A scrapped commission from  FortunataFox

Markem returns home to his missus, meeting his son Mard for the first time.
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The horde returned to Gholand, a journey which took several days. It was just starting to turn fall again, as leaves from the trees began to fall, but were wet enough and uncolored to not make a crunching sound as the army marched. When the army entered Mossflower’s far eastern half, they set their eyes upon the construction site of Gholand, with several vermin hastily trying to raise a single peg of the palisade. Markem set his eyes upon the home, a work in progress, but it made him smile to know things had progressed in his absence. Even ‘Dirt’, who slowly moved to be at Markem’s side was impressed at the work being done. His attention turned to gaze at the forlorn slaves being led along to new work stations and pens of the main vermin encampment, as the new workers were quickly being put to work to sow fields, chop lumbers, and roll in stone slabs from a makeshift quarry in the northern territories. Sitting the middle of the settlement was a large and permanent pavilion, which Markem would have considered too luxurious for himself, but it acted as a decent home for his family. Markem was happy to be home as his horde moved in to settle down, but not for the same reasons.

Markem crested through the camp, with Jarolom and Scarl being dragged away by other duties, as Markem, ‘Dirt’, and ‘Mud’ crested the small hill and entered the main pavilion. When Markem had left, Sheera was with child. When Markem entered the grand pavilion, he froze to see Sheera looking over a crib, sitting near her sleeping infant. The rat pup slept soundly, having a tuft of light brown fur and had its eyes shut. There was a silence like not other, but one which soared the hearts of those who were there. Carefully, Markem slowly came over to the crib, gripping the babe in his paws and lifting it to see him. ‘Dirt’ never seen Markem smile this wide before, and he hugged the sleepy babe close to his shoulder, touching his chainmail armor and giving a low sounding squeak. Sheera took the child and cuddled it in her paws.

Sheera then looked to her husband, giving a faint smile “I waited fer ya to come home, to name him.”

“Is it a boy?”

“Tis is.” The babe’s eyes slowly opened and gave a silent yawn. Markem was happy, and no moment from here to the day he died, could ever steal this away from him. He waved to his offspring, who gave a faint wave back. ‘Dirt’ and ‘Mud’ looked on, for once in their own lives, despite what had happened up till this point, was happy to see their captor happy, taking in all the joys of his fatherhood. Markem began to slowly work up a song, one for which his mother had once sang to him when he was young, and now he shared with the babe held calmly in.

“In days gone by, to where we come from

May yer beds be warm at night,

May ye have good dreams, with no night to bear

May ye seasons give ye strength, and fairer fare

Let yer feet be quick, an yer paws strongboned

May ye freely give, and ye freely take

May ye seasons give ya strength

And give ya fairer fare.”