Waawaashkeshi was none the wiser as she sat next to her moonlit den that night. She knew it would be soon, but she had fallen into the habit of telling herself that it would never be 'tonight' for each night that passed.
Watching a moth flutter by, with perfect timing thunder crackled overhead. Loud and demanding, it gave Waawaashkeshi quite the shock. She knew better than to remain outdoors and pushed to her feet, yet as she stood a horrific cry left her throat. A pain like no other coursed through her body, one that made her wail and wish she could still scream for her mother. The walk back to the den, short as it was, managed to be a painful ordeal.
Crawling inside, she wondered what Nasamiituuq would have had her do. Yet alone and inexperienced, all Waawaashkeshi could follow was her own instinct. The entrance to the den was covered by whatever she managed to kick up, and while not complete security sent a clear message; leave her until this was done.
She knew all too well that her pain was not something to be quiet, and the copse would be filled with her cries into the early morning. She could only hope that she would be able to rest when all was done.
It was all too slow. Her suffering was not in the waves she expected, but ceaseless and unforgiving. The first came after what felt like hours to Waawaashkeshi, a little girl who she felt lost for what to do with. She could see blood that she felt sure had come from her own body, and leaned to pull the pup away from it.
Was bleeding normal? Was something wrong?
She was beginning to wonder if this was divine punishment when the pain began to lessen. Was it over?
She found it hard to believe, and she was right to think as such. A final rush of pain came to her, and with a wail what she was sure had to be the last of her litter joined them. Exhausted and bleeding from points she didn't know she could, Waawaashkeshi took a moment before moving her second and third to join her first born by her stomach.
Part of her feared that her breath would never return to her heaving lungs. The sun was rising outside, a single ray shining into the den her only comfort for the moment.
Watching a moth flutter by, with perfect timing thunder crackled overhead. Loud and demanding, it gave Waawaashkeshi quite the shock. She knew better than to remain outdoors and pushed to her feet, yet as she stood a horrific cry left her throat. A pain like no other coursed through her body, one that made her wail and wish she could still scream for her mother. The walk back to the den, short as it was, managed to be a painful ordeal.
Crawling inside, she wondered what Nasamiituuq would have had her do. Yet alone and inexperienced, all Waawaashkeshi could follow was her own instinct. The entrance to the den was covered by whatever she managed to kick up, and while not complete security sent a clear message; leave her until this was done.
She knew all too well that her pain was not something to be quiet, and the copse would be filled with her cries into the early morning. She could only hope that she would be able to rest when all was done.
It was all too slow. Her suffering was not in the waves she expected, but ceaseless and unforgiving. The first came after what felt like hours to Waawaashkeshi, a little girl who she felt lost for what to do with. She could see blood that she felt sure had come from her own body, and leaned to pull the pup away from it.
Was bleeding normal? Was something wrong?
@Tibishkogijik
The pain did not lesson after the first, and the second was stubborn. She swore they must have been clinging to her like their little life depended on it, but all Waawaashkeshi wanted was to scream for them to get out. Soon he did, a son with a spirit she wished she had the energy to determine. The energy to move this one did not come, and she left him where he lay next to her dirtied tail.She was beginning to wonder if this was divine punishment when the pain began to lessen. Was it over?
She found it hard to believe, and she was right to think as such. A final rush of pain came to her, and with a wail what she was sure had to be the last of her litter joined them. Exhausted and bleeding from points she didn't know she could, Waawaashkeshi took a moment before moving her second and third to join her first born by her stomach.
Part of her feared that her breath would never return to her heaving lungs. The sun was rising outside, a single ray shining into the den her only comfort for the moment.
