Ouroboros Spine Heart and Hearth

Ajei had struggled the last few weeks. She had barely left their den. She could not do as she had planned to do so many things. She could barely walk. She had ballooned up twice her normal size. And it had hurt the bones and ligaments of her legs, but she had doggedly done what she could. She had made sure that she coudl do what she needed too. Even if it took her ten times longer than it normally would. But today, today felt different. So very different. Her body felt tight and uncomfortable. And she both wanted to sleep and had energy for days. 

She had finished digging out their den first. Then she had slowly begun to feel the pains. Low into her belly and then up her spine. The back pain was astronomical and she wanted to scream. She did not know much of her mother's culture, but she knew enough to make a soft place to settle. And she sang songs under her breath. It would have been ideal if she had a midwife here, but she did not so she must do what she could on her own. 

When she knew that timing was close enough, she lifted her muzzle and called for @Arrluk hoping he would hurry back. Their children were about to come into the world. There was a gentle quietness to her as she toiled there. She did not cry out. For her children would be strong, she was determined. There was a fierce light in her gaze, as she rode each wave of pain. And clenched her delicate jaw so tight it hurt. Only to pant when they pains subsided and do so again. She focused on her breathing on her body. She felt as if she were being rended in two, but finally the first one arrived. A black faced baby with white mixed upon her fur. Ajei nuzzled her tightly, quickly licking the face of such little innate beauty. Her own heart beating fast and when the child's first cry came, she giggled in delight. Only to cut it off as a sharp pain, came. Too fast the babies were so close. 

Ajei scooped their first born daughter closer to her side and bore down. Only to have a second carbon copy of the little one already against her, come and seize the world. Ajei licked her face until she to breathed into a new world. A little pale faced girl, but so alike her sister. Their origins were undenable and twins to boot. 

Ajei felt a shiver of alarm. For her Twins was a great blessing. Beautiful and joining the worlds. But for Arrluk's family, twins were not. She determined then that she would just have to bring him around to her way of thinking somehow.  But for now she was far too tired to even name them. So she settled her head to her paws and merely gazed at them as they learned to suckle and move.


Ajei must have dozed, for she woke with a yelp. Minutes or hours later she was unsure. Her body forcing itself into a tight contraction. She panted scared to death. She thought she had been done what if she hurt this one! What if it stayed inside too long. She bore down and a small little blessing came forth. Nothing like his sister's but beautiful all the same. Reds and blacks and whites. She nuzzled him. Begging him to breathe. When he took his first breath she cried.

editing out 3rd pup that was never activated.

Through the many children of the Moon tribes, Arrluk was aware of the time that was drawing near. Yet despite how many births the tribes had both witnessed and been a part of, Arrluk's knowledge was minimal. He could see the signs. The extending of her belly, her quick tiredness, uncomfortable, panting, the digging of the birthing den... 

Yet Arrluk was the last of his parent's litters, whose father had been too afraid to risk much more after Samani's death. He did not go in the birthing den where she women gathered and there was a deep sadness for Ajei in this. She would not been surrounded by the women's circle. Kukutux would not be there with her extensive knowledge. Her marriage sisters not gathered around for support and aid. Ajei was alone in this and it caused a heartache in the orca man. 

A whine at the back of his throat, he makes way to the little dug out. He doesn't know why Ajei had not laid in her mother's den they had shared and wonders now after the pups were a little older, if they would move to the large stone encased ulaq of his parents. Ajei... He pokes his head into the hollow, letting her know that he was here and yet remained outside.
 
He did as he father had done - nothing really, savor to stand outside and guard the entry. He closed his eyes and imagined the voices of his family. Whispers of strength into a new mother's ears. Imagined the songs of happiness filling the territory for the new birth. He felt a tightening in his chest at the thoughts as Ajei would give birth to their daughters. Magguliak. Twin. He peeked within to see them now. Twin. A bad omen and it appeared they too carried the spirit of the Akhlut in them. As himself. Arrluk was unaware of the details in such taboos, hidden from him long before his coming. He knew it only as a brief whisper, yet the story of Akhlut had stuck in him. The waterman wondered if their spirits would be called to sea. 

Arrluk lifts his head to sing, yet he does so alone.

The womb had been peaceful; quiet and calming, aside from the kick in the side every now and then from one of her womb-mates. This peaceful existence had lasted for what seemed like eternity, especially to a being with no concept of time. 

But, when her peaceful world had began to quake, to rock and roll; it was a cause for alarm. All of a sudden, there was a squeezing sensation which went on for quite some time. Then came movement, as if she was being pulled downstream in a raging river. Before she knew it, she had hit rock bottom. She landed on cold ground, surrounded by darkness. It was at this moment, Ahna Nuiruk had been welcomed to the world. 

She could not see nor hear. But, she could smell, although she knew nothing about the scents filling the whelping den. When a rough, but warm "thing" wiped across her little face, and when air had filled her lungs, she cried a new, healthy cry. This was a good sign. But she wouldn't cry for long, not when her mother put her up to a warm breast and delicious teat.

Within a matter of minutes, she was joined by another. This would be her twin sister. 

Even though her peaceful world had been robbed from her, Little Ahna would be content, lying beside her twin sister. Life would be simple and filled with love. They would be loved more than they could ever know, by those who are walking this earth, those who have gone to a faraway place, and to a place where lights dance in the sky.

It was such a strange thing, to be born. One of the most major things to happen in one's life would be their entrance to the world, aside their exit. Yet a memory which would always be lost to them in weeks and months to pass. 

There was warmth, there was no such things as hunger, there was the constant comfort of close bodies in the womb. 

Then there wasn't. Smells came. Cold came. Hunger came. Chinook cried out in the den, most displeased. Only satisfied once she found that warmth and food again.