Nines circled the nest worriedly, a small whine rumbling in his throat as his delicate fins caressed Gavin's rough hide. He hadn't stirred once since their arrival two days ago. It was his first mating season, so he had no idea how typical this was for shark-mer. Perhaps long periods of sleep were normal during gestation, but what if they weren't? What if it was because they'd bred across species? What if it was the fact they were too close to the river and Gavin's gills couldn't handle the change? The currents were softer in this area, and the water was less salty. It wasn't ideal for Gavin, but it was the safest place for their future younglings.

There was a high chance that a few of them might be freshwater-mer. Those offspring would die if they were born too far from the river. The salt would get inside their gills and clog them up, slowly suffocating them from the inside. With saltwater-mer, fresh water would keep flowing into their bodies, making them swell until they drowned. Nines and his brothers had experienced the early onset of this, feeling sluggish and bloated all the time until they almost passed out. Luckily, their mother had recognised the signs and taken them out to the ocean. Survival might have been easier with their father, but he was a free roamer, never staying anywhere longer than it took to plant his seed. It was the way of his breed, but their mother loved him all the same.

Mixing breeds could bring about various problems and changes in the birthing process and in the offspring themselves. Since he was the donor, Nines knew his DNA would be prevalent. They would be koi-mer, but there was no telling if that meant fresh or saltwater. He carried the potential for both. Next year, when Gavin was the donor, things would be much more straightforward. There was no chance of Gavin producing fresh water offspring because his heritage was consistently reef shark. He and his brother were the first to deviate from the usual pattern. It seemed they shared a taste for softer scales and colours.

"Dear One..." Nines tried shaking Gavin's shoulder for what seemed like the hundredth time, but he remained curled in the reed-filled sand pit in their spacious den. The little nook was temporary, of course, but Nines had worked hard to make it safe and comfortable. He'd dug a large pit, big enough for both of them to curl up with their future brood. The opening of the quiet cave was big enough for them to swim through together, so Nines had planted some delicate reeds across the entrance and hung vines to hide the opening from view. Those homely touches had continued inside with various pretty plants in place to filter the water and keep their home clean, along with various little fish and shrimps that cleaned the walls and seabed. There were pretty shells he'd gathered to add colour and show his devotion, all of them buffed and shiny where they lined the walls. He'd been excited for Gavin to wake up and see it, but now he was just horribly worried.

He circled the nest again and swooped down to glide along Gavin's back, coiling their tails and wrapping an arm around his waist. Propping himself on one arm, he gazed down at his pale, sleeping face. The lack of nutrition was showing where his body was using every ounce of energy to provide for their brood. Without fresh intake, he wouldn't survive the birthing process. Nines whined in distress, nuzzling his neck and ear and feeling along his gills. Those on his side were moving slowly, clearly laboured with the lack of movement. Swimming helped Gavin's gills to move, so the lack of activity wasn't good for him. The lack of energy also meant he had less strength to open and close his gills. They moved slowly, almost quivering with each feeble pulse.

Nines' throat ached as he held back, trying not to panic as he realised he had no idea what to do. This was his first mating season. He'd never experienced childbirth in either manner. His instincts hadn't prepared him for this. They were too far from the reef to call Elijah and Chloe for help, though he wasn't sure they'd know what to do either. They'd only recently mated, and would be entering their first season as well. With no other option, Nines let out a pitiful cry for help. It wouldn't carry to the reef, but it might reach the river. Although his own brethren wouldn't be able to linger more than an hour in the salty water, they might have some advice.

It felt like he waited for an eternity. He remained coiled around Gavin with his face buried in his short hair, quietly sniffling and nuzzling. It was rare that he ever felt his youth, but he'd never felt more like a child than he did right then. Mating Gavin had been reckless. They had no idea how their DNA would mingle and how that would affect his body. The chosen location was also a mistake, good for their brood, but not good for Gavin. He'd failed as a mate, putting his life partner at risk. Their brood would be born cold, and his life mate would die. He should have let Gavin handle things and accepted his eggs. Perhaps bearing a brood would have prepared him better for being a donor himself.

"Nines?" A gentle voice interrupted his musings, one very much like his own, only softer. Gentle hazel eyes peered in from the doorway as he leaned through the doorway, holding the vines out of his face and ready to withdraw if he was interrupting. The knot in Nines' chest instantly loosened as he pushed himself up. It seemed the distraught look on his face was all his brother needed as he swam in and circled the nest, white and gold scales glittering with patches of black dimming the shine.

