There had been no way of hiding her pregnancy for quite some time, her rounded belly was certainly rather large now and she knew she had to be growing closer to the dreaded birth. In some ways she couldn't help but admit that a part of her prayed it was time. She was growing rather tired of worrying that she'd do something stupid and harm her unborn children, not to mention it was getting difficult to move with the grace she once had, the extra weight was getting rather uncomfortable especially with Summer now nearing them and the weather warming. Of course though the thought of the birth still terrified her and it left the young Destruction feeling rather confused.
Labour was of course inevitable however, and it seemed that the time had finally arrived. A sudden pain from a contraction would grip her, initially she was worried something was incredibly wrong though somehow instinctively she knew it was time. All the same however, worried and uncomfortable the girl simply couldn't sit still. She knew not if it was the right thing to do or not, but she would pace around her den as she let out a call for help. For Frith, jer mother, sisters, niece, any healer would do actually, anyone that could just help her now.
He?d gone out for morning rounds, having taken up a few extra duties to keep him mind off the impending day. Novella was quite obviously getting ready to give birth any day, so even though he wasn?t in the den he hadn?t strayed far from his wife?s side. He could tell that she?d been getting restless and he was quite ready to meet his children. Though Novella was stressing about the moment of truth he hoped the ordeal would quickly be over and they could start focusing on raising them. He did not foresee any trouble, and had every confidence in the beautiful woman. He hated seeing her so uncomfortable, and hoped simply for her sake that she could rid her womb of the whelps.
As he turned a corner to return to their everyday den he?d hear her needy call, an indicator of what would be taking place soon. A call for him and that of a healer. Chocolate ears would perk up, but he feet wouldn?t stay still for very long. Hurriedly he?d heed her call, knowing very well that he could not miss this moment. He had to be there for her. He?d race, needing to be at her side.
He?d make his way there first, a whine leaving his throat as he pushed himself through the entrance. His features would seek to nuzzle and comfort, wanting to support her thoroughly. "Novella, how are you doing? Do I need to get anything?"
"Speech"
if i haven't replied to you in a while, remind me [here]
Frith would arrive swiftly to answer her call. She wished she could say as always that the presence of her mate made everything better though it didn't change how she felt at the moment at all. Still she felt uncomfortable and the pain sure as hell wasn't going anywhere. Was it meant to hurt this much?
Weakly she would nuzzle her mate in return, still fidgeting and pacing as best as she could around the den, unable to feel settled. A part of her nearly admitted then and there that it hurt though truth be told she'd rather a healer was here to help first before she worried him with such details not that she was doing particularly well to conceal the pain or discomfort anyway. "I don't know." There were herbs or something she could have, but she certainly couldn't recall what they were now. "Just need help." Where was everyone else?
It would be Song who arrived next, Novella felt that both her mate and sister were acting far too calmly here. She had no idea what she was doing, no idea what to do really all she knew was that she was in more pain than she had ever felt and how on earth could this all be right? Another contraction, more intense than the last ones would shoot through her and she would whimper softly. They were getting closer and closer together now.
It really was time for Song to meet her nieces and nephews. Somehow instincts would kick in once more and though she couldn't even recall when she had stopped pacing and lay down she was suddenly aware of the first pup that had just been born. She would freeze for a moment and stare at it, a few seconds passing before she realised that the amniotic sac was covering it entirely, it couldn't breathe. To be truthful she was a little worried about harming the pup but carefully she would set to work and as the pup was cleaned it would begin to make its first little sounds.
With the arrival of the second pup and eventually third she was quicker to get to work, and though these ones were even smaller than the first, she'd certainly learnt she wasn't going to hurt them. The pups cleaned and guided gently to her side she felt exhausted though mismatched eyes couldn't be torn away from the three children for even long enough to glance up at her mate. They amazed her already.
Though it was amazing how young would grow, life within the womb was incredibly uneventful really. It wouldn't be long before those days were completely forgotten about but for now the unborn pups were perfectly content with life as it was. That was up until the point that their home suddenly decided it was time for them to leave.
