[SimonBrownMpreg]

The compliment was oddly comforting. In the back of his mind, Khell wondered if he might be developing Stockholm Syndrome. His will to fight the mantis and his apparent fate was weakening by the day. When the troublesome egg started encroaching on his navel, a whole new pain set in. The markings on his body turned blood red and even glowed slightly. His tail thrashed behind him. Briefly, he too wondered if it would ever escape his body, and then Embersoul's knee dug into his spine. The extra deep arch finally forced the egg out. It burned and stung. After falling into the deep burrow with the others, Khell counted in his head. How many was that? Sixteen... Khell was sure the last egg was number sixteen.

And "still many eggs to go" according to Embersoul.

Khell clutched either side of his belly. He squeezed, feeling the soft flesh now that his womb was at least partially emptied. One of Embersoul's spindly legs rubbed across his laboring dome. The sensation drew a small sound from Khell before he gulped and gasped with the quivering of a new contraction. His swollen belly continued to heave and convulse. Thankfully, the next egg wasn't as big as the last. He squeezed it from his bellybutton, making it number seventeen. More hours passed and more eggs fell out of his bellybutton, the pile turning into thirty-one eggs... thirty-two eggs... thirty-three eggs...

[michime]

"This is the last egg," Embersoul said as egg number fifty five moved to be birth.   "It is the biggest.  A queen egg.  There will be much pain more than any others." 

He rubbed Khell's head since the womb could barely speak now.  For the past several hours, the alien screamed and screamed until finally Embersoul figured the womb wore out it's voice.  The creature made gasping noises as he breathed but the pain coming for his body seemed to make it impossible for the womb to do anything more then writhe on the floor.  Embersoul reached down and gently touched the red and agape bellybutton that weakly oozed out nectar.  It was so bruised and swollen that it seemed impossible that it would ever return to its normal size.  At least, the skin remained in one piece and not ripped and bleeding.  He easily turned Khell's head and offered the breeder more nectar.  The creature would it for this egg.  He felt the alien suck on his tongue trying to gulp down as much of the golden honey as he could.

A massive rumble came from Khell's gut as the skin rolled like a wave.  The queen egg was ready to be born but what they didn't know, the queen egg turned sideways so the broad side of the egg not the pointed egg faced forward. 

[SimonBrownMpreg]

Khell was first relieved to hear this would be the last egg, but was immediately dismayed when he heard it would be the largest by far. He made a rasping sound in acknowledgement. Indeed, his voice was gone now. He screamed his throat raw. His limbs were weak, his body entirely exhausted after hours of intense labor. The only thing holding him up was the strength of the mantis. His navel still throbbed, hot and painful to the touch. How it wasn't ravaged beyond repair, he had no idea. If Embersould nectar could heal it the same way it healed his jaw, then he'd be in great luck.

The Zioruta could have cried tears of joy when the mantis offered its nectar. Khell couldn't get enough of it. He was desperate for its healing properties. Anything to lessen the pain. His womb was nearly empty, so he filled himself with nectar. Gurgling and sloshing sounds echoed from his huge belly. Khell prayed the golden liquid would make the last egg pass with ease. But he wouldn't be so lucky.

Khell arched his back while his muscles quivered. The egg rolled forward, his belly quaking with the effort, but nothing seemed to budge. A few seconds later, his engorged, bruised bellybutton heaved. Khell grabbed weakly at his stomach. Already, this was more difficult than the larger eggs he birthed. He pushed, forcing nectar from his navel, but no sign of the egg. After almost twenty minutes, the broad side of the queen egg was barely any closer to being birthed. Poor Khell's bellybutton bulged and heaved. Tears streaked his face. He turned his head towards Embersoul with his mouth open, begging silently for more nectar.

[michime]

Embersoul uncurled his long tongue and eased it down the womb's open mouth.  He blinked a few times as his tongue easily sild down the alien's stretched throat and let the nectar pour into the sobbing creature.  The golden liquid filled every empty place inside Khell and eventually begin to trickle out his loosened, strained bellybutton.  There was little chance the creature's body would ever return to its original state but Embersoul wouldn't know about that.  All he knew was that the womb struggled to birthed the queen egg and needed his nectar. 

