Moonspear Stardust

Birth thread!! Date: June 1st, 2024. @Kinusi, @Tarkik, @Alaric. Tagging @Sialuk, @Chakliux, @Acrux & @Maggak for reference. All welcome. Please let the pups & Alaric post first!<3

The weeks sped by. And as Elentari's pregnancy progressed, the more anxious she grew. Unlike her first one last year which had been smooth and easy, this one was starkly different. More often than not she was plagued with rolling waves of nausea. Her moods shifted un-predictably. Sporadically, lancing jabs of pain cut through her belly. Sometimes the pups within were feisty and kicking nonstop. Other times they didn't move for days.

It made her fret. Wonder what to expect when the big day finally arrived. 

She sought out Alaric frequently to reassure him and herself. To ease her nerves. She consulted with Sialuk, basking in the time she could spend with her and her latest brood, on her better days. When the Archer was not feeling so great, she retreated to the privacy of her ulaq, to ride out the discomforting symptoms. She loathed to feel so disconnected from the rest of the pack, but she must conserve her energy. She would make it up to them.

The final week of her term had been the most trying. She felt like she would explode at any moment. A great pressure pushing out from within. On her stomach and ribs and most uncomfortably, the very base of her tail. She was ready to get these babies out of her.

She awoke early that day stiff, bloated and crampy. Her appetite she noted, was better than normal. A good sign. She forced herself up out of bed, determined to pace and walk. To find herself something to eat and keep hydrated. It was with a sad but happy look in her eye, that she acknowledged @Acrux and @Maggak were no longer present here on the mountain. Not here for this day, to welcome younger brothers or sisters into their lives.

The thought was interrupted by a slicing white hot pain in her womb. The black Archer doubled over, grimacing. Maybe if she gave it a moment, it would subside. The pain only radiated and spread into more persistent cramping, seconds apart. She had been through this once before. She knew the signs. As she made a hasty beeline back for the shelter of her ulaq, a pooling warmth between her legs told her she was not far off yet.

If she could be sweating, it would be in bullets. With flushed cheeks and labored breathing. In the short time between contractions, she sucked in a breath and called out. A message for @Alaric and Sialuk. Even for @Chakliux, should he be within range. For @Maggak and @Acrux, who she prayed this news may reach! 

Her ulaq was a stones throw from Alaric's. Within easy distance of Sialuk's. This was not like last time, when she gave birth with her lover, together. What she had with Alaric was intimate in a different way. Unique. Men were not allowed inside last time. Now, she wanted her tall dark and handsome medicine man close. Curled around her, wrapped close, his warmth reassuring.

She did not look to see if he was already there or not. Instinct drove her forward and inside, where she laid down atop meticulously prepared skins and furs for just such a day. Minutes blurred into hours. The sun grew high and dipped low. When it kissed the horizon, Elentari had at last brought forth her first into the world! A son. @Tarkik. Wrapped in silvers and white, tipped in ink. Cleaned, warmed and nuzzled lovingly in her embrace, to a teat full of mother's milk.
Her respite lasted as long as the last rays of sunlight. It was when, finally, the stars came out, winking into existence, did her second and final newborn come heralding into the world. A daughter, @Kinusi. A perfect dark blend of her and Alaric, kissed with brown freckles and silver smudged eyeshadow! Exhausted from having delivered not one, but two healthy puppies this year, Elentari admired her new, expanded family.

As the early days turned into weeks. And Elentari's harrowing symptoms didn't abate. He kept within easy hearing and reach. He wouldn't let her go through this without him.

 It didnt matter to him if they were not all his or none his Acrux and Maggak were like his own. He even often stopped to see Sialuk's newest brood and Moonshadows.

Today was no different. He knew her date was edging closer so he had taken to working a bone or packing herbs right outside his Ulaq. It was already ready for her.

A bone shattering fear curled into his spine and held tight. But also great joy. He quickly heeded her call. Curling around her as bid. Licking her fur away from her face. Being whatever she needed,  be it someone to hold tight too, something to bite or scratch or yell at.

Hers was not an easy labor. But she weathered it so well. He hummed snatches of songs to keep both himself and herself calm. And a joyous laugh left him at the first births and another at the second.

Looking at em! You did wonderful sweet thing. So proud of you.

He pulled her close but gently.

Kinusi was born among starlight and song. A perfect entrance to the little songbird herself. She couldn't hear or smell or see. But she felt safe she felt warm. And qhen she opened her mouth it was only to make small nosies. Just to let her family know she was fine. And she was here.

She found her way to mothers milk snuggled next to brother amd she slipped into milk coma soon after being born. Only awakening for more milk, more soothing licks.

a first breath,

first wiggle,

then, a first cry!

and oh, he couldn't yet hear it... but poor pity to those that could. it was quite the chorus.

eager and anxious, he writhed at his mother's side, especially aggravated when he finds himself toppled onto his side. 

rats! why was this so hard?

there.

with a quick jolt of his pudgy little body, he'd found himself upright once more.

but the smell of milk had him in a frenzy all over again.

kicking his puppy butt into high gear, he made for his mother's teets, latching onto the first he could reach with great enthusiasm. and, unfortunately for dear mother, he did so with a lack of mindfulness for her comfort. no teeth were grown yet, but sure had one hell of a grip.

he suckled and fed until his little belly could take no more, looking to be moments from exploding. but he didn't care. it only helped to knock him right off to sleep, content as could be snuggled up against both his mother and sister.

She had gone on a quick hunt for her babies and had a fresh kill in her jaws when she heard the sounds of labor. The ebony woman was passing the den when everything had been finished and decided this kill would be best given to the new mother. 

Her babies would have to make due with something from one of the caches until she could go out once more. She gave a small smile and stayed a respectful distance away. “Congratulations.” She spoke as she nudged her prey and went back to her own young ones.

Cameo!

cameo!

it was time now for the sea ice, and chakliux spared his time now to visit moonspear, a second journey in the same year! and for the same purpose.
the memory of elentari's welcoming laugh spurred the seal hunter on; he was blessed and humbled to have been chosen anew by the wife of sialuk, and nursed a private joy that the children born in their den might belong entirely to one another as siblings.
maggak and acrux were not here.
his eyes looked for them, a shadow of worry crossing as he came to the densite and gave his gift of two pristine ducks. and there was a new thing here; alaric, in the den himself, curled around elentari.
chakliux did not know if he had taken argent's place for them both, or what had changed, but he heard the cries of the little ones and smiled in joy despite his unsurety.
he sang once, a low note which drifted up in pride and became a song, a silvermoon blessing for the children born to the place of moonspear.
he sang; he departed, looking back only once in wistful delight.

i nearly forgot about this one!!

Another son, another daughter. Sialuk marveled at them both, pressing her tongue to Elentari's cheek in a silent display of unwavering affection. Alaric, too, was welcomed into their family, though Sialuk would not take him as a lover. She had taken none since Argent had left, focusing her heart on Elentari and their children.

Moonshadow's voice was outside then, followed shortly by Chakliux's song. The Ostrega's muscles twitched, wanting to go to him, but she stayed beside the new mother. A trip to Moontide and Moonglow would be in order soon; perhaps when the children were old enough to come along.