.
Zarkhan stood to pick the nymph up. Erevoss stopped crying when Zarkhan picked him up, but he still flicked his antennae all around and looked for his mother. He whined softly again.
Zarkhan was still sitting with the nymph in his lap when Elana returned with a jug of Bovek milk and a saucer to pour it on for the nymph to lap up. She handed both to Zarkhan. She was the child’s nanny, but the Emperor needed Erevoss to bond with him, so he would be handling feeding for the most part.
He poured the milk into a little saucer, which he held out to the nymph. Erevoss flicked his antennae over it, but didn’t seem interested otherwise. It did not smell like his mother. Zarkhan put some on his fingertips and placed a drop on the nymph’s snout. Erevoss gave his head a little shake and licked it off his snout, but otherwise didn’t show any interest in any more.
“Come on, then. You will need to eat.” He said. His tone was calm.
Erevoss, of course, didn’t respond. He was just a two week old nymph, though he tilted his head towards his father at the sound of his voice, alert little eyes turning to study the Emperor. Zarkhan held up the little saucer beneath Erevoss’ snout. The nymph turned away, but the Emperor moved the saucer with him. He turned away again, then squeaked and bapped it when turning did not work. This caused the Emperor to lose grip, and get a lap full of milk. He scowled and sighed.
“Fine. Have it your way, you will eat when you are hungry.” He grumbled. Elana couldn’t help but let out a quiet laugh, earning a glare from the Emperor.
It turned out that Bovek milk did not, in fact, suit a Warbred nymph. Erevoss refused to eat. Emperor Zarkhan had one of Commander Amira’s squadron bring him some of her milk. She’d produce it for a couple weeks before it stopped, giving the Emperor time to summon a different Warbred.
Zarkhan spent most of the day with the nymph, until it was time to go to bed and leave the nymph with Elana. Without his siblings or mother, Erevoss cried and cried until Elana got him to fall asleep by letting him curl against her softly furred chest.
It took a couple weeks for the nymph to begin to recognize Zarkhan as his parent.
Zarkhan, though, was a patient Emperor. It was how he’d gained such power over his Empire. How he’d modified his Warbred from their Vhessen ancestors into the mighty warriors they were now.
The morning about three weeks after Erevoss had been adopted ended up being an important milestone. Zarkhan came to collect his child. He heard a soft chirr and a chuff, followed by a thump as the nymph jumped down from where he’d been curled up on Elana’s nap. He trotted towards Zarkhan. He tripped over his own forepaws and fell face first onto the fancy rug, but bounced back up. Elana covered her mouth with a soft laugh. Even Zarkhan chuckled a bit. Erevoss jumped up and placed his little forepaws on the Emperor’s leg with another chuff, antennae perked up and eyes bright. Zarkhan picked him up.
“He is beginning to bond with you.” Elana said with a smile
The Emperor nodded. “Indeed he has.” He said. He patted the little Warbred’s name. “It simply took a bit of patience.”
As the days turned to years, Erevoss began to grow. He went from tiny nymph, to playful toddler, to curious child under the watchful eye of his father and nanny.