Stavanger Bay It must be true, the pains are only half the battle. (birthing thread)

 
Attention!
Its baby time!! 
Setting: Almost the edge of the territory in her Birthing den.
Time: Early morning. (Forwarded to the morning)
@Sentinel @Quellcrist @Pheiros @Galatea
(Pups will be born according to list!)

Elixir had spent the past few days grabbing moss and leaves to make her den as comfortable as possible. Any time she had arranged the grouping of things it hadn't felt right. It just wasn't enough or the right way, she was obsessed with making this den as good as she could get it, only the best for her babies. The wolfdog moved the moss to the side and pulled the leaves to the corner of the den laying them with the stems out so no one would get hurt on the ends. Next she moved the moss on top to give it a soft bedding. It still felt as if it wasn't right but she let it go as she laid on the bed to take a small nap. As soon as she closed her eyes one of the pups pushed on her rib and a sharp pain filled her body. Elixir let out a small groan and then let her eyes fall.

When she woke the pain had gotten worse, her breathing was getting harder and worry was starting to set in. Elixir lifted herself from the moss bed and repositioned herself so her head was toward the entrance of the den. The pain had went away for now but it was just beginning, she knew she was in labor. The babies would be born today. A low growl escaped her as she lowered herself to lay on her side. "They're coming" she yelled, the echo made it outside not knowing if anyone was around to hear her. Another pain came along and she clenched her teeth trying to get through it without actually making too big of a scene, but boy did this hurt.

Elixir wondered how her mother did it when she gave birth to her. It must have been hard because at least Elixir had a pack but her mom had no one. The thought of that hurt because now she knew how it felt. Even though it kept her distracted she pushed the thought from her mind and waited.. for another contraction or someone to show up, whichever came first.

he can't help but hover around elixir as her due date draws nearer, both anxious and excited for the arrival of their children. fatherhood isn't something he's given a ton of thought to — but he knows he wants it, and he knows that elixir will be a good mother. there are still worries, of course; pregnancy and labor are not without risks, and he can't help but worry for elixir's safety, and for their children's. so when he hears her yell from where he's lingering outside her den, preparing to visit her, his heart stops for a moment and his brain goes into overdrive and —

it takes him a moment to collect himself. when he does, though, he wastes no time in moving to the entrance of the den and peering in with a soft whine, inquisitive and full of concern. he doesn't dare come any closer, not unless he's invited — but there's no way he'd miss the birth of his children.

The pain was harsh but she was getting through it. Eventually she heard paw steps outside of her den, she hoped it was Sentinel. Her mind wanted him near her in case something was to happen but the hormones oh the hormones told her to bite at anything within the distance. “Sentinel. They are coming..” she breathed heavily, even if it wasn’t him whoever it was could get him. Elixirs belly Rose and fell rapidly, pelt was beginning to increase in sweat.

Whether or not Sentinel came closer it didn’t matter now the first pup was being born right here in this moment. All the wolf dog could focus on was pushing and breathing and her babies. We’re they going to be okay in this world ? She was going to do all she could to protect them any way she could. This was possibly the scariest thing she had ever experienced in her life..

Elixir could feel another pain shoot through her consuming her like venom before she pushed again. A low growl escaped her as she pushed one last time looking up at Sentinel and panting heavily. It was official, the first pup of Elixir and Sentinel had been born. Elixir reached around and carefully brought the pup to her chest to clean it. Slow and carefully, she licked the darkened baby. Female. First born was female. Her fur was so dark, reminiscent of the wolf she had had two rendezvous with before. 

Elixir said nothing about the man but looked up at Sentinel with tired eyes already. “It’s a girl. But we aren’t done yet” she could feel more pain and more pups. It was going to be a long but rewarding day.

slight pp of mama cleaning her off & nudging her to nurse. let me know if you'd like anything changed ama! <3

quellcrist's current place of residence was pretty great. it was always warm. it was a little cramped but she made do — often by stretching out and kicking her mother in the pelvis. there were others in the residence too. she couldn't see them but she could feel them, bumping into them when she stretched too much or kicked ( because exercise was important, y'know ). until one day it stopped being great. first, there were these awful tremors and then there was this pressure all around her cozy little sac, pressing in on her as she was unwillingly evicted.

you best believe she was going to write an angry letter as soon as she got out!

---

quellcrist's first breath of air is taken as her sac is broken and she wails out a warbling, ghastly screech that would put a banshee to shame. her complaint is followed timely by the smooth of elixir's tongue along her back. she shivers beneath the soothing draw as she's cleaned of pieces of her broken sac and fluids. there's something extremely pleasant about it and she lets out a soft coo. the bath is too short in quellcrist's opinion because the moment she rolls her head for more attention — bathe my ears again! — she's being nudged towards her mother's flank.

the babe pokes against elixir's side with a huff, instinct guiding her to gum at her mother's fur until she finds what would be her next source of life for a time and latches onto it, suckling furiously until warm and sweet mother's milk flows and the seireeni is quieted and content.

That’s completely fine!!

Elixir had finished cleaning Quellcrist and then moved her over so she could find a drink of milk. Before she could worry about whether or not she was latched on yet another contraction made her cringe in pain. Her eyes closed shut harder and all that came to kindness was there were other places she’d much rather be than right here doing this but she had to because it was much more than just herself now. Now it was the pups, Sentinel, and herself. That’s was more responsibility than she’s ever had before. 

Elixir looked down at the female pup before she laid her head back down to birth it’s sibling. With a hard push and sharp pains she could feel another move to come meet the world. “I got this” she mumbled as she pushed. Another pup came into the world, this time Elixir was a bit faster in trying to clean it off and get it to scream. 

