stardust in your eyes, love [birth]

Kiyo’s son looked to her, a much pleading in his eyes as he could manage, and asked her to reassure Venom that she was doing great. It was then that she really realized how much love the man had for the Empress. Hattori wasn’t the cold, indifferent wolf that most thought he was, in fact he cared quite a lot, he just had trouble expressing it. The fact that he was trying to reassure his wife so much and sticking so close by was a testament to his devotion to her. It was a far cry from his father, who hadn’t even been there for his birth and wouldn’t even see him until he was weaned and they could be certain he was a ‘healthy, worthy heir’. She shuddered to think of what would have happened if he were sickly, but then again perhaps it would have been better. Perhaps he would have grown up happier, less reserved, less traumatized. "Of course she's doing wonderfully! I've yet to see a first-time mother handle this process so well," she rewarded with a bright smile.

It was a while longer before Venom was thrown back into contractions, producing two more pups, little girls, and they were promptly cleaned and placed alongside their brothers. Kiyo went stock still when the name of the last little girl was uttered. Kiyohime. She was named after her? The silver woman felt tears pricking her eyes and she could do nothing but offer a deep bow in thanks, words lost on her tongue with the honor she felt brewing in her chest. She looked at the little bundles nestled against the matriarch’s stomach, then to her son and his wife, the latter of which already drifting off into post-birth sleep. A well deserved sleep.

"When she wakes, give her this. It's alfalfa, to help with milk production. If she's sore, give her two leaves of trillium. Should you need anything else I will be just down the hall," she instructed, her eyes sliding to her companions who promptly got up and started gathering her things. The woman moved toward the door at the heels of Aki and Yui, but she paused briefly. Her antlered head turned to look over her shoulder and she gave a smile to her son, "Congratulations, my son. You'll make a fine father," she said, then turne a left.

Fade