Across the Distance by ShamanSquirrel < Submission | Inkbunny, the Furry Art Community

Keywords male 1262049, female 1148407, feral 102234, squirrel 32760, red panda 15975, dragoness 13743, birth 3861, furred dragon 1880, birthing 1826, technology 848, plague 162, pandemic 52, gheval 52

Across the Distance

The communications terminal arrived three weeks before Kalina was due to give birth. It was a sleek device, surprisingly compact given what it could do—real-time voice and video communication across the entire planet, immune to both Silvania's complex magnetic fields and the ambientite deposits that had kept technology limited for centuries.

"It's beautiful," Jukrit said, running his paw over the smooth surface. The installer, a young rabbit engineer, was finishing the setup.

"Latest model," she said proudly. "Quantum-entangled relay system. Doesn't care about magnetic interference or ambientite resonance. You could be standing on top of an ambientite mine and still get perfect signal." She tapped the screen, bringing up a menu. "See? You've got access to the medical database network, specialist directories, even the historical archives if you're interested."

"Historical archives?" Noraxia asked, peering over Jukrit's shoulder.

"Everything from the Settlement Era forward. Some fragments from before, too—Earth records that survived the journey. Most people don't bother with ancient history, but it's there if you want it." She finished the installation. "You're all set. First month is free trial, then standard subscription rates apply."

After she left, Jukrit and Noraxia explored the system. The medical database alone was staggering—thousands of references, treatment protocols, specialist contacts across Silvania. Jukrit found entries on gheval breeding, pregnancy complications, foaling procedures from veterinarians in distant cities.

"This is incredible," he breathed. "I could consult with experts I'd never have access to otherwise."

"Look at this," Noraxia said, pulling up a different section. "Communications directory. I could... I could call my family. Actually see them, talk to them in real-time."

"Do you want to?"

She was quiet for a moment. "Maybe. Thaxia knows about you, but the others... Mother, Father, my younger siblings... they only know what Thaxia told them. Maybe it's time they met you properly."

"Whenever you're ready," Jukrit said, squeezing her hand. "No pressure."

That conversation happened on the 15th day of Harvestmonth, SY 4527. Three days later, Kalina went into labor—two weeks early and in the middle of the night.

Jukrit woke to Chenar's frantic chittering. The tiny gheval was at their bedroom window, clearly panicked. One look toward the barn showed Noraxia was already moving, having heard Kalina's distressed calls.

"She's in labor," Noraxia called back. "And something's wrong. I think she's in pain."

In the barn, Kalina was lying on her side, her breathing labored, her body straining. Multiple foals meant complications, and Jukrit could immediately see this wasn't going to be straightforward. This is despite the fact her foals will be much smaller than what is typical for her breed.

"First foal is positioned wrong," he said, examining her carefully while Chenar hovered anxiously nearby. "Breech, I think. And with multiple foals behind it—" He stopped, his mind racing through every text he'd read, every treatment he knew. None of it felt adequate.

"The communications terminal," Noraxia said. "Can you call for help, maybe Marta?"

"Yes. Yes, get it set up. I need—" He pulled up his notes. "Unfortunately, our friend Marta likely doesn't have this technology. Dr. Vanessa Redtail, she's the gheval breeding specialist in Millstone City. And maybe Master Thornwick, he has surgical experience if we need it."

While Noraxia ran to activate the terminal, Jukrit worked to keep Kalina comfortable. The big gheval was trying so hard, her body doing what it should, but the foal's position was preventing progress. Chenar climbed onto her head, purring desperately, trying to comfort his mate.

Noraxia returned with the terminal on a wheeled cart. "I've got Dr. Redtail connecting now—she's coming through—"

The screen flickered and suddenly showed a red panda in what looked like a professional clinic.

"This is Dr. Redtail. I understand you have a foaling emergency?"

"Yes, doctor. Multiple foals, first is breech, mother is straining but not progressing." Jukrit angled the terminal's camera so she could see Kalina. "She's a Standard Riding breed, bred to a Pocket Pet male. We're expecting three to five foals."

"Spirits above, that's an extreme size differential." Dr. Redtail leaned closer to her screen. "How far dilated is she?"

Jukrit checked. "Fully dilated, but the foal's hindquarters are presenting instead of the head."

"Can you reach in and feel for the forelegs?"

