Lost Creek Hollow To the project
nomen est omen
1,069 Posts
Ooc — Jennifer
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#1
Approach at your own risk. :P  Welcome to the world @Thief, @Jet and Warlock (who I will post as sometime when it is daylight out)!

Terance had left earlier in the day -- he couldn't hover around her forever, there were things to do.  The afternoon had turned somewhat gloomy, and she had sat there just waiting for something to happen.  For a while it was nothing, then finally it came.

It wasn't like she was unfamiliar with pain.  Pain was how you learned -- or at least that was the case when it came to fighting, but this was no fight.  It was a different sort of pain that demanded her attention, her response, and yet it was still a direction and a means to an end like every time it reared its head in lessons.  In moments of perceived weakness, Treason preferred to be on her own, and that would hold true here -- she didn't call for anyone.  She expected no problems and awakening instincts drove away any fear she might have.  This was not a time to delay with thought, but one to allow nature to lead.

The waves of pain got stronger and eventually dragged her from the den entry to the chamber, and it was there without fanfare on the bed of fluff Joss had provided that Treason would (unsurprisingly) give birth.  The first was a boy, dark albeit for a few paler smudges.  In the dim, indirect light of the den with nothing to compare to, he first looked black as she cleaned him, examined him, and finally with some awkwardness moved him to her belly as instinct commanded.  She didn't have any experience with pups, let alone ones this small (even if they certainly weren't the smallest out there, look at their parents), but the soldier's grip was delicate, even without practice.  She'd manage.

Treason had probably spent too long fussing because the next set of contractions had caught her by surprise.  The girl that came after she thought was perhaps a twin -- sure, she had a striking single white paw, but as coats finished drying it was obvious she was a far darker hue.  She was very obviously Terance's child, the same black pelt with a few paler marks.  Perhaps she'd reflect on this later as mothers were likely supposed to do, but for now she focused on making sure her daughter was clean and able to feed before the next came.

The last boy was significantly paler than either of his siblings, but squeaked and wailed with the best of them as she licked him and moved him to a spot alongside his older siblings.  He more resembled wolves of her family, but whether he'd be a fine example of the Dokuga name would be far in the future.

Minutes passed and eventually it was clear that it was over.  Three healthy pups.  That was good, wasn't it?  It was worth the couple months of discomfort, right?  The more time that passed, the more exhaustion started to creep in.  Or maybe that was just her awareness of it.  But she had to stay awake -- and every little noise or movement temporarily jolted her awake again.  She looked over the trio again -- her children, Terance's children -- her thoughts muddling in an unclear jumble.  This had been what she wanted, but none had gone as she'd imagined.  Maybe that was good.  Or was it?  She curled slightly tighter around them, mind wandering in a tired haze, both wanting Terance's shadow to block the entrance of the den and not.  She could wait.  But she was pretty sure this was good, she just needed to stay up to protect them.
Arbiter is often not a nice person and will think mean things without acting on them.
If you aren't sure whether her snarky thoughts might be readable, just ask!  IC≠OOC
67 Posts
Ooc — Bryndel
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#2
Things had been going along just swimmingly this last month or so, and then, of course, in the usual way of the world quite suddenly everything changed.

The girl had not been expecting it, however, never having experienced any such thing before in her brief spark of life. All she knew was that she'd only just thought she was starting to get the hang of things when everything went all topsy-turvy instead. She made an incredulous little Bwwaawrrrurup?! noise as her bewildered brain tried to make sense of it all. She came somersaulting out of Mom onto a small carpeted lump that a moment's tentative poking exploration with nose and tongue and stubby paw showed to be one of her former wombmates, the first one to be evicted. He seemed fuzzier than she remembered from when she had spent so long jammed up beside him in the crowded uterine horn; she snuffled all around him in puzzlement until Treason's interceding muzzle whisked the boy away, out of the narrow confines of the girl's sensory world. She raised her blunt black head and quested about in blind confusion, making another small noise in the back of her throat as she tried to grasp the enormity of what was going on around her.

