The female was in the middle of labor, her breathing hard, though she hadn’t called for Leo. The Spanish dame wasn’t ready to bring him into the den, not when she hadn’t yet brought their children into the world. Though there was pain pulsing through her body Carletta felt happy too… an excitement mingling with the not so good feeling. But how could there not be those feel good feelings too? Her family with Leo was almost here…!

About half an hour later Carletta had a single bundle by her side, breathing in and out slowly as she looked upon her firstborn daughter. She knew that Leo would be back soon, maybe even worried for her and the newborns… who knew having children would be this hard and yet… wonderful?

Carletta licked the little furball, nosing her to her teat to nurse. She looked a lot like Leo… orangey with white. “I can’t wait til he meets you…” Her voice was full of pride. Whether Leo was on his way back or not, she decided it was okay to bring him in now. Even if she still had children to bear… she wanted him to meet their first precious bundle.

Leo knew that their pups would be here any day now. Really he had just begun the waiting game and had become hard to even leave Carletta's side. The only reason he really left her now was to hunt for the two of them and Ambrosio or to play with their adoptive son. He was happy that Ambrosio had come into their lives so close to when their own pups would be coming into the world so that they could all grow up together. He let go of the young doe that he had managed to hunt, letting it fall to the ground a few feet from the den. It had been more difficult to find food now that winter had firmly set in, covering everything in a fairly thick layer of snow, so he couldn't pass up the chance to bring this back for his family even though it had been a slightly more challenging kill. He walked over to the den, taking a look around to look for Ambrosio, but before he could spot the cub be noticed the obvious cries and squeaks coming from the den. His ears perked and he quickly ducked his head into the den, his sapphire gaze landing on the little pup laying at Carletta's stomach. He was so surprised by the sudden appearance of their first child that he didn't even know what to say at first. A huge smile spread over his lips while his tail wagged wildly behind him. His eyes went up to Carletta's as he slipped into the den and settled down on his stomach next to her, covering her cheeks and forehead with small kisses. "Carletta, she's beautiful, my love," he said softly as if his talking might disturb the pup that seemed to be quickly falling asleep. He looked down at their first child, his smile growing a bit wistful as he noticed the little girl's coloring that was a fair bit deeper and more red-toned than his own. It reminded him so much of Amalia, though he wondered if it might become even more red like his father. The spots were a bit harder to see since she was still so small, but he thought that she might have the same spots that Roza and Heather had shared as well. "Talk" "You" Think

The boy wasn't always the easiest to keep tabs on but he did stay near his adoptive parents at least for the most part. There was a weird smell close to the den though and he wasn't sure if he liked it. He lay right now hidden behind a larger tree close to the den. His blue eyes kept a watch out for Leo who had been out hunting once more. It always seemed to take so long for him to come back, but why that was didn't occur to him.

Ambrossio seemed to be abound with energy no matter what either parent did either. With him growing and them being a little older it was a wonder they didn't make him find a playmate or they didn't try to find a younger playmate for him. As leo returned he was quick to bound to his feet and drop into a crouch. His favorite play thing so far was their big bushy tails. It was a wonder they weren't balding from his antics either. But just as he started to creep forward, Leo moved, right into the den. The den was too litlle he felt like for pouncing games, but when you were bored what was one too do? Pounce of course!

He ignored the doe that leo brought home, seeing as no one had broke its tougher hide yet, Making right for the den entrance. He had ignored the howl earlier completely, it wasn't for him. She'd of just called for him if it was. Though she was laying down and he completely missed what Leo said and the sight of the squirming thing. Her head was now the focus of his games. Boredom was their worst enemy with him. He stalked through the shadows and towards her from the backside. One. Two. NOW! A spring of his legs sent him flying with a yowl of excitement right for her head,his back paws aiming to land right on her side. "GOTCHA!!!!!"

Whoa. but hold on. As he flew for her from the side of his eye he spotted the squirmy thing. What was that?! Even as he landed he stopped what would of most certainly been a chewing of her ear, sliding from her back with his eyes now on the thing. That had to be the strangest thing he had seen yet. He placed his front paw on Carletta's belly with the other extended aiming to poke at the thing with his other forepaw. "EWWWWW! Its all wet! Wha' is tha' thing?! It's so weird!" Had she pooped it out? That was disgusting!

Carletta felt a swell of pride rearing within her as Leo entered the den. His affections were welcomed, and the female began wagging her tail, hitting it on the ground. “She is. So very, very beautiful.” The femme pressed back against Leo slightly, feeling his warmth and presence in a way that was comforting. She was sure that they’d have more than one child, but how many was another story entirely. They’d already been blessed with Ambrosio too. The cub was a surprise, but Carletta loved him as one of her own already.

Carletta was startled when their little one came bounding into the den, however. She hadn’t even noticed their son until the yowl of excitement and then, next thing she knew, there were little paws upon her body. The female breathed out a small grunt of pain due to where he landed but didn’t mind it much -- she was sure it had just been the feelings of birthing upon her.

...and then her son’s curiosity came in. Carletta let out a soft, slightly pained chuckle. “That’s your new little sister, Ambrosio.” Her words, even now, were touched with her Spanish accent. “...more are… coming too.’ Another contraction racked across her body, shaking her form and making the female whimper.

“Amb, can you move to sit with daddy?” She asked softly.

Leo hadn't noticed the cub till it was far too late to stop him from launching his forepaws dangerously close to his sister's head. His fur stood on end with worry when he heard Carletta's small grunt of pain. He wanted to be mad at Ambrosio and scold him for doing such a thing, but the child's exclamation about being grossed out by the pup being wet just made him sigh and shake his head. He couldn't be mad at the boy when all he ever wanted to do was play. Leo quickly realized he should have explained all of this to his adoptive son before now, but it was little too late for that. His ears perked and he glanced toward his mate when she mentioned that more were coming. He reached over to Ambrosio and scooped the boy up by his scruff, placing him back down on the oposite side of him from Carletta, giving the top of his head a lick. "You need to be very gentle with your new siblings, okay? When they get bigger you can play with them all you want, but right now you'll hurt them very easily. Right now we just need to be very supportive for mom because she has to work very hard to have the rest of the puppies," he quickly explained. He was ready to grab Ambrosio again just in case the cub tried to pounce on anyone again, but he turned most of his focus back to Carletta, giving her soothing licks over the back of her ears. "Talk" "You" Think