Ouroboros Spine i am not standing still, i am lying in wait

Valiant had been through this three times before. He thought he had, anyway, before experiencing it with Vairë. But it was different when it was his own children than it had been with the black bear. Those had been his cousins, and more poignantly, Easy had been something of a caretaker to him even in his adulthood.

He'd run the whole way back from the deepwood, but that had been two days before. He wondered, vaguely, if Minnow was going through similar pains, and the idea filled him with guilt and joy and trepidation.

But most of his focus was on Vairë. He remained nearby, outwardly stoic for the most part. He asked, once or twice, if she might stop and rest — but he did not insist, wary of the short fuse he associated with labor and birth. Easy had lifted her lip at him more than once, and although he'd forgiven her immediately, he still felt an uneasy pang at the memory. He did not want to have a similar one of Vairë.

But, despite the risk, he stuck close. He pandered where he thought he could get away with it, and otherwise he tried not to be too obvious about his surveillance.

And when the time came, he found himself sitting at the edge of that invisible barrier. Rose gold eyes stared toward the repose, straining as if it was only the distance that kept the doe from his gaze. His ears flew back in agitation each time he heard her cry out — and then nauseating fear roiled in his belly, gathering strength through each stretch of quiet.

He sucked in an unsteady breath as the first thin little cry reached his ears. His heart leapt and then dropped again in the same moment. He crouched low, muscles coiled tight, as if he might race toward them. But the isbjørn held himself in place — ready; waiting.

By the time they called for him, he knew that all was well. His heart still pounded in his throat as he hurried to Vairë's side, his eyes dancing dizzily between her beautiful face and the three perfectly formed girls nestled against her belly.

"You — "

He tried to say something meaningful, but a moment later he gave up and pressed his forehead to hers, breathing harshly through his nose as his dread finally gave way to joy.

"They're beautiful," he said at last. "You did so good."

He glanced toward Kukutux and Nasamiituuq as if only just remembering they were present. Words failed him once again, but he offered them a dazed smile.