Golden Glade The Bastard Royals

Since Eden left the tunnels, I'm just gonna let Nadia jump in whenever!

Heartha seemed amused at his joke, assured him that all WAS normal, but her pain increased and the King took a step back. When the woman moaned in pain, his ears went back and he whined in sympathy - but he did not move forward, only back, laying at the entrance and blocking the path as he had with Aspen. He was not so aggressive this time, but just like before nobody would be allowed in unless the mother herself called for it - which did not happen.

Alder watched as Heartha birthed first a little white female with patches of ginger and black - her smile was contagious, but the father stayed quiet. 

The next one she pushed out was another white - but this one, she was not happy about. Confusion brought his head up from his paws, ears cupping forward and blue eye straining to see - but at her lack of attentions on it, he assumed it dead. Like her, a couple of tears soaked the one side of his face - but it happened. He was lucky to have five strong children in the world - but wait! 

Heartha pushed again - Alder had assumed her done - and after a struggle eventually slipped out a ginger one: unlike the rulers two older sons, these puppies didn't cry. The two survivors suckled and pressed to the curve of their mothers belly, but it was not until said pale woman called him forward did he stand and move in.  

His blue eye tracked her movements, watching her hide the still one. He tiptoed carefully over, eventually sinking to his belly on the other side of the puppies - he smiled as he looked down on them, reaching forward to sniff but refraining from touching them just yet. Alder let the moment of joy wash over him and Heartha for several moments before finally speaking in low, hushed tones, unaware that the pups were still deaf to the world. 

                          "What're you.... Um... The still one?"

Shame gripped him - not minutes later, and he was trying to take it from her. His words were unusually nervous, and he found himself unable to directly say what he needed to. 
 
                                                              "We can hold a funeral tomorrow, or I can keep these two warm while you go and bury it in private - but I know some mothers.... Well, they don't let the nutrients go to waste.... The decision is up to you."