Moonspear are we awake, or are we asleep?

babies first, please! @Altair @Caelum @Mira @Mintaka

 

The time had come. 

She was grateful for it; the matriarch had been within her whelping den for the entirety of the day, if not more than that. Knowing from the last year that movement helped, Hydra emerged from the whelping den and took a brief jaunt with @Lyra and @Alya. The former was her midwife, the latter her support and coach in this despite having never given birth herself. It was good she was here this year, for this one. She could see and hear for herself the way a child could destroy, too, but seconds from the womb. 

And then, how all the pain endured from it would be worth it. 

Perhaps it was the not being here the last year that made Alya decline the opportunity this year; perhaps it was that she wanted the opportunity to be an aunt, first, seen from the moment their eyes could open. Whatever it was, Hydra supported her. Whenever she was ready, she would be ready... 

Such thoughts precluded her own epiphany, as they headed back. The moon was full, as it had been the last year. It was with a start that Hydra picked up the pace, and not a moment too soon. Immediately after slipping into the whelping den, Altair was brought into the world. It had been, unquestionably, the easiest birth, and without any pains. Hydra was swift in doing as instinct bid, removing the sac and cleaning him. She nosed him toward her breast, and soon the heads of not one but two sisters peered into the birthing den. The rumble that came from her was halfhearted. Lyra would help, and if Hydra died in this grueling process, Alya would be a mother, too. 

The ache that overcame her then grounded her. The work that went into the next birth was no quick, simple thing. She pushed and heaved, got up to pace and stretch. Later rather than sooner, @Mintaka came into the world. A beautiful little thing, and Hydra thought on how Vega now had her very first sister. Her heart warmed as she groomed her, but once more the pains started. Of all her cubs, Mintaka was the most unique in appearance... but no less loved for it. 

Though it was a long and arduous process, soon enough, @Caelum was brought into the universe. As she looked to him, and cleansed him, Hydra's tail waved. Another baby boy. Each of her own were precious and favored for different reasons, but she thrilled for more. The pain ceased, for a little while, but Hydra knew she was not yet finished. Still, she dozed off for her precious moments of peace that she might have. The process was far longer than the last year, though she was no worse off for it. It was the same, but... different. 

She arose when pain rippled through her. She groaned, looking to her belly, and then lower still. Now came the fourth, and final. It was quick enough, for all of the waiting, which in truth had not been for longer than natural. But once @Mira emerged, Hydra felt tired. Cleaning her, and placing her where she belonged, Hydra sighed. Each babe to her breast, she felt a wonderful calm overtake her. Again she had done this thing, bring four miracles into the world. Their world. She looked to Lyra and Alya, and asked, howl; let the pack know. Call Dirge, she asked, but she felt sure he was near without needing to ask. He had been watchful as of late, and she knew why. Wrapping around their children, and the present future of Moonspear, Hydra felt content, and as though she could sleep for days.