Arrow Lake when there's blood in the water

Birth thread! Welcome to the world, little bebes. <3 AW if anyone dares, but tagging @Stigmata for visibility.
Backdated to June 29th.

The grit of her teeth didn’t offset the pain—nothing could as the lissome female trembled upon the den she had made her own. She stifled her cries, burying her exotic snout to her fur as the convulsions took over—each quake was excruciating, and the she-wolf could not fathom why any soul would wish to put themselves through this intentionally.

It was not lost on her the tension that clung to the air. Diaspora had sprouted with promise, the seed planted at the beginning for its loyal wolves to reign over the mountains, claiming its dominion. Now it remained wrought with mistrust and misgivings.

Aurewen had fled—an attack on their General, with what was perhaps a foolish idea of whimsy from the gentle woman. Even had he not risen to her challenge and remain undefeated, had she expected his wolves to follow her? The pack gathering had been rather clear on their intentions of the pack’s culture and beliefs. And now it seemed she had used their resources to temporarily keep her children safe…. As any mother ought to.

Blodreina remained. An outsider to the pack, accepted with her potential brood that had birthed only one whelp. Fed and loved by the wolves of Diaspora, and the father who had assisted in her existence.

No, it was not lost on the woman that she heard no sign from Mahler, or any of the others with her own pregnancy. Takiyok’s fiery eyes held enough ire to reveal her own thoughts, and Stigmata’s presence with his duties and stress were trivial at best.

She did this alone. The flare of pain in her hip from previous injury awakened, and the grunts of pain elicited from her muzzle only escaped from her bodies inability to fully keep quiet, despite her attempts. Her thoughts fled to Thorn, and how from all the wolves of Diaspora, he would have been at her side. Perhaps she had been too blinded in what she should have pursued—and now it was such too late, as the final scents of his previous presence were now long gone.

Panting, she lay, hours later, her mind numbed, and her body succumbing to the aftermath of pain mixed with accomplishment. There was a certain wonder in her green eyes as she looked over the three healthy whelps. Each tucked firmly to her belly—her nose grazing over them to assist in latching when they faltered. Two males—one the finest of silver, and one the darkest of nights. And one female—her pale honeyed pelt a great contrast to her brothers.

As the sun set, and the song of the night began to smooth over her, she began to clean the blood away as best she could—yet never for long did her eyes stray from the miracle at her side now, for never before had she loved anything so fiercely and so quickly before. And to hell with those within Diaspora that would see to harm or disregard them—a mother bear now fluttered in her chest, and she held her brood tightly, laying her options before her.

I'm cameoing her outside the den, she  won't talk or intrude. If you want to interact just let me know!

It had hit her hard that Aure had taken all of her children and left. Even more so that she had attacked Stigmata after hearing everyone deny that giving up the pack's culture and goals. She had joined knowing them, she had been tended and cared for by everyone and Kazimir had lost her leg chasing a bear away from their territory so that the pups would remain safe. She didn't understand it, why the woman would choose to leave the pack where she had many wolves willing to give their lives to protect her and her children just...to avoid being a part of what Diaspora stood for. It made her feel like a horrible person, just for wanting to remain true to what she had pledged her loyalty to in the first place. 


She kept thinking of that little boy, Dragomir. The one who had taken to her and who she had enjoyed playing with and trying to teach things to. Takiyok and Blodreina had their kids now but she didn't try to bond with those women or their kids, she didn't bring gifts or check in like she had with Aure. It was only by chance that she heard the tiny squeals  and caught the scent of birthing fluid as she carried a fresh piece of prey toward a nearby cache. She paused and drifted closer until she could make out the den opening and then hesitantly crept closer until she was certain the prey would be noticed and dropped it. She quickly backed off but remained nearby deciding that she would remain close until someone else arrived. That way she could at least be certain Ketzia and her pups were okay.

River's first breath was taken in protest; a shrill cry carried through the den, as the newborn reacted to the change in the climate. River had little time to embellish her compliant, as Ketzia was quick to intervene; in a matter of trices, her mood improved exponentially. River had been led to Ketzia's abdomen and had promptly taken advantage of the warmth and sustenance that had become avaible—she saw no need to lament further. 

Once River had nursed to capacity, she was content with her current situation. She curled up against her siblings and fell asleep, much happier now than she had been moments prior.

The prey was noticed—Kazimer’s scent upon the breeze that teased her senses just barely past the scent of blood and birth. She curled more protectively against her brood, but the cinnamon she-wolf came no closer. Chuffing quietly, the mother resumed grooming her youth, her jewelled gaze flicking to the den entrance every so often, content to know that out of all of her comrades, at least one was not willing to cast her and her babies aside.