Golden Glade The Bastard Royals

Heartha felt it. The contractions were becoming stronger, enough of a signal. As soon as it had started, she rushed herself into the tunnels into a place to give birth and laid down in the middle of the den. There she howled for @Eden, her midwife, and @Alder. Her howl was pained from her labor. She could feel them coming, yearning to be free of her. And she needed them to come out. She wanted to see them. To know they would be okay.

"You sure are in a rush" she said, trying to remain calm and happy about it. Only to whine as more contractions surged through. She was ready, but held back until help came. And the father deserved to see them when they were to come. Heartha knew Aspen would most likely not be able to, as she had her own pups to deal with. "They'll be okay, they'll be okay" she kept muttering to herself, over and over as reassurance.

Heartha's call rang through Eden's ears and immediately she was off to her cache. It was time; the she-wolf needed her. She gathered a mix of raspberry leaves and lavender - a gentler mix than she'd given to Aspen, as she knew that Heartha carried with her more experience - and made her way to the Heartha's whelping den. Though still not a part of the Inner Circle, Eden had travelled around the tunnels to meet with her mentor more and more, thus she no longer carried the same anxiety about it. She knew that Alder would be there, and doubted that in the case of his children he would object.
Eden came to the den's entryway and dropped the herbs. 

How are we doing? The contractions, how bad are they?

She looked into the den and took a step forward before stopping. Being there was a risk, she didn't want to further overstep. Soon enough, Heartha could take control, and Eden would advise. But for now, her work was keeping the pain in check.

Alder was on his way to the tunnels with two rabbits clamped in his jaws - one for each woman who mothered his children - when Heartha's call for him and Eden rang out. Had he not known the white woman was aiming to be a caregiver, he might've been upset, but it was his children in there being born; in this, he was very selfish.

Dropping one rabbit in the main tunnel to take later on, Alder slipped into the tunnel marked as Heartha's. It'd crossed his mind to let Heartha sleep on one side of their den, but that would be a question later for Aspen - they hadn't really talked about the pups, only what he'd done. He didn't even know how she would react - and really, she had any right to do anything. 

By the time he got there, Eden was already questioning the older woman - whether it was for her sake or Heartha's, he didn't know, but the man only popped his head into the den. A smile split his grin, and he tossed the rabbit into the corner, knowing she wouldn't eat till later. As with Aspen, he didn't speak, still very wary of any female in labor - but he was much more confident that a softhearted woman like she would lash out very much.

Heartha's breathing turned rapid as the contractions grew. She knew that this would go on for at least half an hour to an hour before they actually came out. That just made the waiting even more painful. Eden came with herbs at the ready. "They're..They are fine..." she panted. "A little more...painful than I..remember." But of course, it had been a while since the last time she did this. She crawled forward slowly to take the herbs. Now all there was to do was wait. She saw Alder there, and she sent a light smile, that contracted into a pained look.

"How is..Aspen?" she asked to Alder. had this not happened to heartha at all, she would have already known how Aspen was. "Are they doing well...her pups?" She was still Aspen's midwife. And she would help, as long as her own pups were not put in danger.

Heartha said she was okay as of then, but Eden could easily pick out each labored (lol) breath. 

I'm here to help you, so if anything changes then let me know.

Seeing as Alder was now present, she lowered her head in greeting. Eden stayed just between the outside and the entryway watching for signs of change in Heartha's state, though she dare not step into the den as the reactions that would ensue couldn't be predicted.

It won't be long now. From what I can see, there's maybe an hour maximum from this point out. I'll be right back; I'm going to get a few things to help.

Her voice was a whisper, as she was speaking directly to Alder in an effort to provide some insight. Quickly, she was off to her caches as to get back as soon as she could.

Just as soon as he'd arrived, Eden slipped back out of the den - off to go get some stuff to help Heartha - after just a few hushed words to him. The King nodded to show he understood, but his one good eye was on Heartha, his tail wagging at the smile on her face. Even on such a happy day for herself,  she still asked how others were doing - they were right on knowing she would be a good midwife. 

                  "As well as we can with four wiggly, hungry, sleepy little potatoes that scream a lot. If all that's normal, then yeah, we're all just peachy!"

Alder laughed softly at the joke, but he was very serious - the little fuckers were annoying sometimes! He dreaded the day they opened their eyes, and especially the walking that followed, but more than anything he was terrified of being alone with them. Not only just because, well, he was MASSIVE compared to them, but because the only other real experience he'd had with pups hadn't gone so well. He was afraid to make the same mistakes again.

Heartha smiled lightly at Eden. "Thank you...I knew I could..trust you." She watched Eden, and her smile brightened at Alder and his joke. There was a bit more pain, and she did not try to hide. "That is..normal." It was a good thing that they made sound. If they were unhealthy in any way they would be unusually quiet.

She waited. And waited. Until finally, the contractions reached maximum. She groaned in pain as she began pushing, and pushing. The pup was not hard to get out. But eventually, it came out behind her. She shuffled around slowly to carefully break the sac open and give the pup inside a quick clean with her tongue. A white female pup with a black tip muzzle and one black paw, as well as ginger patches here and there. Heartha smiled at how much the pup resembled herself. And by looking over it, it seemed healthy. She moved it close to her stomach where it would have to find it's own way to her teats. But there was not much time to smile as more came.