Embersoul touched the rim of Khell's distended bellybutton that wouldn't close and acted like a chewing maw. The queen egg, seemed to be stuck, unable to move with a massive amount of nectar building around it.  "The egg will crack inside you if we don't get it out."  He chirped before he pushed on one side of the massive belly.   "It's sideways.  Put hand here and feel.  Must turn before shell shatters inside you." 

[SimonBrownMpreg]

A new sense of alarm washed over Khell at this information. Was a broken shell worse for the egg or for him? Obviously it meant death for the creature inside, but would the dying contents of the egg make him sick? Either way, he had to get it out. He hoped the nectar would help lubricate his navel for the queen egg the same as it did all the other eggs, but all the nectar seemed to do now was clog the egg's passage to freedom.

Khell let out a pained whine when the mantis touched his laboring navel. If only this could all be over. And then Embersoul pressed against his belly. The male's mouth opened wide as if to scream, but all that came out was a squeak. Sideways? Sideways? What did that mean? Both Khell's hands felt around the side's of his bellybutton, and then he felt it. The broadest side of the egg pressed against the face of his womb. Another contraction tried forcing it forward, straining his navel to its limits. At once, Khell started pressing against his skin, trying to maneuver the narrow end of the egg towards the opening of his gaping bellybutton.

[michime]

Embersoul listened to the womb make another round of strange sounds something like the ones he made when he was hurt.  He watched the alien's hands feel the sides of his bellybutton, and something dawned on Khell's face.  The alien's face went to the side of his belly then try to push the egg into the correct position.  He added his own limbs and slowly they turned the egg.  Unfortunately it wasn't the narrow end of the egg that they maneuvered toward the opening of the womb's gaping bellybutton.  The wider end now faced the front but at least Khell wouldn't have to force the broad side of the egg through his body. 

He offered more nectar to the womb, and it was gladly accepted.  Now they felt the egg move with any contraction thanks in part to all the nectar that surrounded the egg.  He listened to Khell moan in pain as he pushed with the contractions.  Nectar flowed freely from the battered bellybutton and it didn't stop.  A massive ripple of the belly, a high pitched sound from the womb, a huge contraction, and the queen egg moved.  The wide tip spread the hole further than any of the other eggs.  The pale purple, striped egg crowned after two more pushes but it didn't drop from the womb. 

[SimonBrownMpreg]

It was about time Embersoul started figuring out that Khell was in pain and did something to help. The wide end of the egg wasn't ideal, but it was better than the alternative. The egg started crowning. Khell was growing impatient and the contractions couldn't come quickly enough for him. He grunted, arching his back and thrusting his belly forward. The Zioruta pushed with all the strength he had left in him, but it wasn't much. He squeezed on either side of his bellybutton, forcing the egg out one inch at a time. Nectar oozed out around the edges of the egg, and this time, purple blood started oozing with it.

Khell heard Embersoul chirping and trilling as a way to encourage him. By some strange way, it inspired confidence in Khell. Another rippling contraction and the queen egg was halfway out. He realized, through the pain clouding his mind, that with the widest part of the queen egg out, only the narrow end had to slide free of his body. "Uuuhn... Uuuhn... Nnnnhh..." Khell felt the next contraction mounting. He took a deep breath, his belly convulsed, and he pushed, pushed, pushed...

[michime]

The queen egg finally slidnfree and drooped into the nectar pool with a loud plop. Embersoul chirped and clicked happily before he pulled his tongue free of the womb. He slowly eased himself from Khell then moved to the eggs. He poured more nectar over the eggs then covered them with nest materials. "They will hatch soon.". He explained before he moved back the the alien.

"You are a good womb. Grew my eggs and birthed them." He said as he gently 'petted' the womb's tender stomach. "They will be strong like you.". He rubbed himself against the exhausted alien still chirping happily. "You rest now. I will look.after you."