Then it was her turn, and she was bumped about bewilderingly if not unkindly by the long efficient tongue of her mother before she was then deposited at the next milk station in line. She reached out a paw to fumble at her slightly-elder brother and jabbed a wet black nose towards his ear to make sure this was still the same neighbor as before before she settled down to the important and all-consuming business of filling her belly, only vaguely aware of the third lump that emerged to inevitably also claim a spot at Mom's belly beside her. She kinda sorta remembered him too from the already dimming recollection of Treason's womb, but right now so long as his tenancy here in the Great Outside didn't interfere with her own and so long as there was plenty of delicious colostrumy milk to go around the girl found she didn't much care.

From somewhere in the great looming darkness all around the Great Wall of Mom came swooping protectively in, to wrap them all in a comforting fuzzy blanket behind as well as before as Treason curled in around her newborn precious acquisitions. The small sooty girl twitched her wormy stump of a tail upward and kicked out one back leg at the unfamiliar sensation of the luxuriously-pelted wall oozing smotheringly up on her out of nowhere, but after she twitched the leg a second time to dislodge a particularly ticklish fur tuft trying to wedge between her toes the girl decided on balance that she really didn't mind its intrusion all that much after all. She paused only for a small, contented burp before going back to feeding.
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Ooc — Magdalyn
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#3
oh dear!! unfortunately for treason, she had birthed a quite mouthy one first, meaning she'd have considerably less peace and quiet to birth the rest of the puppies than she might've had if he'd come out last. not that she had much choice, in the womb the ashen pup was quite antsy to get out, kicking and punching his way to the exit before either one of his roommates could get there. and birthing him, or any of them for that matter, probably wasn't a walk in the park. the pup was chunky, like a giant rock, and probably living hell to push out of there. whoops, oh well, that's genetics for you.

out in the open he was considerably colder, and protested almost immediately. i mean, never mind that he'd forced his way out first, he wanted back in -- now. so he wailed and whined and whimpered and made all those annoying puppy noises until he was pushed up against a much warmer, furrier thing. instinct reminded him to L A T C H. so latch he did, and so now he had less to complain about. though, occasionally, some little puppy noises would escape him... especially when he was joined by two other things similarly shaped and feeling to himself! weird, and how rude? 

eventually, he was swaddled up even closer to the thing he was latched onto, along with his two next door neighbors. he'd prefer a little more leg room but, ah, whatever. a few squeaks and then he was decidedly sleepy. hard work being so damn yappy, i guess. so he hushed, for now, filled and mildly content, and slept.
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Ooc — Magdalyn
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#4
there was a certain amount of assumption to be made by terance about treason. she wasn't easy to read, per say, and there were definitely sometimes where terance guessed her reactions to certain things entirely wrong... but he was pretty sure she would find it annoying to always explain how she felt to him, so he didn't always ask. instead, he usually just made guesses and acted around those. up until this point, it'd worked pretty well. this was... a little different.

in the past, terance had only had one other experience with something like this. and... it was with someone so entirely polar opposite to treason he was pretty sure he had to trash the entire experience altogether as a precedent to this day. so, cool. 

he was returning from his patrol with a pretty large limb in his jaws. treason was probably hungry, or something. she was pretty bed ridden, so maybe she just wanted something to tear to shreds. he didn't know, but the sentiment was there. so when he arrived to the scent of blood n stuff, and the sounds of tiny baby squeaks and whines, he almost fuckin lost his marbles. he couldn't believe he missed it, first of all, but above that he couldn't believe she hadn't called someone? even if it wasn't him. going back to the seabreeze thing -- he kind of made the assumption she hadn't wanted him there. seemed to reign true, coming home at this time. 

so terance didn't push his luck, smart boy, and instead stayed outside the den. he crawled forwards on his stomach, laying a few feet from the mouth of the den, whining. his tail beat against the ground outside, and the leader waited patiently to hear a response back from treason who was... hopefully... inside with !! their !! children!! he waited, as patiently as he could, to be given instruction, whether it be get in here! or get lost!!
244 Posts
Ooc — Jennifer
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#5
He wouldn't remember anything about this expansion of his world, of being licked to something vaguely resembling consciousness but not sentience.  Milk was good, though, so he quickly discovered.  He could almost ignore the rogue foot that felt like it was continuously shoving him.  But hey, he was gonna be greedy instead of complain.  That would come a few moments later.

