Redtail Rise more

backdated to yesterday! welcome @Saturdays Sunrise and @Saturdays Sunset

The bringing of new life was not an easy thing. And despite it being the second time for the woman, it was still no easier than the last. New Snow had sequestered herself away from the pack, knowing her time was near. To a new whelping place had she gone (after creating it), and it was there she remained. Of course, Mountain Boulder and key others had found it. She allowed them near, as they brought sustenance and safety both.

But the past few days had been difficult ones. The pains were greater, somehow, and longer!

And by Friday evening, her labors truly begun. New Snow would snap anyone away, not desiring any to be too close in these vulnerable moments. To the whelping den she would slink to, and for hours would she pace.

Saturdays Sunrise brought the first. And the birth felt as though it might have taken up every minute of that sunrise, but as New Snow—once Sunday Morning—looked upon the babe, she felt that all that time and more would have been worth it. A daughter! New Snow lay close to the girl, cleaning her and letting her suckle. She felt restless, and so knew this was not it... but could not remove herself from the daughter that reminded her so much of the late Thursday, whom New Snow presumed must have died in the wilds.

Things would surely go better for this cub. She and Mountain Boulder had learned much from the failures and successes of the last litter, and if it were possible they two loved one another even more for it. Theirs was a love that grew, it seemed. And her love for him expanded even then, to see what he had helped her to make.

In the evening, her second labors began. But it was not until sunset that the second was produced. New Snow took quick care of the second one, a daughter too! And she brought the girl next to the other, nosing them closer, and was content once she felt the cub latch.

Only then did she call for @Augur and @Bobcat to come see the newest addition to their surviving family, once of three, of five.