Quickly. It had begun so, so quickly. Too quickly to even manage a howl for Deimos. There had been tiny contractions on and off but they had been nothing to worry about. When the first powerful contraction struck though, Iki knew. She had tried to release a howl but it had been cut off by a wave of pain. She'd reached a bit of volume so someone may have heard her, but she couldn't be sure and she didn't have time to try again. Tanuki ran out of the den to find Deimos while Willa stayed behind.

Into her whelping basket she went, reaching out to make sure that her supplies could be acquired with ease. Contractions came faster, the time in between to breathe growing shorter and shorter. And then... one, two three. Ikigai was done. The trio of puppies came fast, one right on the tail of the other. All held white coats. There was black mixed in, purple and even some russet shades. So far they looked like a nice mixture of their parents. Once they were dry from their cleaning, their colors would show more true.

Iki would want the help of Deimos to name the pups. Until Tanuki tracked him down, the obsidian marked fae would rest as her perfect pups nursed at her belly.

Okiku Ikigai Ōritsu Abraxas

Deimos slowly stalked behind a herd of deer that were grazing at the edge of their territory near Firefly Lake, shifting from one cluster of brush to another to keep himself hidden while he waited for a good opening to strike. It took all of his will power to not stay glued to Ikigai's side as they drew closer and closer to when they expected their pups to make their grand debut. The only reason he was out here hunting was because he knew for a fact that as soon as the pups were born he wouldn't want to leave them so he figured it was best to stock up their food stores as much as possible before then. Even though he knew his family would understand and would happily pick up the slack for him, the last thing he wanted to do was be a burden on them while he was enjoying the greatest joy of his life.

Just as he was coiling his legs to leap out at his prey, Ikigai's familiar companion came charging through the brush toward him, sending the deer scattering and leaping off into the dense brush of the nearby thicket. He sighed and looked over to the akita with confusion. "Tanuki? What are you-" But just as he began to question the dog, he suddenly realized the only reason why Ikigai's companion would come looking for him so frantically. "Shit," he muttered before he took off at a sprint, his large paws thundering across the territory to get back to the island as fast as he could, not waiting for Tanuki and just assuming the akita would follow. Of all the days for him to insist on going hunting...

He didn't pause for even a moment as he ran across the land bridge that connected the island to the main land and then up the mountain path to their den. By the time he made it to the entrance of their den he was out of breath and his muscles were burning, but it seemed like all his hurry was for nothing since when he slowed to a lope and walked inside he saw Ikigai resting in the basket she had crafted with three tiny pups resting at her belly. He'd missed their birth, but as he came over to see their children he couldn't even think about that. All he could think about was how beautiful they were and how much they resembled their mother. He slowly caught his breath, but a huge smile remained on his lips regardless, glancing between Ikigai and their pups with his tail wagging like a giddy child behind him. They had come into the world safe and sound and now finally, after all this time, they were parents. He settled down next to the basket and nuzzled his mate's cheek, unable to take his eyes off of the three absolutely astounding pups they had made. "They're beautiful... Absolutely beautiful."

"Deimos & Ikigai"

Exhausted, Iki had her head resting on the edge of the basket when Deimos came bursting into the den. He came to her and she could see the look of wonder on his handsome features. His words brought a smile to the pale fae's lips and she nodded. "They're perfect, Deimos, and they came so quickly..." She was sorry that he hadn't been here for the birth, but he was here now and would be here for the rest of his days.

As Deimos leaned into her, the tired woman leaned back against him with a sigh. They were finally parents! Iki shifted, sliding her cheek over his. She spoke quietly as to not rouse the sleeping pups at her belly. "We have two girls and a boy, my love. What should we name them?" She had some ideas, but wanted to know if he had ideas as well.

"Deimos & Ikigai"