She had lingered as long as she could in Tortuga, because that had been where her family was for the longest. Now that Taurig was gone, and his followers with him, she had no idea where to find Viridiana or Zara. She had missed her chance to ask them questions, and it seemed that they were gone for good. And so the Sovari would wander, following the only familiar scents that she had left - that of Taurig, of Maija and their close knit faction of wolves that were now rogue. The ivory dame did not know the reason for them abandoning the pack, but perhaps she could get answers, as well as ask whether they had seen any traces of the Sovari that had lived among them.


If not, she would ask to stay with them. A taste of proper pack life had gotten her used to the sounds of others. Gentle paw steps of those that she could call allies, the subtle voices of wolves having conversations just ahead or behind her. The calls of those coming to and from the borders, she wasn't quite ready to live without it. And so she would slowly make the swim beneath the moonlight, the chilly water soaking her fur, but not freezing her - even though it was winter the southern lands were relatively warm.


When she reached the island's beaches she would howl for someone's attention. There wasn't exactly a hierarchy here that she was aware of, but she didn't want to be an intruder. But the little woman held no less respect for Taurig and his wife - a pack was a pack, even if they had to give themselves their own name, right?

The lone howl had reached the golden temptress's ears. Maija had been walking through the trees, enjoying the solitude and privacy the island provided before the sound broke through the silence. The familiar scent of Io reached her nose and she slipped through the untangled undergrowth to reappear on the beach. Sand sank through her toes as she went from the greenery to the grainy shore, but she didn't mind. Leaf green eyes didn't show much emotion, but a sliver of warmth appeared at the female's presence. One of the differences that stood out from the last time Maija and Io had seen each other was the former Queen's belly. The golden lady looked like she had food stored in her stomach, as it protruded from both sides of her body and made her look unbalanced. However, she walked across the beach with a steady gait as she approached the wet newcomer. "Io," she softly said, Romanian tones curling around the girl's name. "So good to see you...it has been awhile. I was hoping you would turn up eventually." Oh yes, Maija had been aware that Io hadn't made the journey with the rest of their pack. To see her made Maija's heart internally smile. Speech,

The last time that she had seen Maija she had just been enstated as Tortuga's queen. Now though, the woman was a rogue - but she still held an air about her that the albino couldn't help but admire. It was respectable whatever it was, and Io enjoyed the feeling - and as the golden female approached her, she would lower her head in a bow. "I have been looking for you and your followers." Tortuga was not her home without them, without her family and the wolves that she had learned to look after. The healer was glad to be among wolves that she found familiar - in the end, it was probably what she wanted the most. Something constant, something stable. And that was what she felt she could have if she stayed with this group - she had failed to attain it with her own family. "I take it Viridiana and Zara are not here." She did not smell the Sovari on this island, but there was always the chance that they were hiding further in, masked by the smell of salt and island flora.


Looking the woman over for a moment, she seemed to be doing well - as healthy as any soon to be mother could be. It was then that the albino's eyes would widen slightly, and her lips would lift into a somewhat sheepish smile. "Ah, Congratulations miss Maija, on the litter." They had not been born yet, but the golden fae would surely have a couple of healthy pups at least. "Do you have a guess, as to how many there are?" She would tilt her head just slightly with the question, her magenta gaze meeting the other she wolf's as she did.