[SimonBrownMpreg]

Khell barely heard what Embersoul said to him. With his task done, he was quickly falling into sleep. The world grew dark around him and then the silence of sleep took him.

When the Major awoke, he had no idea how much time passed. It could have been hours or it could have been days. He slowly sat up, looking around the nest, and saw that he was alone. The next thing Khell noticed was his significantly smaller belly. It hadn't gone completely flat, but he doubted it ever would. He smoothed his hand across the dome of flesh. He looked fully ripe with a single babe. Even his navel was still plump, but it too returned to a more or less normal size, resembling a fat berry. Khell only assumed that all the nectar he drank, the gallons of it leftover in his gut after he finished birthing the eggs, must have helped his body return to as close to normal as possible.

Wait... The Major looked around again. He was alone! Khell jumped to his feet, tail waving behind him, and then he started down one of the tunnels.

[michime]

The twisted, dark tunnels wound around themselvesmaking.it very difficult for anyone that didn't know the way to find the inner chamber. It also made it difficult for someone to get out as Khell discovered when he ran into Embersoul.

"Where are you going?" The mantis asked with a tilt of his head. "The eggs haven't hatched. You should be here when they do. You birthed them. You should see them hatch."

[SimonBrownMpreg]

Khell stopped dead in his tracks. Damn. He shook his head while slowly backing away from the mantis. "I did my deed for you," he said, pointing one of his three fingers at Embersoul. "I bore your eggs. I never promised to witness them hatch. All I want it to get out of here." Khell wanted to avoid this creature impregnating him again. The thought made him put a hand nervously over his belly. "I know you think I'm the womb of the planet, but that's superstitious nonsense. I have my own home planet to return to. I can't stay here, understand?"

[michime]

"You want to leave?" The mantis sounded very sad and confused. "Eggs aren't ready yet." Hevtouched his abdomen for good measure. "No eggs for another season shift. Yoybshiuldnstay. Nest is warm and strong. Protection against storms."

Embersoul letbout a series of low clicks almost like he was crying. "Womb should stay. Be warm and happy."

[SimonBrownMpreg]

As Embersoul pleaded and made those alien crying sounds, Khell felt a strange emotion tugging at his heart. It was very similar to the sympathy and dependence he experienced during labor. Much to his dismay, he'd grown accustomed to his captor. His tail curled up under his legs as he looked away guiltily. "This seems like a strange punishment," he said. "I thought the planet was going to punish me for coming here. You're the guardian, right? Isn't it your job to carry out my sentence? If a rainy season is indeed coming, why would you want to protect me from it? I'm an invader."

[michime]

Embersoul slowly approached Khell.  "You are the womb of the planet.  Cold, ice season is coming.  Rainy season brings new life but cold and ice brings death.  Anything not protected from the cold dies and then the slime comes from the mountains and eats.  Slime is bad."  He made a move toward the alien.  "Slime will fill the womb, make it turn black.  Womb will not be able to carry new life if the slime gets it." 

He touched Khell's rounded belly.  "Slime will destroy the womb, make you only reproduce slime.  I am a guardian.  Must keep you away from bad.  You must bring life, must carry the planet."  The chirping went higher in pitch like Embersoul was panicked.  "You can't go and be captured by the slime.  I will have failed as guardian.  No you must stay until ice season over.  Then you can go.  No more slime." 

[SimonBrownMpreg]

Khell frowned at this information. Drecuvis had a winter? The satellites they sent to observe the planet never recorded a change in seasons. Perhaps they didn't observe the planet for long enough? He recalled the looming storm clouds in the sky on the day he arrived. Surely this was the beginning of the rainy season. He still had time before winter settled in.

And then Embersoul started talking about slime. A slime that emerged during the cold season and consumed anything that didn't survive the frost. Was it a fungus or a parasite? Was it perhaps another beast with a consciousness? Whatever it was, it didn't bode well for any farm land the Zioruta planned for the planet. If their crops happened to die during the course of the winter, this slime would apparently come down out of the mountains and lay waste to the entire harvest. And to make matters worse, his own body was susceptible to this slime. His womb would rot and become hostile towards anything else that tried to breed life in him.

