Blackfeather Woods does the lighthouse shine to seek, or to be found?
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#1
All Welcome 
Ocracoke feels particularly bloated early that morning. After a while, she has been unable to curl up into a ball and fit into the space she likes to sleep and resorts to sprawling out in the best place she can that keeps her covered. She spends most of her days at this point resisting the urge to nest because she knows it won’t matter and occasionally spends time simply letting it happen, digging into a spot in the earth but she’s too tired that’s barely a crater in the soil.
 
Slowly, she sits up, and immediately begins panting. The day isn’t particularly warm yet and a breeze moves through the trees but a certain restlessness settles into her bones she can’t shake. With a tremble, she begins to stand and stretch out her legs and then moving around the glen until she finds the indent in the dirt so she can dig away the anxiety sitting deep in her chest.
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#2
her ward was unwell, continuing to ail. despite relmyna's efforts, more flesh burned from the blindwoman's bones, heightening the roundness of her gravid belly. sensing that whoever had maimed and bloodied the other was also the cause of her current state, the delta wondered if kove would suffer them to live. or if her sightless companion wished for that.
until a decision was reached, relmyna decided she would seek to nourish both her denmate and the lives she carried — today she carried the fatty breast of a duck to the wolf she considered now to be iva, regardless of what name she had brought to blackfeather.
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She digs at the earth for a while, making the hole bigger as best she can. Occasionally, she drops into the curve of the earth to see how it fits but she’s ultimately up and at it again. Not knowing exactly what she’s working with or where she’s really decided to dig, shows a lack of effort. Distracted on her instinct, she does not notice the approach of the other at first.

After a moment, she sighs and hangs her head down, face pointed toward her work as if she could examining it. There’s no way she’ll be able to make a den of her own but she curl up into the divot of earth for a while. Maybe it’ll make her feel a little better.

The scent of the other, mixed with something else, causes her to turn. She slowly lowers herself a little and offers a swing of her tail. There’s a lot to wonder from the wolf that doesn’t talk, unable to exchange any real sort of communication other than direct intentions. Her nose twitches toward her and she whines, turning a little and letting her head droop—she can only hope it is a gift for her, mouth watering as she’s quickly reminded of her hunger.
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#4
iva responded timidly, as usual, her blind face searching for the direction relmyna stood. the delta took the moment to offer a low whine of placation deep in her pale throat, stealing forth to lay the delicacy on the churned ground. moving away once more, aware that the trauma carried by the injured woman had engendered a stressful hypervigilance, relmyna took in the task iva had set herself too.
a densite, one to accomodate the children that would be borne of past violence. again she wondered if her ward wished this, or if it was merely instinct that drove her, but decided it did not matter. clearing her throat, relmyna again proffered a croon and set her paw audibly upon the dirt: perhaps iva would like help?
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#5
Ocracoke moves quickly when Relmyna makes a sound, hoping to be close enough for a connection. Ears firmly crown the top of her head, lowering a little close to where she’d heard her call. Her nose flares several times until she bumps against the prize, nearly inhaling the food whole in a matter of seconds. The growling of her stomach driving her forward when she’d usually take it and shy away, or save it for later. It settles uncomfortably in her stomach, and she coughs, unexpectedly belching. Her ears fall back instantly despite how much it settles her stomach and her head turns back toward where (she thinks) she’s been working.
 
Scuffling of dirt directs her focus as Relmyna digs a little in the loose dirt. For a long moment, she’s quiet, uncertain what she wants. “I-I-I,” she tries, snapping her teeth back together when her voice refuses to form the words. Ocracoke swallows the lump in her throat and moves forward, feeling forward what she’s accomplished. A shallow divot in the ground that is more wide than deep. She scuffs at the dirt to acknowledge what she’s been doing before she steps forward and turns a few circles, laying down in the dirt. Not finding the comfort, she strains to stand and shuffles out of the way.
 
