A Journey That Changed The World

Archer was struck by the little girl’s cuteness, her little white cat ears twitched as her eyes never left him. A smile appeared on his face as he introduced himself. ”Hello, Evelyn Wyldheart. I’m your father, it’s good that you’re finally here.”

Just then, she tilted her head and let out a babble as Leira spoke in an exhausted voice as Chloe, Ella, and Edith tended to her. ”Can you clean her fur, please? It’s the father’s job to do it when a kitten is born.”

When he heard this, his eyes glowed just as a midwife appeared with a bowl of hot water and a cloth. The older woman commented. ”Magic won’t do, master. We cat folk need contact, especially the little ones, as it makes them feel comfortable.”

His gaze lowered, and he noticed the woman’s grey cat tail, causing him to nod. ”Okay, I’ll clean her tail and ears, is that okay?”

”Yes master,” she warmly replied.

Following that, Archer moved to the bowl while holding Evelyn, who was staring at his twitching ears, making him smile as he spoke. ”Like my ears do ya little lady? What about these?”

With a single thought, four horns appeared on his head, causing the baby’s eyes to widen in surprise before she started babbling in happiness. He chuckled and dismissed them as he tickled her belly.

”Eve, did you know I have a tail too?” he said with a playful glint in his eye, his voice warm with affection.

A moment later, his tail unfurled and with a gentle, almost tender motion, it curled around the baby, cradling her in a comforting embrace. As he moved to prepare the soaps that the midwife had arranged.

Five minutes later, Archer’s strong hands gently lifted Evelyn, his newborn daughter, into his arms. Her tiny form, swaddled in a soft blanket, nestled perfectly against his chest, her bright eyes sparkling with curiosity.

”Eve, you’ll be fine, so don’t worry about what comes next,” he murmured, his voice a low, soothing hum that seemed to blend with the faint chirping of birds outside.

Archer dipped a soft cloth into the water, letting the warmth seep into it before bringing it to her rosy cheeks. With the gentlest of touches, he wiped away the traces of her birth, each stroke careful, as if he were handling the most precious treasure in the world.

Evelyn’s fluffy white cat ears, delicate and velvety, twitched playfully as Archer moved the cloth to them. He chuckled softly, his heart swelling at the sight of her tiny ears, so much like her mother’s, shimmering faintly in the light.

”Let’s clean these little ears of yours,” he whispered, his tone laced with adoration.

The damp cloth glided over the soft fur, and Evelyn let out a delighted giggle, her tiny hands waving in the air as if trying to catch the sensation. Her laughter filled the room, wrapping Archer in a warmth that rivaled the sun’s rays.

Next, he turned his attention to her fluffy white tail, which flicked back and forth with a life of its own. He dipped his fingers into the water, letting a few droplets fall onto the tail’s soft fur, watching as they sparkled like tiny jewels.

With a gentle hand, he smoothed the damp cloth along its length, careful not to tug or startle her. Evelyn squirmed, her giggles growing louder, a bubbling cascade of joy that made Archer’s eyes crinkle with a smile.

”Oh, you like that, don’t you?” he teased playfully as he leaned down to press a soft kiss to her forehead.

The room was filled with the scent of lavender and the quiet splash of water, mingling with Evelyn’s happy coos and Archer’s tender murmurs. Outside, the world carried on, but in this moment, it was just the two of them, father and daughter, bound by love in a quiet, perfect dance of care and affection.

As he finished, Archer wrapped Evelyn in a fresh, warm towel, cradling her close, her fluffy ears tickling his chin. ”All clean, my little cat,” he whispered, his heart full, knowing these moments would be etched in his memory forever.

***

Leira’s breath caught as she watched the scene unfold before her. The late afternoon light spilled through the window, casting a warm glow across the room, where Archer knelt beside a small basin, his broad shoulders hunched with tenderness.