"I can try." Jukrit carefully examined Kalina internally while Dr. Redtail coached him through it. "I've got... I think I've got one foreleg. The other is tucked back."

"You'll need to reposition it. Gently—very gently—you need to push the foal back slightly, then guide that leg forward. Your partner will need to keep the mother calm."

Noraxia stroked Kalina's neck while Jukrit worked, following Dr. Redtail's instructions precisely. It was delicate, difficult work. One wrong move could injure the foal or Kalina. Sweat beaded on his forehead despite the cool night air.

"Got it," he finally gasped. "Both forelegs forward now."

"Excellent. Now we wait for the next contraction. When it comes, gentle traction on the legs. Don't pull hard—just guide."

They worked together across the distance—Dr. Redtail in her clinic in Millstone City, Jukrit in his barn in Riverside Market, separated by hundreds of miles but connected in real-time. The technology that had seemed like a luxury suddenly became essential.

The first foal was born as dawn began to break—a healthy male, medium-sized as predicted, with Kalina's dappled coloring but Chenar's delicate features. He was beautiful.

But Kalina's labor continued. There were more foals coming.

"The next one is presenting normally," Jukrit reported. "Head first, forelegs visible."

"Good. Let her do the work, just be ready to assist if needed."

The second foal arrived twenty minutes later—a female, also medium-sized, with a distinctive stripe pattern that seemed to blend both parents' markings.

"Two down," Dr. Redtail said. "How's the mother doing?"

"Tired but alert. Still contracting strongly." Jukrit checked Kalina's vital signs. "Heart rate elevated but not dangerously so. She's a fighter."

Chenar was beside himself with excitement and worry, alternating between grooming Kalina and investigating his new offspring. The tiny foals were already trying to stand on wobbly legs, their clawed feet giving them better traction than hooves would have.

The third foal came thirty minutes later—a male, noticeably larger than his siblings. He struggled to navigate the birth canal due to his size, but Dr. Redtail coached Jukrit through assisting carefully.

"That's a big one," she noted. "Probably took after Kalina's size genes more strongly. He'll be impressive when grown."

Foal number four was a small female, dainty and quick to her feet. She was smaller than the first two but not alarmingly so—just naturally petite.

The terminal chimed with an incoming call. Noraxia glanced at it and her expression changed.

"It's my mother," she said quietly.

"Now?" Jukrit asked, incredulous. "Can you—"

"I'll handle it. You focus on Kalina." Noraxia opened a second window on the terminal, and suddenly an enormous dragon face filled part of the screen—clearly in her four-legged form, her copper-and-gold fur elegant even through video.

"Noraxia. Thaxia said you had this... communication device now. I wanted to see if—" The dragon stopped, taking in the scene. "What is happening?"

"I'm in the middle of a medical emergency, Mother. Our gheval is giving birth. Can I call you back?"

"Your gheval?" The dragon's eyes narrowed. "I see someone else there. Is that the squirrel?"

"Jukrit, this is my mother, Zara," Noraxia said with strained patience. "Mother, I'm assisting my partner with a difficult foaling. This really isn't the time."

"Your partner." Zara's voice was flat. "Thaxia mentioned you were living with a healer. She didn't say you were calling him your partner."

"Now is REALLY not the time—"

"Fifth foal coming," Jukrit interrupted. "This one's—it's tiny. Much smaller than the others."

On the other terminal window, Dr. Redtail refocused. "Runt of the litter. Common in large litters. Be especially gentle."

The fifth foal was indeed tiny—barely larger than Chenar himself. A male, perfectly formed but delicate. He struggled more than his siblings to stand, his legs trembling with effort.

"Is he healthy?" Jukrit asked, concern evident.

"Lungs sound clear, heartbeat strong. He's just small. He'll need extra care and supplemental nutrition, but I think he'll be fine." Dr. Redtail paused. "Is there another?"

Jukrit checked, exhausted but thorough. "Yes. One more. Still in position."

The sixth and final foal arrived as the sun fully rose—another female, medium-sized and vigorous. She found her feet quickly and was already nursing before her tiny brother had fully stood.

"This is highly irregular," Zara announced. "Ghevals don't naturally breed across such size differences. What have you done?"

"We didn't do anything," Noraxia snapped. "Kalina and Chenar are a bonded pair. They chose to mate. We simply... allowed it."

