LET THE MOON SIGNAL DAWN

The warm and comfortable days seemed to have come to an end. Her mother had treated her and her siblings well, but the tight womb was restricting her. Her brother had been a good denmate, allbut for the occasional hindpaw to the snout. She had, of course, returned the favor in every instance. But today she could no longer rest in the small space that she and her siblings resided. It was time for her to make her entrance into the world and stretch the limbs that had been so long in the making.

In a movement that felt entirely natural to the small girl, she turned her body and pushed aginst her siblings. In what seemed like a long while her nose finally surfaced into the chill night air. Her shoulders followed her after a tight and painful squeeze out of her mothers birth canal. The pups eyes squinted tightly as her mother removed the afterbirth from her tiny body, and was rewarded with the rough and invigorating strokes of a large hot tongue. She squeaked in protest and felt the first breath of icy air enter her lungs. She was a living miracle.

The silver girl sat limply before her mother and squealed for nurishment. She was satisfied when the giant white figure that she had been so close to picked her up.and pushed her against her abdomen. Here, she would find the warmth and comfort that she needed. Here she would rest and allow her stomach to fill. Had she ever been this hungry? Being born had been a lot of work.