Dragoncrest Cliffs This Is the Only Way to Be

She fretted over the children, now that she was convinced that she was done giving birth. She tidied up the area as much as she could, though the scent of blood and afterbirth would linger for some time. The puppies themselves smelled divine, to Chacal. Their pelts slowly began to dry once they were cleaned up, and they became as soft and velveteen as a rabbit's ear. 

For a quiet moment, she considered them. She'd placed them along her side in order of their birth, so she might remember, and took a moment to appreciate and differentiate between them. 

The first born was dark, like her, and with the same hint of gold fur which came to a peak in his forehead, and trickled down his neck to his shoulders. Only time would tell if he shared her eye colour as well- privately, she hoped he would. It made her proud to see a child born who looked so much like her. He kneaded her side as he suckled, before he fell asleep. She kissed his forehead, where the dark fur met his golden locks. 

The secondborn had a coat of tan, but with dark points, which pleased Chacal. While she did not share blood with Erzulie, Chacal had forgotten that fact, having never considered Erzulie to be any less than being her Maman. And so, she believed the markings to have been inherited from Erzulie- she would be so pleased to see her little lookalike!

The third boy was dark, with fur that might either darken or lighten with time. He looked a shade lighter than the firstborn, with perhaps a hint of Rosalyn's auburn. His lower jaw and his paws were lighter, and would make for striking markings when he grew up. His smile would definitely be more noticeable, with his upper and lower jaw contrasting in colour. He looked upset, and she could only imagine how confused he felt, so she nudged him toward a teat that was swollen with milk, so that he might feed like the others, and fall asleep comfortably.

And the teeny, tiny girl, half the size of the others, seemed content enough pressed against her side, and she did not seek to feed. She nudged her little head repeatedly toward a teat, but the girl's mouth didn't open. She didn't suckle or complain, but wanted to nuzzle closer. This little ash-brown girl perplexed her. She was so tiny, and she didn't seem interested in nursing which was the very thing Chacal needed her to do. It did not escape her notice that out of all the pups, the little girl looked the most like Ashlar- even down to the faint silverish hairs along her shoulders. Her face and limbs were paler, markings which mirrored the dark mask and limbs of her second-eldest brother. She seemed settled, but Chacal worried. If she did not eat, she would lose energy and fade away. 

Four children- three boys, and a tiny little girl. Privately, she'd hoped for more female offspring, so the matriarchal system of Sapphique might continue beyond her- but she realized quickly that she shouldn't try and thrust that responsibility upon any of her children. It might make her treat the little girl differently- if she even survived. 

While she had a long list of names that she'd been considering, she wasn't sure which name she ought to give each pup. She'd thought of more girl names than boy names...And had a name she wanted to give the little girl already- but it felt unfair to give one a name, and make the other three wait. Would she be able to treat each child fairly? Would she be able to keep up with four children, and give each of them enough love and attention? She'd simply have to do her best. 

She was about to call out and announce the birth when she realized Erzulie was just outside the den. She'd had her mother's shadow lingering there, silently supporting her through her labour but allowing her to find the strength to give birth on her own. She only noticed her mother's presence a moment before she poked her head inside the den, right when Chacal was about to beckon her. She leaned into her mother's touch and hummed affectionately. "You are Grandmaman to t'ree 'ealthy boys, and a p'tit fille. She will not latch; I am worried for her, she is so tiny." She admitted. She inhaled, and realized that Mireille had come too, lingering just outside the den. She gifted Chacal with a fish, which she appreciated with a happy sigh. "Merci," She breathed. She looked to her Maman, then, who she wished would stay with her. "She will live, though, yes?" She asked tearfully.