Everything was pain.

Hongjoong did his best to soothe the throbs of Seonghwa's body, to disconnect his mind from the torment, but the sorcerer was exhausted. As Seonghwa writhed in their midst and prayed to yell away his agony, his husbands could only fret. They cushioned him with all furs and cloaks they had, offered their hands and shoulders for him to claw on as pain split him in two. He felt as if his stomach was ripping open and it was so, so much worse than Aodhán's birth.

Their babbling reached him as if through a cloud. With his senses hazy, Seonghwa let them hold his body, free his feverish skin of his clothes. Yeosang checked on his injury to make sure it wasn't acting up.

A litany of curses fell from Hongjoong's lips.

"Damn it! I can't teleport him in this state! Even if I amass my remaining power to get him to his midwives..."

In a panic, Yunho shook his head.

"It's too dangerous for the baby. We can only pray to suffice as substitutes."

A whirl of white wings rushed out of the cave and a small part of Seonghwa felt bad for screaming since it might alert their enemies to their location, but he was too faint to think about that. His fingers dug bloody crescents into Wooyoung's arm.

"Please-" He rasped, wishing so badly to douse all the pain away. But no cold water, no change of position would alleviate him.

Hongjoong snapped out of it and huddled back over Seonghwa.

"We are here. Your baby is too early, but if they want out, they have to get out. We got you."

Usually, Seonghwa would guide them through matters they were foreign to, but he was too drained. He dropped his head into Mingi's lap, relishing in the demon's touch as he brushed Seonghwa's sweaty hair from his face.

"Here, Jongho, shape into something to prop up his legs. We need access to his stomach," Hongjoong guided. The golem complied, dipping and jutting until he cradled Seonghwa's lower half in a curve of stone, holding up his legs. If there had been less misery, Seonghwa would have flushed at being so exposed to them, but he could only grit his teeth at another wave of suffering.

San came rushing in with a water basin so they could wash their hands. Wooyoung and Yeosang held back, too scared to mess up and to get rough branches and bark too close to Seonghwa's convulsing body. The gryphon-born held Seonghwa's hand as he attended the setup with a pale face.

The swell of Seonghwa's body seemed ever-changing, bulging from the movements of his child. Blood and water trickled from him, speeding up their process.

"Hwa, if something feels wrong, you need to tell us, yes? I know everything is overwhelming, but give us some signal if something happens," Hongjoong summoned Seonghwa. His golden eyes burnt with determination but Seonghwa couldn't match their intensity. His gaze wavered as he whimpered.

He got out a laboured nod, body cramping and squeezing as it tried to expel the cause of his pain.

Things became easier when Hongjoong reached for him. Though his magic couldn't replicate the healing touch of the healers and midwives, he understood how to feel for Seonghwa with cool, slick tendrils to ease his pain. As San wiped Seonghwa's blood, Hongjoong smoothed against his cramping insides and opened them up to coax the child. Very much alive and kicking, the little one pursued the promise of freedom.

Seonghwa bit his lip raw until Mingi offered him his finger. It pressed against Seonghwa's lip to substitute a wooden stick, and Seonghwa gladly accepted it. He muffled his cries as he dug blunt teeth into Mingi's sturdy skin, grounding himself.

"There you go, push some more," Hongjoong muttered. Nervosity carried in his voice when more blood flowed from Seonghwa, but he didn't give up.

Yeosang held Seonghwa's other hand, making sure he didn't worsen his injury in his flailing.

"You better don't die out here. It's snowing and we are not leaving your corpse to the wolves to drag your newborn home," he threatened Seonghwa. A tingle of amusement lightened Seonghwa's soul. Then his eyes rolled back in pain when the activity inside yanked on his guts.

"I see the head!" Hongjoong announced, easing and coaxing as his brow was drawn in concentration. His breath hitched when his magic found answers to their many questions, but he didn't share them with the rest yet. "Just a bit more, Damiana, you can do it."

Seonghwa stifled a cry in Mingi's hands. He was overheating on the furs, felt Mingi's touch too hot on his skin. The cave seemed to be set ablaze and he so desperately wished to pass out and take a rest.

Yunho sat at the ready with a cloth while San's hands felt for Seonghwa to guide the process along. Sweat pearled on Hongjoong's forehead.

They probably wouldn't have noticed something was wrong if not for Freya. She stuck around the entrance of the cave to tend to the fire, terrified to get in the way of the emperor's privacy. Her cry almost drowned in Seonghwa's.

"Orcs!" She alerted them and Seonghwa's insides constricted in dread. He wanted to launch himself up without an idea of what he would do afterwards. Would he fight while his child fell from him? Hold back a while?

The others took the decision from him. San sprang to his feet with his blade drawn and rushed towards the entrance. Yeosang followed close behind and Wooyoung shifted to brace Seonghwa's legs when Jongho also wormed away. Yunho left the cloth under Seonghwa's body.

"You can do it," he promised with a hasty grin, then they sprinted to fight off the enemies. The cries of orcs and them alike mixed with Seonghwa's pants. He was terrified, didn't know what was going on. Were his husbands dying? Would a blade impale him at any moment?

Fearful, Seonghwa cried into Mingi's hold on him. He trembled all over and Hongjoong's skin looked ashen, he was so exhausted. Together, they struggled, but the sorcerer didn't hold out. Seonghwa felt when his magic waned, the healing touch thinning. Then, from one moment to the next, Hongjoong's lids fluttered, and he passed out. His body fell to the side, motionless.

