Swiftcurrent Creek Dovahkiin.

Shadow inched forward, arching his neck to peer over her at the tiny bodies she'd unfurled herself from for him to see. The crimson Frostfur gazed up at her former lover's features, her heart aflutter at the sight of sheer love that bloomed there with the sight of his newborn pups. He then looked her way, his expression bright with appreciation, and Paarthurnax smiled right back.

She did not stop to consider the guilt she still felt at removing herself and unborn litter from Noctisardor Bypass, as well as ending her mateship with Shadow. Instead she focused on there and then, on the four healthy, beautiful bundles of the children they'd created together. As a pair she was certain that her unhappiness with the way things were would have made her a lousy mother; separated, their infants would surely thrive. And although she was loathe to think it, they would soon grow and develop the desire to pursue their own path - when they were old enough, they could easily uproot themselves from their birth pack and settle with that of their sire.

This was a concern for a later date, however, and Paarthurnax contented herself with the naming of her pups. Much to her expectation, Shadow took the lead to bestow upon their firstborn a title that linked him solely to his Roman background, but this did not bother her. She'd promised that to the ashen outrider before they'd even conceived, and with all the heartache Paar had roused, she intended to honour that vow. Shadow reached out to the son who resembled him most, and she stared with pride at the wolf who'd given her the greatest gifts she could ever have wished for.

He went on to name their second child Julius, a boy with a pelt of purest alabaster. He reminded her strongly of her own mother, Nita Frostfur, and had the the tell-tale signs of developing bold silver guard hairs much like the wolves of her bloodline. It was a trait that Paar herself had missed out on, while her brother Viinturuth wore the boldest mane of sterling she'd ever seen. She had wondered if her own pups would pick up the marking, and it seemed little Julius had the potential to reveal his own as he grew.

"Durnehviir Sarthaal, our little dragoness," she announced the name she'd chosen for her daughter, a child of the desert, and moved her warm copper eyes to settle her gaze on the girl's form. She shifted in her slumber, cooing softly, and carefully Paar shifted slightly to reach over and nudge the mottled pup closer to her warm undersides. When she settled once more, she turned her stare upon the smallest of the litter, her tiny golden eagle, and knew at once what he was to be called: "Relonikiv Aetius, then." She looked then to the already-named pale boy, and took it upon herself to give him a middle name of her choosing: "And Julius Miraak. A name for you, and a name for me."

Her tail thumped the ground at her rear, a velvet cinnamon lobe perked as she intently awaited her former partner's approval. When it came, Paarthurnax uttered no words in response, but continued to look lovingly upon her peaceful, dozing brood. When the silence broke with Shadow's gentle voice, she sought his gaze immediately. "Of course," she whispered, "I will not have you be absent from their lives completely." She wanted him to see them grow. It was unfortunate that he would very likely miss the first milestones - open eyes, first steps, first babbling words - but Paarthurnax could not deny him the right to know his children when they could be escorted beyond the Creek to share precious time with him.