As Io spoke, Maija's brows furrowed in response to a twang of pain. She let her face smooth itself as she let her attention focus on Io's explanation. Her tail lightly swayed behind her as she was told that Io was looking for them. Another spout of pain made her wince slightly, but she acted as if it hadn't happened and said, "I'm glad that you were...able to find us." The pause between words was another indicator of the pain, but she cleared her throat and continued to carry on the conversation. "Unfortunately, I haven't seen them directly, Io. However, I wouldn't be surprised if they slipped in without us knowing." A sliver of a smile appeared on her lips, but slightly faltered when she felt another piercing slash of pain. Her leaf green eyes began to shimmer as she realized what was starting to happen, but she answered Io's litter question anyway. "Thank you, Io. I was quite surprised myself...I think there may be at least three...They have been heavy for the past couple of weeks." It was then that the worst pain so far sliced through Maija's middle and her legs began to wobble. A sharp intake of breath and a whimper followed tu suite before she looked up with squinting green eyes. "...and I think they are ready to come..." Her eyes shimmered with worry as she voiced, "But...Io...they can't be born out here, can they? Ack!" She shook again from the pain and tried to stand, intending to walk back to the green knoll. "I don't...want sand all over the place.." The journey to where the grass and sand came together was not long, but excruciating for the golden vixen. Her eyes were squinty from the pain, but she didn't verbalize any more how horrible it was. When all four paws were gracefully stepping across the grass, she felt more relieved about her babies being born. She lowered herself to the ground beneath the shade of an overgrown tree and rested on her left side. The pain rippled through her abdomen and across the rest of her body. It was agonizing, but she didn't make a sound or voice any type of words to indicate that the contractions hurt. Instead, she looked up to Io and softly said, "They are close together and I can feel my babies moving..." Maija was a first time mother, but she was aware of the children arriving. Oh, if only Taurig was there to share with this experience! Where was her mate anyway? Speech,

She had gotten into the habit of wandering around the island, looking for nothing in particular, but making sure nothing was out of place. Her father had taken Tortuga and returned Maija, so far they had lived in peace. Brother had been missing, remaining out of sight. Idly she wondered if he would call the pack together, they were now all rogues, but had banded together. A soft sight slipped from her lips. She had not seen Maija since their return to the island when they had all parted ways. It was obvious that the woman would be soon giving birth. She had grown round with pups. Paws pressed into the earth, her golden woman's scent invading her nostrils. She was nearby. Perhaps she should check in on the woman, make sure everything was fine. As she grew closer, another scent invaded her nose, a foreign one. A cry filled her ears, causing her defenses to immediately rise. Lips curled back as legs propelled her forward. It did not take long for the the russet queen to make her appearance. She found an albino woman and her Queen laying down, the beginnings of labor claiming her. Emerald pools would assess the woman, wary of her presence, did Maija know her? "Maija, is everything alright?" She kept a respectable distance, not wanting to invade her space, eyes shifted between the pregnant Queen and the albino woman, eyes narrowing a fraction. "Who are you?" Tones were neutral, holding only the subtlest of warnings. Talk like this

Io was surprised that the queen had noticed her among the many during the pack's meetings, but she would nod, glad that she was a welcome presence despite their lack of previous conversation. Yet the golden woman would pause, her face would shift for just a moment into a pained expression. She knew that the queen had looked like she could have her pups at any moment, but she hadn't expected them to come at that moment! The albino's eyes would widen, before she would forcefully calm herself down and nod, helping best she could in leading Maija to a grassier more shaded area. She wished that she had brought her herbs with her, but she was too far away from them now - if she left, she would leave Maija to have these children alone.


But that would not be the case either - another female, one that was at the last meeting and Io recognized, would step toward the two of them . It seemed that she, unlike Maija, didn't put her face to memory. It was alright - the healer understood, she had no reason to before. "She is doing well for a woman about to give birth." She would answer the russet female before introducing herself. "Io Sovari, a medic. I can help with the birthing should it be something Maija wants." If she was a more solitary, protective mother she would give her space - but she wanted to be there, especially since this seemed to be Maija's first time having kids.

The pups were due any day now and the King had been trying to stick as close to Maija as possible without suffocating her or smothering her. She probably appreciated that he wanted to stick so close to her, but it was probably wasn't that nice having your husband try and follow you anywhere and everywhere. So that day the once Re allowed his wife to wander off that night. The growing pains from the pregnancy had gotten to be much for his golden Queen and she had mentioned something about heading to the shoreline to take a cool dip. Isardis had kept his word to leave his people in peace, so the usual paranoia that would plague his mind was laid to rest for the time being. As he sat outside their den, quietly waiting for her return, a familiar voice was rise into the moonlit atmosphere; Io. The albino medic he had met when he had first taken Tortuga. She had followed them here? Curiously, the man would rise from his position, ebony limbs pulling him towards the sound of the call. But he would head in the direction he had expected. Instead of moving towards the shoreline where her voice had originated from, he would be curving in-land, her scent mixed with Maija's. So the two woman had met up? Brows would furrow with slight confusion as he would continue to move towards the scent, catching a new one along the way; Sibelle. What was his sister doing with Maija and Io? He knew she had taken a liking to Maija, but did she follow the golden woman like he did? She is doing well for a woman about to give birth. He would catch the tail end of the albino medic's words, his heart leaping into his throat. Birth. Maija was about to give birth. Maija, my treasure, is it true? He would stop at a distance, hoping that Sibelle would approach him to lead him to Maija, not wanting to step all over her or Io. Talk like this