"Cayden." He hadn't seen him since leaving the river all those years ago, but he'd know his brother anywhere. They shared similar features, though his curves were softer and his body less chiselled. Life in the river was less strenuous, and the gentle currents made swimming easier. Their eyes were also strikingly different. Nines had inherited their father's luminous silvery blue while Cayden had their mother's softer brown. "I need help." That much was obvious from the tearful look on his face and the fact he was curled around his mate in a mourning coil. Cayden hushed him softly, floating just above the nest and running gentle fingers through his tousled hair.

"Tell me what happened." Part of what happened was obvious. He'd clearly found himself a mate and returned to nest, but something was clearly awry. "Is...is that a shark?" He'd heard stories, of course, mostly from their other brothers during fleeting visits. They'd seen a lot in their time travelling the wider ocean, but something always drew them back to The Great River. Though Cayden had never seen an ocean shark up close, he had seen similar creatures in the river. Nines' gaze sharpened slightly as he held Gavin closer, wary as Cayden examined his rough hide and quivering gills.

"He is a shark-mer." Not the best of matches, but likely not the worst. "He hasn't woken up since we arrived two days ago." That was too long for a carrier to go without nutrients. Sharks were hardy creatures, but even they needed to be cared for at times like this. Hearing that, Cayden drifted closer and pressed his ear against Gavin's chest. His heart was thudding slowly, which may be normal for a gestating shark-mer, but the laboured breathing made him nervous. The most important thing was to see that he was fed, willingly or not. It was normal for one's mate to be sluggish during gestation, and long periods of sleep were expected, but they absolutely needed nourishment during that time.

"I'll bring some food. Rainbow cod are plentiful and full of nutrients, and maybe some arrowhead would improve his complexion." Nines barely managed to stammer out his thanks before Cayden swooped out in a flurry of dancing fins and disappeared. He turned Gavin onto his back, making sure both sets of gills had room to breathe and littering kisses up and down his pale throat. With his dark colouration, it was rare for Gavin to look pale. The deep brown of his scales seemed faded, and the softer skin on his face and pecs was sallow.

"Dear One, please wake up..." Gavin didn't hear his gentle plea, eyes remaining stubbornly shut. His lips had parted in sleep, allowing him to take a limited amount of water through his mouth to flush his gills from the inside. Another pitiful whimper fled Nines' lips, a quiet plea for him to recognise his distress and answer. He knew Gavin would have opened his eyes if he'd heard. "Gavin..." His lower lip trembled as the worst scenarios flew through his head. What if Gavin didn't wake up? How would he tell Elijah and the others that his poor care had led to this? Would he even dare return to the reef?

"Here. He's too weak to eat, so we'll need to chew it for him." Nines barely realised Cayden had returned before a bunch of leafy green reeds was pushed into his hands. When he looked up, Cayden had already taken his first bite of fish, chewing it up, bone and all as he stared determinedly at Gavin. He didn't intend for him to die on his watch, shark-mer or not. Nines followed his brother's lead, chewing up the leaves before feeding them between Gavin's pale, unmoving lips. Cayden was skilled, somehow knowing exactly how to massage his throat to make him swallow. He settled on the edge of the comfortable pit and hauled Gavin's body against his lap so he was sitting up, head drooping on his chest unless he lifted it to reach his lips. "I often nurse the younglings when they have fevers. With the loss of nutrition, we should feed him every two to three hours and make sure he gets some level of movement."

With that said, Cayden lifted Gavin beneath the arms and swam backwards, hauling him from the nest. Nines helped, supporting Gavin's tail and swollen belly. They swam in circles around the spacious cave, the increased water motion making it easier for Gavin to breathe. Though Cayden was no expert, it was common knowledge that sharks needed to move. Some breeds couldn't even stop at all, and even slept on the move. Gavin was lucky. He could remain at rest for extended periods with no ill effects. With a nod, they lowered him to the nest once more. The change was startling. His pale skin had already regained a little colour from the brief swim.

