Stone Circle It's only half past the point of no return

feel free to make cameos! Valette wouldn't really accept anyone in the den, except @Greyback, but feel free to have your characters lurk around the den. :D

Valette had never really experienced her pregnancy like this before. Especially these last few days the female couldn't do much at all then sleep and have short waddling walks. She was kind of fed up with the state she was in and hoped that the birth would be there quickly. She expected her labor to start any day now. Each day was a bit of a waiting game and with each day passing the female grew more irritated that it was taking so long.

Valette had gone to sleep, staying more in the den in case the labor started. She was not sure if it was day or night when the first heavy pain shot through her body. It was not uncommon for her to have contractions but when her water broke moments after she realized that the moment had arrived. Valette had always been very strict towards her mates in the past. She didn't want them in the den with her as she gave birth. Perhaps that had developed this way because her first litter wasn't with a mate. She had chased Stark out as well and unfortunately for Greyback, Valette made sure to give him a good snarl or nip if he even thought of coming into the den.

Valette felt that he could wait outside. She had done this before and she didn't need his help. The female settled down and tried to start accepting the contractions and pain. She knew that she needed to push but in the beginning, it always hurt. She could feel herself being stretched as she pushed. Groans fell from her lips as she pushed. Always when she started labor the female remembered what pain came with it. Later she would forget all the pain when seeing her kids' faces for the first time. The female breathed in and pushed hard. Mixed sounds came from the den, the mother tried to be as quiet as she could but occasional groans and panting sounded from the den entrance. That continued until a new sound filled the den, a higher pitched squeaking.

Valette glanced behind her, pains shooting through her body but eager to lick her first little one clean. It was a little male and so big. She could remember Merrit and Keen when they were born but this pup was almost twice the size when they were born. Valette eagerly licked him clean and nudged the newborn close. New contractions started and as she started to push she realized that this second one was going to be the same size as the one she just birthed. Valette inhaled sharp breaths and continued to push hard until the second one was out. It felt like a routine. She was not new to this. Valette was not scared anymore of the birth. She didn't have time to nudge the second one to her belly as contractions started again. She was confident that the pup would find its way.

The third went more smoothly, at least in her opinion. However, exhaustion was starting to settle in and it took the mother a few breaths before she could maneuver herself to lick the third child clean. She took great care with the three newborns in the few moments she had. There had to be more, and she knew she had to fight the exhaustion. She marveled at the size of these newborns, never before had they been so large. Tiredly the female laid her head down and took the few moments of rest before her body continued. Glad that it took a few moments between the third and fourth. Valette closed her eyes as she went through the motions of her contractions. She was in her own little bubble and was not really following with what was going outside the den, or even, who was there in the first place.

Valette gathered her courage for one more hard push and then was met with soft whines. Four, she had four babies this time. She hoped that this was the last one. The female licked over the fourth one's snout and top of its head. She was far too tired to check what genders she birthed by now. She didn't care she was just glad that they were on this earth. Valette let out an audible whine when another heavy contraction shot through her body. The female felt that she didn't want to do any more of this laboring but she couldn't really give up on these kids and stop. She wasn't even sure what would happen.

Valette pushed hard using her last strength to try and push this one out. She wasn't sure if it was possible but this was felt bigger, or at least different. The female strained and pushed with the contractions but even after half an hour, there was no pup yet. Valette felt like she was ready to burst in tears just because she was so tired and her whole body ached. A mild fear was settling in. What if something was wrong? Valette whimpered, trying another push but it felt like it stayed in the same place. The female tried another position, mindful of her other newborns. It didn't seem to work. Valette desperately wanted a rest. What if this pup was not coming out. She never really had this problem before.

Valette then eyed at the herbs that Sunny had given her a few days prior. She was not good with herbs or plants but she trusted Sunny that they were safe to chew on. She hoped that it would help her as Sunny promised. After chewing on the gross plants Valette laid down close to her other four pups to keep them warm. She felt a bit more relaxed which was probably the lavender she chewed on, not that she was aware of it and some of the pain seemed to slowly take off. She was also getting more sleepy. Still, she was determined to keep pushing. She had no sense of the time anymore or how long she was keeping up with this. Valette still felt the pain but less sharp as it was before. She pushed once more and immense pain shot through her but the pressure was gone, and as she looked behind her there was a pup that had clearly came breached. She could also smell more blood than usual and realized that it was her own.

After that realization, the female noticed that the pup had not moved yet. Valette's ears fell back and she nosed over it and feverishly licked it clean. The pup looked different. It looked blue and its tongue was thick. Valette whined and more forcefully nudged it. However, being an expert hunter she knew that this child had no life in them. Valette felt unable to hold back the tears. Another smaller contraction went through her and while crying she delivered one last pup. It was incredibly small compared to the others, suspiciously small. Valette nudged the little thing. It seemed to move a bit and through her tears, Valette slaved to get the small thing up and running but after a while, her licks seemed to slow and Valette noticed that she was slipping in and out of consciousness. She wanted to sleep and her need to revive her child seemed to fade. That was the most logical thing for her mind right now. Just sleep. All the noises from the den grew very still compared to the past groans and cries. Automatically she curled around her babies, alive and dead ones, as everything faded to black, the last thing she scented was her own blood before everything faded to nothing.