Whitefish River I could really use a wish right now

50F°, currently it is clear and set at midnight, morning of May 25th. Located in Kaistleoki, center | ooc notes: puppies have been randomized, first born is the heir! Please let @Haruki and @Hotaru post first before anyone else joins! Sumi will come after Reiko's second post and will be tagged!

Cold. Alone. A deep darkness shrouded the Empress as she slumbered in the den she chose for the night to shelter from the weather, the old den she had picked out as her medicine hold and a garden just outside the mouth of the little cave that seemed to be blossoming once more even a year after Reiko had placed it, growing again with all the new herbs and flowers she had transplanted. Such a thing had brought her joy just moments ago, but forgotten as sleep quickly had clasped its cold hands around her as nightmares plagued the soon to be mother. Every familiar face turning their backs on her, loved ones all having enough of her stupid decisions no matter how much she thought of them while making those same decisions. All fading to nothing until —

!!!

Like lightning, a sudden painful spasm surges through her body, jolting the pale woman to awake in a violent and sudden jerking motion, even as the back of her head thuds against the wall of the den it made no difference as her lower back feels tight, almost crushing as it moves in waves closer toward her lower abdomen as it tightens and churns in an agonizing rippling effect. The sudden agony shocking her in its spontaneity. Curling backward initially and then inward toward her abdomen as the spasms shift. Only after a moment of silent cries did a sob finally burst through the silence of the night, one final rush of pain and - she manages to breathe once more, a sigh of relief as the throbbing aches momentarily subsided. 

Nature takes it course as she looks over to her rear, the usual pristine pellage stained red made it clear that she had been going through labour pains for a while through the nightmares, only to be awoken near the end of their birth. Gently bringing the first closer to her, she fears the worst at first. A still body, void of life and as limp as a carcass. Licking it clean and remembering her own mother instructing another woman in their pack that it encourages breathing, Reiko didn't stop until the little boy began breathing on his own, and she smiles as everything falls into place. Her heart exploding with joy knowing that now, right here, she had become a mother. Escorting the first prince to her midsection, a lesser wave announces the arrival of a second newborn, the pain not as intense as the first, Reiko managed to begin the same routine as before in cleaning and waiting until she too was safely breathing... a princess was born. Both of which were lights that flickered on in the recent darkness, and she would name as such... Haruki, and Hotaru.

Th-thump, th-thump, th-thump.

The soft, comforting background noise of this universe was all the young prince had ever known, and all he thought he would ever know. He couldn't hear it of course, but the thrum of his mother's heart could be felt by he and all who occupied this space with him. It kept him subdued, quiet, awaiting something he could not quite be certain of...until it finally happened.

It took him by surprise; the world around him suddenly shifted, writhed, and the gentle beating had quickly turned into a thunderous drumbeat, steadily increasing until it faded from focus and memory both. For next was the shock of cold that snaked its icy fingers around his entire body, so stark a contrast to the usual warm embrace of the womb that it froze young Haruki in place. He did not cry, he did not move, very much dead on arrival to the unprepared onlooker.

That was until Reiko's tongue began hurriedly swiping over his body, causing it to tense and twitch as he was broken free and finally able to take his first breath. Life flooded back into his limbs, air reaching his lungs before being expelled in squeaking gasps and cries. He was quickly ushered over out of the cold and into another warm place, different, yet somehow the same. Haruki continued his squeals of displeasure until his tiny mouth found a teet, which he then greedily latched onto and finally settled in place, becoming as silent as he was only moments before.

The young girl had been rather comfy despite the lack of room in her little world. Every now and then she was shoved by one of her siblings to which she could only protest with a kick of her own. At least it was warm and safe, with enough comfort given by her siblings to be content. Tonight was different though, a shift occurred likely felt by her two siblings as well that more than displeased the girl. Little Hotaru wouldn't have to wait long for it to end, but for a moment in between her world grew a bit bigger. Little did she know her brother had just been born and shortly after a surge took her.

Warmth was ripped from her body as the girl was thrust into the cold night. She didn't like it, this was nowhere close to comforting. Something pressed against her, warm and rough but comforting all the same and it awoken a new ability in the girl. Her first cries echoed through the den as she squirmed. As any would expect the movement got her nowhere, but luckily she wouldn't have to move herself. The ground beneath her temporarily disappeared as she was placed next to something warm once again, this time much softer. Hotaru could feel a presence next to her as well that reminded her much of her little world. A piece of what she had lost became comforting as she too soon found a teet to quell her cries as she latched on to feed her worries away.

As the two cried their first cries, preferably the first of many to signify a healthy growing puppy with needs of its own, Reiko watched as the two of them began suckling all on their own. This moment brought her not only peace but the happiness she could have never imagined before. There she remained in the perfect moment, relishing in the beauty she had created, making these past few months worth every ache in the long run... ache. 

There was still an ache in her abdomen. It twisted and stabbed and the feeling only grew more intense, was there another? The feeling felt the same, lesser than the first but a little more than the second, but it was lasting. Fighting the urge to twist like before, not wanting to crush or disturb the little ones now against her, her jaws clenched tightly as once again she cries in pain, trying her very best not to cry too loud and alert everyone in their sleep - eventually it all faded again. It felt like an eternity but finally, there was one more little one to clean, to watch and wait as they gasped their first breath and bring to the others for the first sweet taste of nectar. 

Surely, this one was the last. Later than the others, but just was beautiful. This one, she would name @Sumi. She was not just a light, but a piece of one of their fathers, a woman her own mother had respected and the stories remained still to this day. 

Final pup! Please let Sumi post first and then anyone can join! I will post my closer in 2 days if no one joins!

This was not a good way to wake up, the girl decided then and their. Things were changing. She wasn't aware of the shifting environment in the womb. But there was a firm push against her, which brought the princess forward into the world. A giant mess all over. Sumi froze, shocked by the chill she suddenly felt along her back.

This was new, and she didn't like it. Nope not one bit. Her mother's tongue jolted her system, and she let out a devastated whine. Only the comforting presence of her mother could cure. Nestled gently into the warmth of her belly, Sumi could only touch her way along her mothers belly with her nose. Searching for nutrition, but most of all comfort. The would was already such a daunting adventure, Sumi was a little frightened.

Like the other two, Sumi was quick to find her way around to find the source of food and settle in. Patiently she waited for another jolt of pain, but nothing came. The singing of bugs returned to her ears as her body relaxed, signalling the end of tonight's events. Lulled back to sleep by soothing sounds of crickets and knowing that the puppies were all born safely without complications other than her initial panic was enough to keep the nightmares from returning and allowed the new mother to sleep peacefully until morning.

- End :)