Khell raised both his hands. "All right, all right, calm down," he urged the beast. "I don't want to be a victim of this slime. However, I've been cooped up in this nest for two weeks straight. The rainy season isn't over yet. Let me go explore more of the surrounding area and I promise I'll return to the nest before the first frost sets in. Deal?"

[michime]

Embersoul let out a long, low chirp something that resembled a sigh.  He turned his head from side to side.  The mantis buzzed with excitement at the idea.  The womb would return to the nest and be safe during the ice season.  By that time, his young would have built their own nests in other areas.  He wouldn't to protect them but he could protect the womb.  

"Can't explore alone.  Caves are close.  Thundermouth!  He lives there!  He can guard you while you explore!"  The mantis' wings flared in happiness.  "You can explore the caves until the last rain.  You must be back here before the first frost!  First frost follows the last rain.  First frost brings slime.  You promise to be in the nest when the first frost arrives?  Womb will live in nest with Embersoul during the ice season?" 

[SimonBrownMpreg]

It wasn't the total independence he was hoping for, but Khell decided the freedom to explore under the watch of a guardian was better than no freedom at all. His tail untucked and started swaying behind him. "Yes, yes," he nodded in agreement. "Khell promises to return after the last rain and before the first frost. I will stay with this Thundermouth person until he escorts me back here. I will live in the nest with you until the warm season returns." He fully expected the planet to take full advantage of him once the ice season was over. He could only imagine how many news seeds he'd be expected to gestate.

"I suppose you aren't going to let me go to the caves by myself?"

[michime]

Embersoul like a series of chirps that sounded like giggling then wiggled his thorax.  "I will fly you to caves.  Marsh is too big to from island to edge.  Flying much better." 

He stepped behind Khell and wrapped his legs around the alien's torso before he spread his wings and lifted off.  He flew through the nest with ease until they emerged at the mouth.  "Storm is bad."  Embersoul landed just inside the mouth so they wouldn't get wet.  "Fly low in the marsh.  No movement or wind make us crash.  I bring you to Thundermouth.  You can't leave him.  No wonder off.  Must stay close. Promise?" 

[SimonBrownMpreg]

By now, Khell was used to Embersoul wrapping around him and taking off. He didn't bother complaining or saying he'd rather walk. Yellow eyes widened when they stopped at the mouth of the nest. It was pouring rain outside while wild winds practically blew the reeds sideways. He had no idea the storm was this bad! Deep down in the heart of the nest, he couldn't hear the rain or thunder. That was actually impressive on Embersoul's part. Khell nodded. "I promise not to leave Thundermouth's side. I swear on my life." That seemed good enough for the mantis, since it spread its wings and flew out into the storm.

Khell soon recognized the caves where the marshland drained. Without hesitation, Embersoul dove straight inside one of them. Khell gasped as they plummeted downward, following the water through drainage tunnels until they came out into a huge cavern. They had to be underground somewhere. The crystal clear water seemed to glow softly like the white of a diamond. All along the walls, pink and blue luminescent mushrooms grew in little clusters, which also helped to light the cavern. When they landed in the large pool, Khell discovered the water only came up around his thighs. It was beautiful down here. "So where is this Thundermouth guardian?"

[michime]

"Wait," Embersoul said before he let out a high pitched whine that made the mushrooms shake.  "He knows we're here.  Wait for him."  Embersoul stood by Khell's side proud that he brought the womb to the caves safely.  "You will like the caves.  Lots of places to explore.  Find lots of material to make strong nests."  He seemed to be smiling at the alien.  "Don't eat orange bugs, green mushrooms.  Make sick." 

As Embersoul explained, a massive lizard looking creature with skin folds along its flanks swam into the pool and circled around Khell's legs.  The creature pushed against Khell's calves and Embersoul chirped.  "Thundermouth!"