CELESTE

They had moved the band slightly more south into the valley. Closer to Ashen, closer to their grandmum, and into lusher areas where the pups will have space to roam. And honestly, it was as far as Celeste was going to make it since they weren’t moving directly into Ashen Lands. These dang pups were giving her agony! Restless sleep, so much kicking, and pain. She kept telling Cy that she couldn’t wait for them to be out of her damn body, but now that the day was here, she was scared shitless.

Unsure of where Cy was, the petite woman let out a loud groan. “Someone? Anyone? Oki? Ulmaria? Zoey? Fuck, Arne? HELLO?” Her voice died to a hoarse almost scream-cry as the horned leader plopped into a shallow den in the side of a hill deep in the valley. The shade felt nice and for once, laying the dirt didn’t bother her. She wasn’t sure if Oki could even make it since Cy was also due. God, they didn’t plan this well did they?

Another groan left her as she shut her eyes tightly. These pups weren’t going to wait for anyone. Lost in a daze, again unsure if anyone would come to her aid, Celeste kept her eyes close and cheek shoved into the dirt as these pups made their way into the world. The first was a boy, a lot larger than she was expecting and covered in black, white, and red which she was expecting. A whisper of a smile graced her lips as she pushed him to her belly. The second was a decently large girl coated in brown… brown? With fiery orange-red speckles. Okay, maybe the color was from Oki’s side. She was cute nonetheless and Celeste nudged her next to her sister.

Completely exhausted and ready to be done, Celeste almost didn’t notice the last and the smallest. She was basically a patchwork version of Oki and she couldn’t help but chuckle at how tiny the girl was. ”Oh your father will love this,” she whispered as she ensured the tiniest of the three was alive, breathing, and able to eat next to her way larger siblings. After what felt like an eternity, her pups were here and they still needed names! Oh, what were they going to name these little ones?

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Ulmaria tossed and turned, eventually waking to find her paws soaked with sweat. She scowled. The heck was that all about? Vague images flashed through her mind but she couldn't quite recall what she'd been dreaming about nor was she sure she wanted to. She got to her feet and shook out her coat, glancing over at the dying fire which had only a few wisps of smoke to offer into the sky. Ahhh right… she'd been steeping some herbs in ceramic bowls near the fire and had fallen asleep.

Shoot, well, she still had work to do and there was no time like the present. After a good stretch Ulmaria trotted back to the den site to grab more supplies when she caught the scent of blood and… what was that? Ulmaria followed her nose and quickly realized the scent belonged to Celeste. Oh dear, was she having the pups?

Ulmaria raced the source of the scent, not sure if she was going to be of any help. She was trained in tending to injuries and basic ailments like colds and bug bites. Birthing was entirely foreign to her. "Celeste? Is everything ok? Do you need anything?" She settled out side the den entrance on her belly, cautiously peeking in.


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Zoey had noticed changes in her leader’s appearance for a while now. Her belly the most obvious; it had swelled to an unusually large size for the normally petite, streamlined femme, and the girl found herself a bit worried. Well, it wasn’t like she was wholly unaware of the birds and the bees and all that - she understood the basics - but she supposed she had never seen someone, well, pregnant before. Same with Cyanide, who had been even more tired and grumpy than she normally was. The two of them looked sick and miserable, and Mister Kuroki looked all the more confused as the days and weeks went by. Well, all pregnancies ended in birth, she knew, and that day had come. At least for Celeste, but she didn’t know where Cyanide had gone. Perhaps the two of them wished to have their pups privately.

Zoey had fallen asleep near Ulmaria, having been lulled into a deep slumber by the scent of steeping herbs her frriend had simmered over a small fire. When the cries of their leader rang out into the air, Zoey had shot upright at almost the same time Ulmaria had, blinking away the drowsiness from her eyes as shereached for her goggles and hastily slipped them over her head. She was having them now. Like, right now. Zoey glanced at her packmate, who she knew had healing experience, as if she might have a clue what to do. But trailing after her at a rapid lope, they reached the den Cel had made out for her birthing spot. Zoey’s eyes widened at the sight of the blood, a faint look of horror crossing her eyes - out of concern for Celeste, and out of the naïvete of having never seen a live birth before. She crouched by Ulmaria, frowning and brow furrowed as she added, "Miss Cel? Would you like any water? Or extra furs?" She knew the new mother might need hydration. And maybe some extra cushioning. But beyond that, she didn’t have any experience in tending to newborn pups. Or new mothers.

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Art & Code © Skelle 2023

Aw shit. Kuroki ran back to Cel's den, cursing under his breath at the little crowd gathering outside. He gently nudged Zoe out of the way, making sure to flick his tail at her in a playful jest before he bonked Ulmaria just as affectionately. Man he was stressed, this dad stuff was hard work. "Cel, you good?" He knew better than to barge in on her, since she was awake and might bite his face off. But there were little beans in there and he had to have a look. "'Cuse me, I'm just gonna-oop sorry." He wriggled in as much as he could, his dire size being a hindrance more than a help in this situation. And then he saw them, the little beans, all koi-ish in their own way. Awwww.

Celeste

Being as out of it as she was, Celeste still lifted her head as she heard the approach of Ulmaria and Zoey. A weak smile graced her lips as the two girls offered help in their own ways. “Some water might be nice,” her voice is tender as she turns her attention back to the three little wiggling beans at her belly. Letting out a sigh of relief as she closes her eyes for a moment, she would have dozed off if it wasn’t for Oki attempting to fit his large bum in her hidey hole.

Concern broke out over her expression as she half-smiled, half-frowned at him. She was excited to show him their babies, but also worried that Cy was doing okay too. “They still need names,” Cel said softly as she continued to stare at him a moment longer. “Is she okay? Are her pups okay?” She couldn’t hold back any longer, she had to know if their half-siblings had made it out alive. “We can send Ulmaria or Zoey over to keep her company or you can, whatever is easiest,” her jaw clenches as she nudges her own pups once more to ensure they were still alive too.

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Ulmaria was relieved when Zoey arrived. Thank goodness she didn't have to flail about alone as she tried to find some way to be of service. Her ears flicked back at the sound of approach and she turned to see Kuroki who squeezed past her and Zoey and down into the den. Ulmaria hesitated, then looked to Zoey. "Should we give them some privacy? I have a water skin at my den." She stood and moved toward her den, looking to see if Zoey would follow. Maybe she could gather some other items as well though the trouble with a nursing mother was Ulmaria wasn't sure what painkillers would and would not transfer through breast milk, so perhaps it was best to keep their services small and certain for now.


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