Lights of my Life [Birthing]

She padded slowly through the wooded pathways at the foot of the hillock. She was worried. Based on all she knew, she should have birthed well before now, especially if she’d conceived at the Castle. Signs of impending spring were all around, and spring was already starting to wax.

But within, she felt nothing but strong movements from many small lives. One was a particularly strong kicker, thumping her insides regularly. In all, she was ready to see them, not just feel them and hear the occasional muffled squeak.

A doe burst from the undergrowth up ahead, giving the preoccupied Spirit a fright. The doe slowed almost immediately to a ponderous walk; sides heavy with fawn. Were Aurielle not in a similar state, she might have considered capturing the doe and working deer into the domestic prey animals.

A light cramping struck her, and she hissed out in surprised, curling in on herself. As it faded, she straightened, the doe staring at her with wide dark eyes. Clearly the cervine knew the glowing, odd looking wolf was no threat. Aurielle could jest that the doe was commiserating their shared condition, but the thought was quickly replaced by a fresh, cramp.

She focused, counting as she turned inward. Another. Her ears perked as she understood that it wasn’t just cramping, and she turned, padding back to the ravine, dark doe eyes on her back until she was out of sight.

“Red? Paladin, Father, Baine, I think they’re on their way…”

A yip of excitement echoed from one of the alcoves, telling her Cairo was awake, and would probably work his way out to see the litter into the world himself. Just a week or so more and he would be cleared for getting the splints removed for good, and then physical therapy as Paladin called it, would commence to get the man’s legs used to being used again.

She moved to gather the supplies and furs set aside for this birthing, but Loshir intercepted her, nodding toward her and Red’s alcove with an uncharacteristic smile, nervous and restless. She smiled back, moving to settle into the furs once he spread them out. The cat was doing what he could to alleviate his worry at something he couldn’t help her with.

It was early yet, but the lives within her squirmed as if highly dismayed at the disruption of their existence. She felt it would be a good long while before true, hard labor came, so she had time to settle in, celebrate the coming of her first litter—the first of many. Luneil’s Light, they were finally on their way.

Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think