With the first birth being so difficult, Iolaire hoped that the rest would be easier. The second, as Zee pushed the body forth, came through without a hitch. Thankfully. Zee took the initiative and cleaned the child, severing the cord on her own as she had seen Io do. The dark woman gave a smirk of amusement at that. She was surprised that Zee wanted to go the natural route since she was so... was pampered the term? Either way, if she wanted to do the rest on her own, Io would very well support her in doing so.

From her place, Iolaire had a fairly good view of the new pup. She merely nodded. All seemed well with it and she wouldn't make moves to bother it. Just as gorgeous as the first, of course. Io was satisfied with its health, especially since it had given such a loud shriek of protest. All there was to do now was to wait for the next.

Though Zee didn’t respond to her words her own paw was placed over hers and the woman knew that she was supported. Deathbelle tried to smile softly and she spoke in soothing tones as Zee struggled through the pain of birth. Though the first one had scared all of them, the second was through with no extra help. The new mother cared for him easily. Deathbelle felt her heart flutter at the beautiful sight of the new family. She tamped down thoughts of jealousy, as the emotion had no room to dwell here. This was about the new parents and sharing in their joy.

They were named, and Deathbelle smiled back to her sister and childhood friend as they looked up to herself and Io. The adoration on their features was priceless, but she couldn’t help but lean into Io’s side for a bot of comfort of her own. This wasn’t over yet.

Zee had never been so exhausted in her life. The whole ordeal was traumatic and annoying and although the reward was well worth it she couldn't lie that she was glad it was nearly done. Iolaire had guessed three pups from her examinations, and Zee clung to those words and used them to push herself to continue on. Just one more. When the familiar clenching pains picked back up again Zee pushed with them, and once again with slightly less pain then his brothers the third pup tumbled out. Zee gathered the strength to curl back inwards towards her tail - the drinking boys smushing against each other at the movement and squealing angrily - to clean the last one. The color was the first thing that caught Zee's eyes, and she laughed softly. "You look just like your grandma." She cooed to the boy, grasping him to move him with the others towards her milk.

As she moved him, a small lightly colored bundle dropped away from his side. In the dim light of the den, Zee hardly noticed it. She was much too entranced with her boys and unaware of the fourth who'd snuck out alongside him.

The whole time Indigo developed in the womb the puppy had someone close to him. He didn’t know much besides his mother’s heartbeat but the smaller presence beside him in the womb connected the two in more ways than that. Even upon the astounding sudden evacuation she was there with him. Indy didn’t hesitate to cry out as the cold air of the outside world hit him and he protested his independence. He was swiftly whisked to his mother’s side where the other two familiar forms already competed for their teat.

The separation from his sister was uncomfortable, but the desire and instinct to suckle was too strong. His protests were quickly put to rest as he found his place and gently kneaded at his mother’s side and filled his belly with her nourishing milk. His claws would be the only mutation to be physically present at that moment. Soon his teeth would come in, making him his father’s son. Not long after that the boy would begin to show the first signs of his mane. For now his color would be what captured attention most heavily. His vibrant amethyst fur, obvious even from birth.

Sirius curled about his wife - almost, for the moment, forgetting that others were there - his eyes were large as he took in his offspring, his tiny little heirs. He had never seen anything more beautiful in his life. Mortis and Azure were close in colors, but not exact, and he could already see that they would not be normal. As he watched them drink, he couldn’t help but notice the small protrusion around his eldest son’s back, and the larger shape of Azure’s front feet. Was it an indication he would be even bigger than his father? He had never seen another wolf that bested him in height.

His heart swelled with pride, and he moved his attention on to his last son - a full litter of sons, it seemed. He wouldn’t have minded a little girl to dote on as he did their mother, but sons were good. He would push them hard, train them to be their best. He kissed the indigo fur of his youngest son, and would see the slight lip of fangs that protruding from tiny lips. Poor Zee, she was going to have a world of fun nursing these little ones.

“Our three beutiful boys” he whispered, kissing Zee on the nape of her neck.