"We should move him after every meal to improve oxygen flow." Nines nodded his agreement, more than willing to follow his brother's advice. He felt blessed having such a support network, and that only increased over the next few hours. Being a freshwater mer, Cayden couldn't stay with him around the clock, but they had many cousins who were eager to step in. It was strange, seeing so many faces that were like his own, but comforting that he had such a loyal family. One or two koi-mer stayed with him around the clock, always bringing fresh fish and plants with them for them to eat. It was common for the school to come together in times of need, providing for and defending vulnerable family members. Since Gavin was Nines' mate, he was readily accepted as one of their own.

Cayden and his cousins continued to rotate in and out. They provided food and care to both of them and even encouraged Nines to go hunting or at least take a swim by himself. Sometimes Cayden would join him, swimming a little further out into the ocean to catch fish before returning to the nest. Nines was always wary at first, worried Gavin would deteriorate while he was gone, or that he might wake up afraid and vulnerable without him. Cayden always set him at ease, promising they wouldn't go far, and pointing out that Gavin would appreciate the familiar fish of the ocean.

It took a further four days, but during that time Nines remained confident their care was working. Gavin's gills now fluttered with ease, and his darker colouration had returned in full. He swore his stripes were even more defined, his body glowing as he swelled and prepared for laying. Seeing him bloat and grow, Nines began to worry about whether he could handle such a strain. Shark-mer usually only carried one or two offspring, and developed them internally until birth. Koi-mer laid externally, implanting dozens of eggs to grow and fertilise. Only a few of those would be viable, while the others would be nutrition for their brood until they could move on to solid food.

On the evening of the fourth day, Gavin finally stirred. It was a painfully slow process, barely more than a quiet hum as he was fed, but it gave Nines hope. He slowly started swallowing food on his own, though he was still too sleepy to chew for the first few hours. His eyes finally fluttered open, piercing black and green blindly searching the unfamiliar cave. He was too weak to be afraid, even with all the unfamiliar scents and sights. The gentle touch on his cheek was enough to tell him he was safe, green eyes finally focusing enough to meet Nines' worried gaze. His relief was obvious as he almost cried, holding him close and fingering through his hair.

"Dear One..." Nines nuzzled him, whispering it over and over. Gavin enjoyed the attention, oblivious to the earlier happenings, including his own swollen state. He purred happily, gills rippling as he pushed closer for comfort. His body felt heavy and lethargic, and he could barely keep his eyes open. He certainly couldn't work himself up to words, settling for whining instead. Nines hushed him softly, trying to tempt him with small scraps of fish. Surprisingly, he took to the rainbow cod more than anything else. Nines wasn't sure if it was the taste or if his body was telling him he needed those particular nutrients for their brood, but he seemed ravenous for it.

"How do you feel?" Seeing he was awake and somewhat lucid, Cayden was eager to know. Since he could tell them what he needed, caring for him would be a lot easier. Nines was already on top of things in that area, lavishing him with all the affection a carrier could ever wish for in their laden state. He wanted for nothing. Gentle claws groomed his swollen tail, soft lips caressed his glossy skin, and powerful arms embraced and soothed him. Gavin was utterly spoiled, to the point he was still being hand fed. The coddling from his mate was understandable, but it was strange to have the rest of Nines' relatives zipping in and out. Their gills were getting red and sore with their constant visits at this point.

"Like a beached whale." Nines huffed softly, running a soothing hand over Gavin's bulging abdomen. It surely wouldn't take more than a few more weeks for their eggs to be ready for laying. Cayden seemed to think it should happen even sooner as he pressed and teased the sensitive area, much to Gavin's chagrin. It was sore, almost painful, to have his egg pouch pressed and squashed like that. He could feel them coming together and rolling around inside, almost making him sick. He'd been sick more than once, instinctively chowing down the remnants each time. His body couldn't afford to lose nutrients like that.

Being unable to move by himself also made the bathroom situation somewhat discomforting, though Nines never mentioned it. He'd filled the nest with all sorts of cleaner fish to neutralise that issue for Gavin and the brood that was to come. Whenever it happened, Nines simply swept the mess clear of the nest and let the smaller fish handle it while giving Gavin whatever attention he needed to distract him from the embarrassment.

One might think that being awake meant Gavin could leave the nest, and he could for a short time. They went outside together and swam short distances in the first few weeks, but as the eggs grew, such movement became painful and tiring. Cayden continued visiting constantly, laying his hands on Gavin's abdomen and frowning each time. It always made Nines nervous. In the last weeks, Cayden banned Gavin from leaving the nest entirely. If he needed to move, Cayden and Nines would lift him and take him on short swims around the nest as they did before. Gavin hated it. He hated it, but he couldn't fight it.