The largest of the pups would wriggle in protest of the closing walls around him. This had never happened before and he wasn't entirely sure he liked it. The fight was useless though, inevitably coming to an end as he was pushed out into the world. For the first time he felt alone, no longer was he linked to his mother, no longer was he bumping into his siblings and if he knew what breathing was he would have been panicking that he couldn't do it. Life hadn't even really begun and already it was threatening to end. Suddenly the sac was cleared from his tiny mouth and that first breath was finally taken and soft little cries would begin to sound from him.
He would find comfort in the gentle licks of his mother and eventually with her guidance make his way to her side. It was warmer cuddled up to her and instinctively he would begin his first feed until with a full stomach, once more feeling calm and content sleep would beckon him.
Frith really was quite clueless what he should be doing, but as Novella finally found herself off her feet he?d relax some. Her instincts were strong, and though it was obvious she was hurting she was doing well. He would watch in wonder as the first of their children were born, both parents quite stunned as the pup entered the world. Before Frith could find it in him to react Novella would be at the boy?s side, grooming and stimulating those first cries. He wouldn?t hear them for long as the tiny chocolate pup was ushered to his mother?s side. Frith would whine, the need to greet his new pup was overwhelming, but again he?d see the pain in Novella?s eyes and twice more they would become parents.
He would realize that his bride was through, she?d done an excellent job in bringing their children in the world. Her gaze was nestled solely on them, as was his own. They were beautiful. "Novella, you?re amazing. They?re beautiful." He would move to nuzzle and kiss her, impossibly proud of her accomplishment.
"Speech"
if i haven't replied to you in a while, remind me [here]
It was time. It was time for her to begin her life, her biggest journey. What would her life be like? Would it be exciting or sad? Would her life be like a giant quest for her to conquer? Would it all be fun? It was a large paw-step, for a quite small creature. The days were slowly disappearing, as her moment drew near.
It had been long enough in the dark womb. Along with her other siblings, her feeble body would be pushed out from her temporary home. And now, she would enter the world. She took in her first gasp for air. Her life now started, and she would live right until her last breath. The smells were foreign to her, yet they smelled just like her! What were they? The newborn pup could only feel love, comfort and warmth. She knew she was going to be okay. This could be the start of a brand new beginning.
He would be the last to leave the familiar comfort of their Home. The familiar forms of his siblings were gone before he, too, would cease his struggles against the unfeeling walls of his Home. They had been useless, of course; nature would not allow him to stay here for as long as he would have liked. All the same, it was in his nature to attempt to stay, just as it was in the world's to not allow it.
And so he found himself rudely deposited in the suddenly very cold outside world. He would make a few (okay, more than a few) disgruntled noises before he realized that there was still warmth. Instinctively, he moved towards it, pressing himself against his mother and between the familiar (and yet strange) forms of his siblings. He would complain for just a little bit longer before the warm scent of milk reached his nose and then he was very, very focused on filling his stomach.
They truly were beautiful. She would lean slightly into her mate's touch and cast a quick but loving glance in his direction before setting her gaze again upon the three little children. One notably larger than the other two of course didn't exactly suit the word little for a newborn, that much she of course knew but he still seemed so tiny and still as delicate as his siblings. She'd been afraid of harming them as they grew and rightly so as she stared at them now, that desire to keep them safe still strong within her.
Song's voice would remind her that her sister was still here and mismatched eyes would cast another look upwards in time to see her mother arriving as well. "I think so." She would respond quietly to her mother's comment. They seemed ok, but were of course nameless. Honestly that thought had slipped her mind somewhat, she'd been so scared about actually having them that she hadn't really considered anything much beyond that point other than pray she wouldn't be a disappointment. Not to mention with the new pack hopefully to soon to be in existence she had plenty of other things to worry about than something seemingly as simple as naming her children.
Maybe she could steal what seemed to be a family tradition of sorts and use some other variation of Novel although she could see from an outsiders point of view how confusing the Destruction's naming patterns could get if they carried on like that, it was bad enough with two Novels and a Novella no matter how much she liked the similarities. "I think I like Aslan for one of the boys." She would murmur glancing back to Frith for confirmation on the name.