She picks up her paw to indicate the spot that doesn’t quite form to her position when a stab through her groin catches her off guard. Frozen briefly, she grits her teeth, relaxing a few seconds later when it passes.
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#6
to relmyna's eye, it was only a short matter of time before iva gave birth. she was quick to understand what the blind wolf was indicating, giving a soft chuff of confirmation before settling her small pale paws to exacavate a space that would hopefully fit the woman's body more easily. 
the scent of rich loam spiced the air; relmyna found some pleasure in the digging, but her turquoise gaze darted sideways at the small movement that was the tensing of iva's jaw. and yet the delta did not approach — the other would be given aid if need be, but relmyna would not press it upon her. for the next minutes, the breathing of the pair and the sound of claws upon dirt was the only discourse between them.
at length, the scarred wolfess pulled herself from the depression and swayed her plume, a low sound of soothing in her throat, seeking to lead iva back to inspect relmyna's work.
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#7
Ocracoke doesn’t stray far as the woman works, feeling useless as she digs for her. If she steps forward to help, she might be getting in the way more than anything and so she waits patiently until told otherwise. Perhaps the woman would give up after a while, leave her to whatever is left, but it continues until she’s alerted. Her tail moves gingerly back and forth as she steps closer, her nose touching the ear to find the groove in the ground. Her paws touch softer dirt and she carefully steps forward, turning a circle as before and lying down. It takes a few shifts and moving some of the loose dirt and curling up.
 
The girl is quiet for a long moment before she lifts her head, nodding a little and standing. Pain shoots through her again and this time she whines, whining, and she’s standing an instant later. Her tail shrinks between her legs and there’s instinct to crawl beneath the ground into a proper den and being left by herself but the thought alone sends a terrifying shudder through her, shaking her head. Having children had never been important to her prior to this, nor is it now, but her disadvantage leaves a sickening feeling in her stomach.
 
She moves out of the divot in the ground and bumps into the other woman accidentally, stumbling back onto her haunches. Panic begins to fill her chest and she struggles to take in a full breath. Once, she’d been a caretaker, knew herbs and medicines, but she’s left empty and hollow and afraid of what’s going to happen next. “Wh-what do I-I-I—” she trails off as another waves sets in and she squirms in her seat.
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#8
iva approached, appreciative of relmyna's task; the delta swept a delighted tongue across her jaws, but her joy faded as a whine splintered glasslike from the other's throat. iva could not settle; they collided lightly as the blindwoman paced, and her scarred counterpart scented the pain lurking in blades beneath the ragged hide, and knew iva's tribulation had come.
instinctively, relmyna understood that her companion could not be moved; she had no sense of trained midwifery, but 
twice
she had brought forth her own children. the aspirant came 'round, steadying her shoulder against that of iva, intending to guide her into a turn that would bring the labouring woman to the depression in the earth. i will stay with you, came relmyna's fierce thought, a prayer to sithis that somehow it would penetrate iva's pained psyche and give her succor.
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#9
after meeting the blind woman, Tahani hadn't strayed very far from the Glen; she knew that her time was near, and soon after, Shivali's pups would arrive as well. she'd began to collect a stockpile of useful things: raspberry leaves to ease the pain of birth--used many a time with her mother's younger litters--and cobwebs to stem any extra bleeding that may occur. borage leaves, in case their milk was lacking.

in any case, the sounds of commotion and whining reached her ears, and she picked her way down the narrow passageway to the glen, barking gently to announce her presence. on the way, she'd seized the raspberry leaves and cobwebs between her teeth from a cache she had started, trying to keep the latter dry. the speechless mother was there with Ocracoke, in silent comfort.

she set down the cobwebs and kept a couple of leaves, giving a gentle nod to the other wolf. "i here," Tahani said to Ocracoke. "Tahani here." she pressed her pelt against the laboring woman's, letting her know how close she was, then pressed her muzzle, the leaves protruding from her lips, to Ocracoke's in a kind of kiss.

"eat," Tahani said through gritted teeth. "eat leaves. help pain." she waited patiently for the other to take the leaves from her mouth, staying statue-still and utterly calm.
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#10
Her companions moves despite her panicked fidgeting and presses against one side of her but with more force than simply comfort. Ocracoke moves a little, picks up her ragged form, and carefully moves by the direction of her feet. It’s uncomfortable, and comes in waves, and any knowledge she had previously on delivery has long since left her addled mind, along with all its confidence.
 
The sound of a bark causes her to flinch and lower to the earth, turning her head in that direction out of habit more than anything. She recognizes the scent as the kind woman that offered her food and introduces herself to prove it. Still, the labored mother remains low. The gentle touch of the other is met with tension but she does not cry out in surprise, or worry she will hurt her, and instead leans into Relmyna a little more.
 
