Harvey left the cave needing to take lungfuls of fresh air to stop his growing panic.
Cadmus hadn't moved from where he'd knelt.
He was still staring at Novalyn—wide-eyed, reverent, shaken.
Kallis returned silently, shutting the hide curtain that served as a door.
He stood with his back to it, arms stiff, tail rigid.
Novalyn perched on the bed, hands folded over her stomach again as the soft gold glow faded.
Nobody spoke.
Not at first.
Cadmus broke first.
He rose too fast, stumbled once, then paced the length of the cave in a jerky zig-zag.
"Lost souls— preserved— wolf twins— crocodile— Qilin womb—" he muttered under his breath. "She's a myth. A literal myth. A walking myth."
His voice kept climbing in pitch.
Kallis rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Brother. You're spiraling."
"I AM NOT."
He absolutely was.
Novalyn cleared her throat. "Would it help if I explained anything?"
"No," Cadmus blurted. "Yes. Maybe. I don't know!"
He pressed both hands to his hair, fingers tangling in the silver strands.
Kallis, by contrast, shut down.
He stood frozen in the corner, pupils narrow, shoulders sharp as blades.
"Qilin are myths. Old, old myths. They were never… real. The system knew as soon as we saw you..."
Novalyn watched him.
"So that's what everyone believes. It makes sense."
Kallis shook his head. "A Qilin is…"
He gestured helplessly. "A world-shaper."
Cadmus wheeled around. "AND SHE'S SITTING ON OUR BED."
"I'm still me," Novalyn said softly.
The twins both stared at her as if she'd just said the ground beneath their feet wasn't real.
She patted the blanket beside her.
After a long moment, Cadmus collapsed into the spot, leaning half-against her.
Kallis moved slower, more controlled, but the second he sat his tail curled protectively around her ankle.
The cubs reacted at that moment.
A pulse of warmth flowed through Novalyn's womb, and Cadmus jerked.
"I felt that."
He placed a trembling hand beside hers. "I felt them."
Kallis's eyes softened. "They're… responding to our presence?"
Novalyn nodded.
"They recognize intent. Especially protective intent."
Cadmus's breathing hitched.
He whispered, "Crocodile cub… wolf twins…"
"Beastmen don't get second chances," Kallis said quietly. "Rogues die. Rootless die. They don't come back."
"That's why they needed me," Novalyn murmured. "And why I couldn't leave them."
Meanwhile outside Harvey was also spiraling.
They could all hear him pacing just outside the curtain.
"Qilin— she's a Qilin— actual Qilin— gods above— I need to reread every healing manual— no, there ARE no manuals that would handle this— I'm talking to myself again—"
Cadmus winced.
"He's going to pass out soon."
"Should we… help him?" Novalyn asked.
"No," the twins said in unison.
"He'll adapt," Kallis added pragmatically.
Cadmus snorted. "Or cry."
The mood settled into something softer.
Kallis finally spoke, voice low and steady.
"I don't know how to protect a Qilin."
Novalyn touched his hand.
"You're already doing it."
His eyes widened at the warmth in her tone.
Cadmus leaned his head onto her shoulder.
"I need you to tell me what worries you. What hurts you. What scares you. Because you're… more than anything I've ever seen. And I want to be enough."
"You are enough," she said simply.
Cadmus shuddered, squeezing her hand.
Then the cubs pulsed again.
A brighter flare this time—gold, silver, and an undercurrent of deep green flickering through her aura.
Cadmus gasped. "They're talking."
Kallis pressed two fingers to her abdomen.
"It's spiritual instinct. They're acknowledging us."
Novalyn nodded.
"They know you accepted them."
Cadmus made a sound halfway between a laugh and a choked sob.
"We're going to be parents," he whispered.
Kallis exhaled slowly, reverently.
"And blessed ones at that."
Cadmus curled at Novalyn's right, tail draped over her knee.
Kallis settled at her left, one hand covering hers.
Outside, Harvey finally sat down in the dirt and muttered:
"I need tea. Or mead. Or a nap."
Inside, Novalyn felt the faint hum of three spiritual bonds settling into place—two serpents, one healer, and three tiny soul-seeds glowing gently within her.
A family forming, piece by piece.
A miracle no one in this world remembered could even exist.
The beginning of something that would change everything.