About time. For the last few days Novella had been waiting for this day to arrive, the pups certainly seemed to have taken their time but finally they were on their way. The relief was of course very short lived given the fact that it didn't take all that long at all for the contractions and pain to begin to settle into place, pain she knew was only going to get worse from here. Twice she had gone through this now though and though of course she doubted labour could ever be called easy, she certainly found herself coping a little bit better each time. Quietly she would await the progression and the arrival of Frith or anyone else in the family. They had been frequently checking in on her as of late, a little routine she was sure sorted out between them and one of them would surely pop their head through that den very soon.

Frith knew that the pups would be here any day, he'd been expecting their arrival the whole last week. It seemed that instead of the end of Spring these babies wanted to wait until the first bits of summer came. He was recovered physically from the wounds sustained during the Raid upon his pack, but that hadn't helped his paranoia any. Now he wanted to jump at every breaking stick he heard. His nerves were much too frayed to go further than a few feet from the den that Novella was residing within. She was very quiet about the pain, and for a long time Frith didn't even realize what was happening within. He'd pace outside for a while before laying down, and then getting back up again. With his restlessness so insatiable he would eventually just slip into the den with Novella, right as she was going through a contraction. Ears would fall to his head as he slipped to her side and nuzzled at her scruff supportively. "You could have called for me." Though he was chastising her, the words were soft and loving. "It's about time they were ready." ""

There had been nerves about him. To say that Fate had been a worry wart was an understatement, especially with learning that his mother was carrying his little siblings inside of her stomach. He made sure to constantly check up on her when he wasn’t practicing in one form of another. He held his breath for only a second when he noted a strange scent on the wind. Instantly, he would turn to check on his mother, his father in the den with her as he poked his head inside, eagerness within him. “Are they coming?” Fate was eager to know if it would be the day he became an older brother. The idea itself excited the pale ivory boy. The boy’s tail wagged from side to side with anticipation, trepidation soon following as he looked at them. He wasn’t sure if he should be there, in or around the den, or if he should wait for his parents to allow him to come in. What was the bad thing about being the current youngest? He had no idea what he was supposed to do when a new litter came into the world behind him, including the exact moment they were to come into the world. Fate was being awkward.

Sure enough Frith soon appeared, slipping knowingly inside the den and moving to her side, scolding her for her silence in the event. "It's still early, you've missed nothing." She reminded him. As if the pain wasn't enough the entire process of labour wasn't exactly quick. As for the comment about it finally being time, well he didn't need to tell her that, whilst he may have been constantly worried, she had been the one carrying the pups and that meant being at the forefront of all this tip-toeing business. Another head would appear at the doorway of the den after a while, a little wary it seemed though rather excited. Whilst some of the pack had worried for the pregnant Author, Fate had simply been eager to become a big brother. It was sweet and even now brought a faint smile to the mother's features. "Yes." Novella informed him. Pausing for a brief wince of pain, as excited as he was for the arrival of his new siblings, she wasn't sure she wanted him in the den at this precise moment. "But it'll be a while yet." She would have encouraged him to go find his other siblings, expressed that she'd call them when ready and they could all meet their new siblings together but another wave of pain washed over her as another contraction began.

Novella certainly did know much better than him how much she really wanted the newest litter out of her. Frith was just ready to meet his new babies, she was ready to stop being miserable. He'd nuzzle her softly and smile as he tried to help make her comfortable through this rough time. She'd been through two births before, the both of them could mostly expect what was going to happen. He really hadn't missed anything yet, but he didn't want to make her endure all by herself. He'd nuzzle her again before a voice could be heard from the entrance. Dark chocolate features would be lifted to see the current youngest peek his head in. Novella would answer him, but also tell him that it would still be a while before having another contraction. "You should probably just go tell your siblings, Fate. If you see Sorrel send him this way, otherwise keep away until we call." He didn't really want them to see their mother like this. Frith was enough worry with out the whole rest of their brood further adding to the anxiety. He wasn't chastising either though, his voice was even as he told his son what he needed to do. ""

His mother informed him that yes, his siblings were coming, and that it would be a while before they were out of her stomach. While he was intrigued, he figured his mother would want some form of privacy, save Frith’s presence. This was only concerned when his father requested that he go and find his siblings to share the news, and to send Sorrel towards the den if he saw him. Fate would nod, knowing that he would be able to see them once they were out and wriggling around. “I’ll be back when you call, then!” He would say before leaving, trotting off as he went to hunt down Luck, Varda, Aslan, Sorrel, and Félicien. It was so exciting! The pale boy knew that the loss at the raid had done a number on them, but he didn’t mind too much because there was at least one bundle of joy on the way to counteract the bad news they had received, meaning that everything would be alright. He had a more positive outlook on life, but that might just be because he was forcing himself to stop beating himself up over his loss at the raid, specifically. -Exiting for now-

Whilst her parents, or her father more specifically had once worried about Frith's loyalties and ability to be supportive, here he was again proving that they had never had anything to fear. Even at a moment like this where all he could do was offer a little comfort and a few words of support he made sure he was there, even when Novella herself hadn't beckoned him. There was little more to say on the matter though, he'd silently forgive her for her failure to call and of course they had the distraction of their son to worry about. Fate wouldn't protest though, and at Frith's suggestion would hurry off to do as he was told as excited as ever fortunately it seemed and not too concerned or fazed at all by the little bit of the scene he had witnessed. Whilst the pregnancy itself had felt longer, Novella couldn't say for sure how the labour compared. Like the others it seemed to drag on but at last the first of the new pups would be welcomed into the world. She set about cleaning the little bundle, guiding it gently towards her stomach. The routine repeated twice more until there were three more little pups to add to the family. Twice now she had found herself at this stage of exhaustion after the birth but even now the magic was not lost as she gazed down lovingly at her three newest children.