She settles down into the depression of the earth as the newer female offers her something to eat and she feels blades of leaves pressed against her. Her heart beats faster with the closeness of either woman on her side but she gingerly takes whatever is in offered to her but holds it, turning her nose toward her friend to let her know it’s okay to eat them.
killing is the most natural thing in the world; we're created for it
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#11
gah ping me if i take this long again <3

the presence of another woman flattened the priestess' ears against her skull, but she did not leave iva. instead, seeking to quell her packmate's anxiety, relmyna turned her focus singularly upon the labouring mother. words she did not have, but a low croon emanated from her throat and she pressed herself nearer to iva as the leaves were consumed.
she knew of their properties from some storehold of knowlege granted her by cicero — she had been his ward a year and he had given her things to consume. therefore she knew what it was had been given her charge, and did not fear.
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#12
she noticed the flash of wariness that overcame the other woman, but she soon relaxed, and Tahani fell into the confident, steady rhythm of a midwife. the leaves settled, she pressed her muzzle against Ocra's cheek. "i here," she said gently. "no. . .fear."

Tahani hoped the woman wouldn't start as she ran her nose along the trembling neck, over the shoulders, and pressed against the belly. it rippled with the life inside; her time was soon. she had no way of knowing whether the blind one was to be a first-time mother, or whether she'd given birth before. nevertheless, whether it was the debut litter or the fifth, she needed confidence by her side.

she looked up at the other woman. "stay," she said, less a command, more a plea. "i come back." she wanted to grab a few more herbs and cobwebs. . .in case the worst happened. the white wolf trotted toward her cache at the edge of the glen, with a concerned glance behind her at one point.
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#13
The woman offers support, gently touching her again. Ocracoke still flinches despite the comfort she gets from either woman. She’s only grown so accustomed to her surroundings, wishing to be in a place she once knew but they would never happen. She likely won’t ever leave the confines of the glen ever again. What kind of life is that? What kind of life is that to offer to children? Especially children with the blood of demons in them and they were here. The monster still tears her apart from the inside out without even being around and what if he comes back? He’d threatened her over and over, and the children she’d eventually bore; she can’t let the same fate happen to them either.
 
Her jaw tightens and she turns a little in Tahani’s direction despite her retreating. The leaves in her mouth left a strange taste but she smacks her lips, knowing they were only to help. If she thought hard enough, she might even recognize what it was, but her days of healing and knowledge about plants have long since ended.
 
With the other wolf gone, and Relmyna at her side, she whines. She shifts a little, trying to get comfortable in the dirt. Even instinct she holds wants to drive further into the ground but she’ll never be enclosed if she can help it.
 
Before long, her stomach churns and her body tenses. Her head swings around as if to find her friend but nothing will stop what’s happening. A crying sob escapes her muzzle as pain ripples through, reaching all the way up to her scarred mind and clinging to the fear stored away. A few adjustments and pushes, letting her body do the work and she simply listen, a mucous covered sac arrives on the floor. She does not move yet to inspect the writhing thread, desperate for its first breath of air, and instead moves only to clean herself as she leaves the newborn discard in the dirt.
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#14
the other wolfess swept away as soon as she had come. relmyna pressed herself closer to the expectant mother, scenting the fear that wreathed from iva in waves. she preened the side of her ward's strained expression with her lips, keeping the low croon in her throat. the pain of childbirth was one her body had already forgotten, but she recognized the agony that began to rack iva's body.
relmyna found herself startled when the blindwoman delivered a child but did not turn toward it. yet in her heart welled a deep and sudden pity; the babes iva carried were surely unwanted. she herself stared down with transfixed expression at the babe still struggling in its caul, and then maternal instinct carried the aspirant forward.
it was she who tugged the membrane from the child's mouth and nose, but could do little more than that. nudging the newborn toward the woman, relmyna gave a deep whine: protect your offspring.
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the woman's cry summoned her hurriedly back, a clump of moss hanging haphazardly from her lips. by the time she arrived, a pup had already been born; the speechless woman had pushed the babe toward the mother, while Ocracoke cleaned herself. tahani frowned, confused. surely she should be more attentive to her offspring?

she dipped her white muzzle and nudged the pup closer, encouraging it to find a teat and suckle. she hoped Ocra's milk production was fine; she had borage, just in case it wasn't. as for the young mother--

"good?" she asked, trying to assess the patient's physical and mental state. she cocked her head in inquiry, giving a gentle lick upon the woman's forehead. "Tahani is here." there was more still to come, but it was a respite for Ocra, a rest between babes.
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#16
Ocracoke doesn’t pay attention to Relmyna take her child away and clean it up. She flinches at the sound it makes and jerks violently when it touches her, putting several inches between her and the babe. Conflict between instinct and what she really wants conflict and reject the infant all together and she shuffles her front feet a little to back away.
 
