third time's the charm [birth]

Deathbelle was alone, but the sound of Recluse outside did more than she realized to comfort her. The once Empress had been through much during her life, but giving birth alone wasn't one of them. She grit her teeth and tried to focus on the job her body needed to do instead of how much she wished that her mate would be here beside her. She ignored the tears that filled her eyes as she held out hope that he would still come. That Recluse would give her blessing for her little family to be together as the puppies entered the world.

Despite the daylight and the relatively nice day, Deathbelle felt the darkness and cold tenfold. She tried not to allow her heart to break, she didn't know the circumstances or maybe she just hadn't given Magnus enough time to get here. She couldn't spare anymore thought, her heart would break and she'd lose her focus. If she allowed herself to wallow surely problems would arrise in the birth.

Her brain wasn't allowed any other thoughts beyond the powerful actions of her contractions as her children began their journey into the world. Deathbelle cried out and dug her claws into the floor of the den as she pushed. This was the most difficult pregnancy and birth she had ever experienced. She was tense and worried, those emotions fully effected the course of birth.

Deathbelle struggled considerably with the first puppy, she pushed and struggled. It didn't take very long to realize something was wrong. She knew how quickly a birth could turn south. She cried out again as she pushed with all of her might, and even then her efforts were fruitless. She took in deep breaths, steadying herself as her heart beat with panic. Was she about to lose everything?

Deathbelle whined softly as she was reduced to struggling. She pushed with the conraction again, panicing the longer the puppy remained in the birth canal. Deathbelle struggled and moaned as pain laced through her body and a sense of wrongness overtook her. She cried out again, feeling dread overtake the pain as she pushed once more. She was about to call out for Recluse, uncertain what she could do to help, but Deathbelle didn't think she could manage. Before she opened her mouth relief came. Belle pushed hard and with that last effort the first child was blessedly freed from her.

She couldn't think about how alone she was when her violet eyes finally lay on that first perfect little boy. Deathbelle cleaned her and placed him at her belly as the next puppies followed. Two more perfect children. Deathbelle felt her heart break and grow at the same time as exhaustion overtook her. Tears spilled from her eyes as she lay her head on her paws and tried to recover from the harrowing experience.