Ocean's Breath Plateau [B] Remember when

Surprise! Welcome babies! Forward dating the birth to April 23rd. I’m working Monday and Tuesday and have something going on Sunday. Let Sumac post first, then the pups are free to come. @Mixedhearts, @Rainchaser, @Greyfalcon. Forgive me for any power playing that may occur.

The pains of life had begun the previous morning (Monday), lasting on and off throughout the day and into the coolness of night. She’d be coming and going, in and out of the den, whining, but tried to keep to herself, drawing no attention, no eyes. 

It was well after midnight, and in the early hours of Tuesday, before the sun was to rise, her labor began in earnest. She gave a call for @Sumac, a low howl to tell him the time had come, and she nested herself in the deep den she’d prepared up to this day. She was anxious, excited, hurting, and she didn’t know what she wanted exactly. She would let Sumac in, she would not chase him away, for he was their father. The mini Cougar, @Raja had been there too, giving a calming presence, her purring something to focus on.

She had laid down on her side, back against the back wall of the den, when she felt a pain that could be compared to no other. She tried to keep quiet, only letting out pained whimpers. When her body wished it so, she pushed, and brought the first baby, @Pine. She looked back at the precious little thing, bathed in auburn, grey and tawny hues. She licked her first daughter until she made the sounds of life, and placed her by her stomach, to drink the colostrum, the milk of strength. 

Once the first child was settled, she made way for the second. With a mother’s strength, she press down and with ease the second came into the world, @Silvertip. She did as she had with the first, cleaned her until her coat of dark blacks and light silver hues shone through and the sweet cries rang out.

There was a period of rest between the second and the third. When the contractions had come again and the sharp pain ran  through her body, she pushed the third, @Ponderosa, into the world. She cleaned the puppy born in the shades of her father, of the dark, with the reds of her own. The cries of her babies were music to her soft ears. 

She settled the third beside the others at her breast, when the last and final of the contractions had arrived. For the final time, she pushed with strength, and brought @Angel Oak into the world. She brought the fourth and last child to her breast, cleaned and crying.

Soon, all her children were quieted, happily drinking their mother’s milk.
Then, she looked to Sumac, his dark handsome face, with the love of a mother, that glimmer in her eyes. “They’re here. They’re ours.”