Stavanger Bay Life happened.

It was late afternoon as Julooke sat atop the entrance of the den. The sun wasn't in a position to be shining on her, unfortunately, for she dearly liked to sun bathe. However, her large belly made her motivation to find a sunny spot nonexistent. For the past few days, she had been having pains and so she didn't really walk around much. They weren't bad pains, but they were there enough for her to notice them. Rest had seemed to make it better, but she was increasingly aware that the time for her pups to greet this world was fast approaching.

Idly, she wondered where her mate was. The more her pregnancy progressed, the more he seemed to be around her, and she was thankful for that. He got to experience all the wonderful things about her pregnancy, including feeling the pups move around in her belly. It was an incredible feeling, one she would miss when she finally gave birth to them. However, it would be one miracle giving way to another. She couldn't wait for the day she would finally get to see her babies.

With a startling yelp, Julooke was brought out of her day dreaming. A pang hit her side, one worse than the previous ones she had felt. She shifted her weight, thinking maybe she had been laying wrong. The pain went away, only to return a few minutes later. She whined in concern, stood, and started to pace around the den. Another pain. These were different. They were more regular than what she had been experiencing. Instinctively, she went into the den, laying down only to get up a moment later. She turned in circles a few times before laying down again, but she just couldn't seem to get comfortable. She stood once more, scratching at the den floor, whining as her contractions got closer and closer together. Her body was telling her it was time.

She turned toward the entrance of the den, intending to go out and call for Verrine, but another pain hit her abdomen. There was no time now. She turned in circles a few times before lying down once more. Her breathing was labored as her instincts took over. A few moments later, the first pup was being born. A boy. Charon, she said softly, before licking him clean and nudging him to her belly. It wasn't long before another pup came, this one a girl. Liyanì, she named her, from the names she and Verrine had picked out; a name to honor her father, Liyano. The next pup was another boy. Kevlyn, she said with a smile. The next was a boy, as well. Levi, she named him. She knew the pups would look mostly the same, and their adult colors would come with age. But, she could already tell that Charon was lighter in color and Liyanì was darker. Kevlyn and Levi looked remarkably the same as each other, and were a happy medium between Charon and Liyanì in color. She breathed a sigh of relief as they all suckled, seemingly healthy. She laid her head down, tired from the birthing.