The youngest also wasn't exactly happy to be squished, making a few squeaks that probably sounded more like a baby bird than a wolf.  But it was only a few seconds before he fell quiet   But that lasted only a short period of time, as some weird movement caused him to cry out again.  A vibration maybe?  He couldn't tell, the world was dark and silent.
nomen est omen
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Ooc — Jennifer
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#6
Again she almost dozed off -- that probably would have been nice, the pups had quieted down a bit and it was probably time for everyone in the den to take a well-deserved nap.  But eventually the sound of someone approaching dragged her to consciousness again.  Treason waited only a second or two to confirm the sound before she started to growl, a low, dangerous note that held none of the play that it most recently had been used for.  If whoever that was stepped into the den and wasn't the right person, she'd rip their face off.  Okay, she wasn't even sure if there was a right person but there were definitely wrong ones.  Tired and still aching, would she know the difference?

But as they stopped and the scent wafted down, the growl faded.  It was in a sense, the moment of truth.  She kind of had to make a decision now, didn't she?  She didn't trust anyone easily, but of all the wolves out there, didn't he deserve it?  And hadn't she already made her decision?  Though seeing him was kind of a challenge from where she was, the whines were familiar, unthreatening.  Terance?  There was a pause, a few seconds of silence as she debated before finally, more quietly saying, Come.  The tension across her shoulders started to slowly ebb -- she hadn't even noticed how long she'd been like that, probably as soon as she'd heard him coming.  Treason's tail tapped slowly on the floor of the den.  Maybe she could relax.
Arbiter is often not a nice person and will think mean things without acting on them.
If you aren't sure whether her snarky thoughts might be readable, just ask!  IC≠OOC
67 Posts
Ooc — Bryndel
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#7
One of her fellow potatoes was a great noisy lump of a brute, something that the girl didn't much notice or mind until the kid's racket started vibrating through Mommy's belly and the ground underneath her as he kept squalling and kicking up a fuss from right beside her. Ugh. The female pup squinched up her face in irritation, though she was too busy nursing now to make more than a token muffled protest of her own. Fortunately, though it took all too long and seemed by then to have permanently creased the young girl's brow, her brother did finally shut up, get some hasty nursing in, and then go the hell to sleep. She fumblingly reached out with her one white paw to give the brat a clumsy thump in order to ensure he'd stay quiet and still now. (At least, in her head that was guaranteed to be how this thing would work.) Stupid brothers.

Then the other one disturbed her with some noisy vibrations of his own. Rrrrooowwwllll, said the baby girl crossly, as she tried to turn and find him and give him a fumbling warning tap as well. Smothered in the thicket of fur that was Treason's tail however, and facing entirely the wrong direction, while the girl thought she'd felt one hind foot connect with the correct invisible lump her efforts to bring her forefeet around into play somehow only managed to scoot her halfway around before flipping her upside down entirely. How did these darned accursed limb things work anyway. She paddled ineptly at the air and started in on her own complaints for a moment. Then her tiny brain was distracted by the wafting scent of something new... someone different. There was blood and meat and the musky scent of a big foreign male from somewhere off thattaway— the girl's protests turned to more interrogative noises from somewhere deeper in her throat.

