--MOONS OF JUPITER--
The path she'd pushed through it was less than conspicuous, but with the fast recovery rate of the territory it would be back to normal within a week or so, but the Sol knew that she was not so lucky. Her life would forever be changed--by both the pups in her womb and the paranoia that haunted her mind.
So many things to do, so many measures to take, but damn it, she was pregnant and there had been nothing that she could have changed about that except in this moment. It had been looming over her like a giant, casting a shadow of dread and pitch, and with the very questioning thought of where it was it began.
The first convulsion ripped down her body and a whimper of pain escaped her lips. Immediately her mouth parted and she sent out a call that rang through the territory.
"M-Mercury! Mar-" Her cry had begun relatively calm, but in mid-name another labor-induced spasm thundered through her body. The final calling burst without restraint from her, louder and higher than the first. "MARVEL!"
public enemy #1
crawl. crawl more. drag your hands and knees across the destruction left in my wake to the ends of the earth. there's a green light of a shining star in my sky and there will not be an obstacle i will not overcome until i cup that star in my palms. the void in my will has been filled with purpose. so crawl. crawl more, love.
Obsidian fur as dark as the night no longer rippled in smooth waves down the planes of her form. Instead, chunks of matted pelt took the place of the once-soft hairs, and at her neck blood trickled down. Concern streaked across Jupiter's features, strong and empowering, until the moment words snapped from her lips, as ugly and jealous as anything. Expression fell flat and as soon as Jupiter knew she was finished, her front legs lifted her torso, nose wrinkled and lip curled up in a snarl.
"You weren't..." Her features contorted and she dropped back completely to the ground once more, a slight whine escaping her. Most of her body still faced Medusa as another contraction surged through her form, and yet she forced herself to speak. "You weren't the first, either, Medusa," she managed, the venomous hiss in her timbre from both pain and irritation. "If we're going to... play the game of firsts--" Here she paused to allow for another shock assault her form, and her eyes narrowed, swallowing hard. "you weren't either, because I was raped... first." She convulsed heavily, turning her head forward and pressing her face firmly into the ground with a grunt.
"So don't... you dare talk to me... about being first... Defeated as she felt the last pup begin to make its way from her form, her tone, though strained through the agony, became sad. "What... what happened... to you?"
public enemy #1
crawl. crawl more. drag your hands and knees across the destruction left in my wake to the ends of the earth. there's a green light of a shining star in my sky and there will not be an obstacle i will not overcome until i cup that star in my palms. the void in my will has been filled with purpose. so crawl. crawl more, love.
He watched as one, two slipped from her womb and into the world he knew. There were no problems that he foresaw, not even when the tiny wriggling bodies graced the earth. Skillfully he swept forth and removed the placentas from around their bodies, his teeth nibbling delicately to keep from injuring his children. He ushered them with tentative jaws to their mother's bosom where they might find nourishment and warmth. This winter would not be kind to them, but he would see them through it. A figure emerged in the corner of his eye, a woman he didn't know - and by her tone didn't care to know. "Shut your mouth, wench. This isn't the time or the place for your bull." He was not pleased with her presence, but Jupiter didn't seem to mind save for the woman's choice of words.
He watched - seething - whilst Jupiter continued to go through contractions. Was there a third child on the way out of her system? Surely there must be, or her body would have calmed by now. Sterling eyes drifted to the two children, one of which was of golden hues like Jupiter, the other a slate gray. He shifted and brought his muzzle to the gray, licking the child once before nosing him onto his side and examining his gender. "Male," he said with bravado. "Female," he would say after looking over the second golden child. He was trying his best to ignore the woman who had showed up - as he would have preferred this be a private moment.
"Speech"
She glared at the woman with spite that would be short-lived, eyes confused but expression violent. Jupiter, however, could not keep up the stare for long, for after a moment reality crashed back down as the third pup was sent well on its way outwards. Only a fraction of the serpent's words made their way to her ears, slipping only minutely through the haze of agony that plagued her. By the time the pup was freed into their realm, Medusa had departed, and the woman gladly took the welcome break from the negative atmosphere to gaze upon her jewels. Recalling the proclamations of their genders, she gazed down upon them, a smile upon her obsidian lips.
"The girl," she spoke, breathless as she sought to meet Marvel's chrome eyes. "May I name her Aegira?" It may have been foolish to ask for permission to name the pups she had worked to carry in and cleanse from her womb, but there was an urgency and importance in her voice that couldn't quite be matched. She wished for him to name the boy, at the very least, and she would take on the responsibility of naming the dusty pup she had just birthed after the gender was made known.
"speech"
public enemy #1
crawl. crawl more. drag your hands and knees across the destruction left in my wake to the ends of the earth. there's a green light of a shining star in my sky and there will not be an obstacle i will not overcome until i cup that star in my palms. the void in my will has been filled with purpose. so crawl. crawl more, love.
