A new day

*Recluse* · Updated 04/30/23:

While instinct certainly helped Recluse had done this twice before and had smoothed the process over some in that time. One pup down and so far this had been the easiest labour she'd experienced, though there could have been a number of factors for that. Her cousin was there to help the process along, to check on the pups when she wasn't able too and that helped to ease her mind, also she didn't have a giant crystal growing out of one of her eye sockets this time, that probably also helped. The next pup decided it was his turn to enter the world before Eraithus had a chance to return with water, Recluse winced and braced and whined and finally he was born.

A little bundle of white and vibrant red, well that certainly answered the question of the children's parentage for now, and she moved to clean him and guide him towards his stomach just as she had his brother. He shoved at his marbled brother, bodily pushing his way towards her. In the break between the children she nosed at them each gently, they were close to the same size and suckling hungrily at her stomach, she managed a soft smile down at the little boys, licking each one before the next pup started her push into the world.

The next child to join them was much like her brother, swathed in reds though her tones were a bit more earthy, intermingled with a cream color. Her first breath was a protesting squeak and she batted at Recluse's muzzle as if to push her away as her mother cleaned her, tiny sharp claws flexed against her face, not a trait Recluse had herself but certainly not a totally uncommon one amongst her kin. The girl would take up position on the opposite side of the red and white boy and contentedly feed. Eraithus would return then and Recluse happily lapped at the soaked moss placed before her. Voodoo indicated to the lavender and Recluse couldn't help but chuckle. "Thank you, but I think I will pass for now. If I managed to get through giving birth last winter I certainly hope I can do so this year." Voodoo gently prodded at her stomach and the woman tilted her head back to look at her husband, grinning up at him, she was exhausted and from the way, her body did not yet stop its rolling contractions she knew she was not done yet but this was the most contented she had been during labour. She could not and would not pick favorites amongst her children of course but gods she really had been missing out the first two times.

Luckily for the woman this labour would continue as smoothly as it had been for the last two children. The first was another boy, a little creature of light and shadow he somewhat resembled his maternal grandfather though luckily for him not too much. It was validating after the two little red children to see her own genes were apparently not so weak. He opened tiny pink jaw and Recluse saw a familiar set of fangs in his tiny little pallet, her smile grew. He was a squirmy one and took some effort to wrangle to her side, nipping at his red sister before he managed to latch on properly.

Finally, the last pup would make her way into the world, a tiny little girl, notably smaller than her siblings. A little bundle of white and brown. When Recluse cleaned her up the sound that escaped her lungs was so high-pitched and soft Recluse nearly missed it. There was a tiny heart-shaped marking on the girl's forehead and Recluse couldn't help but press her nose to it before she nudged the girl to her stomach and made sure she was properly feeding. The last placenta would follow shortly and a sort of calm settled over her, the woman counted each of the pups, then the placantas and nodded to herself, 5 for both. She nodded to her cousin giving the younger woman permission to do whatever checks she wanted, of her or of the pups.

Then Recluse looked back at her husband again, flashing him another smile. Maybe it was the herbs dulling her senses, maybe it was the feeling of care and love that washed over her as she realized she wasn't alone for the first labour in her life, maybe it was the baby hormones but she made a decision then that she had never made for any of her children before. In the past the woman had waited to name her children, had waited until their eyes opened and they started being able to move properly under their own power, she had done so out of necessity, she knew if she named any child and then had to abandon them that she wouldn't have been able to, but today that idea wasn't even on her mind. "Want to help me name them?" She asked, blinking blearily up at her husband, she was exhausted and her body and mind screamed at her for the sleep that had been denied of her for hours now, but she would see this all the way through.

"Speech" Think

Art by Ulfeid3

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A new day

Borth

Recluse