She was lucky to have been in the Glen when her contractions began, laying heavily on Burke's side as they basked luxuriously in the sun. When the first contraction rippled through her body, she hefted herself up, plodding towards the half-hidden den, gritting her teeth. Naturally, Burke followed, but the Night Queen snapped at him, growling low before retreating into the den.

The Queen laid alone in her den, shifting and walking in circles as the contractions increased in pain and in duration, watching from the back of the nursery den as the shadows changed outside, snapping at Burke whenever the worried alpha would poke his head in. Sometimes it was not even him who entered, sometimes it was her daughter or perhaps even her sons; she could not remember for certain, the pain clouding her thoughts. All she could think of, all she knew, was pain. She could not even tell herself that it was merely a symptom of labor, rationale escaping her like the blood that flowed from her body, even worse than when she went into heat.

Finally, the first escaped her body, quickly, sliding out with ease, to Meldresi's temporary relief. Encapsulated in film, the Queen groomed her newest child, cleaning the birthing tube from his — yet again, the first of this litter was a boy — body, letting his true fur color shine from under the blood and other organic matter. Dark gray, almost near black in the dark, a mix of herself and Burke in the child. She guided him to her side, feeling him latch onto her nipple and begin to feed. She took this brief pause to relax and regain what energy she would, breathing lowly, her eyes hooded. 

The repose would not last. Her body spiked with pain again, Meldresi stifling her whines and whimpers. The second and last child of her litter was stubborn in coming out, and Meldresi feared that the child would be stuck. But the child came out, a girl, dark like her brother, and she swiftly moved him to her brother's side, waiting for the last of her pups to come out, but they never came. The Queen sighed, her eyes closing with relief as her newest Prince and Princess fed contently, silently thanking her God and Goddess for such a quick and easy birth and asking them to protect the little souls she had borne for the Brotherhood.

The world was a strange one...having awareness was a strange. Well not really awareness but basic perception. It was confusing, overwhelming, to breathe in and out, cough when something was stuck, feel something wet and warm go over you several time until it feels safe. Until your unused muscles feel at ease enough to get you somewhere, no being pushed somewhere. Kendra experienced her first hunger, safely tugged against her mother. She sucked until she was full, until her little nose sensed another ball of warmth, but as small as her. She cuddled into the side, it was the same thing that had been with her before, it felt like the only known thing in the strange dark world she was. Since she hadn't her eyes open, she dared to lift her head , just feeling the heat mostly from something much bigger, something that smelled like the licks and the milk.  She hiccuped and coughed again , okey not best idea, better stick to the small ball she would refer to as brother later on.

The newborn prince's first breath comes in the form of a wheezy cough as the birthing sac is cleansed away from him. He is examined, turned over by the mother wolf, before at last he is placed alongside her. It takes him some time to adjust to this change in atmosphere. He senses the change and responds to it the only way he knows how: he gapes and cries out a series of whistled whimpers.

In the time it takes him to calm down, his sister is born, cleaned, and placed alongside him. Pietro knows her, though he lacks awareness of his situation. He recognizes her deep down in his heart of hearts, where no conscious thought lives, only subconscious. He cuddles nearer to her even as Meldresi leads both newborns to her ample teats. He latches on and drinks eagerly, but even distracted as he is, the minutes-old puppy's leg drifts toward his sister and remains there long after he has his fill and drifts off to fitful sleep.

Burke was laying with Meldresi when she suddenly jumped up. He rather liked laying down with her and taking his moment of rest. He was half asleep, so the soon to be father was startled awake when Meldresi jumped up. He blinked for a moment as she sped away. It felt natural for him to follow her, ask what was wrong when she snapped at him. He hit the breaks instantly and frowned. So now he was evicted from his home out of nowhere? Burke poked his head inside but was snapped at again. He blinked, never really experienced a female in labor before. He didn't care enough for the female in question. He would see them later. But now it hit him. Meldresi was about to give birth. 

The large male stepped back to give her space and sat before the den like a guard, his ears held back to listen to his mate. She was clearly in pain. At one point he had to check up on her and poked his head in. It smelled of blood, now even more so. Was blood normal? He was worried now. But he was told to back off again. It was only a while later when soft cries and whimpers. Burke turned around. His docked tail up and ... wagging. His children where here! He let them have a moment before he carefully poked his head inside again. He laid in the entrance, his head barely inside the den. He tried to lick over the tip of Meldresi's nose, though the motion was hesitant since he was unsure if she was going to snap at him again.

Burke then looked to the side to see a dark grey pup and a black pup by her belly. He almost missed the dark girl for a moment. Two healthy babies. Burke instantly felt very proud and a smile creeped onto his face. Though, pups so young looked a bit weird. The male looked at Meldresi again. His pale eyes not looking cold for once but surprisingly warm. He then shuffled a bit back so his bunny butt was outside the entrance. "You want me to get Potema or like... some herbs?," he asked on a quiet tone.