Ooc: Puppies can post after this post!!!!! Sorry ahead of time -- phone post

Maija's leaf green eyes searched the faces of the two females. They obviously cared about the situation and the wolves involved. Mentally, she felt relieved that she had pack members wjo cared about what happened to her wellbeing. She silently nodded to Io's question -- of course she wanted her there! Who else knew enough to make sure her babies came out healthy? The scent of her husband made her attention divert to his approaching form. Her tail slowly began to thump, but the action was disrupted by another wave of pain. This time, with squinted eyes, she gave a high whine as her answer to his question. Her claws dug into the ground and made small rows in the dirt. The pain was too much this time around and she slowly squirmed as she got ready to move the babies inside of her womb. They were on their way, whether she was ready or not. speech here

The albino woman wasted no time in introducing herself. A medic. Muscles relaxed, tension leaving her body, emerald pool watching the golden woman with concern. Pain creased her features. Nostrils flared, taking in the scent of her brother. He had been quick to arrive, his timing perfect. She approached her brother, pressing into his shoulder. He would want to be near his wife. She would keep close to his side, steering him in the correct direction. She would lead him around Maija, bringing him to a spot where he would lay along her spine if he so wished. With that she would step away, taking a spot beside the healer woman. It was not her place to intrude, but if Maija wanted her here then she would stay, otherwise she would leave and come back once the new had settled in ad rested. Tail swayed at her hocks, concern lighting her features. Her thoughts raged, uncertain about what she should do. She never had any experience with this sort of thing, she and no idea what expectant mothers wanted. Her mask didn't waiver, despite the the chaos that battled in her mind. Talk like this

[ ooc: hope you don't mind the slight pp of maija but i figured she'd do it anyway. ]

With her massive size, it was certain that she would cause her mother unwelcomed grief as she was expelled from the only sanctuary she had ever known; yet, unknowingly, the babe would essentially aide the golden queen in the process as she slipped easily from her confines with little to no physical or verbal protest. Even as her mother?s tongue swiped across her matted fur to rid it of the remnants from her womb, encouraging her to fill her lungs with oxygen, the child?s jaws remained sealed, nostrils quivering minutely as her nasal passages flooded with unrecognizable scents. One aroma in particular, however, did pique the tyke?s interest, instinct only fueling the urge to track it as she slowly writhed towards it, unfazed by the new bodies that crowded around her as her mother proceeded with the task of childbirth. After what seemed like minutes to the babe, she breached her destination, hunger parting her slavering jaws before she latched onto the sole source of nutrients to quench her undying thirst.

The contractions that swept across Maija's body pushed the babies closer to the outside world. Bellatrix was the first one to make it, but numbers didn't mean anything to this certain pup. As she left the warm, crowded world that consisted of her and her siblings, she was welcomed to the cold reality of what she would learn to live with. Pandora Selene Artenie didn't try to squirm her way back inside her mother. She didn't want to cling to the past and fight the battles that didn't matter. Instead, as she squirmed her way across the grass and fur textures, she began the journey of a pup who desired knowledge and started to try and remember what those first few seconds of life felt like. All she could get was a smell that stung her nose, a floor that felt weedy, and her mama's body was warm. The scent that radiated from the fur she touched was her mother's and she embraced it. Taurig's and Sibelle's scents were familiar in some ways, but Pandora still couldn't determine who they were. All in good time. Maija cleaned her off as she found her way to her mother's side without any help. She felt the warmth of Bella's body beside her, but focused on finding the tit that would supply her with food. Milk came and she ate as if her life depended on it. Blind eyes remained closed as she enjoyed her first meal as an oxygen-breathing wolf in the outside world. After she ate, the young pup with Taurig's coat of blue fur settled in for consuming sleep. Her markings weren't obvious then, but as she grew overtime, they would stand out like sore thumbs. Talk like this