The eggs were packed so tightly he thought his skin might burst, something he'd never experienced with his previous broods. His previous mates had both been sharks, and he'd only carried one youngling. Allen's had been the largest, but even that paled in comparison to this. The discomfort left him tossing and turning in the vines, crying with frustration as he got tangled and trapped in various positions. Since he was in such distress, Nines stayed with him around the clock, which wouldn't have been possible without Cayden and the rest of his family, who still cycled in with food and comfort gifts. Shells for Gavin to crunch and clean his teeth, finely woven vine blankets, and musical shells that rattled in the currents to soothe him as he slept.

"N-Nines!" A grasping hand woke him in an instant, short, huffing breaths telling him something was wrong. A keening whine fled Gavin's lips as he leaned back against his chest, tail writhing and swishing as he thrashed about. Nines hushed him, eyes still bleary with sleep as he wrapped his arms around him. "Ph-phck, it hurts! Nines!" Pushing himself up, Nines leaned on one arm and stooped over him, running a gentle hand down his swollen body to stroke his gaping slit. Gavin almost roared at the light touch, throwing his head back and crying as Nines' fingers stroked and teased the tender flesh. The gap was widening, eggs already pressing and pushing to escape the canal.

"It's alright, I'm here...I'm here, Dear one. You're doing so well..." Gavin shuddered. He was already crying, and it hadn't even started yet. It seemed silly when he thought about it. He'd pushed whole, fully grown younglings from his slit before. The eggs should be easy! Nines continued hushing him, sharp teeth nipping along his gills as a distraction as he slowly edged his fingers inside the bursting pouch. Gavin bucked away instinctively, whimpering as gentle claws stroked the slick edges and worked the first egg loose. They were so tightly packed, they wouldn't slide out on their own.

"A-ahhh! Ph-phck!" Gavin panted, unsure if it was pain or pleasure as the first small globe popped out. Relief swelled in the pit of his bloated stomach as the rest of the eggs gained a modicum of space to breathe. He panted, nuzzling back against Nines' chest as those teasing fingers stroked the gaping hole wider to allow a second egg to tumble into the nest. "U-uhn!" Gavin turned his face into Nines' shoulder, whimpering as small buzzes of pleasure flooded his body.

"Is that better, Dear One?" Nines cooed softly, something almost smug in his gaze as he looked down at Gavin's blissful expression. It was finally happening. Gavin was writhing in their nest, popping their brood one by one, body vibrating with pleasure. Nines leaned in to seal his lips, taking his time to finger and loosen the pouch between eggs, and enjoying the way Gavin shuddered with each teasing stroke. Gavin nodded in response, unable to speak through the mewling whines as he rocked into Nines' touch. His previous births had been short. Blinding pain followed by a flood of euphoria as the youngling slipped out. This was different. Each egg filled his tight entrance, adding to the buildup in the pit of his stomach. His claspers swelled, and it didn't go unnoticed by Nines as he withdrew his fingers to stroke and squeeze them.

"N-Nines! I-I think I might-" He needn't have said it. Nines could feel it coming even before his body shuddered with release. Nines smirked, watching Gavin's green eyes go hazy as he returned to fingering the swollen pouch. They still had many eggs to go. "Hn-ah!" Gavin's mouth fell open, head falling back as yet another egg popped free. Nines wasn't sure he'd ever seen him look like that before. The pleasure was intense, overstimulating. His body shuddered and trembled through the aftershocks, which soon turned into fresh bucks and squirms as Nines continued fingering his slit and eggs kept popping free. "M-more! Please-more-please!"

"Good, Gavin..." Nines leaned over him at the desperate plea, greedily kissing him as he worked his stretched entrance. "Is it good, Dear One?" Gavin could barely whine in agreement as he pulled him closer, mouth open and pleading. Biting his lip, Nines brought his fingers together and slowly pushed inside. Gavin's eyes flew wide at the intrusion, unused to being stretched in such a manner. Nines paused, knuckles stretching the pouch as he reached inside. If not for the dilation and previous stretching, it surely would have hurt. As it was, Nines had no trouble snagged another soft globe and scooping it out.