May 21, 2025, 08:37 AM
the wet, blind, deaf, and generally helpless newborn cub tumbles into the world whether he likes it or not. his coat is dark shades of grey, but do not be fooled. as he matures, this wolf will grow into a much lighter shade of silver. his eyes are still welded shut, and his ears are folded over which make him look more like a newborn kitten than any kind of canine at all. his birth sack is peeled away by his mother, and he is licked clean and dry.
he reaches out with tiny paddling paws, scrambling over his siblings as he searches for his initial meal: one which will contain key nutrients he needs to grow big and strong during these critical weeks of his early life. only when his belly is full does he unlatch from his mother's teat, falling into a deep, dreamless sleep. the occasional twitch of his feet and the steady rise and fall of his plump body are the only signs that he has made it through the crucial first hours of his life. this process of eating and sleeping will continue for some days with his mother fussing over him often.
he reaches out with tiny paddling paws, scrambling over his siblings as he searches for his initial meal: one which will contain key nutrients he needs to grow big and strong during these critical weeks of his early life. only when his belly is full does he unlatch from his mother's teat, falling into a deep, dreamless sleep. the occasional twitch of his feet and the steady rise and fall of his plump body are the only signs that he has made it through the crucial first hours of his life. this process of eating and sleeping will continue for some days with his mother fussing over him often.
May 21, 2025, 10:07 AM
Biskane, the third and final child of Waawaashkeshi’s labor, arrived in quiet contrast to the noise that birthed her. Slick and trembling, she bore the glow of future grace—her downy coat brushed with gold, kissed by rust along her ears, limbs, and tail tip, a stroke of white trailing from her muzzle to her chest. Her eyes were sealed shut, but beneath the lids lingered the whisper of green, like a secret not yet spoken.
Outside, the sun climbed steadily above the Copse. Within, cradled by soil and warmth, Biskane and her siblings were wrapped in their mother’s love and the hush of a world just waking. It was here she would remain, safe and content, suckling on sustenance that would be the building block for the rest of her life.
Outside, the sun climbed steadily above the Copse. Within, cradled by soil and warmth, Biskane and her siblings were wrapped in their mother’s love and the hush of a world just waking. It was here she would remain, safe and content, suckling on sustenance that would be the building block for the rest of her life.
May 21, 2025, 02:29 PM
Cold. Cold, sticky, alone. The first pup, pushed from the womb that sheltered her and her siblings, whimpered in her first breath.
Not alone: a gentle tongue licked her damp body. Tiny limbs reached out blindly. She wormed her way towards the warmth and the rich milk, unaware of her mother’s pain. Others joined her in time, her siblings, and she was content.
Her dark blonde fur would someday lighten to cream and gold; her eyes, from a pup’s blue to warm brown. But for the moment, the pup that would be called Nagamo nursed blind and deaf at her mother’s side.
Not alone: a gentle tongue licked her damp body. Tiny limbs reached out blindly. She wormed her way towards the warmth and the rich milk, unaware of her mother’s pain. Others joined her in time, her siblings, and she was content.
Her dark blonde fur would someday lighten to cream and gold; her eyes, from a pup’s blue to warm brown. But for the moment, the pup that would be called Nagamo nursed blind and deaf at her mother’s side.
May 21, 2025, 03:27 PM
She was so tired. It was growing difficult to fight her falling eyelids.
They were here now. Three, healthy and feeding. Waawaashkeshi wondered how long it would be before they would open their eyes and be able to move about, at least a few weeks she had to assume. She knew she should name them, and she would, but only after her mind was clear and the pain was gone.
All that pain for these children, and yet her heart felt nothing but pure love. They were something entirely hers to hold and cherish, at least for the moment. A new generation of Summerwalkers to carry her traditions further than her own paws would allow.
They were here now. Three, healthy and feeding. Waawaashkeshi wondered how long it would be before they would open their eyes and be able to move about, at least a few weeks she had to assume. She knew she should name them, and she would, but only after her mind was clear and the pain was gone.
All that pain for these children, and yet her heart felt nothing but pure love. They were something entirely hers to hold and cherish, at least for the moment. A new generation of Summerwalkers to carry her traditions further than her own paws would allow.
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