Pain settles into her groin a second time and she groans. Tahani’s voice causes her ears to twitch but her presence is sudden and the puppy is forced to her a second time, startling her enough to yelp and snap downward, twice. The first is met with a hard click and the second crushes the front half of the child in one swift motion. A second child is birthed from the commotion as Ocracoke recoils away from the other two women.
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#17
the pallid healer returned, as confused as relmyna had been about iva's treatment of her own child. tahani — the priestess committed the name to memory and gave an encouraging sound that was soon cut harshly in horror. iva had pulled away from her, then tahani; the birthing pains resounded again in full call and the blindwoman responded by killing the babe.
a strangled, hoarse cry emanated from the delta's throat; the scent of childblood riddled the air and choked her with sudden and shocked tears. in a moment, she had lunged forward and grasped the second newborn, drawing it to safety between her small forepaws while giving a gentle whine in iva's direction. i understand, i understand, relmyna crooned frustratedly within the recesses of her own mind, seeking tahani's gaze. 
so long as her ward laboured, the patchwork wolfess would tend the pups and leave iva to the embrace of the pale healer. milk still remained in her breasts; her body remembered, though astara and averna had weaned, and softly she nudged the infant toward her underbelly. for now, she would grant what she had — shivali's travail was almost upon her, and there would be richer fare for this one.
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Ocra was startled, suddenly, and Tahani leaned forward, hoping to soothe her, when the woman's jaws snapped twice--the second ending in catastrophe. the healer stumbled back, horrified beyond belief, as the first pup crumpled to the ground, twisted and lifeless. the speechless woman made a deep sound and took the second pup--just born--away from Ocracoke, pulling it to her own breast.

shuddering, the fur along her nape prickling with fear, Tahani reached forward and took the first pup in her jaws, tears coming to her eyes at the taste of blood. she took it away and set it on the ground, intending to bury it later. she was stunned, and a little unsure on how to continue. had it been an accident? or were these pups unwanted?

she knew the woman had been violated, but she'd never really known someone who hadn't wanted their babes. or at least, if they hadn't, they had never admitted it aloud. this was the first she'd ever seen of such hatred, and she struggled to return to her duties, shifting her eyes first uneasily toward the other ivory woman, then back to Ocracoke, paralyzed with indecision.

she sat down with a ragged sigh, waiting for the contractions to continue. there was nothing left to do but watch in shocked silence, at least until the next pup was born.
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#19
With all the commotion going on around her, she can’t figure it out. Her caretaker brushes past her and she barely feels the touch. The crushed puppy is moved (though she isn’t certain who’s done what) and she scrambles in the dirt a little. Just a few moments ago, she’d clung to Relmyna’s side and accepted the help of Tahani, but all she wants now is to be left alone. Whatever is happening to her, she doesn’t want them to see, doesn’t want them to see what she’s capable of. The weight of the child’s death is wrought across her face and she withdraws from both of them.
 
Her tongue slips from her muzzle, panting heavily as she shuffles awkwardly to all fours. The pain in her abdomen reminds her she can’t do much but a shudder takes over, leaving her trembling.
 
“He s-s-said He’d h-hurt an’ k-k-kill them,” she says quietly, defeated. She can’t put up a fight against him, no matter how much of her strength she’s gotten back since her time with these strange wolves. Her mouth parts as if she’s going to say something but a strangled cry escapes her, half of her heart hurting and the other half from pain in her lower half. The makeshift hole in the ground is abandoned and she takes a few steps away, dropping to the ground when she can’t stand it anymore, can’t ignore the signs of labor as it takes over despite her efforts. A third child is born upon the ground in the dirt and leaves. Ocracoke bends over and tears it from the sac when she locates it but does not do anything else beyond a single lick across its face, listening to the squeak it makes.
 