"Ahn! Nn!" Claws raked his shoulder, greedily pulling him down for more. Nines chuckled softly, coiling his tail around Gavin's so they didn't crush the eggs and allowing himself to be pulled closer. They were both careless of the blood, both from Nines' torn flesh and Gavin's stretched slit. The scent seemed to simulate Gavin even more as he attacked Nines' lips and led his hand back towards his gaping entrance. Nines bit his neck, grazing his gills and tugging the firm flesh.

"I'm here, Dear One...I'll take care of you..." Gavin moaned as Nines' fingers pushed inside again, arching his spin and pushing into the touch as Nines plucked another egg. It didn't take long for his claspers to swell again, and Nines was generous as he stroked and squeezed. The better Gavin felt, the smoother the birthing would go. Unfortunately, it also made him tired. Nines cooed him softly, nipping and fingering him to keep him awake. Gavin lost the ability to speak somewhere along the line, mindlessly moaning and squirming in his arms. "Just a few more..." He rolled Gavin a little further until he tipped him over completely. His tail and forearms supported him as Nines rested against his back, nipping his shoulder while fingering his slit and pumping his claspers.

More mindless moans slipped out, leaving him sobbing in pleasure. His abs tightened, muscles slowly working the last eggs towards his abused slit. Slick fluid gushed out, ridding his swollen insides of the birthing fluid that had protected their young for so long. Nines squeezed and pumped his claspers, fingers searching for those last few eggs and guiding them to safety. It warmed his chest to see the mound of pearly orbs piled in their nest. When he regained his senses, he was sure Gavin would feel the same. He murmured further praise, fingering out the last egg and gripping Gavin's claspers with a sense of relief.

"You've done so well, Dear One...Come...Finish and you can finally rest." He wasn't sure how much of the encouragement Gavin understood, but he certainly understood the tight fists pumping his swollen claspers. With a final shuddering cry, Gavin came, spurting a small silvery cloud over their brood. Nines moaned into his shoulder, overcome with adoration as he nuzzled in and rubbed his swollen tendrils on his rough tail. He caught Gavin's body and rolled him to the side, holding himself above as he worked his tendrils and stared down at Gavin's dazed face. His own silver cloud soon spurted, covering both Gavin and the bundle of eggs he'd laid. "How are you, Dear One? Do you need anything? Are you hungry? Are you in pain?" Gavin barely let out a whine at the rush of questions, greedily accepting the kisses and cuddles Nines bestowed. "You did it, Gavin...Look at them." Gavin could barely turn his head to see it.

Something foreign filled his deflated stomach at the sight. His eggs. Their eggs. Their brood. Each globe was about the size of a tiger shell, but perfectly round. They were creamy, almost translucent, and felt like firm jellyfish to the touch. Nines cooed and held him close as his lips quivered and a tired sob fled his lips. They were beautiful. Beautiful and perfect. It was impossible to tell which of them were viable and which would be for sustenance. That wouldn't become obvious until the younglings began to grow. Gavin instinctively turned on his side and wrapped his tail around the small pile, soon joined by Nines on the other side.

"Are you happy?" Nines asked, gently trailing a clawed hand up and down Gavin's quivering arm. Gavin could barely bring himself to nod as he curled up and sobbed, empty and exhausted. Nines smiled, lacing a hand in his hair and caressing his tail with gentle fins as he bawled his eyes out. Gavin's first, and most important, job was done. Now it was time for him to recover, warming and protecting their brood as he rested while Nines continued hunting and providing for them. Nines could hardly wait to get started, already planning all the ways he could pamper Gavin to make him feel better.

The period after laying could be difficult. The intense emotions from laying were often overwhelming, leaving behind a dull pit of despair and worthlessness. Carriers could sometimes feel they had lost their purpose once the eggs were laid, but warming was an important process, too. The eggs wouldn't grow and hatch if they were abandoned, and the carrier needed to rest and recover their strength. Nines had to balance monitoring the eggs with pampering his life mate to ensure they all remained healthy and cared for.

It didn't take long for Gavin to pass out. He'd undergone intense physical strain, birthing in a completely unfamiliar manner. That his body could adjust and handle such a change was astounding, but shark-mer were notoriously adaptable. There had even been stories of shark-mer birthing the young of whales. A truly taxing experience. A gentle purr rumbled in Nines' throat, the tender vibrations drifting through the water to offer both comfort and healing. Gavin seemed to sense it on some level as his own purrs soon answered, the combined thrums lulling their brood and bringing a sense of love and safety to the nest.