Another pup came soon after. A white pup. But this one, something was wrong. Before she could do anything, she realised that it was too late and was not breathing. There was nothing that could be done. Heartha had talked with many other mothers who had suffered stillborns. But having one herself, she couldn't help but shed a tear.

A third, and last as she hoped, was a bit of a struggle. It took a little longer than the others, but came out nonetheless. After cleaning the remnants of the sack off, she saw it to be a male with a russet coat and much darker brindle along his head, back, sides and top of his tail as well as white undersides and cheeks. Much more like his father.

The contractions stopped after that. After moving the male over to her stomach, she raised her head as high as she could. But not before hiding the stillborn her. She felt some shame in having birthed a stillborn, and would remember to bury it later.

"Alder...You may come and see them."

@Tulip @Bramble you have been born!

Cameo

Aspen shifted uncomfortably as the pups were cuddled right up to her but for once they were quiet. Or at least quiet enough that between their little content squeaks Aspen could hear Heartha in the tunnels just down from her den. Aspen supposed thatthat heartha must be in labor. As much as Aspen would have liked to have been there for the birth she was more than happy to be in here with her children.

Heartha was being taken care of probably by Eden and she Knew Alder would definitely be at his other children's birth too. When it was okay for the queen to leave her pups side she would go to meet her pups half siblings. 

Aspen laid her head back on her paws and drifted off into the land of sleep a place she didn't very often visit spending most of the time watching over the kids.

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Darkened, heated, congested.

From within the womb he could hear, smell, touch nothing. There were no thoughts that he could think, nor ideas to be formed. Everything that surrounded him was not understood, and would never be remembered, yet he was content. Content with floating in the endless abyss that was his mother’s body, for he could exist in no other world. It was his—and then it wasn’t. Away from him had his space been taken, filled with bodies that were not his own. They pushed, they shoved, they took. From him they stole everything. There existed no longer a place to which he might escape, the passage of time having been accompanied by growth. All around him, so much had occurred, and he was ignorant to it all. Never would the moments prior to his life having begun be remembered, for doing so was an impossible feat; he was okay with that, for he remained as incapable of experiencing emotions of any sort. There was nothing to experience, nothing to feel—and then there was.

Three bodies, three children, two heartbeats.

Gradually, his world had been returned to him, the intruders leaving. They were forced away from him, birthed into a world anew whilst he’d remained within the old. It was to be his home, the place in which he would remain for the entirety of his life, and so he’d been reluctant to leave. The boy fought, he struggled, and then he gave up. Any energy that had been stored away for that specific moment was gone, and so out amongst his siblings had he been cast. The air was cold and the ground hard, his lungs burning and his limbs spasming; there was a struggle. Far too much time had been spent within the womb, and so just as soon as he’d been born, he’d died—nearly. Away from his body had the sac been pulled, allowing the oxygen to enter his lungs for the very first time via a wide-mouthed gasp. Panic set in as a blinding flash of light flickered behind his eyelids, and then he was still.

Silent, warm and comforting, it was as if he’d been returned to the womb. There'd been a great deal of space at first, but promptly had his body been moved to nestle up against two others; one was greater in size, her scent alluring, whilst the other was smaller and not nearly as enticing. Of the two he’d chosen the former, instincts driving him to seek out a teat, onto which he’d clamped down without mercy. Nothing was known, not even the name that he would come to bear, but still was he unable to care. The boy suckled upon his tit of choice, achieving his fill before finding a greater comfort in the mystery that was sleep.

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she came into the world with grace.

but a gasp escaped her as she feel the cold wrap around her premature body, catching her infant senses of guard; though in the mere seconds that passed after the sac had been lifted off of her, she found herself adapting to the new environment she had surfaced to. the girl did not scream in protest at this sudden development, having being pushed from the internal warmth to the looming darkness, instead, sought only for one thing; to quench the hunger present in her belly.

little by little, the princess found her away, silent still, and took what she could with ease having not to push aside any in the fight for survival. it would be her and the boy, her brother, until the end of time as she knew it; no matter how her personality would call for her to become the younger rather than the first born.  

whatever she had come to, the girl felt herself resigned to her current situation and went about it with what she could, instead of protesting at what she could not have. with time, she settled down in the crook of her mother and the belly of her brother, eye lids closing ever so slightly with her strong heart beat.

she could comprehend little at this point, but was aware of one thing only. she was not alone; but surrounded by begings she felt intertwined with, would keep her safe, warm. they, whoever they were, were hers as she was theirs. and she loved them.

Since Eden left the tunnels, I'm just gonna let Nadia jump in whenever!

Heartha seemed amused at his joke, assured him that all WAS normal, but her pain increased and the King took a step back. When the woman moaned in pain, his ears went back and he whined in sympathy - but he did not move forward, only back, laying at the entrance and blocking the path as he had with Aspen. He was not so aggressive this time, but just like before nobody would be allowed in unless the mother herself called for it - which did not happen.

