Morningside Cuesta why'd you only call me when you're high

it had come quite suddenly, this new season. the girl's first summer did not disappoint, bountiful, warm, and filled with life. the sky was a shade of blue, the likes of which she had never seen before, the trees burst fully into their vibrant emerald covering. young of all species populated the Wilds, and the life of a wolf was easy. she had come to terms that her father would not be solely hers, anymore; that Khoe would bear his children. Not just children, but tiny brothers and sisters. she could not void the feeling, however, or jealousy; that her Da's new wife and new pups would stay together, be a whole family, and hers was not. 

she moved to her feet, throwing off the mantle of heavy thoughts and seeking something to do. hunting had become a sport rather than a desperate need, and their caches lay full. she cast about the territory quite aimlessly, searching for someone, or something to do.

Khoe had chosen to seclude herself near the sweet-smelling sprouts of her lavender patch. Fatigue was an everyday occurrence, as were aches and pains, so she found it convenient to have a quiet place to rest when she could bring herself to do no more. It was rare that she wandered near the center of the territory, lest it be to scour the caches or to seek refuge in Grayday's company, but with the drifting scent of Dawn not too far off, she thought that a bit of quality time with the girl might do them both some good.

So, with the little energy Khoe had left, she slowly lifted her swollen body from the ground and began a slow trot toward Dawn.

she turned neatly as she scented Akuti - Khoe, now, she had to remember - and was taken aback quite suddenly. her gaze widened a fraction, and she paused, moving to meet up with the woman. " Aku- Khoe! You're-"  she broke off, remembering quite suddenly tact. Unable to quite change track, she amended quickly, "You're different." unbidden, her gaze moved to her Khoe's bloated abdomen in sick fascination. she found herself quickly hoping that she never took on a strange smell, and ended up looking quite like that. 

she gulped in the slightest, and her gaze showed a hint of worry. she could not imagine being quite so fat, and wondered how on earth Khoe's delicate frame didn't simply give way. the thought of a bloated Khoe rolling down a hill had her stifle a horrified short, and quickly was abashed that such thoughts had ever come to mind.

Khoe laughed and took another few steps, nudging Dawn's cheek affectionately. I know, I know, she began, A little weight never hurt, right? With her first pregnancy, she despised every bit of it, especially the weight gain. But with this litter, everything was different; she accepted rejoiced in every moment. As her paws were sore and her legs needed a rest, Khoe sat back on her hind quarters with a firm thump! and allowed her stub to beat the ground enthusiastically behind her.

Are you excited? she asked, before realizing that she hadn't had a chance to talk about the pups with Dawn since the conversation with Grayday. It won't be much longer now before they're here. She looked up at the young woman sitting before her with large and hopeful green eyes, praying that the air between them would remain calm.

Akuti was kind of like what she imagined a mother to be like. of course, she had never had the luxury of having one, but she certainly could imagine, couldn't she? she was still as the dark woman offered an affectionate nudge, hardly shying away from the touch, but unsure as to how to react. she watched the woman with slightly widened eyes, unsure if this is how mothers were, and if Akuti would become something like hers. the thought had occurred quickly, but she was hardly in the place to dwell on it.

"How many? Will there be girls, and boys, too?" she questioned, voice touched with awe. suddenly, her gaze turned concerned, and she asked, " Does it hurt? Having pups come out of you?"  the thought of a child forcing out of someone's body had her cringe, and look at Khoe with alarm. "How do they get out? There isn't a spot big enough for them, is there?" she asked, without any of the unsettledness that usually accompanied questions of this nature, only a mild horror. she cast a glance at her own body, finding no place that immediately screamed "pup exit".

To see Dawn interested and intrigued, rather than turned off as she had been before brought a certain twinkle to Khoe's eye. She didn't think of the girl as a daughter, nor did she expect to be thought of as her mother, but it was the hope for more moments like these that helped her to remember that she did have a real family now. I can't be sure until they come, but it feels like there's a few in there, she cooed with a slight giggle. Secretly, she hoped that there wouldn't be too many of them, for fear that they'd grow to be bigger than their mother and fight a force against her! And what was she to do against a hoard of fully-grown, rebel-hearted youths?

(She'd call on their father is what she would do.)

It does hurt, yes, but not for long. And there's things that you can do to help the pain. Not to mention, having family around helps to make it easier. Khoe hoped that Dawn would want to be there when the pups were born. She wanted them all there; Grayday, Sunspot, Dawn. They were her blood now. 

As she thought of how to answer the final question, Khoe bit at the inside of her cheeks and tried to think back to how it had been explained by her mother. There is a hole, yes. It's small, like a bud, but when the pups are ready to come, it blossoms and doesn't stop blossoming until everyone is out.