Golden Glade brush strokes on a canvas of souls

She was suddenly so very tired, but she refused to give in to the urge to sleep. She was too paranoid to take her attention off her puppies just yet, fearing that she might wake up and find them all dead, or disappeared, or some other horrific turn of events that she didn't even want to think about. She moved in turn from one small back to the next, licking, sniffling, and just touching them. They were here! They were all safe and healthy! They were beautiful! She couldn't stop smiling. She was tired and sore, but those were but candles to the blazing conflagration that was her joy.

She heard a small commotion outside, followed in short order by the voice of her mate. She beamed at him from where she lay, her tail flipping on the floor of the den behind her. "They're here!" she answered in a voice so full of excitement she could barely get the words out. "Three! Two boys and a girl, all healthy. Come see them!"