Swiftcurrent Creek But the light faded out like flames always do {birth thread}

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The participants have indicated the following reason(s) for this warning: birth, you know it gets messy

@Alessia @Kavik

A scream tore through her throat upon waking, a mixture of anguish fueled by a nightmare of pain and the physical calling of her children. The dream had started like any other, but was quick to turn, images of herself bleeding into the earth and Alessia turning her back. The day she had lost everything. A sharp pain pulled from her core, as she tried desperately to blink away her tears. Another yell and she realized this wasn’t a dream any longer.

Roughly awaken from her deep slumber, Rosalie was in a particularly foul mood. With a harsh snarl and violent snapping of her teeth, Lie forced any who might have been with her in the den, out. A strangled sob echoed from her throat; she was in so much pain. Her thoughts weren’t together, lost in a myriad of discomfort and agony. The instinct to push grew, pulling at her core. And so, she did. Again, and again. She tried with all of her might, through the pain she prayed for her children's safe delivery.

The new mother waited and waited, as contraction after contraction rippled through her abdomen. Nothing was coming. Dread seeped into her heart; something was wrong. Minutes upon minutes passed, soon almost a half hour had come and gone, and she had yet to be greeted by one of her children. A grief-stricken moan fell from her lips, as she desperately bared down. Please. She begged, throwing her head back. She pushed as hard as she could, and finally something felt different.

Her first child came into the world in a wave of blood, and other questionable liquids. Licking it clean, her tongue worked to bring out movement in the pup. Anything, any indication that he was alive, that he would live. Her lip quivered as he remained motionless, a tear hovering in the corner of her eye. Until finally, finally, her efforts were rewarded with the tiniest of cries, and the slight twitch of a paw. With tears now flowing freely, Lie smiled down at her new son, a relief filled gasp, “My baby.” She whispered softly nestling the tiny puppy to her breast. Still she continued to lick the child, more to comfort herself than anything.

He had become so used to his life previous to this moment (not that he'd remember any of it or this) that perhaps it had been shock that rendered him soundless at first. Once he found his voice, it seemed he wouldn't cease his cries. There was no telling if it would hint towards his future but Soter was loud and relentless at this point in time.

At least he was that way until he found himself against his mother's abdomen. His cries seemed to settle down as he attempted to latch onto her breast for the food that he desperately needed. He seemed to fumble though, missing the mark probably one too many times.

He gave a few more cries to alert his mother to his failure. Not cool, mom.

He had woken to Rosalie's cry of pain, confused at first about what was going on. He jumped to his feet and sailed over to her only to be met with teeth and the very familiar scent of birth. It was clear she wanted him out, but it took him a few seconds to move from his spot despite her reaction to him. He  didn't want to leave her alone in pain. And, what if she needed something? Still, he wouldn't stress her out more by ignoring her wishes, so he stepped outside the den, his large body blocking the entrance as he listened to every little sound, ready to march right back in at the first hint of trouble.

Eventually, the pup's cries reached his ears, and Kavik stood, looking at the den entrance. He wanted to go back inside and meet his child--see with his own eyes that he or she was alive and okay, but he would wait...for now.

blah! I didn’t want this to take so long!!!! Sorry! Life is super busy atm

Offering her son a small smile, his voice gaining strength with every second, and growing increasingly frustrated at the failure to find food. Lie gently nosed him closer to her teat. “Come now little one. You can do it.” Steadying him as he wavered and hoped he would find his mark.

She had a long break, such that Lie thought she was graced with only one child. She called out to Kavik, relief filling her voice before another contraction hit her. This one less painful than the last, but still enough to take her breath away. The small woman, labored, grunting and squirming, hoping this one would be easier than the last. Ignoring the fact that she had just called for the father of her children.

To her relief her daughter greeted the world much more easily. And Lie cleaned the girl just as vigorously as her brother, although more confident than before. She had brought one life into the world, surely his siblings too would follow. Yet her motherly affection went unnoticed by the young girl. She gave no sound and held no movement. Lie in a panic tried harder, stroking the babe. Giving a whine she nudged with her nose. Until finally, she stopped and stared at the girl who looked very much like herself as a pup.

She couldn’t believe it. Her daughter was gone. Before she had even had a chance. Before she had opened her eyes, or said her first words, or taken her first steps. Her daughter was dead. Lie simply couldn’t believe it.

