Gyrfalcon's Keep I would course the inland ocean to be back to you

Posting 1 day early as I may be busy tomorrow

The winds gusted in the Keep, and a dense fog had settled in beneath the gathering stormclouds. Tension grew overhead as the warm inland winds met with the icy mountain air, and with gusts of wind that had for ages bent the trees to kneel the storm grew. The afternoon became dark beneath the swelling clouds, illuminated at first by brief pulses of light followed by rumbling thunder. 

Solveig had sought shelter in her den from the rain as it had begun to fall, not expecting that her body too would be a tempest. At first, she worried- it was two weeks too early! She felt the familiar twang of contractions, and circled within her hearth, where her daughter had prepared fine pelts for her birthing. 

Circling the den, she tried to back-track and make sense of her premature labour- only to find with a hoarse, pained laugh that she had indeed been wrong when she'd last estimated when she would be due. She wasn't two weeks early at all- her children were coming right on time, as they had before. 

The temperature dropped suddenly and with it came pelting hail, the size of a small pebble. She could hear it thumping heavily against the ground outside her den, and with a wail she circled, before inhaling the cold air, and releasing it as she brought forth three healthy children. First a daughter, a paler version of her father, and then two boys who looked similar enough that she thought they might be twins. One was decidedly larger, however, and his size would make him identifiable at least until they began to exhibit personality traits. 

The storm had faded, and the golden light of sunset began to peek through the clouds when she announced the birth, at last inviting her daughter and @Rusalka to come and see their newest family members.

Baldr felt that something was happening, but could do little to effect his fortune. Even his reactions were slow and sluggish, until compression caused him to go very still, and then writhe and squirm as soon as he was released. He felt cool air creep into his damp pelt, and felt pushed from side to side until he opened his mouth and coughed, sucking in breaths of air for the first time. His face was brushed with something soft and warm, and when he moved, he felt no resistance. 

Nudged forward, his face became pressed into something furry and soft, and instinct cued him to smack his lips together as he nuzzled through the fur until he found what he was looking for. He lost his latch several times, but when he found it, he suckled, and fed hungrily. He would fall asleep there at his mother's side, breathing soft little breaths and snoring faintly at the end of his first day of life.

There was a storm brewing outside, and there was one brewing inside as well. Things were changing around here - she could feel the world shift and quake with anticipation. And then the heavens opened.

The rotund little red blob that would soon be known as Leifa slid into the world with an unceremonious cry. Aware of nothing and yet aware of every new sensation all at once, she continued wailing until she was nudged towards a teat and fell into complacent grunts. She was aware as two other blobs were placed alongside her, but she was here first! And she intended to let them know it.

But that would come later. As the storm passed, so too did Leifa's voice as she drifted off into a contented doze, dreaming of dark waves in an unknown sea.

feel free to pp her until I'm back from vacation<3

he is summoned.

and though it is only truly confirmed as he approaches the den solveig has chosen to give birth in, rusalka suspected it was the time of their children's birth.

awkwardly, rusalka's steps hesitate outside of the den as he approaches, ears twitching at the sounds within. small breaths of sleep, tiny squeaks and the soft sound of suckling as they eat for the first time.

the air is tangy, twinged with birth and blood and he lets out a low snort.

can i see them? asks rusalka, waiting for solveig's invitation before entering.

Tired, Solveig waited for Rusalka to arrive, and had nearly dozed off by the time she caught his scent on the air. His soft voice was a welcome compliment to the soft murmurings of his children, and she chuffed quietly to allow him entry. She fussed over the children, lining them up so that the smallest of them- still quite healthy in size- was tucked in the middle where he would be warm and comfortable, with a sister and a brother on either side of him. She smirked lightly; all three children would likely grow up quickly, inheriting good bone structure from both sides of the family. 

"Three," She said, reasonably pleased with the accomplishment. "The firstborn a female, the two others are boys," She said. She chuckled softly. "Big- big and healthy."

Baldr can also be skipped.

Baldr roused only when he felt himself being moved, placed at his mother's flank so that his slightly smaller brother could be nestled in the middle, between him and his sister. He didn't fret- he nosed through his mother's fur there, uttering soft little seeking noises as he found his way through touch and scent to a teat. He wasn't hungry, but instinct told him to eat whenever he was conscious. 

He didn't last long- a few moments of nursing and his belly was full again, and with a squeaky yawn he snuggled into his mother's side, oblivious of his father's presence, and fell back asleep.

Just one post for me! <3

Life had come in the form of a trio. Two identical boys and a beautiful girl.

Nazair had not gasped his first breath, free of the womb. Instinct told him that he must remain close to his brother. The newborn’s paws scraped to warmth, assisted by the gentle guidance of their mother. The soft fur of her belly welcomed him. Even as he searched for a means to feast, Nazair could feel the great wave of sleepiness that overwhelmed him.

Eating until he could not hold his chin up, the boy grunted and pressed himself fast to Baldr’s side. Stubby snout buried itself in their mother’s coat. Sleep overtook him, sweeping him away to a dark and comfortable place.

they are tiny.

that is what rusalka first notices; followed shortly thereafter by the spiking fear that he might accidentally squish one. they appear so helpless, so fragile as they nurse against her.

three.

a girl and two boys.

he lowers to his belly, putting some space between them; hesitant to get too close for the fear that grips his ribcage and the consideration that she, as a mother, might snap at him if he drew too close.

he was the father but rusalka had seen the wounds of many fathers when they were too eager to see their newborn children.

many of those injured fathers being his half brothers. idiots, as he was wont to think of them.

the next question takes root within his mind, words fluttering to his tongue: that which they had perhaps ... not avoided but not spoken of. what are their names?

Solveig saw in his eyes a look she had seen before, and it made her heart twinge to see it again- but now, in the face of a new partner. The towering man bent, and made himself small to be nearer to his children, the first sign of care that she knew was necessary. He'd not handled children this young, but would learn how to touch and handle them with time. Care and caution were good to see. In all other aspects of life she preferred him to be bold and strong- but with his children, especially at this stage, she wanted him to be soft. 

"Cairn," She replied, her tone firm. Their surname would be non-negotiable, and she intended very much for the surname to bind him to the promise he'd made. She smiled softly. "But for first names, I thought we could decide together." After all- this was a partnership and the children were shared.

Last post from me as Baldr here- I'm going to reply once more as Solveig and then leave it a couple days and then archive it :)

 He would not hear the name that had been chosen for him for some time to come. Numb to most of what went on around him, Baldr would only know the need for warmth and the pang of hunger, both of which were remedied quickly after making soft, determined sounds. He felt himself groomed and licked, stimulating his organs to function. Breath after breath, meal after meal, the boy would grow stronger, closer to both his siblings and his parents who nurtured him.

In quiet whispers, names were chosen. 

For the firstborn, Leifa, a name that Solveig had known in her birthpack and it had belonged to a much cherished elder. Her spirit would live on, Solveig hoped, in the child at her side now who nursed and slept. For the twins, they chose Baldr and Nazair, names chosen by both parents. The round boy's name had been chosen due to his size and colour- figuring he might grow to be quiet a boulder of a wolf in the future. Nazair was Rusalka's suggestion, and she was happy to include him in the process, even though she had never heard that name before. 

Together, they celebrated the arrival of the children, and what would inevitable be a busy autumn as they grew.