This pup was male and gold colored like the man that lay at her den. A small smile appeared across her face as she judged him toward his sister to find a milk source. They were both so precious and hers. She was so proud.

His self-awareness had only surfaced recently, but his barely-developed brain did not possess the facilities to understand his position in the world just yet. All he knew were feelings--warmth and movement mostly, and so when his reality seemed to shift into an overwhelming presence of squeezing and shifting, he could do nothing but let it happen. He had no real understanding of time, so he didn't know how long the uncomfortable feelings lasted, but soon there was only the absence of all warmth and movement and an intrusive, cold hardness underneath him. 

It didn't last long, though. Soon, he felt a soft, repetitive motion moving along his back, and then everything was freezing, and he felt too exposed. A cry left his tiny mouth, an instinctive reaction to discomfort he hardly even had to think about before the panicked sound left him. He felt the movement again down his back; it was so warm and oddly comforting that his tiny legs began uselessly paddling towards it. He wanted to bask in the feeling and forget the coldness. Then he felt a strong force pushing his tiny body and regardless of how he felt about, it seemed he had no choice in the matter, so he let himself be moved. The force pushed him against a mass of softness and warmth, and suddenly he could smell something so enticing that he could no more resist it than the new urge to fill his lungs with the coldness. His tiny, velvet nose rooted around until he found the source of the scent, instinct guiding him again to attach and draw in the life-sustaining substance. Its heat spread over his entire body and soon he drifted into a peaceful slumber, registering the wriggling of something of similar size next to him just before he was lost to his fragmented puppy dreams, too young to care about anything other than keeping the coldness away and making sure he had a lot more of the warm substance that came from the large comforting mass of what he had yet to register as a parent. Her scent and energy made him feel safe and content, though, and so he slept peacefully against her, occasional twitches jolting his tiny frame as he dreamed.

Elixir felt content with the two small pups laying st her tummy cuddled in her warmth. An instinct grew inside her that would kill for them, quite literally. She felt a little calmer now as she gave each pup a lick on the head as they nursed and slept. It was a sight, little ones of her own and it was something she thought she would never have. Though her attention fell upon the little ones her eyes wondered around to set upon the golden man on her doorstep. A part of her wondered how he felt about it, this puppy situation but she was just too afraid to ask for fear he’d Leave.

It had been a hot minute before she had more pain. More pain? Elixir was sure that she was finished, a boy and a girl, in perfect health and doing fine but her instinct was wrong. A bad feeling showered her as her body urged her to push but her mind said don’t do it. For a moment it was as if they were twisted and she wasn’t sure what to do.. it was just painful. Finally Elixir shook her head and pushed hard, but it was stuck. This baby was not coming out easy. She knew Sentinel was watching so she tried not to panic as she pushed again. 

For a second it was as if she saw her life and another tiny life flash before her eyes but with another push the pup had shot out. It had went farther than the others. Scared for its life she quickly began to lick and lick until she could feel a breath or hear a faint squeal. This was definitely one tiny pup, the runt if you will. Elixir pushed it to the milk source closest to her front paw so she could keep better eyes.

he watches with wide eyes as elixir gives birth, overwhelmed by a million different emotions as their children come into the world. concerned as he is, he knows little about birth, so he refrains from interfering even when it seems that something might be wrong; the last thing he wants to do is accidentally hurt elixir or the pups with his own lack of knowledge. but when it seems elixir has finally settled, all of the pups tucked at her side, he takes the opportunity to creep closer. his approach is hesitant, but if elixir allows it, he moves to lay near her, tucking his head gently against hers with a soft sigh. he gives the pups a wide berth for now, too afraid of hurting them to dare come close — but he watches them, gaze brimming with a love he's never felt before now. he realizes, then, that he would do anything for them — for elixir, for their children — and the feeling is so intense it almost scares him.

All was well in the world, a comfy home that was maybe a little cramped but it wasn’t like Galatea was going to complain much. Though as she grew older then it became a problem, no room for her or her neighbors and Galatea needed her beauty rest and private space. As it seemed the more they grew and the harder it became to move the day came when her neighbors were evicted. As content as she was the honeyed pup was ready to make her grand enterance out into a new world.

And a grand entrance was it! First of all, she tried to keep herself from going head first out into the new place because it’s scary let’s get that right. So she moved sideways and then got stuck! For a moment her tiny heart stopped, it was scary to be stuck but even more scary to go out somewhere you don’t even know! Eventually she was unstuck and hit the ground, it was cold and cruel. All she wanted to do was cry and that’s what she did when she felt a warm tongue start to clean her off.

Elixir had birthed all the children in her womb, it was the biggest accomplishment she had made in her short life. She hoped that the babies would be strong when they grew like her and their father, but that was to see later. Names was all that was on her mind at this point, they were all nameless. Girl, girl, and boy were their names now. For a moment she stopped to study them and their squirming ways. A smile Carmen across her head as she looked at the darker female. “Quellcrist would fit you nicely.” She cooed to the squirming babe.

She looked up at Sentinel almost like a look for approval from him even though these were her kids, he should have some type of say in the names. “Pheiros for the male?” She asked as Elixir nudged him slightly. “After the man I met that loved the stars his name was Phocion and he told me about them on my birthday many moons ago.” She said her eyes wandering to Sentinel after she explained the sentimental name. 

Elixir flashed eyes next at the runt of the litter. A name hadn’t come to mind, not yet. The more the wolfdog looked at her the more she thought of the night sky and how it comes last, the last thing you see everyday. “Galatea for this little girl, what do you think of the names?” She asked softly.