This was not Cicero's day — perhaps they were his half-siblings, but he had no need to clutter around the den. In the event that help was needed however, Cicero did stick around. He was a healer, after all, even if a big part of his expertise with herbs came from working with poisons. He knew well enough how to heal wounds to assist if his help was needed. The youth stayed close to the den, leaving enough space for Burke to go back and forth from the den, but staying near enough for Meldresi or Burke to be able to call him if something would go awry — or if they wanted him to meet his youngest siblings. Cicero was not certain they would even let him near, but he did not care whether or not he would get to see them right away. He was here, in case he was needed in whatever capacity.

Potema, had the word been known to her, was a woman of science. She viewed everything in a clinical, analytical, detached manner, only ever feeling intrigue or curiosity towards most topics. Even the birth of her siblings. When she smelled those tell-tale signs, the ones she had detected faintly once on Scarlett's litter, she rushed down the Glen's gently sloping side, seeing her father there. She nosed in past him, shoving her muzzle into the den, only to be nicked by her mother's snapping fangs. The young princess jumped back, surprised at her anger, only to look at Burke and understand. Ah. Females get touchy when they give birth. Noted. A mother's anger is fierce when defending her pups. Even towards her own children. A voice murmured, and she agreed. She wouldn't be surprised if her mother attacked Burke one day if she got too close. By the Void, she would actually love to see that.

When they arrived, Potema cocked an ear from the corner she had settled herself into. The whimpers and whines were all too familiar to her. Rejoice! The voice crowed. Two new souls have been born into Sithis' service. She looked towards her brother Cicero, a myriad of emotions on her face. What would this mean for them now that they had been, in all purposes, replaced?

Damien. As always he no big emotions other than his own selfishness. But this day was different.

One could say many things about Damien. Probably most of them wouldn't make one proud. But he loved his family -Burke included. He, in his own selfishness, saw them as an extension of himself, and today that extension would grow a little bit more.

It came as a surprise knowing that Meldresi was pregnant. His mother. His life. The eldest expected many things from her at her age, weird things, improbable things, unnatural things. But pregnancy had never crossed his mind. The boy wouldn't call her (nor Burke) old, but he knew breeding age was limited. He knew now, that for sure, this would be the last to come out of his mother alive.

Nervousness wasn't a thing Damien felt very often. Excitement was usually presented in a different kind of ocsasions. Today he felt protective — perhaps even as much as Burke.

The first, eldest, and largest of Meldresi's offspring stood tall as close as he was allowed to her den where he knew Burke and herself would lay until the time came. And when it did, it was oddly loud. Meldresi became pure rage for a moment after which Burke was blown out of the birthing chamber. Damien eyed him with disconcerted, but kept his distance. Then Potema came to the scene. Naive. She shoved her nose inside the den only to be snapped away by her own mother. The three brothers wouldn't be seeing their siblings this day, it seemed.

Damien moved close to Cicero, wrapping around him as he laid down in the cold floor, knowing just like him that there wouldn't be a lot of interaction with neither their parents, nor the pups this day. But it didn't bother him. He was patient to some extent, and he still had his much loved brother and sister to spend with the little time he did not by himself.

Her whole family was gathered here, though most she kept outside while the newest editions were born. They fed steadily, the little things, and she looked at them with the same love and affection she had for those waiting for their verdict. She showered her two newest (and last) pups with kisses as they fed, smirking as they drifted off into sleep within moments. Typical puppies. She looked at the female with some worry as she hiccupped and coughed, grooming her neck and back gently to ease her coughing, content when the girl relaxed. She tucked the two pups together, curling tight around them to keep them as warm as possible, then barked softly for Burke, inviting him into the den, for once. "Burke," Her voice was audibly pained from her cries. "Come in and see them."

Burke instantly got up once he was allowed to go in. He instantly nosed over Meldresi and licked over her cheek and the top of her head. His eyes then fell over the.. well what to call those? Newborns they were, but this was the first time Burke saw them right after birth. They looked more like plump squealing fluffs. Still Burke felt really proud of those plump fluffs. He brought his nose closer to sniff them out before laying down next to Meldresi. 

A boy and a girl. He glanced at them again. So strange that they were in Meldresi's belly before. He rested his head on Meldresi's shoulders so he could look down at them as his mate was curled around them to keep them warm. "You did well, my love," he whispered softly to her.

Cicero noticed his sister's expression and he wondered if it was joy or sadness she saw first and foremost. Cicero did not think that his mother's love was a thing that needed dividing. She could love them and him equally. Besides, the pups needed a mother's love and warmth right now, and he no longer did. Cicero reached out to touch Potema's nose when Burke went into the den to see his children for the first time. "Mother will need much help," said Cicero, a smile on his face as he showed his rare sympathetical side. If Potema wondered what the arrival of the new pups meant for her, than this was one thing it did. She would be plenty useful, Cicero imagined.

Eyes drifted towards the mouth of the den, but the youth remained in place, not getting up to either leave or draw nearer until given the command to do so by Burke or Meldresi.