Kalina, exhausted but content, began cleaning her six foals while Chenar hovered protectively over all of them. The tiny father looked completely overwhelmed but fiercely proud, chittering softly to each of his offspring, who were larger than him even at birth.

"Thank you, Dr. Redtail," Jukrit said sincerely. "I couldn't have done this without your guidance."

"That's what the network is for. I'll send you aftercare protocols and feeding schedules for six foals. The tiny male will need supplemental nutrition—I'll include formulas for that." She smiled. "Congratulations, Healer Jukrit. You've successfully managed a truly historic breeding. Six healthy foals from such an extreme size differential—this will be documented in the veterinary journals."

"Noraxia," Zara chimed in. "You're facilitating genetic experiments on domestic animals. This is—"

"With respect, madam dragon," Dr. Redtail continued, addressing Zara who was visible on her terminal, "size-differential breeding in ghevals is well-documented and perfectly natural. Historical records from the Settlement Era show it was common practice to create new size classes. There's nothing experimental about it."

"And who are you?"

"Dr. Vanessa Redtail, Millstone City Veterinary Institute. Certified in exotic animal reproduction and historical breeding practices." The red panda's tone was professional but firm. "What we're witnessing is a successful cross-class breeding that will produce medium-sized offspring—exactly as the original breeders intended when they first established size classes."

Zara's expression changed to something like surprise. "You're citing pre-Catastrophe knowledge?"

"The database has fragments from Earth veterinary texts that survived the journey. Ghevals imported from the planet Kiswi existed on Earth, you know, before the Helix Plague forced the human augmentation."

Jukrit had been too focused on Kalina to pay much attention, but something in that exchange caught his ear. "The Helix Plague? You mean the one that created furfolk?"

"Yes," Dr. Redtail said matter-of-factly. "The human civilization on Earth faced extinction from a genetic pandemic. They saved themselves by incorporating animal DNA—creating the first augmented humans who would eventually become modern furfolk. It's all in the historical archives, though most people don't bother to learn about it anymore. That was over four thousand years ago, SY 1 dating from the Settlement of Silvania."

"I didn't know ghevals existed before the Helix Plague," Jukrit said, carefully monitoring Kalina's recovery.

"Oh yes. They were domestic animals even on Earth—bred by humans but originating from Kiswi. When the humans augmented themselves with various animal DNA to survive the Helix Plague, they brought breeding stock of many Earth animals with them during the exodus. Ghevals, cattle, dogs, cats... the animals that could survive the journey became part of Silvanian ecology."

After Dr. Redtail disconnected, Zara's presence filled the entire screen. The dragon had been watching silently throughout, and now she spoke.

"That was... impressive. For a squirrel."

"Thank you?" Jukrit said uncertainly.

"I want to understand something. My daughter—" Zara looked at Noraxia. "You're truly committed to this life? To this... partnership?"

While Zara's presence on the screen had been difficult to ignore during the later births, the dragon had remained uncharacteristically quiet, watching everything with intense scrutiny.

"I am," Noraxia said firmly. "Jukrit is my partner, Mother. In every sense of the word. We've built a life together. A home, a practice, a community. And yes, we love each other. I'm sorry if that disappoints you."

Zara was quiet for a long moment. Then: "I'm not disappointed. I'm... surprised. Thaxia told me you seemed happy, but I didn't believe it. I thought she was being diplomatic. But watching you work together just now..." The dragon paused. "You've found something real. Against all odds, against all sense, but real nonetheless."

"Does that mean—" Noraxia started.

"It means I want to meet him properly. Not like this, in the middle of a medical emergency. Visit me, when you can. Both of you. Bring your impossible squirrel so I can understand what my daughter sees in him." Zara's tone softened slightly. "I won't promise acceptance. But I'll give you a fair hearing. That's more than I was willing to offer before tonight."

After Zara disconnected, Noraxia and Jukrit looked at each other.

"Did that just happen?" Noraxia asked.

"I think your mother just invited us to visit."

"She called you my impossible squirrel."

"Better than 'the squirrel' at least." Jukrit turned back to check on Kalina and the foals. All eight ghevals—mother, father, and six babies—were resting peacefully. "We'll worry about dragon family visits later. Right now, we have six new lives to care for."

