The older woman lay in her den, the familiar contractions rolling through her body. She squeezed her eyes shut, tears pouring down her face. It wasn't from the pain, it wasn't that bad, it was from the fear of having pups. She had vowed after her last babies had been killed before her very eyes that she would never give birth again. And look at her now. Well shit, it too late for that wasn't it? Ekko curled in a ball, ignoring the uncomfortable feeling that clenched in her belly. She was young the first time, but now she knew. She had thought that she had learned her lesson the first time, but apparently not. Wailing, she curled even tighter. She had half the mind to just not push and let the poor things die within her, but she hadn't the guts to pull through this.
Colten.
Should she call him? No... perhaps it was better if she suffered this alone. So she sent out no call, only sniffled as she lifted her leg to peek at her own belly. Why had her stupid hormones betrayed her? It was all their fault! This wasn't supposed to happen -- she still didn't get it! Colten wasn't even two, and yet she was in labor with his children. Oh gods... her alphas were going to kill her. Well, if they ever found out. Ekko sent a prayer that the children looked like her, that this wouldn't tie Colten down at all. How selfish of her to ruin his life like this? And now she was stuck, stuck in this stupid pack and giving birth.
The golden girl was padding through the pack lands, the warmth of spring had begin to melt the snow and some herbs were beginning to sprout again. Her store still wasn’t where she wanted it to be but it was growing at least. What remained of her motherwort was going to need replenishing soon, a trip out east would need to be made but she had at least one or more stalk that was still good.
A fear smell suddenly assaulted her senses. Eyes growing wide the girl trotted to follow the scent. It took her to a den. Slowly she peered inside, soft voice finally lifting from her lips. "Are you alright?" A stupid question perhaps but if she could get the wolf to understand she wasn’t there to hurt them it was for the better. Her eyes adjusted to the dark and landed upon the swollen belly of a woman she didn’t know.
"I’ll be right back." The girl would rush off towards her stash, pushing her way into her den and digging up the small pile. Teeth clamping around the one still usable stalk of Motherwort and a few other herbs good for pain; she only hoped she could get back to the woman’s den before the rest of the pack showed up… she had a feeling Arcanum wasn’t exactly going to be kind to the clearly distressed woman.