The female was late in giving birth, and she could sense that. Her body ached, and the process had begun… Each contraction that shook her scared the woman. This whole birthing process was wrong. Marina was scared… she felt almost sick. In sensing that the process was going to begin she’d sent the boys to get something for her pain. Plus she didn’t want Chasm to be there when she began giving birth. She shivered a little, trying to get comfortable as the contractions began to worsen. Her swollen stomach was ready to release the children into the world… for better or worse.

The female shifted a little, feeling a contraction worse than the others take over her form. She shuddered, bracing herself for the process to come. The first pup was no easy matter to give birth to. It took her a good ten minutes, pushing for all she was worth, to finally bring the child into the world. When she did Marina shuddered, turning behind her to look at the little one. Her color was light, so light in fact it was hard to tell the different colors that marked her coat. There were varying shades of white it seemed, but no different as Marina cleaned her newest child. A little girl… a good sized one at that.

“My daughter…” Marina whispered softly. What sort of child was  the youth going to grow to be? There was little time for thinking, for the next two pups, easier to come than their sister, were born a few minutes later. Two males… both with seemingly natural colored markings. “Ochitsu.” Marina named the lighter of the pair. The second one she mulled over for a moment longer, frowning. “Azazel.” It seemed a fitting name for a child of Satan… she shuddered.

The came the fourth set of contractions and before long Marina gave birth to another girl. The colors on her back were already beginning to show thanks to how vibrant they’d be as she aged. Definitely her daughter, Marina thought to herself with a sad smile. She worked on cleaning this pup too, believing herself to be done. Now all she had to do was wait for the boys… maybe call a healer or something… She wasn’t sure what would be the best action. She'd mull over the name of her last child a little bit before deciding.

Off they went, Chasm easily heeding his mother's request, though the boy knew little to nothing about herbs and he wasn't sure what he should be looking for. Despite that he did not complain and quickly him and Bones left the den and out across the snowy territory to search for something for his mother's pain. He siblings were coming and it made him feel somewhat ill. Little did he know he was nervous, weary of getting close to these siblings in fear that it may end the same way it did with his litter mate. Though these siblings father would not be in there lives, at least not to his knowledge anyway. His mother still didn't want to tell him how she became pregnant and he didn't push the matter. She was acting more and more off lately and Chasm was growing worried about it.

He glanced over to bones who led the way, more familiar with the territory then Chasm was. Bones led him to the communal dens and into the dens they went, weaving through the maze of tunnels Bones led him to the healers den which at the moment was vacant. Chasm stopped looking around at the herbs, his eyes widening at all the different ones.

"Bones I have no idea what to get," Chasm said lowly as the devil began rooting around.

The devil huffed before looking through the herbs trying to remember what his mother had taught him of the plants. After a few minutes he picked out Trillium before trotting out, Chasm fallowing behind him. It took them a while to get back and by that time everything was done. The boys slipped into the den Bones dropping the plant at Marina while Chasm stared at his vary tiny siblings.

Her son, or sons, if Bones would allow her to consider himself one of her babies, returned, and Marina brightened a little. Now that the process was over she felt… lighter somehow. As if things might actually be okay. She gave each newborn child a gentle lick, watching as they all nuzzled into her belly and suckled. The fear she felt was evaporating… and with her yearling here she felt stronger. Safer. It should have been Liar at her side… it shouldn’t have been their son… but Marina was endlessly proud of Chasm for doing all that he could for her. Bones as well.

Marina gave a small, grateful nod to Bones as he brought the plant, chewing on a part of it carefully. She knew that with all herbs dosages were important, and though she wasn’t a healer the female knew a smaller or moderate dose would be best. If she took too much she could make herself sick… or possibly worse depending on the plant. Her red and pink eyes trailed to Chasm in that next moment, a proud mother looking over her newest litter and her son from the previous one.

“They’re here, Chasm…” Marina said softly. “The boys have name… Ochitsu… meaning calm in the tongue my mother knew. The other little boy is Azazel.” Though she didn’t tell him why she’d chosen this name. “Your sisters don’t have names yet though. I was hoping you two boys might be able to help me think of something?” She gave a small smile. After all the worrying she’d put them through she was sure she owed them at least that much.