The third round seemed the easiest so far despite Zee’s exhaustion. Her body knew what to do and her instincts told her everything else and soon the pair had three tiny son’s feeding at their mother’s belly. As the attention was rightly drawn to the purple furred boy Belle didn’t miss the unusual shape of his discardings. Suspicion held her for only a moment before she realized she was looking at a fourth puppy.

”Another!” She cried out softly as she reacted before thinking and saw to the tiny child. She was much more pale than her brothers, and the obvious runt in a giant litter. Deathbelle was instantly in love, but her heart skipped as she worried for her state of being. Her tongue licked the girl pup, hoping for a bit of sound to alert them all of her liveliness.

Her world had been muffled,  dark,  too warm and tightly cramped. Of them all, the tiny girl was the most eager for change. She was eager,  but she hadn't been ready for it in the slightest. Her brothers had been stolen from her one by one.  When the furry one that she used for a pillow had been taken,  the puppy felt anger for the very first time. Oh, wait.  Oh no! She was being stolen too! The pup was unceremoniously thrust out of the dark cavern where she'd spent her entire life. With no eyes or ears,  she couldn't know that her brothers were close. To make matters worse,  she was lifted and jostled about. With a mighty squeal, her tiny jaws opened and her toothless mouth snapped at the air, trying to defend herself against whatever monster had stolen her brothers. Clawed paws batted at the air. She wanted to be put down!  Fight or flight was a base instinct, and,  even at such an early age,  the girl chose fight. "Speech"

The birth had been hard on Zee, but it had also been hard on Iolaire. The pups were gorgeous, but they reminded her off what she could never have. With each birth, her heart hurt more. By the fourth, surprise pup, the tiny healer was ready to break.

Iolaire removed a small gourd from her bag and handed it to Zee. "Drink this. Shepards purse tincture. It will stop any bleeding that you might have." She then cast a glance towards Deathbelle as the woman cleaned the last pup. A girl by the looks of it. Io rise and began gathering her things. "You'll have Belle, but if you need anything, you know where to find me."

"Try to rest," She instructed the new mother. With a smile towards the three wolves, she looked to Zee and Sirius. "Congratulations on your family." Then she ducked out of the den with the intent to go back to Roan.

-exit?-

Zee was so caught up in the moment and in the pride in Sirius' eyes that she'd barely noticed Deathbelle's outburst. Her brows furrowed in confusion, and she curled herself inward to eye her tail suspiciously as if another would fall from her at any moment. She'd not noticed that Deathbelle had already collected the pup, and glanced around in dazed panic before finding the little girl in her Empress' paws. It was no wonder the child had gone missed, she was so tiny in comparison to her brothers. Though her bright pelt was eye-catching and Zee's heart squeezed at the sight of her. A daughter, that much Zee could see clearly.

Iolaire's words interrupted her thoughts and she turned to see a gourd being pushed towards her. She sipped it obediently, definitely wanting to avoid any severe bleeding. "Thank you." Though her voice was weakened from the exhaustion, it was obvious how appreciative the new mother was. For all she knew the little healer had saved the life of her firstborn, and she'd be grateful forever for her intervention. As she turned to leave, Zee's brows furrowed once more. Was that typical? Of a healer, perhaps.. though Iolaire was family, and Zee didn't want to be without the wolves she cared about. She glanced back to Sirius questioningly, and then decided against asking him to follow. He'd want to stay with the pups for sure, and greedily she wanted Deathbelle to remain, too.

She looked her Empress in the eye hopefully, and then gestured to the bundle in her arms with her nose. "Will you name her for us?" This was something she'd discussed with Sirius prior, and so she knew the titan would have no argument. It occurred to her that this was it, the birth was complete and now she and Sirius would be left to raise their children. She didn't feel ready, didn't know a thing about children aside from what she'd learned from Deathbelle and her litter. "And then maybe... maybe you stay tonight, and then leave tomorrow... or next week ... or something?" Zee looked at Sirius for confirmation and approval, hoping he'd not be opposed to the idea. She didn't trust herself to be left alone with them so soon with no lessons or experience.