As dawn fully broke, both moons still faintly visible in the lightening sky, Jukrit reflected on the night's events. They'd used technology that wouldn't have existed a generation ago to save lives across hundreds of miles of distance. They'd learned things about their world's history—about Earth, the Helix Plague, the human augmentation that created furfolk thousands of years ago. And they'd faced Noraxia's mother in a way that, while not perfect, was progress.

"The communications network changed everything," he said to Noraxia. "Without it, we might have lost Kalina. Or the foals."

"And I wouldn't have had that conversation with my mother. For better or worse." She leaned against him. "Technology that survives ambientite interference and magnetic storms—that's revolutionary. It's going to connect Silvania in ways we haven't been connected since the Settlement Era."

"Dr. Redtail mentioned the historical archives. All that information about Earth, about who we were before the Helix Plague..." Jukrit trailed off. "Most furfolk don't think about that anymore. But maybe we should."

"Maybe. Or maybe what matters is who we are now, not who our ancestors were four thousand years ago." Noraxia gestured to the barn, where Chenar was curled up with his tiny offspring. "A ferret-sized gheval and a riding-sized gheval having babies together. A dragon and a squirrel building a life together. We're writing new history, not just remembering old."

Over the next week, they cared for the foals—whom they named Velkin (the first-born male, medium-sized), Myrah (the second, a medium-sized female), Tarak (the large male), Shenzi (the small, quick female), Kyren (the tiny male who needed extra care), and Nessa (the vigorous medium-sized female born last). The communications network proved invaluable, with Dr. Redtail checking in daily to monitor progress and offer guidance, especially for little Kyren who required supplemental feedings.

Jukrit also started exploring the historical archives in his spare time. The fragments from Earth were fascinating—incomplete records of a civilization facing extinction, of desperate choices made to survive. The Helix Plague had ravaged Earth's human population. The augmentation with animal DNA wasn't just scientific curiosity; it was salvation. Those augmented humans—the ancestors of modern furfolk—had left Earth on generation ships, seeking new worlds. Silvania, with its Earth-like conditions despite the complex magnetic field and ambientite deposits, became their home.

Four thousand years later, their descendants lived in diverse cultures across the planet—speaking different languages, following different religions, organized into different societies. Some remembered Earth; most didn't care. They were Silvanian now, shaped by this world with its two moons and challenging technology.

"It's strange," Jukrit said one evening, reading through the archives while the foals nursed. "Knowing we're descended from humans who changed themselves with animal DNA to survive. It makes you wonder what we lost in that change."

"And what we gained," Noraxia countered. "We're stronger, more diverse, more adaptable than humans ever were. We survived."

"We did," he agreed. "And we're still surviving, still adapting. Just in different ways now."

A message came through on the terminal—Zara, requesting a video call. Noraxia accepted it, and the dragon appeared on screen, this time in her anthropomorphic form.

"I've been thinking," Zara said without preamble. "About your visit. Would next month work? I want you to meet your father properly, Noraxia. And your younger siblings. They should know about your life."

"Next month should work," Noraxia said, glancing at Jukrit for confirmation. "The foals will be old enough to leave with Kex and Khari for a few days."

"Good. And Jukrit—" Zara looked directly at him. "Thaxia tells me you're studying historical archives. If you're interested, I have family records from the early Settlement Era. Dragons keep detailed histories. You might find them... illuminating."

"I would love that, thank you."

After the call ended, Noraxia let out a long breath. "She's trying. It's awkward and formal, but she's trying."

"That's all we can ask for," Jukrit said.

As Silvania's moons rose that night—Mornius and Saxtus in their eternal dance across the sky—Jukrit stood outside watching the foals play in the barn under Kalina and Chenar's watchful eyes. Technology had connected them across distance, brought new life into the world, and opened doors to family that had seemed permanently closed.

Four thousand years ago, humans had transformed themselves to survive. Now their descendants—furfolk of every species, dragons who'd evolved their own path, and all the impossible combinations in between—lived on a world that challenged them in different ways.

But they survived. They adapted. They found new ways forward.

And sometimes, in barns under dual moons, tiny ghevals courted massive ones and created new life against all odds. Sometimes dragons fell in love with squirrels and built families from choice rather than blood.

The future was unwritten. But with technology that could bridge any distance and hearts brave enough to try the impossible, perhaps that future was brighter than the past they'd left behind on Earth so long ago.

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