Surreal Adravendi

The time had finally arrived. She, Regulus, and Zuriel had been gathering grasses and mosses and piling the materials in the very den that had seen her own birth since three days past. A thick, comfortable padding of the materials now layered the furthest point from the alcove mouth, at a point where she could see directly into the main entrance chamber. She was lounging in the wide area of the ravine when the first cramps rippled through her insides. Faint, and inconsistent at first, then beginning to gain strength and becoming more predictable. She smiled, waiting until the newest contraction had passed before pulling herself to her paws. She lifted her head and sang a call for her children and mate, before climbing the natural stone steps into the main chamber and taking a right into her alcove. She settled comfortably, counting the time between the contractions, gladly anticipating the moment when she’d see her newest brood. By the time her family arrived, she was in full blown labor. She rode out the pain with deep breaths, her mind fully centered on her task. And at last, the firstborn crowned. Unlike with Regulus’ birth, this firstborn came with moderate ease. In very little time, the dark male slipped free with a final push. Surreal rose and took the male pup in her jaws, transporting him gently to her side before working him over with her tongue until he squeaked vigorously. A smile bloomed on Surreals face as she leaned back, her side against the wall, resting until it would be time to get to work again. Her eyes lifted to her mates face. “A healthy male.” Soon enough, the contractions returned, and she sank into her task with single minded intensity. The next pup came swiftly, slipping free. She turned to greet the new life and paused as she caught her first glimpse of her new daughter. Hm. Her head cocked slightly, then she took the little female and cleaned her thoroughly, tongue rasping until she drew a squeal that assured a strong life. She smiled, pleased, and nudged the newest born to her side before leaning back once more. She rested a few minutes, then called out to the older siblings, warmth thick on her voice. “Regulus, Zuriel. You can come see them now. Come meet your new brother and sister.” She had wanted to keep their new siblings as much of a visual surprise as she could, but would have called her daughter for help had something felt wrong. But she had wanted them to view the new pups at the same time. As Regulus’ big head poked into the alcove, and his sapphires landed on his new siblings, Surreal watched those eyes pop wide as they landed on his little sister. And then the exclamation popped out of her dear, wonderfully sweet, wonderfully innocent, eldest son. “SHE’S PINK!” Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Falk had been sticking close to Surreal as of late. He knew it would be any day now and he couldn't in good conscious leave her alone. However, he did go just a short distance away with Zuriel to help her look for herbs for Surreal's birth just in case she should need them. He was slowly beginning to pick up on what was what, but it was hard work. He didn't know how his daughter did it. The way she easily distinguished so many herbs and their uses at just a year old was amazing. He was standing by Zuriel as she carefully picked several leaves from their latest find when Surreal's howl went out. His head darted up and his ears perked. His daughter quickly told him to go on and she would follow behind him. He nodded and hurried to turn toward the sound and raced forward toward the den. Luckily there were far fewer trees here to get in the way than there were in the Willows. He remembered the layout of this area pretty well anyway from their time here in Valhalla, but he had spent several days when they first arrived just learning his way around by smell and sound. It took him just a few moments to reach the large stone den and then he followed his mate's scent till he found her. He came over to lay beside her and smiled a little as memories of the birth of their first litter came to mind. He didn't feel nearly as frazzled as he did the first time, but he was still just as worried. He gave her as much comfort and support as he could, giving her gentle licks across her ears and neck. Soon enough their first pup from this litter arrived and a wide, proud grin spread across his lips when she told him it was a boy. Another son! His tail thumped against the ground while he tried to ignore the deep sadness that settled over him. He'd never get to see these pups or any of their future children. He'd never even know how Regulus or Zuriel, or Faite for that matter if she ever returned to them, would look all grown up. It was something he would have to live with for the rest of his life and was one of the things he hated the most about his condition. Surreal wouldn't say anything to him about the next child before he called for their oldest, but he knew the pup was healthy by the squeal that cut through the air. "...brother and sister." A daughter then! His expression softened and he dipped his large head down to carefully sniff each of their new pups and gently rasp his tongue lovingly over each of them. Even if he couldn't see them, he still loved them both so deeply. He didn't know his heart had room for so much love until he became a father. However, when his oldest son appeared and exclaimed about the color of his new sister he was distracted from all of these sappy thoughts. His ears perked and he turned a confused gaze toward Surreal. "Pink?! What does he mean by pink?" he asked, honestly amused by the thought, but still confused as to how the two of them could now only make a red son but now a pink daughter! Speech Thought Others