Fate was always the obedient child, and he'd agree almost jovially with Frith's words to go and gather his siblings. Really it would have been easy to just call out, but if running off to collect them kept him occupied Frith wasn't going to complain. He'd offer his son a quick smile before devoting all of his attentions to his laboring wife. They'd stored a few of the herbs that might make it easier during the birth on Novella and he would eagerly nudge them towards her. Labor continued on, for how long he wasn't sure but it was much too long for his liking. Eventually though their newest litter would enter the world. The first two pups were both healthy sized males, when the third arrived he was incredibly surprised at her size. All the same she was still healthy, just much smaller than her brothers. After he assured their safety his attentions would return back to their mazing mother, who was understandably exhausted. Maybe their older children would have to wait until tomorrow to get their introductions. "They're beautiful, Novella." ""

He did not yet have a name when he emerged into the world, nearly thoughtless in his extreme youth. He knew only of his most basic needs. Warmth, food, safety... He let out a pitiful whimper, a keening for something he couldn't name, even to himself, but knew was crucial. Instinct drove his tiny limbs as he scrabbled across the den floor. It was slow going, but the tiny creature was determined. He could smell the warm, musky scent of his mother and the milk that would sustain him as he grew. Senses mostly closed to the rest of the world, he found a teat and began to feed, waiting for his body to catch up with the rest of his existence: He had arrived. "Talk" "You" Think

The boy would come into the world just as his siblings would -- nameless, beautiful. He would squeal, feeling discontent wash over him as the cool air met his damp fur. There was little thought within his young mind. The young man would breathe in his first few breaths of air, taking them in as he laid beside his brother and sister. Body would squirm slowly forward, for walking was not yet a complete possibility. He would latch onto one of his mother’s teats and begin to drink his fill, content for the time being in his simple existence.

The tiny little she wolf entered the world with far less effort than her brothers, she was easily 25% smaller than both of them. As she emerged into the world her first breaths would not come with out help from her father. Without worrying his wife he'd give extra attention to the small she wolf, knowing very well that her little chest wasn't moving. He'd lick at her abdomen vigorously, trying to stimulate her to take a breath on her own. He almost lost hope when the miniature child finally sucked in air. With a quiet squeal she'd be placed in the warmth by her brothers, just as eager as they were to latch on and eat. It didn't even look like she might have been dead a moment before. ""

The final pup was indeed smaller than the first two, though the difference she felt was not quite as clear as the one between Fate and Luck, one that her tiny daughter had never managed to close. It wouldn't alarm her, she was just happy for her three new little babies and was sure that their big brothers and sisters would be rather pleased for their arrival as well. "They are." She agreed softly with her mate, glancing back to him for a moment. She may have felt tired, but Fate's earlier excitement and her promise that she would call him would mean that she wouldn't delay that meeting any longer, even if they could only stay for a little while. "You should call Fate and the others." Novella prompted her mate, confident that he would be the louder one for such a task at the moment.

He had to work a little bit harder with their tiny daughter, but she too found breath as well as the boys and took to eating quite peacefully. He'd grin down at Novella and the babies at her side fondly. Novella agreed with him about their loveliness, but really how could she not? They were perfect and he loved them dearly already. While it probably would have been a good idea to let Novella rest after the ordeal they had promised to call once they'd been born. Here they were and it was time to make good on a promise, no matter how brief he might have to make it. "If you're sure." He'd kiss her forehead before lifting himself up and out of the entrance, his head tipping back as he called out for his elder children. The joy in his voice was obvious, and he hoped the rest of the pack could wait just a little bit longer to see the new additions. ""

It had been a while since her parents had exchanged the news of their upcoming litter, so by now it was about time that her even younger siblings emerged into the world. Either that or she had begun to lose her sense of time, which ended up not being the case. Assuring herself that she wasn't patient enough and that the pups probably needed another week or two before being ready, she decided to pay her parents a visit anyway to keep herself calm and pester them about when the next litter would really arrive. Upon her casual stroll, she passed by her younger brother who seemed to carry an eagerly urgent demeanour that merely confused her. Was something happening? Did this something concern her? As if on cue, her father's howl drifted to her ears, almost instantly answering her questions. With her excitement and hype boosted, she scampered to the den's entrance, greeting her father who stood alongside with a soft murmur. "May I see them?" "Speech"

Although they had already once before experienced that waiting time for new siblings to arrive it didn't lessen the excited tension that clung to the air awaiting for the babies to be born. Time seemed to crawl more and more the closer that they got to the arrival date, of course it had been slower still for Novella herself but even Aslan had found himself urging their appearance in the world already. Finally that day had appeared, not that he really realised this was the reason they were all being called when his father's howl first sounded. Aslan wouldn't hesitate in making his way towards the den and answers soon forming as he got closer. That scent that clung around the den one he hadn't smelt often of course though he recognised it none the less. The pups had been born. Varda had just beaten him, though the tall boy would linger behind his sister at the entrance awaiting the answer to her question and the same question he had in his own mind.