Potema watched as Burke stuck his massive body into the tiny hole, chuckling softly as he did, seeing his excitement. She had only heard two squealing voices from inside, which was enough for her. Two more siblings; hopefully the both of them were not boys. She didn't know if she could handle that.

"Indeed she will. If she let's us." Mother would be extremely overprotective of her pups for the first two days, rightly so, since Burke or Damien could easily crush them, given how small pups were. They would barely be able to stick their heads in without permission without having blood drawn by her fangs. But for now, she settled in that corner, pride oozing off of her as she waiting to see the new Spiderlings.

Damien closed his eyes, feeling no need to go peeking around because he knew mother would blow him away immediately if he dared get any closer to her birthing den. Mother was strict, Damien knew, and he respected her every decision and command for as unnecessary and unfair as it would seem most of the times. Mother knew better.

Cicero said that mother would need much help now, and Damien snorted silently as he did. Potema was right on clarifying that they would need first mother's permission to even peek inside her chamber to even help her. But at least from outside they could hunt for her and keep her safe inside. That was Damien's plan.

For a moment, Damien considered retiring from the scene, feeling completely useless and rejected, but when mother invited Burke in Damien's eyes popped open and his head turned quickly in the direction of the den's mouth, where Burke slowly moved inside. It was absolutely unfair that Burke got to see the pups right away and their older siblings would have to wait until who-knows-when.

The eldest of Meldresi's children got up and stepped forward, determined to go inside the den just as Burke had. His pale eyes peeked inside the darker chamber, and he lowered his head as if asking permission to see his siblings for the first time. He wouldn't ask much else today.

Meldresi smiled weakly at the compliment, though she saw no reason to praised. She had done her duty as an expectant mother; that was all. But she responded all the same, rubbing her head gently against Burke's reveling in his warmth. It had not been like this during her first litter; she had not been surrounded by loving family who waited expectantly for these pups to be born.

Damien's arrival was unexpected, but she allowed it. Why would she bar him from the den now? He was not threatening her pups, nor would he. She gestured with her head, allowing him to walk inside and see the new siblings she had borne. Cicero and Potema would follow soon after now that Damien was allowed inside.

Her attention turned back towards Burke, eyes gleaming questioningly. "Would you like to name them now?"

Burke looked at the older siblings coming in after him. He hummed softly when Meldresi snuggled against him. He nudged her back gently. He did thing he needed to be praised. Burke watched the small blobs and wondered how they would be wolves, well he knew, but now they looked like some squealing potatoes. Burke let Meldresi rest against him. "No. We can do that tomorrow you should get your rest," he spoke. It didn't seem like the most important thing in the world right now. And within a few hours they might have found names that would fit them.

Burke looked at Damien to see his reaction and soon also the other two. He was on sharp though, since Damien and him didn't end on good graces, well Damien wasn't really liking him currently. Which wasn't his fault at all. But still he was ready to react if something would happen. The same was for Potema since he knew she was a bit jealous. He wasn't sure what she would do with her jealousy.

Cicero sat and waited a moment while Burke and Damien went inside of the den. He would have plenty of time to see his siblings later, he imagined. Damien was not as patient, and he went ahead. Cicero sat and waited a bit longer when Damien went to see them, and when it was clear that their mother was fine with visitors Cicero, too, went to take a look.

He stayed his respectful distance as he watched the two tiny bundles. Then, satisfied to have seen his new siblings and wanting to give his mother space, Cicero turned away and departed, fading into the shadows.

Potema watched almost jealously as Damien got to muscle his way into the birthing den. She sucked her teeth with annoyance, but did nothing. There was a plug of masculine muscle that Potema knew that she could not push past, and Cicero knew that too. He turned tail, leaving the den silently. Potema lingered for a moment, wondering if she could slip past, but Damien and Burke's asses were blocking the way. Unless she wanted to crawl underneath them and get a good view (which she absolutely did not want to do), she avoided seeing her younger siblings for now. She turned and followed Cicero's departure back into the Woods, for now.

To Damien's surprise, Meldresi allowed him closer to the pups, and Damien didn't waste a minute to do so. Two steps forward and Damien was close enough to lick his new siblings' heads. He didn't though, they were two smelly and wet bundles, which wasn't appealing at all. The male remembered seeing Scarlett's children back in Bearclaw Valley, and remembered how unimpressed he was at those. It was similar with these, and after a moment of sniffing around and taking a good look, Damien too, departed the den, but not before giving his mother a loving lick to her chin. Burke was ignored, and Damien returned to his own business to leave mother to rest.

From this day forward, there were two more lives Damien had to look out for. It didn't matter to him if Burke stayed to raise them unlike his own father, or if he had to risk his life to protect the twins, his own littermates and his mother. They were his family, all that really mattered to him, and he felt an obligation to keep them safe. Burke was a whole another deal. He was an adult, and he could take care of himself without Damien's help.