A Ballad of Sacrifice

Her eyes fluttered open at Caedes' voice, the cold wind stinging her cyan eyes, but she did not flinch. Instead, she turned her gaze towards the newborn pup that lay by her side. She gave it a weak nudge with her snout towards her belly, a clear sign for it to feed. She didn't have the strength to help it more than that, but it seemed to not need any more guidance. Aurelia watched as the pup clumsily latched onto her, the sensation of it nursing sending a powerful wave of maternal instinct through her. Pain and fatigue were slowly replaced by a fierce need to protect. She managed a small whimper, though it sounded more like a sigh of relief than anything else.

Just as everything seemed to settle, she was struck with another wave of contractions. And then another. A strangled yelp escaped her throat, echoing through the valley as a fresh wave of pressure tore through her- but at least it was bearable. The pup nursing at her side whimpered in surprise and distress, instinctively clinging to her for warmth and safety. Biting back a groan, Aurelia tried to steady herself, her muscles trembling under the strain. The instinct to push once more surged within her. The labor was not over- not even close.

Over the next several minutes- or perhaps it was hours- she couldn’t tell. She was met with contraction after contraction. Eventually a second puppy emerged into the world. And a final third, surprising even Aurelia herself. Each had a similar tone to their cries, each stronger than the last. Caedes helped them into place at her side, and while it was hard for her to look at them, she could feel them. Three small bodies squirmed against her, Aurelia found herself grappling with a type of pain she had never known before - emotional pain. The kind that crept up on her and threatened to drown her when she least expected it.

She lay there, weak, nearly lifeless. Not even the energy to pant through her exhaustion. Her body was limp- it felt as if it were made of lead. Like her eyes had drifted shut, but when she thought they were open, she still couldn’t see. Her senses dulled to a point of nonexistence, and silence engulfed her. She was so very tired. So tired. So quiet. So still.

"Aurelia Veratti"