Stavanger Bay when the river took flight

Worry ate at the young mother's belly as she continued to groom her smallest babe. The child's frailty astounded her; she'd never seen anything so delicate that she'd hadn't immediately proceeded to consume. And perhaps she should consume the poor girl. Doe felt a growing sense of shame in the pit of her stomach. The more she looked at the weak little creature, the more she desired to hide it away from the world. From Szymon.

"What's wrong?" Doe asked, ears laid back against her head. She nosed more insistently at the child as it continued to wiggle and whine, hoping now that it could be irritated into liveliness. She wished more than ever that Hind was with her; surely the seasoned mother would know what to do about the weak child. "Furiosa," she muttered to herself, remembering that someone much closer had similar wisdom to share.

For now, though, Doe laid the child beside Julep and Isengrim, deciding to forgoe naming it for the time being. If it survived the night, she would think of something to call it.

Eyes still fixed on the three small figures that laid against her, Doe bayed a long, low note. Her own voice echoed painfully off the walls of the Stone Den, but Doe knew that her packmates - and those in Donnelaith - would hear it as well. She hoped that @Szymon would be the first to arrive - Doe had little doubt that he'd been pacing around or killing something to pass this anxious time. She hadn't told him what she'd come here to do, but there were few secrets between the two mates despite the amount of things that had been left unspoken.

Doe also wondered if @Deirdre or @Skellige would come. Doubtlessly, the Sea King had other things to tend to, but Doe rather thought the Forest Queen would jump at any chance to see newborn pups. Too, the new mother hoped that the rest of her pack would trickle by, and those in Donnelaith, too. A runner would have to be sent to Ravensblood Forest to notify Furiosa and Arturo, of course - Doe wanted everyone to know that two beautiful pups had been added to Blackrock's ranks.

In the excitment of her musings, Doe almost did not recognize the feeling that was quickly overtaking her. Suddenly, though, and with little exertion from the mother but a violent shudder and a startled squawk, a fourth pup came into the world. This one was as large as the first two, but silent and immoble like the nameless girl. Doe lifted it toward her, trembling from exhaustion that gripped her anew.

This pup was brown; Doe recognized the muddy color even in the darkness - and lo, the sun was now fully in the sky, sending a long, reaching shaft of light through the small entrance to the Stone Den. The pup was the exact same shade of brown as Doe's own mother, Hind - and she was dead. Doe looked down at the still, sodden wretch, blinking hot tears from her eyes. Though it seemed a useless endeavor, the young mother began to cleanse the dead girl of dirt and birthing fluids, her rough tongue laving over the motionless body as delicately as it had her three living offspring.