In his arms was their daughter, Evelyn, cradled against him as if she were the most fragile, precious thing in existence. Her heart stirred, a soft ache blooming in her chest as she saw her husband, her fierce Archer-in a light she had never glimpsed before.

Archer’s hands, so accustomed to fighting and killing, moved with a gentleness that seemed almost reverent. Her eyes followed as he dipped a cloth into the water, his movements slow, as if each touch was a vow of protection.

Evelyn’s ears twitched as he brushed the cloth over them, and her high-pitched giggle filled the air, bright and unrestrained. His low chuckle followed, a sound so warm and unguarded that Leira felt her lips curve into a smile, her eyes prickling with unexpected emotion.

She had known Archer as a warrior, a man with many flaws but a quiet strength, his heart guarded behind walls built from years of survival. But here, with Evelyn, those walls seemed to crumble.

His face softened as he leaned down to murmur something to their daughter as she listened intently, his voice too low for her to catch the words, but the tone was unmistakable, pure, unfiltered love.

She watched Evelyn’s tail flick playfully, and Archer caught it gently, smoothing it with the cloth as another burst of her laughter echoed through the room. He grinned, a boyish smile that transformed his rugged features, and her breath hitched at the sight.

‘Fuck, being a father has made him even better,’ she thought.

Leira had never seen him like this, so open, so utterly devoted, apart from when he was making love to them. The way he held the baby, as if she were both his anchor and his sky, revealed a depth to him that she hadn’t fully realized.

It was as though fatherhood had unlocked a hidden part of his soul, one that radiated warmth and patience, a side that balanced the warrior she knew with a man who could cradle a child with infinite care. The l+a@te#s@t^ [email protected]* are al@w+ay+s- av&a#i-la$b&l+e fir+st on *.%

Evelyn cooed, her tiny hands reaching for his face, and he laughed again, letting her pat his cheek as he finished cleaning her. He wrapped her in a soft towel, lifting her to his chest, where she nestled contentedly, her white ears brushing his chin.

Leira’s heart swelled, a quiet pride mingling with her love for them both. She had always known Archer was strong, but it was a different kind of strength, one that made her fall in love with him all over again.

As Archer pressed a kiss to their daughter’s forehead, his eyes soft with adoration, she felt a tear slip down her cheek and wiped it away quickly, not wanting to break the spell of the moment.

For now, she was content to watch, to witness this new side of her husband unfold right in front of her, a side that made her believe in the beauty of their little family even more deeply than before.

Just then, Ella nudged her while whispering. ”Arch has changed thanks to the babies, I noticed it with Freya’s birth. He’s calmed down.”

***

”You’re right El,” Archer said before turning around. ”Meeting these four angels has been a gift greater than anything in my life.”

As Chloe heard this, a big smile appeared on her tired face. ”At least you love them; most Avalonian nobles didn’t bother with their female children.”

”My daughters are my entire world,” he replied, cutting through the room like a blade forged in love. ”I don’t care a whit for how others raise their children or what the world beyond these walls thinks.”

Archer glanced at the little cat girl who was babbling along before continuing. ”My girls, Freya, Neoma, Kela, and now Evelyn, they’ll know they’re treasured. I’d tear down the stars, cross any chasm, or stand against any storm to see them safe and happy. They’ll grow up knowing their father would give everything for them, no question, no hesitation.”

His words, raw and unpolished yet brimming with devotion, seemed to weave a spell over the room. The women, their faces etched with the lines of hard-won wisdom, felt the tension in their shoulders ease.

Smiles bloomed, tentative at first, then radiant, as if his promise had kindled a spark of hope in their hearts. An elder midwife with silver-streaked hair leaned forward, her eyes glistening with approval, while another clasped her hands together, her expression softened by the warmth of his vow.

Archer handed Evelyn over with a charming smile. ”She’s hungry and wants some time with you, my love,” he revealed.

Leira looked at him and noticed the baby staring at her with a look of love in her big green feline eyes.