Hhhuurowrow mrrawwwr? she asked of no one in particular, and made some vague attempts to reach out and poke at the stranger through the muffling Treasontail fur coat that was trying to eat her limbs, to find out what he felt like and what he was doing 'round these parts. Maybe she'd get lucky and find that he was bringing another milk bar into town, one she wouldn't have to share with these other graceless male hummocks of fur crowding in on her territory here at Mom's belly. Maybe if she could just stretch her legs far enough and escape the confines of this big fuzzy tail here she could find out for herself. Experimentally the girl tried mouthing the big fluffy obstacle that was smothering her movements, to see if maybe that would make it disappear. Or perhaps it too might have some milk hidden inside it, who knew?
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Ooc — Magdalyn
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#8
slowly he moved into the den. slowly. as if she might change her mind, or as if he might step on one of the pups in his movement. but he didn't, and so far so good, as the newly anointed second-time father got a peak of his mate, who looked like she could use a nap or two. or three. but too bad, she  didn't have that option now -- not with the three wriggling jellybeans at her stomach. wow. three of them. three children. three more children. 

another whine, his chin resting on the floor of the den and his tail swinging wildly against the ground behind him. "you're a mother," he said, scooting a little closer -- she was surprisingly docile, considering terance thought she'd be a little more possessive and protective. if she'd let him, terance moved to nudge her cheek, paired with a few licks. and if she didn't, he would just keep his distance at the mouth of the den. "how are you doing?"
nomen est omen
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Ooc — Jennifer
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#9
Okay, the black girl seemed to have gotten herself a bit lost.  While Terance was entering the den, Treason reached over, scooping her up and moving her to a position closer to her elbow.  If her brothers were giving her trouble, then that at least should be enough room for now.  So they could settle down.  The boys seemed to be more well behaved once they settled -- unless her moving to point the girl in the right direction set them off.  Who freaking knew.

Well, she was protective, but she needed Terance here -- and wanted him here, probably -- though there were limits.  There were subtle things that he may or may not notice.  Her foreleg curled slightly around Jet, blocking her more since she was closest.  She watched Terance like a hawk, but as long as he stayed nonthreatening and didn't make any sudden moves, she'd stay put.  Well, that and she was still giving off a few mixed messages, the bridge of her nose crinkling slightly like she couldn't decide whether or not she should threaten him as he reached out to touch her.  She wasn't the one in need of protecting, after all, so if he kept his attention more on her, things would be fine while she tried to work out how much space she needed and how much she could surrender.  Tired.  Physically, for sure, and by now mentally a bit too.  But fine.  All fine.  And perhaps if she'd bee a normal person she would have been all smiley and stuff there and shown off all the pups but she just kept watching him with a faintly strained look caused mostly by her own exhaustion, leaving her pretty devoid of most stronger emotions.  Just not really the energy, try again later.  Treason probably should have actually slept in the time that had passed before Terance had shown up.
Arbiter is often not a nice person and will think mean things without acting on them.
If you aren't sure whether her snarky thoughts might be readable, just ask!  IC≠OOC
244 Posts
Ooc — Jennifer
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#10
Yeah, it had been enough to jostle the split-colored newborn as he'd already been roused by his sister being way too obnoxious.  Now a draft of cold air hit the boy, and he squeaked, small legs flailing around as he tried to crawl closer to the main object of warmth in the world -- he felt fortunate it hadn't actually left, moved a little, yes.  But honestly, as long as nobody else started pestering him or otherwise warping the world, the boy was happy to eat and sleep with minimal ear-curdling noise, not that he could hear himself right now.
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Ooc — Magdalyn
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#11
she seemed defensive but not... unwilling to let him near. he kept his distance, not really noting the other signs of her... we'll call it stress. protectiveness, but maybe stress. he laid his head back down to the floor, tail still swishing, still watching treason carefully and sometimes glancing down to look at the three little pups at her side. i brought food, terance said, once he looked back up at her, i can burry it outside for later if you want to get some rest. rest seemed important right now, treason seemed only general here right now. she was here in her most primal form, but she could definitely stand some sleep. he could only imagine how exhausted she was. 