Alder watched as Heartha birthed first a little white female with patches of ginger and black - her smile was contagious, but the father stayed quiet. 

The next one she pushed out was another white - but this one, she was not happy about. Confusion brought his head up from his paws, ears cupping forward and blue eye straining to see - but at her lack of attentions on it, he assumed it dead. Like her, a couple of tears soaked the one side of his face - but it happened. He was lucky to have five strong children in the world - but wait! 

Heartha pushed again - Alder had assumed her done - and after a struggle eventually slipped out a ginger one: unlike the rulers two older sons, these puppies didn't cry. The two survivors suckled and pressed to the curve of their mothers belly, but it was not until said pale woman called him forward did he stand and move in.  

His blue eye tracked her movements, watching her hide the still one. He tiptoed carefully over, eventually sinking to his belly on the other side of the puppies - he smiled as he looked down on them, reaching forward to sniff but refraining from touching them just yet. Alder let the moment of joy wash over him and Heartha for several moments before finally speaking in low, hushed tones, unaware that the pups were still deaf to the world. 

                          "What're you.... Um... The still one?"

Shame gripped him - not minutes later, and he was trying to take it from her. His words were unusually nervous, and he found himself unable to directly say what he needed to. 
 
                                                              "We can hold a funeral tomorrow, or I can keep these two warm while you go and bury it in private - but I know some mothers.... Well, they don't let the nutrients go to waste.... The decision is up to you."

Last from EJ!

Eden was quick to come back from her cache, though there had been a slight delay. By the time she arrived at the tunnels, there were no longer two but rather four strong heartbeats. She saw the fifth, but stayed silent on the issue. Staying at the entryway this time, Eden began to speak. Congratulations. They look amazing, she whispered. A lone tear stroked her cheek - that was surely something new - as she observed the new family. 
The herbs had been dropped just far enough into the den for Heartha's reach, but as soon as Eden was sure she was no longer needed, she gave a bow of her head and made her way to see the Queen.

Heartha's ears fell when Alder mentioned the still one. "I will see to it..." She glanced over at the still pup. "There is no need for a funeral." She knew she would bury it. A nameless pup in a nameless grave. She tried to put on a smile, looking back at her living young ones. 

"The girl, may I name her Tulip?" It was what she had discussed with Shalon. Her favorite flower. It brought good memories back. She nodded in thanks to Eden. "Thank you." She hoped Eden would come by. "Would she be allowed to come back and check on me?" she asked to Alder.

Heartha wasn't happy about his question, of course, but he earned no teeth to the face as he'd been prepared for - she didn't see a need for a funeral, but in his heart he knew she just wanted to do it herself. It was her right, just as it'd been Eden's to refuse a funeral for her sister - both stung in the rulers heart, but it was not his decison. With a simple nod, he allowed her this.

                     "Whenever you want to go, I will watch over these two."

The one, she named Tulip - it was the flower he'd picked her for their puppy shower, and the gesture brought a smile to his face, masking the confusion he felt that she would ask. Alder sure didn't in naming his youngest son, but even at his declaration he eyed her curiously, seeing if she would debate.

                                                     "Of course - Tulip it is. The other will be Bramble."

Eden slipped in among them, and though his gaze flicked warily to her, the King smiled - he nodded in agreement to Heartha's thanks, but he didn't speak to her: the new mother had his attention fully, and when she asked if her midwife would be allowed to visit, he nodded in agreement. 

                                                                                                                  "If that is what you wish, Heartha. I'd never deny you a midwife - it'll be good practice for her trade and her future."

Heartha watched as he pups suckled onto her life-giving teats. It would only be a matter of time before their teeth came, and that would make this process much more painful. That much she knew. She began to wonder which of the two would be harder to raise, or if they would be the same. Highly doubtful that was, but she could still wish.

Heartha nodded in agreement to Alder's choice in name. "Bramble." She gazed down at her pups. "Tulip and Bramble." She ran a nose across their backs in a kind gesture with motherly touch. She was now starting to see she truly had been blessed, even under the circumstances of their making. "Thank you for this, Alder."

If you wanna tack on one more reply go ahead, but Alder out :3

The look of love and wonder on the mother's face was a breath of fresh air, much more calming and confident than when she'd last talked to him about them - she no longer regretted it, as far as he could see. In fact, she thanked him for it - there was no need to explain further. The King merely smiled, reaching out to nuzzle her cheek gently - it was not something he could ever do again, obviously, but it was nothing he regretted. Alder had been proud of his children since he found out they were growing within the denmother. 

He would stay for a little while longer, marveling over his wonderous additions to the family - Tulip and Bramble Pryor. Every so often he would lean down to lick them across their backs or crowns, always with the utmost care and passion. 

Alder was, however, a husband; eventually, he would get up after a last kiss to all three - even a gentle lick to the one who had not survived - before slipping out, grabbing the remaining rabbit, and taking it to Aspen. He would curl up beside his wife, legs entangled around the Chaspen Brood, giving them each their own loving licks before drifting into sleep.