Redtail Rise more

backdated to yesterday! welcome @Saturdays Sunrise and @Saturdays Sunset

The bringing of new life was not an easy thing. And despite it being the second time for the woman, it was still no easier than the last. New Snow had sequestered herself away from the pack, knowing her time was near. To a new whelping place had she gone (after creating it), and it was there she remained. Of course, Mountain Boulder and key others had found it. She allowed them near, as they brought sustenance and safety both.

But the past few days had been difficult ones. The pains were greater, somehow, and longer!

And by Friday evening, her labors truly begun. New Snow would snap anyone away, not desiring any to be too close in these vulnerable moments. To the whelping den she would slink to, and for hours would she pace.

Saturdays Sunrise brought the first. And the birth felt as though it might have taken up every minute of that sunrise, but as New Snow—once Sunday Morning—looked upon the babe, she felt that all that time and more would have been worth it. A daughter! New Snow lay close to the girl, cleaning her and letting her suckle. She felt restless, and so knew this was not it... but could not remove herself from the daughter that reminded her so much of the late Thursday, whom New Snow presumed must have died in the wilds.

Things would surely go better for this cub. She and Mountain Boulder had learned much from the failures and successes of the last litter, and if it were possible they two loved one another even more for it. Theirs was a love that grew, it seemed. And her love for him expanded even then, to see what he had helped her to make.

In the evening, her second labors began. But it was not until sunset that the second was produced. New Snow took quick care of the second one, a daughter too! And she brought the girl next to the other, nosing them closer, and was content once she felt the cub latch.

Only then did she call for @Augur and @Bobcat to come see the newest addition to their surviving family, once of three, of five.

<3!!!!

rise she did with the morning sun, the firstborn of the newest litter and the newest addition to the redtail clan. despite the warming weather, the world felt cold beneath her compared to the womb she once inhabited. Saturday did not appreciate the most recent eviction notice of her home and perhaps would have come to let the entire neighborhood know just how she felt about these big changes!

but before she could muster such a well-spoken complaint, her mother's tongue would come to brush against her ever so gently. through this act alone, new snow saved herself and her husband from an inconsolable newborn. Saturday comes to sigh into her mother's touch, filled with a love that has run through her veins since she was first conceived.

it was love that brought her into this world. now it was love that kept her content. when new snow comes to brush the girl up close to nurse, Saturday wastes no time to greedily latch onto a teat and fill her belly with a newfound thrill. and through the short time that the two spent with one another, all Saturday knew was love.

that is until she realized that she wasn't alone with mother! instead, another lump has been nuzzled next to her and comes to latch as well a few hours later. she considered crying again, but the warmth her sister provided was just enough for her to appreciate quietly. so Saturday continues to nurse beside her sibling; eventually, the babe grows tired and would come to tuck herself tightly against new snow's belly.

new snow sought a fresh den for this delivery.

toward the end, augur had stayed close, reliant upon the offerings of meat from other rise-wolves as he waited for the moment to arrive.

the great man steered himself clear of his mate's clicking teeth and laid himself outside the den to wait.

he raised his head to hear the cry of newborn daughter break the dawn.

a low whine came from augur. but new snow had not called for him and so he did not approach.

morning became afternoon became evening.

and that hour brought another daughter.

at last new snow called for mate and eldest son. he came close on slinking belly, offering soft licks to his mate's face before he peered into her embrace for the children.

fresh life to grace the fresh den.

for a time augur would stay.

and then he would announce their birth in a low howl, setting off to hunt for new snow's first meal after she had delivered their cubs.

just a small cameo post. <3

bobcat was a brother.

again, he reminds himself, thoughts of his own littermate tucked away like a memory that he doesn't revisit.

he doesn't enter the birthing den, heavy with the scent of blood and birth; but mostly because he doesn't want to overcrowd mother and siblings.

he would visit them, later. once father and mother had a chance to revel in their newest children; but he lets out a low rumble to let them know he was there.

A spirit wandered the Earth and Heavens in search of her home. She flew through the sky, ran across the plains, and swam in the great rivers… she saw strong mustangs, swift foxes, and keen eagles… yet, in the spirit’s heart, she felt a different vessel waiting for her.

Then, suddenly, a bright light.

As the sun’s light waned in the sky, the spirit spied a wolf cub still cradled in its mother’s laboring womb.

The spirit, small as a spark, approached the child beneath the sunset’s painted sky. Aha!

I have found it! the spirit rejoiced.

What have you found? the cub wondered, fascinated.

You, of course! I am your spirit.

My spirit?

Yes, the spirit laughed. I will be the wind in your hair when you run, the thunder in your body when you fight, and the fire in your heart when you love. We will walk together among all things and you will never be alone.

Oh, I am so happy you have found me! the young cub celebrated.

Then, they embraced, stepped forward, and greeted life.