As if the universe took pity on her, Lie didn’t have time for the grief to register, as yet another agonizing contraction made itself known. And the need to push distracted her from the lifeless form. More blood seeped with every push. But she kept going, knowing she couldn’t fail another of her children.

Yet another babe, came forth, another girl. Born only a few minutes after her sister. Before her cleaning was even complete, @Morena let out a whine, obviously the strongest out of the three to have been born.

Trying to ignore the ghastly sight of her eldest daughter, Lie protectively pulled her two surviving children closer to her. Trying to protect them from the world.

The world went from warm and dark to cold, and the only thing she knew for sure was that she didn't like it, and she was sure to make it known throughout her cleaning. Tiny voice lifted in complaint, Morena continued to cry even as she was gathered close.

Her mother's fur was warm, and an interesting smell led her to her first meal, tiny nose prodding and trying to latch even as she whined. When she finally found a comfy spot and had her first taste of milk, she was still whimpering, but she was far more content now.

He bolted towards the den when she called to him, freezing in the doorway as pain twisted her features. He didn't step any farther into the den, not wanting to upset her while she gave birth to their second child; it was the least he could do. Just like when Alessia gave birth earlier in the spring, he felt helpless watching her in pain, knowing he couldn't do anything about it. 

Their second child was finally born, and Kavik watched as she cleaned it. Fear began to creep through his veins as he waited for the cries that never came. He took another step inside when he realized that their second born was gone, a wave of grief stealing his breath for a few moments. But, like her, he had little time to process anything, his attention switching to Rosalie as it became clear she was working on delivering their third child. 

Silently, he waited, offering his presence as support and knowing it would do nothing to make this easier for her. The crying that soon followed the birth of their third had him releasing some of the tension that had started to build with a quiet exhale of breath. When she cleaned the pup and pulled it close to start nursing with their first born, he slowly padded over. Overcome with pride and relief, he reached down and nuzzled her, careful not to linger too long. Then he walked over to their departed child, closing his eyes for a few moments before reaching down to gather her gently in his jaws. Unless Rosalie protested, he would carry the pup out and bury her next to her siblings who had also been robbed of their life too soon.

She allowed some relieve from Kavik’s touch. Although there was tension at the thought of another so close to her new children, but her sense of relief overcame her protective instincts. The slowness in her mind prevented her from saying much as he turned his attention to their stillborn daughter.

Lie couldn’t bare to look at the lifeless pup, and instead focused on the two suckling. Two out three was better than nothing. She stared at them, refusing the tug of sleep begged her to sleep. She was so caught up in her own world, Lie wasn’t sure how long had passed since the youngest, but she knew it had to be quite some time.

There was still a pain that lingered, and a feeling in her gut told her she wasn’t finished.

Her fourth child was the hardest to deliver, but she came none the less. Despite the difficult birth she was fairly small, and incredibly weak. But that didn't stop from Lie from loving her, and pulling her to her teat. Manon. She named her silently, a smile delicately fixed upon her lips. She had three beautiful children, and Rosalie was incredibly thankful.

She stared and stared, and finally with subsiding physical pain, Lie felt the grief grasp her heart. Until finally, she could take it anymore. Shaking her head, and closing her eyes, she stood briefly to reposition herself with her back to the entrance of the den shielding her three remaining children away from the world.

He returned sullen and worried, hoping to find that no more of their children had passed. When he entered the den, it was to find Rosalie curled protectively around the pups with her back to the entrance. He quietly walked over, needing to see with his own eyes that everyone was okay. His eyebrows lifted briefly in surprise to find three puppies where he had left two. All seemed fine, though, and he nuzzled their mother's cheek gently, lingering only a few seconds longer before settling directly in front of the entrance, large body blocking it from any unwelcomed company and sharp gaze keeping watch for anything suspicious outside. He knew nothing he could say or do would make her feel any less exhausted or devastated by the loss of their tiny child, but maybe she could rest a little easier knowing he was here with her, keeping them safe.

and that’s all folks! Sorry to keep this open for so long.

She felt his presence behind her, and the gentle graze against her cheek. Yet her eyes remained firmly closed, taking comfort in the squirming younglings against her chest. Listening to their tiny sqeaks and fragile breaths. She had no desire to re-enter the common world, Lie felt safer huddled in her own realm.



Despite her conviction, she could sense Kavik just out of reach, settled at the entrance of his den. And it did help, as she drifted into a restless slumber. Her breath evening, and her chest settled into a peaceful rhythm, betraying how she truly felt.