But then… there was something wrong. Another contraction passed over Marina’s body and she gave a soft grunt, glancing at her gut in confusion. “Wh-what?” Alarms had begun sounding in her head. How could it be she wasn’t finishing with the birthing? She’d already had four babies… why were the Gods doing this? The female shifted uneasily, glancing towards her son and Bones. No… they shouldn’t be here.. Not for this…

“Something isn’t right…” Marina whimpered, feeling the pain get worse. Was there a pup stuck somewhere? Was… was she going to make it through okay after all? The beast’s threats sounded in her mind again and Marina flicked her ears back, closing her eyes tightly. “No…” She whispered. “No no… Celeste… Nox… I beg of you… don’t do this…” Invoking the names of the parent Gods was something Marina rarely did, and never before her son. But something was seriously wrong with her and she could feel it. There had to be a pup stuck… and if it was stuck… would it make it either? Or would they die, mother and child, in the way they were?

Paladin 'Knight' Ancora

He had been on his patrol when he caught the scent of birth. Paladin’s ears perked, and he spun to race back to the cave system. It didn’t take him long to gather what he felt he’d need for a birthing, both smooth and problematic. He’d assisted with two, including Yalamaya’s birth, and had helped a third new mother with only slight guidance. He was the only healer within range at the moment. Solveiga seemed to be in the moor, perhaps gathering what she could find in the snowy weather, and he wasn’t sure where Kalliope was. He hadn’t seen much of the others that shared his profession in the pack, though the Nomads, who were wintering with Celestial, were ever present. He valued their presence greatly. Kavamaya had presented a suggestion of how to kick his mother out of her deep depression. He was willing to try anything by now. He shook his mind as he slid to a stop outside the female’s den, barking softly through the rabbit hide wrapped around the herbs. The whimper gave him pause, however, and it sounded like she was in trouble.  He didn’t wait, slipping his slim frame into the den and squeezing in beside the young male. He settled his bundle down, taking a good look at his patient in the dim shadows. There were strong contractions, but there was no progression. She already had a few pups at her side. “My name is Paladin. I’m one of the healers in the pack, a Cleric. If I may examine you, we’ll see if we can’t get this little one back on track, mm?” His brogue-laden baritone was warm and soothing, and he waited for her permission before stepping forward and gently resting a paw over her belly, just under her thigh if she allowed. A contraction rippled under his pads, and he thought he could feel a lump that shouldn’t be there in a normal birthing. So, the whelp was sideways. Barring its own path to the canal. He smiled softly, despite the problematic situation. “Someone doesn’t want to come out. Your pup is aligned wrong. I’m going to try turning it into line, alright?” Sapphire and amethyst eyes flicked to her face as he bent to nudge the plants he knew she’d need. Something to kill the pain, and something to keep her strong. ”Chew those. They’ll keep you from weakening, and ease the pain. If you’ve already had something to help with either, though, let me know.”

Marina had rarely been more afraid than she was now. The thought of death, the thought of leaving behind not one, but five young children, four newly born… It terrified her. It terrified her perhaps more than anything had ever terrified her in her life. She had hardly noticed another wolf arrive, at least until he spoke. Then her wild pink-red eyes turned towards him, a low whimper escaping the mother. She was getting too old for this, dammit. “P-please… If you can help… do so…” Her words were quiet and almost child-like on their own. She waited, hoping, praying to the Gods that this male had enough healing expertise to help her birth her, hopefully last, little one.

Hearing that the pup was aligned wrong well, wasn’t exactly a pleasant thing to hear. Marina kept her ears pinned back, giving another whine. She didn’t care what he had to do… she just didn’t want this to end badly. But as he nosed the plants towards her Marina paused, speaking through pants. “My sons brought me something for pain already… this plant.” The female said, motioning with her muzzle towards the trillium in the mixture. She was still breathing hard, trying her best to keep calm so she didn’t make the healer’s job any harder on him.