Noctisardor Bypass jusdreinen

mama's contractions started as the world opened up in spitting rain.

ava wordlessly brushed aside the man in the den. the scent of chamomile assaulted her nostrils, but her gaze was held in silence upon the pained features of her mama.

dinah would know what to do; dinah would pray.

ava had no such faith in god. she tried to remain visually reassuring, gut twisting as if a knife pierced it each time she looked upon her mama and saw agony.

it would be over soon, she wanted to croon - to press paw to fevered head and kiss away the struggles.

sobbing; mama sobbing -- the name of her dead mate slipping out. ava's ears pinned and she held the gaze of dinah knowingly.

hours passed before heda's shivering crucible came to end. as heda slumped alongside druid, ava looked upon the two forms in quiet wonder. had she been that small?

their caul was pierced and pulled away, their fur licked clean and life lapped into them by strong, warm strokes of urgent tongues.

heda slipped away, but it was okay mama -- ava and dinah were here, guided by instinct to see their bloodline borne anew.