Regulus had been pacing in the main chamber since he’d arrived to his mothers call. She’d told him and Zuriel to wait in the chamber unless she needed Zuriel. So he had nothing to do but wait. But he couldn’t sit still. How long was this supposed to take? So he had begun pacing. Cinder was watching from the edge of the chamber, grooming her paws. ”Gee, Reg, you’re going to wear a hole in the ground.” Her amused comment he ignored. Then, a really weird sound came from the birthing chamber. It was loud, squeaky. His mothers voice came, and his ears perked to catch her words. A male. He had a little brother? He started forward, then altered his course to continue pacing as he remembered he was supposed to wait until his mother called. He paused next to his sister. "Cad a cheapann tú Breathnaíonn sé cosúil? Cé mhéad a cheapann tú go bhfuil?" He couldn’t help the bit of anxiety in his voice. Then, a sudden squeal, a new voice, split the air, dragging his ears forward. And then, finally their mother called them. He started forward, taking one side of the alcove opening, letting his sister take the other side, and poked his head into the alcove, nose twitching curiously as the very strange new smells filled his nostrils. He smothered the need to sneeze and looked at the new little shapes wriggling at his mothers side, nuzzling into her belly. One looked like wet, dark stone. The other… His deep sapphires landed on the pale little body. He didn’t think first. The surprise just yanked the yelp out of his jaws. ”SHE’S PINK!” That got Cinder to abandon her grooming and come scampering up between his front paws to peer around the edge of the alcove. His exclamation confused the heck out of their father. He wasn’t quite sure how to explain it. But from what he could see of his newborn sister, she didn’t have a dark spot on her anywhere. He could see his mothers eyes twinkling, and could see that she was trying very hard not to burst out laughing. So he decided that she would be the best one to explain. If she didn’t start laughing too hard to talk, that was. "Talk" "You" Think

Zuriel trotted into the den with a bundle of herbs between her teeth just in time to have their mother tell her and her brother to wait outside of the alcove. She almost protested and she would have had her mother not added that she would call for her if Zuriel was needed. The slender girl whined unhappily and settled on her haunches before finally setting her herbs down at her paws. Regulus didn't do as well at sitting still as she did. He paced back and forth while his cat friend groomed herself off to the side. Her eyes never wavered from the opening of the alcove and her ears stayed turned forward to listen for any and every noise that came from it. She very nearly jumped to her paws when a puppy squeal rang out through the cavern, but she forced herself to stay still. At her brother's questioning she gave a little shrug and glanced toward him out of the corner of her eye. "Níl a fhios agam ... níl aon bhealach a insint sula mbíonn siad a rugadh." Her answer was very honest, but she didn't feel much like joking or guessing right now. Several moments passed before another squeal caught her attention. Her paws shuffled anxiously until finally their mother's voice called them forward to meet their new siblings. She followed in behind Regulus so she barely even got her eyes on the pups before Reg exclaimed ridiculously about their new sister's coloring. Zuriel eyed their new siblings questioningly and, sure enough, one of the pups had a definite pink hue to her. But, upon closer inspection, she saw that the pup wasn't completely pink like Regulus was red. It was just her skin was was pink. In places where the newborn's fur was a bit thicker it was clearly white. Zuriel grinned a little and glanced at her brother with a chuckle before going over to get a closer look at the puppies. She had heard of wolves with pink skin before in all of the studies she had done with their grandmother, but she had no idea why their sibling was like this. She would leave that explaining to her mother. Instead she eased onto her haunches near the pups, peering curiously at the tiny bundles of fur. Even with as much as she knew about healing and such she still couldn't quite understand how something so tiny could grow up to be as big as they were. Tá siad chomh gleoite! she said happily, her tail brushing against the ground behind her. "Talk" "You" Think

Surreal Adravendi

It was indeed very difficult not to burst out laughing at the confused expressions of her mate and elder son. Falk asked what Regulus meant, and Regulus looked like he’d very much like to hear the explanation himself. Surreal chuckled. “This time it’s your fault, Love. Our little girl is an albino. A beautiful little rose of white and blush.” The adoration in her voice said she didn’t care one bit that their daughter was the same hue as Falks father. Their little girl would be raised with love, and taught the very things to prevent her becoming like her grandfather. She smiled as Zuriel came closer to inspect the newborns, both as a healer and as a big sister. “They are, indeed. It will be interesting to see their personalities as they grow.” She looked down at the two wriggling forms against her belly, a soft smile on her jowls. Her eyes turned up to Regulus. “Could you see if you can get anything to eat? I’m still going to be out of order until your new siblings are able to leave the den. Not right away, now. You can come in to see them if you like.” She stretched and leaned back against the wall, feeling a wave of exhaustion roll through her. It was a contented sort of exhaustion, however. Her task was completed, and the fruits of her efforts were perfect in her eyes. Her head lowered to her paw and her eyes slid shut of their own volition, sleep whisking its way into her mind. Yes, she was contented. And she would be sleeping for hours. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Falk fell silent when his mate explained the confusion behind their newest daughter's coloration. Albino. She was right, this time it was entirely his fault. It seemed he hadn't escaped Isardis' genes after all. He couldn't quite sort out how he felt about this new development. He paid close attention to his family's reactions, from the adoration in Surreal's voice to the happy tone of Zuriel's. He couldn't quite understand what his oldest daughter said since he still hadn't quite grasped that language that Erani and Surreal had taught them, but what ever it was it didn't seem like it was anything negative. He carefully sniffed at each of their new pups again and smiled a little. Her being albino didn't change a thing... besides the fact that he was going to be even more protective of her now. If anyone said a single thing negative about her... they should expect all hell to rain down on them. When she instructed Regulus to go hunting for them he gave a little nod of approval of this plan. "Zuriel, you can go finish collecting your herbs if you want to. I'll keep an eye on them." Figuratively of course, but he was sure they were safe here. He curled his body protectively around Surreal's as she began to drift off to sleep. They were officially a family of six... seven if Faite came back. The fact that he was not only a father, but a father to five children was just amazing to him. Speech Thought Others