Whitefish River I could offer you a warm embrace

@Malila @Mohe
@Emrik for visibility, but he's welcome to join too
set for early evening
making some vague assumptions about the @Spica/@Syrma drama, but i can edit if needed

It had been almost a week, and Speedy had settled into her new routine with relative ease. There was still a huge hole in her heart left from everything that had happened with the twins, but she tried not dwell too much on it. But the times when Emrik was gone, and she was alone in the den with her newest son and daughter were the most difficult; that was when the guilt started creeping into her thoughts from the back of her mind to tell her that this was all her fault. But whenever the guilt tried to turn her peaceful time with the puppies into something toxic and filled with anxiety, she found that watching the tiny new additions just exist helped soothe her heart a great deal. 

The sun had set not too long ago, and with it Emrik had left for a patrol after bringing her something to eat, which she had gobbled down pretty quickly; she had forgotten how hungry nursing puppies made her, and she was most grateful for any food brought to the den. With her belly full, she shifted to lay on her side, careful not to disturb her son and daughter who were sleeping soundly against her. She knew they would wake soon to eat, so she took the quiet moment to try and nap some herself. 

Her gaze moved slowly over what she could see from the den entrance, which wasn't much. It was already dark, but the light from the moon glowed bright against the trees outside, enough that she sleepily studied the illuminated branches for a few moments as a yawn parted her lips. She drew in a deep breath and released it slowly, her eyes drifting closed as she exhaled. In that moment, she was free from her troubling thoughts, at least long enough to let contentment settle in her heart as she let the sounds of her sleeping children send her into a light slumber.

He had become only slightly more aware of the world around him and yet still had so far to go. He clung to the warmth of his mother or of his father if she briefly stepped away. The familiarity of his sister something that comforted him always. Mohe was so loud at all times unless he slept. Whimpers constantly emerging from the boy. Squeals of desperation when his hunger set in and until he could be sated. What a handful he would be! 

 The babe would wake, unknowingly, just as his mother would begin to drift to sleep. The alarm that was his voice sounded as he demanded to be fed. His tiny body scooted the small distance needed to find a teat. Upon successfully reaching it he would quiet and force his hunger into submission. Little paws pressed against mom's stomach and pushed with all the might they could muster and he would wriggle and writhe for many moments before he felt comfortable and would finally grow still. He didn't know if he had woken Speedy, but he didn't yet possess the ability to care who heard his shouts of defiance.

Unlike her brother Mohe, Malila's sleep schedule was different. Just like the blossoming flowers of spring and summer, whose petals opened at first light and furled shut at dusk, she too, followed suit. She had no concept of such time. Only the drifting in and out of slumber and the warmth of her mother and brother beside her. Occasionally there was someone else too, who she would eventually know as Dad, but he wasn't here right now.

As much as she enjoyed cuddling close to her darker sibling, his boisterous nature proved disturbing. Like now, for instance. The little blonde bean had been curled up against Speedy's breast contently in a neat little ball, sleeping soundly like the perfect little angel she appeared to be. And then he was moving, writhing, nudging against her! Again! Her delicate face scrunched. Damn it, couldn't a girl get her beauty sleep?! Jostled awake, Malila let out shriek, demanding silence. Sheesh, where was the snooze button when you needed one?

She would only be able to sleep for a few minutes before the panicked cries of her son had her eyes flicking wide open. She shifted her front end up so that she could look over at the commotion. He just seemed hungry, which was not surprising, given that she had been expecting them to wake and be hungry at any moment. He seemed to be on top of things, though, even as he voiced his complaint, and after some dramatic wriggling, he was attached and feeding. In his boisterous attempt to quell his hunger, Mohe had managed to startle his sister awake. Her shriek made Speedy turn her focus to the cream-colored girl. She reached over and gently nuzzled her disgruntled daughter as well as gently swiping her tongue down her back to soothe her.

She wondered if she might be hungry too, so she used her nose to carefully guide Malila to the right place, hoping she would latch and quiet as well. Until then, though, she would continue to nuzzle and lick, providing comfort until her milk could do the same. Little Mohe was already a handful, which often made her smile, except for when he upset his sister. Hopefully, she could get her to calm and feed without too much trouble, though, and then she could watch them both feed peacefully, which was one of her most favorite things to do. She loved them so much, she could hardly stand it.

It was absolutely not contest. Nestled against his mother, with his sister at his side, was his absolute favorite place in the world to be. She was his safety blanket. Though he knew no concept of fear or pain, albeit hunger, there was something obvious working: harm would never befall him or Malila as long as she had anything to do with it. She blanketed them in peace and showered them in love.

 After he gathered his fill his body twisted to lay long ways against his mother. His little paws kicking in and out in a running motion. The little boy often squirmed or writhed and wriggled. It made him exhausted and so when he did sleep it was a deep one and nothing could wake him. 

 Today, he did something different. His eyes finally fluttered open and he shrieked at the new sensation. He couldn't see much of anything. Changes in lights, some shadows, but presently blue eyes ony roamed around the den endlessly looking for that which they would not find. He peeped a few more times and his eyes coincidentally landed on his mother with no realization for what was so blurred.

It seemed that for both mother and daughter, there would be no peace today. Speedy's gentle tending in guiding her to a teat only partially appeased the flower child. Latching on, she heartily drank her fill, delighting in the warmth engulfing her stomach. But still she fidgeted, settling down only after the effects of warm milk began to make her drowsy again.

Until Mohe laid long ways, shifting and kicking all about as usual. She grunted, a cute little sound, trying to be content and ignore all this movement. Boys would be boys, after all. Just as she had begun to settle again, nearly asleep nestled with her loving mother and active brother, a shriek rang through her ears. Startled, that was plenty enough to thrust her out of her blissful little fog again. Peeling her eyelids open for the very first time to reveal dark blues of infancy, there was now light where there had been none. Spots danced in her vision, in this blurry new world. Oh so confused, Malila let out another fussy little whimper, attempting to burrow her head in against the crook of Speedy's leg to shield herself from the harsh new light.

Little Malila seemed to quiet once she began to eat, and Speedy watched as she drank until her little belly was round and full. She fell asleep soon after, and the healers gaze drifted to where Mohe kicked and wriggled, seeming to quiet as much as he was able. She thought they might be finally settled and that maybe they could all spend some time napping before their father returned with dinner. But it quickly seemed like that wouldn't happen. 

Mohe woke with a few squeaks that had Speedy running her nose along him to find the issue. It was then that she saw him looking back up at her. She was frozen in awe for a few moments. Her first children had been at least a week older when their eyes had opened, and so she had not been expecting this. 

Then came Malila's disgruntled sounds, and when Speedy reached over to examine her as well, she found the same amazing thing: her eyes were open too. How could they already be growing up so quickly? Soon they would be venturing out of the den and into the big scary world. But she refused to let her fear for them ruin this amazing moment. 

She looked down at them both, nuzzling son and daughter lovingly before gently murmuring: Hello, babies. She smiled at them as she spoke. She hoped @Emrik would be back soon to witness this; he needed it just as much as she did, and she knew he would be just as excited.