Ouroboros Spine you come from a line of kings

eeeee!!!!! puppies and daddy are welcome to post first, then AW! 

shikoba has felt many doubts within herself secretly during this pregnancy. perhaps doubt was a safer feeling than fear when it came to such an important juncture in her life, but that was up for discussion and even an argument for some. grief no longer claims a space within her heart, though doubt often sits at the edge of her bed at night. shikoba is too afraid to ask her husband to chase it away.

but she was approaching her 6th year of life soon in May. perhaps at her age, there were no more things to be afraid of. she's seen what life has come to offer, what beauties it holds, and what tragedies it may conceal. there was no need for her to be afraid anymore.

so when she starts experiencing her contractions as she had begun to settle into her sleeping space early, she forced herself to swallow her fear. instead, she knows to call for @Inutsuk and @Kukutux. while moon woman certainly had her own litter to worry about with her flame wife and sun man, shikoba remembered her words and still called to her.

despite all the panic that she may have felt and the voices she heard, the woman focuses on her breathing. it's almost like clockwork that shikoba works through the waves of her parturition, following the directions her body gives her. she pushes when she feels the need to do so and pauses when she feels exhausted. all of this work would eventually lead to the moment she was waiting for.

the first comes, @Ajei -- the little girl she has been praying for!
the second soon after, @Chiteo -- a little boy made of wheat and kissed by night!

When he hears the call, he heeds it without hesitation. 

Rushing into the den, he arrives just in time to see two bundles nestled against Shikoba's belly.

Struck with awe, he pauses between the arch of the den, eyes fixated upon the trio. His wife, and now his two newest children.

Oh— The word is a hard, choked out. He is ecstatic, but also nervous all at once, fearful to step any closer. 

They are beautiful... At last he says, forcing himself to step onward. The fear is there, but he pushes it away, there to settle on another day. Shikoba— Again he breathes, but this time effortlessly and light. Muzzle reaching down, he presses it against her own.

Red and cream and brown she was born in a whirl of color. Tiny toes and little ears. No cry left her lips. Seeking, searching she grasped at her mothers belly and drank her fill. Little breath of air. A tiny sweet churr sound, before she fell fast asleep

The smaller boy, second born to his sister, was born with a little yelp. He was warm and comfy and then he was cold. And hunger. He didn’t quite understand it but he was hungry. His fur was cream for the most part, topped with a nearly black cape of dark brown. His eyes were still sealed and his ears were closed. 

Chiteo worked his way over to his mothers belly and pummeled his little paws at it, latching on and soothing his hunger. He soon fell asleep with content

taking liberties, plz lmk if not okay! <3

the words too remained with her.

three days after she delivered their sons into the world and sakhmet their daughter, shikoba found her own trials.

and so moonwoman had nursed her children and put the boys into the paws of @Aiolos and @Sakhmet. she would not be deterred.

she walked slowly, calling for @Kivaluk to attend her.

she arrived as shikoba bore the first child; she slipped close and spoke softly to the mother in the throes of labour.

she prayed; a chant rose. and the secondborn arrived, and she sang again, wiping each child as they crawled to the belly of their mother.

inutsuk came then, and kukutux retreated. but she had set out herbs for milk, for bleeding; she would come again or send another to check on shikoba, was her promise.

eventually she returned to her own ulaq, curling around the pups to feed them again. and joy rose in her heart.

just a cameo. <3

kivaluk is not quite sure what it happening when he is called to attended kukutux — and does not ask as he joins her.

it is only as the pair nears the birthing den that understanding begins to dawn on him.

he lingers awkwardly outside the birthing den, listening to the strange sounds coming from within — trying to focus on the prayers of kukutux instead.

giving birth, kivaluk decides, sounded painful ... and a little gross.

and when kukutux departs back to her own den, kivaluk moves with her, veering off when she is back with her newborn children in an attempt to find a gift for shikoba.

her moon woman had come, with the first hunter in tow.

shikoba felt herself press against her sister when she was able, and soon when she left, she would come to allow her husband to take his place with her. young kivaluk was here then gone, though shikoba would never hold this against him. "they are a piece of you and me," she comes to say to her husband as she presses a cheek against his own, "Ajei, my heart and only girl. Chiteo, our handsome son."

she swept her babies close to her and allowed for them to find their places to eat and rest. with her fur in a sweaty mess, shikoba would wonder if her husband found her beautiful in such a frenzied state. but perhaps this was the beauty of being a mother, the untamed and messy parts of it all.

they were both so quiet, her little pair. misty-eyed, she comes to look toward inutsuk. "will you call to Mojag and let him know he is a big brother?" she would ask him in a groggy voice. had she the strength, perhaps she'd push her way to the mouth of the ulaq herself. but her children were content and she would not dare to disturb their peace.

Each child born, both as beautiful as the other. Inutsuk watched them fondly; closely, even, as Shikoba let him come to join her.

As his wife embraced him, the names of their children were given. Inutsuk sighed with soft satisfaction. The names are perfect. It was true, hence why he'd wanted her to name them of her people to begin with.

He will know it. Inutsuk then promised, offering a small kiss to her crown before he slowly shifted away to the entrance. 

A call, to @Mojag. You have become brother, my son. And if the boy so chose, there was an invitation plain in the father's voice.