you did a good job, he murmured through a warm smile.
nomen est omen
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Ooc — Jennifer
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#12
There was this pause.  When Terance had first appeared, she had relaxed a little, but in the grand scheme of things that was only a drop in the bucket.  She could figure out her exact levels of appreciation later.  Food might be good sometime, too.  Rest, though.  Yeah.  I think that would be good.  Treason hadn't entirely finished saying it before her head was heavily heading towards her paws.  That was the moment that her hyper-aware shell seemed to crack, and the tension left her.  If she hadn't already been laying down she'd have slumped into a pile.  Treason tipped her head slightly to look over the pups again, then back to Terance. For the briefest half-second her lips pulled into a line that maybe would have been a smile or something if she had actually fully completed the action.  But she'd been fighting sleep for... How long?  It felt like forever.  But at least with Terance around it was probably safe for her to give in.  She'd be able to think more clearly after -- and you know, do important things like figure out what to codename these kids until she figured out who they actually were.
Arbiter is often not a nice person and will think mean things without acting on them.
If you aren't sure whether her snarky thoughts might be readable, just ask!  IC≠OOC
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Ooc — Bryndel
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#13
The All-Powerful Jaws of Mom came down from the sky to scoop her up and away and maneuver her upright again. The girl didn't mind all that much, at first—it took her further from The Tail but The Tail was frelling useless, anyway, as it had turned out: no milk whatsoever in there. (Who designed these things, anyway?!) She swiveled around as she was placed belly-down on the ground again, checking out where she was now and whether perhaps that big male scent from somewhere nearish-by might have come closer and this time prove more pokable. Much to her misfortune however she found that another of mom's body parts again intervened: this time, a big callus-padded paw. The girl ran into it with her stubby nose, and then gave it a good whack with her forepaws before reaching out her nose again and giving the most aceessible toe (the dewclaw, perhaps?) a taste-test. Nope: no milk here either.

The tiny black girl started to whine. This was all decidedly unfair. And her dumb brothers were over there hogging all the best milk right now, even as we speak, weren't they?! Wow. This was terrible. But maybe if she started fussing enough the big mysterious male might come nearer and rescue her, maybe eve let her poke at him before feeding her too. Instead however she cut off with a loud squeak of surprise as mom's head started to droop and descend toward her as Treason finally started to relax a little. The tiny black pup kicked out ineptly with her back legs this time, squirming about in discomfort as she tried to make sure she was still going to be allowed room to maneuver and not pinned and squooshed between paw and skull. Unless maybe the head might provide some food...? No, that was ridiculous and different-smelling and now Jet was getting hungry, what with all these complicated explorations and complaints to be made. Really hungry. With little else she could do Jet started to yell in earnest. WHAT THE HELL, PEOPLE, FEED ME ALREADY!
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Ooc — Magdalyn
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#14
Terance wasn't sure exactly what was good, but judging by her body language he figured she might mean bury it and she'd get it later. rest now would be good. i'll be here, he told her softly, settling a little ways off in the den, i'll keep an eye out, i'll wake you if anything happens. get some rest. she deserved it, seriously. silently, terance was wondering what childbirth was actually like. and then, he was correcting himself by saying he was glad he'd never know and was thanking the gods that he didn't have to deal with it. terance had the easy bit.

he wanted to ask if she'd named them... but she seemed too tired. that'd be a conversation for another day, and an incredibly interesting conversation since terance, who we all know to be a little flowery, had much different naming traditions than treason. but he wouldn't fight her on it, as long as she was happy... so was terance.
nomen est omen
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Ooc — Jennifer
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#15
The main thing that kept her from zonking off immediately was the black girl managing to turn herself exactly the wrong way.  As Terance replied, Treason drowsily nudged the girl the right way around.  With that done, all that was left for her to do was sleep.  Things were good -- the pups were here, she was protected.  They all were.  With a soft sigh and a final glance to her mate, Treason let herself drift off into exhausted blackness.  It would be a very different morning when she awakened.
Arbiter is often not a nice person and will think mean things without acting on them.
If you aren't sure whether her snarky thoughts might be readable, just ask!  IC≠OOC