"Hongjoong!" Mingi brought out when he heard the thud.

Wooyoung also shouted in fear and confusion. He scrambled to take the sorcerer's place, propped Seonghwa's legs on his shoulders with awkward movements. Quavering hands hovered in the air, overwhelmed by his position.

"I- I don't know what to do!" He wailed, devastated. Behind him, swords clashed as the orcs invaded the cave. Even Freya gathered herself to fight, quaking under every hit from a mighty blade.

Seonghwa panted as he pushed. He felt it in the way his insides adjusted, knew he was almost there. Just a bit more.

"Grab- grab them," he brought out, eyes clenching shut as he bit down on Mingi's finger once more. Another surge hit him, but the baby was far enough that Wooyoung could support the heavy head and shoulders. He tugged cautiously, helping the slick slide.

"There are horns, oh, heavens, why are there horns?!" He wailed, rustling when Hongjoong's body was in his way. Seonghwa couldn't reply, too focused on the last stretch that took his breath away.

Then, all of a sudden, everything was over. With a slick slide, the little one disconnected from Seonghwa and more fluids sloshed from him. Wooyoung sat terrified, with the baby in his hands, glistening from Seonghwa's blood.

Seonghwa slumped to the side. He could barely stay awake, lips not moving to tell Wooyoung how to wash and check on the newborn's survival. One moment. He just needed one moment to catch his breath.

A shadow fell over them.

Bleary eyes blinked up through the veil of tears. Chieftain Kane grinned down at the defeated emperor, mocking to the tips of his hair.

"What a sight. Feeling empty, whore? I'll be with you in a moment and fix that for you." With that, he turned to Wooyoung and the baby on his arm. Instantly, the gryphon-born turned away, wings flaring to shield them. He curled around the child, hiding them from sight.

"No!" He yelled, but the chieftain just sneered and kicked him down. Catching the fall with his body so the little one wouldn't get hurt, Wooyoung scrambled on his injured leg. The orc came after him, stomping down on the wound to pin Wooyoung in place. His scream bounced from the ceiling of the cave.

Seonghwa pushed himself up, but his arms kept giving in. Terrified eyes found Wooyoung as he stubbornly refused to hand over the child.

"Stop! Leave them alone!" Seonghwa called, but his voice was brittle.

Kane laughed coarsely.

"What a spectacle you are, emperor. No worries. We will take your brat right along. You can nurse it while we stuff your body nice and full. But I have no use for birds under the earth." He drew his blade, looming over Wooyoung.

Coldness filled Seonghwa's side. A moment later, Mingi appeared by Kane's side. He wielded Seonghwa's spear and stabbed the blade at the orc's flank. Staggered, the chieftain whirled around.

Towering over him, Mingi tightened his grip on his weapon. His hair hung into his eyes, but his lips were set in a grim line.

"Hmm, didn't fight a demon in a while. Your skulls make excellent decorations. I will forge a drinking cup from your horn," Kane chuckled as he discarded Wooyoung for Mingi.

Seonghwa cried out when the blade cut through the air, but Mingi knew how to listen for it. He blocked the hit with the length of the sturdy silver lance and kicked at Kane, sending him stumbling backwards. By Seonghwa's side, Wooyoung bled profusely as he checked on the baby, making sure they were breathing.

With all willpower, Seonghwa reached for Hongjoong. They needed to do something, needed to flee to safety. Though weak, the emperor felt over Hongjoong's belt, knew which vials were used for destructive potions and which for healing.

He found what he was searching for and plucked it from Hongjoong's side.

"Mingi, back!" He called and his demon, ever so loyal to his directions, jumped. Seonghwa threw the vial with all his might and it shattered against Kane's chest. The creature contained inside burst free, broken from the seal binding it. Hungry, it devoured the soul promised in return for its services. In a black mass, it invaded Kane's nose and mouth, bore through his eyes and ears to stifle all screams. It fed and yanked and devoured and Kane could only claw at his throat, desperate to get it out.

A moment later, his body jerked violently. He twitched in a final struggle against the spirit, then he broke down. With bleeding eyes, he collapsed, visage a grimace of agony even in death.

Seonghwa panted against the cold ground. Mingi was attentive to the silence in the middle of the room, then he sprung to his feet to check on the entrance of the cave. Weighed with lead, Seonghwa's lids fluttered. The pain resonated, not so aggressive anymore, but dull in its throbs.

"S-Seonghwa," Wooyoung whispered, strained through his distress. The baby was curled up against his chest, but Seonghwa couldn't get rid of the haze of his vision.

"I need a moment," he whispered. "Give me just a moment."

The noises outside got quieter and though Seonghwa couldn't tell whether that meant their triumph, his body didn't allow him any more fretting. The stone under his cheek was rough as his limbs lost all tension. Though Wooyoung whimpered, unsure if Seonghwa would make it, Seonghwa had to leave him behind to sink into the welcoming darkness that soothed all the pain.

Wooyoung sat against the back of the cave, leg bleeding, but he cradled the baby close, protecting them and the unconscious bodies of Seonghwa and Hongjoong. No one else came for him. Only the bundle of new life writhed against his chest as he waited patiently for everybody to gather their wits and get them back in order.