There was the tightening around his body, the rippling of great muscles that grasped the child and propelled him ever downward, ever outward. He opened his mouth to protest, but was suddenly struck with cold — it was unwelcome.

He screamed.

The child cried out at the displacement as his mother's tongue washed over him, removing the flotsam of birth; he was not as loud as his dark brother or pale sister, but a primal strength took hold of him all the same, and he gave a small sound akin to a growl as he was tucked alongside the nearest teat, nestled near two other gasping, ravenous bodies.

Warmth surrounded him, filled him; he was adrift in the sensation of safety, though as he slipped into slumber, small clicks and whines emanated from his maw.

there was a father's apprehension in lasher as blue willow's call filtered through the cold greyness of morning; he paced through the powdery drifts, hackles raised against the apprehension racing throughout his slim form. so frequent were his steps that presently the expectant sire's pawmarks melted a thin trail in front of the willow-hung den.

his thoughts were with his lover's struggles, and with their children, but they were also with peregrine. in his mind he had made his peace with the dark panther; he wished naught but the greatest joy for the new litter that would surely spring betwixt himself and fox, and the ruby herself occupied a less malicious place in his heart.

at last, as the hours passed, taltos could take no more, and stepped carefully to the mouth of the den, chuffing lightly. the scent of birth and of milk and tiny things hung in the air; he lowered his belly to the cool earth and lay with shoulders and head inside the den.

they lay alongside their mother, and his heart swelled with pride and love for her, and affection for her labour. and pulling away for a moment, the man sang the news of vivid small lives unto his friends, unto his pack. in the next moment he had returned, lying beside the denmouth and peering into the darkness.

murkwater eyes traced first the pale and delicate form of the female child, and then he smiled at the slumbering bodies of his sons, dark as he was. they are beautiful, blue willow, he whispered, extending his muzzle to lick her hind paw. i would like to name her eilidh, he said of the gossamer child, and then he awaited the healer's words.

yes, he breathed to all of the names, joy flaring brightly in his breast at the thought that they would all carry his last name, the one the witches had granted him: mayfair of the glen. donnelaith. the large boy, constantine, and it was fitting. lasher nodded, eyes trained upon his strong son. and all at once the name came to him, the title of the first male witch whom he had ever loved. constantine julien mayfair, the beta male whispered, a smile curving his lips.

and the second of the males, smaller but seemingly no less vigorous. casmir. casmir llewellyn mayfair. constantine, casmir, and eilidh, the man murmured, and his eyes filled with delighted tears.

pulling from the den, he breathed in the cold air and waved his plume in invitation at the gunmetal alpha, who hovered nearby protectively. two sons and a daughter, lasher exulted, eyes shining toward dante.

dante was excited, and lasher reached to nudge the gunmetal shoulder gently. she is well. resting, as she should be, but magnificent. silver osprey arrived next, her pleasure palpable. two sons and a daughter, he repeated, his eyes alight with the beam upon his muzzle. eilidh, the girl, pale as moonlight, and the boys, constantine and casmir, twins of one another.

glancing between the two of them, the beta's tail beat a furious rhythm in the air; he longed to go to her now, to curl 'round the curved dark body and watch their children slumber, but he wished to share also in the joy of his most beloved pack.

lasher too turned to young valtyr, beaming happily at the boy. osprey and dante were granted his continued attentions, however — he made to press his cheek against each one of theirs in turn before nodding to his silver alpha. they will be ready for visitors soon enough, the beta murmured, before warmly beholding the two and turning to duck under the willowed overhang. tonight, the den would be warm with tiny new lives and the scent of milk.