A growl rumbled from his trachea, threatening and low. This woman was ruining quite possibly the most important moment he had ever faced in his life with her spiteful moans and groans. Sterling eyes were blazing with loathing as the woman said her piece and vanished from the scene. Oh how she would pay if he ever saw her again. As he looked back a third pup had graced the earth, gender unknown - but beautiful nonetheless. Almost robotically he picked the child up in his teeth, setting it at it's mother's breast after having carefully cleaned it off. Eyes narrowed to determine the gender, finding this to be a female as well. "Another girl," he proclaimed. Jupiter's question rang out, referring to the first girl. "Of course." Sterling eyes examined the daughter now called Aegira, before sweeping to the son. "What about Oberon, for the boy?" He'd heard the name somewhere and had always fancied it. Who knew one day he would be giving it to his son - his only son. Feeling confident there were no more children for her to birth, Marvel twisted into a lying position, using his body to shield the pups from anyone who might arrive. Protectiveness had never been in his nature, but it seemed children had a way of changing those sort of things about a man. Besides, if the foul woman from before came back, he would be damn sure she didn't get close to his children.
The gender of what she felt like was the final pup was declared and she couldn't help but smile at Marvel as he set the child at her breast. Celestial eyes swept down to her new satellites and she dragged her tongue across each of their small heads in turn. Audit flicked at the slightest as the name 'Oberon' touched her conscience and she immediately nodded.
"Oberon is a wonderful name." She paused, nosing the last little girl to milk, watching as she latched on without hesitation. Curiosity burned like a raging fire within her, excitement at the future unveiling of their personalities already plaguing her. "Ananke for the last one, I think," she commented after a moment of silence, glancing at the father for approval.
Nevertheless she would fall quiet again, a troubled look crossing her features as dark thoughts interrupted their blissful moment. She would allow a few moments of admiration, whether without words or otherwise, of their litter, breaths slowing to a normal pace as the pain gradually subsided. Then, she would stir, raising her head fully to address Marvel.
"I need to call the pack to a meeting. Outside." Her words were careful and cautious, optics examining the alabaster knight to gauge his reaction. His reaction to Medusa's presence was credibly hostile, which was warranted due to her own negative intentions, but would he detest the holding of a pack meeting right at her own den? She was too exhausted to move much further, and the little ones were already drifting to sleep. With their ears not yet able to sense the world around them and their eyes still shut, they wouldn't have to worry about disturbing them. And when Mercury returned with Gerhardt, the tasmanian devil could keep them warm.
"speech"
public enemy #1
crawl. crawl more. drag your hands and knees across the destruction left in my wake to the ends of the earth. there's a green light of a shining star in my sky and there will not be an obstacle i will not overcome until i cup that star in my palms. the void in my will has been filled with purpose. so crawl. crawl more, love.
To say that he was in awe was a bit of an understatement, and it clearly was written on the man's face. He'd never dreamed he'd ever be a father - or at least know he was a father - but now that he was, he was sure it was the best thing he'd ever accomplished in his life so far. He rested his head on the earth, being sure to keep at least one chrome eye on his children at all times. He knew that Jupiter's pain would soon ebb away, and if there were no late-birth complications she would be just fine. "Wonderful." He remarked in response to the third chosen name, Ananke. Two girls and a boy, two daughters and a son. A smile creeped across his lips, remaining there for some time as the two sat enraptured in the beauty that were these three new lives. He rose his head upward as she did the same, wondering what was rousing her so suddenly. Then it came, her command that she needed to call a pack meeting outside. The smile faded from his lips as his brow furrowed slightly. He quickly relaxed himself - this was her decision to make. "Outside," he chided, with a certainty to his tone. No one was coming inside without his consent. The children would most likely sleep, and he would be near the entrance of the den if one of them got into any trouble. Besides, the pack needed to know what had occurred, and how life would change now that three new additions had just been added to the ranks. It was important that they do this, and so he nodded - swallowing a lump in his throat. With a final glance to his children, Marvel roused himself upward. "Let's do this then."
With little hesitation Siarvon would depart from a single river at the call of his sol, Jupiter. By now some of the pack members must already be there to greet the woman. With the push against the floor the brute would make his way to Ludicael rather quickly, avoiding any obstacles that lay in the tracks, including boulders and any large foliage. With the intake of oxygen increasing it led him to complete the distance with ease, before slowing down at the sign of the gathering. As each limb would step forth one by one and Siarvon gently approaches, a nod aimed for all those who are present. With a twist and a turn of the cranium it was clear of the new life that beamed from within the den. With a smile parted on the ebony lips Siarvon would sit just opposite Haku and Aria, waiting. It was best to not interrupt the pups peace so he decided not to see them as of yet.