This time she was going to do it right.

This time was going to be different.

This time ... She would be a mother.

Philomel sat in an upstairs room of the Reborn Tiger, which had been constructed upon the old ashes of the Hidden Tiger - the brothel her story had begun from, and that she had burnt down. Now it was a refuge, public house and high class courtesan establishment alike, where any woman of Corone could run to and claim sanctuary. It was well known that once there it was as holy and formidable as the most divine place. The woman was protected and it was only a truly madman who would try to assail the door.

With her hooves folded under her she lounged on the couch, the small form of her son beside her. He was asleep, curled into the warmth of her fur and with his flesh covered by a velvet blanket. Freely more her breasts hung, with only a beaded poncho to cover her top half. Exhausted from the long nights she tried not to fall asleep while Aderyn snuggled her like any faun would, and drank deep from the mug of bitter, hot, brown liquid she had grown so accustomed to.

"Ugh," she moaned, leaning her head on her hand. "Why?"

The door suddenly opened. In bounded the little russet red and vulpine form of her beloved heart's partner - the earth spirit Veridian. With a swish of his brush tail he leapt up onto the couch beside her and curled in around the babe. Making a grumpy face she stared at him as he took his own position of guard and comfort and was about to retort when a second face appeared at the door of the fine, small room.

"Ah mistress Matriarch," spoke the young dwarf, a member of the Quintet, who were Philomel's personal guard. She sounded strangely nervous, and her hand was in the handle still, declaring her as the actual culprit for opening it.

"Mmm?" The faun grunted, clearly not enamoured with being interrupted. She chugged back more coffee. "What? I thought I did I wasn't too be disturbed."

"You did," Veridian said quietly with a wicked grin, his eyes though already closed.

"I did?" She frowned at him, the shadows rich beneath her eyes. "Then why did you come in here?"

"Uh, mistress ..." The dwarf said uneasily.

"Because it's funny," the fox replied, laying his head by the baby's. "I find it funny."

"It's not funny annoying me," snapped the new mother. "Not funny. Not even if it's you. I-"

"Mistress!" came the yelp. Aderyn whimpered in his sleep, the noise starting to get to him.

"Ugh what?" Philomel glared at the dwarf as she slid a hand into her son's hair and began to stroke it to settle him. "What?"

"I'm sorry mistress, but - I needed to interrupt you."

"Why? What Drys-good reason would you have to interrupt his nap time?"

The warrior smiled awkwardly. "Well ... He's here Matriarch."

"He's here?" Philomel nodded to her side where the two men in her life lay curled. "Yes they are here."

"No .... Mistress ... him."

Confusion. "Him? Aderyn?"

"No, miss," a huff.

"Vaeron?"

"No, miss! It's -"

"But then Vaeron said he was staying up north Inn the fortress. He's got much to keep him busy up there. Why would he -"

"It's the Osiris ma'am!" The dwarf at last shouted, short on patience. The noise filled the room. Beneath Philomel's hang the small child began to stir and let out a soft moan that came before a cry.

"Mmhh mmmhh maaaaa!"

"Ugh," Philomel growled, rolling her eyes and putting down her coffee as full crying enshewed. Scooping up the baby she tucked him against her and began bouncing him, as Veridian at up, his golden eyes opening apparently just as disappointed that snuggle time was over.

"Send him in," the faun said with a sigh. "But tell him he's going to have to deal with the stink of poo."