Noctisardor Bypass Is is and isn't isn't

Technically AW! Arbiter's responses to people showing up depends almost entirely on how she feels about the char in question. :P

She'd knew the time was coming, and honestly she'd probably just barely finished the den in time. It wasn't the most roomy thing, but not being fond of being trapped underground anyway, being forced to move out as soon as possible wasn't bad. Adventures done, she had kept around her chosen den since her trip the borders.

Though the year had been rough, some parts were easier than others. She now didn't rely on instinct, but also experience. But that didn't mean that the whole process wasn't painful or uncomfortable. The first twinge earned a raised lip. A final glare, check around the outside of her den before she retreated inside, scraping at the earth with a restlessness not soon to fade.

As she (sort of) settled and contractions increased, she thought of her older children. Maybe she should have told @Brouhaha and Spook, but hm. Nah. Pain continued, brain go turn off. Okay. maybe it wasn't entirely experience here. One pup, two, three. Each born, cleaned, and then tucked along her belly. There were no problems, or at least nothing that was particularly odd. Perhaps some other time she'd get unlucky, but not this time. Three was apparently her number. 

She didn't call for @Kaertok, not for any particular reason beyond she didn't want to be seen at her weakest. If he had been paying any attention, he'd have known the pups were due, and she wasn't nearly as attached to him as she had been Terance. He'd find out when he found out. So she curled around the trio, watching them in silence for a moment. Names. She wasn't keen on totally reusing things yet, so something new and creative for the little parasites... Now there was an idea. Maybe not parasites exactly, but at this stage they were certainly particularly wormlike... So the white girl was obvious. @Grub, the darkest @Beetle, and the tawny pup @Slug then? Sounded good.

newborn phone post

Comfort was no longer plausible inside her mother's womb, the only world she ever knew. The two sisters that grew in the journey with her were cramping her style, pressing against her in the most uncomfortable way possible. A paw in her back, a nose in a place she was not too keen on a nose being but that's what happened when it was time to flee the, well, the womb she held in such high esteem.

She was the first to make an appearance, colored as if she did not have any influence from her father and when her air way was clear. Oh, her mother was probably not too thrilled by the sound that escaped her. It was loud, it waa obvious she was not a weak or frail thing. No, this girl had a set of pipes and the pain that shot through her throat only made her angry. She grunted and squealed until her mouth was filled with something that could easily silence such a disgruntled newborn, milk. Oh, my. She was a greedy thing, unaware that her siblings joined her. Silence was still not the best description of her state, she made little grunts to show her satisfaction. This was a nice change to the womb, room to kick, and food that was just heavenly.

Meanwhile, Grub arrived without uttering so much as a peep. She made no fuss at all as her mother birthed, cleaned and nursed her. She breathed calmly through it all, then curled almost shyly toward Arbiter's breast as she drank her fill. She drifted in and out of sleep as she fed, not that she or anyone else could tell the difference between the states. At some point, she went totally boneless and her gummy mouth unlatched from her mother's teat with the tiniest pop!

This wasn't his first rodeo. Okay, it was his first rodeo as the known father, but he'd been around when his mother had given birth to his younger siblings plenty of times before. Arbiter had not given him any particular instructions, so Kaertok had only his mother's advice to guide him. Surely, that would be enough. He had stayed closer to home these past few days, especially close to the den that Arbiter had made for herself (and let's say he helped with it, too).

When he arrived to muffled sounds inside the den, he knew the time had come. Outside, he stood guard, rigid and calm and unwilling to go inside, lest he get his head ripped off. If—and it was a big if—Arbiter wanted him for any reason, he would be right here. Tonravik had taught him not to interfere with a mother unless she asked for it. No unwell smells or sounds came from the den—nothing like Raleska's birthing had been. He shuddered at the thought of that, gritting his teeth and wondering how she was doing now.

Welp, was hoping to wait for Slug but will just continue to be vaaaaagueee! Whoever grabs 'em can pop in whenevar. :P

Those first two were so very different. No matter how Slug acted, it seemed likely they'd be between the two, so we'll find out at some point! Already she speculated how they might be -- loudness as strength, silence as studious, perhaps a few alternates for both. Look, Arbiter was kind of weird with the whole motherly love thing, she had a not-really-normal sense of a lot of things, but in the end it usually seemed to work out okay.

And for now, fed meant happy. She looked over the trio once more, assuring that they were doing as expected and positioned well enough that she'd be comfortable getting some sleep, but footsteps outside the den paused that train of thought. She stayed silent at least, wondering if she'd get to do a nose removal procedure on someone. Scent eventually answered her question, though -- Kaertok. A pause, then she relaxed a bit. She was fine if he stayed out there. But she did give him a tidbit of info as she settled herself down, There are three.