Lacking much sense of direction, Ocracoke takes the child in her jaws less than gracefully and still attached to the afterbirth. Her head turns quickly in one direction, swinging the child in her grasp. The new mother whines, jaw tense as drool pools around the squirming newborn.
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#20
A world of darkness is all she knows as she moves from one place to the other, shaken around by sudden movements and the absence of everything around her. Whether or not she’s ready to leave, she’s forced out into the cold world that doesn’t want her. A shaky start from the beginning, dropped on the earth and left squirming on the ground until the sac is burst and life rushes over her. A startling lick to her face causes her head to bobble, a cry emitting from tiny lungs. For the first time, her stomach hungers proper but instinct only carries her so far and when the one in charge doesn’t do what she’s supposed to, the babe is left crying.
 
Abruptly, she’s picked up, the weight of the afterbirth weighing her down. Teeth press against tender flesh that causes her to wail in discomfort, sitting in the mouth of a beast supposed to be her mother. The movements are too much as she’s jerked around, getting wetter by the second, and her world comes crashing into reality all too soon for an unaware child.
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#21
relmyna's ears fell back at the first hint of how poor iva must have been tormented; there was shame within herself, that her own children might have been fathered by a relative of the brute. but they were both melonii; relief swept the ragged wolfess and she leant forward to nudge her charge's shoulder. it is all right. they are safe. 
the child at her own breast hungered suddenly for better sustenance; relmyna glanced toward tahani and rose, grasping the infant in her own jaws. they must depart this place now, secret the new mother into the safety of the tunnels below, if she so wished. and while she did not know for what the first of the two live children was destined, she would allow iva that choice. 
for now, she opted not to remove the child, apprehensive as she was; relmyna moved forward and lay the secondborn within iva's reach, trilling a low soft noise as she did so.
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the woman's words turned her veins to ice, and Tahani shivered, looking fearfully at the mute one. she at least seemed to be handling things well, shifting pups around with aplomb. Tahani gave her a grateful nod, then focused her attention on Ocracoke. it seemed to be over, if that was any consolation. she let out a slow exhale through her nostrils, grasping for what to say next.

she wasn't often lost for words, but with the situation--and her limited understanding of the common language--she stood in strangled silence, looking down at the new mother.

"rest," Tahani finally said, her voice a bit hoarse. "hunger? uhm. . .hungry?" she amended, tilting her head slightly to one side, continually forgetting that Ocra could not see her. she didn't have food cached with her medicine, but they were close to the nearest cache; it would take no more than a few minutes to run and grab something small, at least.
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#23
@Relmyna: Please skip Currituck!

Ocracoke’s tongue slides across the child, feeling the ragged rise and fall of her chest. The mother whines and lowers her nose to carefully set the puppy down, after birth and all still attached. She stands there, ears cupped forward to listen to what’s around her. Relmyna’s whine causes her nose to turn and face her as best she can, feeling her bump against her and set a child down (noted only by a separate squeak than the other).  Tahani goes mostly ignored, face angled downward as if she were staring.
 
Her first (and likely only) children to exist and she can’t even see them. She won’t know what they look like, won’t be able to support him. Her current supportive network can’t handle any additions and she bellows a sob, lowering her rump to the ground. One of the puppies bump against her leg and she jerks away, crumpling to the ground half inside the crevice of dirt. Only one of the two are close enough for her to feel and is enough guidance to find her teat. When she latches on, Ocracoke flinches, dislodging her for a moment.
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#24
the woman was quite fragile, even flinching hard enough to remove one of the two from her teat. seeking to exchange a glance with tahani, relmyna pressed closer, enclosing one of the babes back within the shelter of her own forelegs. words beat at her mutilated tongue; it was all she could to do keep strangled attempts at them from escaping. instead, she sought to press her muzzle against iva's shoulder, wanting to steady the woman, provide her with some semblance of security during such a horrid time.
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#25
she received no answer regarding food, so she hunkered down, keeping close. she had no words, really. Tahani stared at the voiceless woman for a while, lips quirking with her own strangled sentiments. the northern tongue did no good here; it would fall on deaf ears, without comprehension of the language.

instead, Tahani made soft noises under her breath, eyes moving to fix on the new mother. it had been an exhausting scene for all of them, and she felt sleep pulling at her every nerve, though she was still too on-guard to succumb. she was afraid what would happen if she left Ocracoke alone with the babes. nothing good, she thought.
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