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 Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 1:20 pm
 Gerda's paws paced across the earth as she moved, back and forth, between the dens. She would spend two minutes laying in one den, the den she'd birthed Piper and Abital in, and then she would get up and pace to the den opposite it, which smelled of no puppies whatsoever. A strangled whine rippled up her throat as she heaved her heavy body up once again, padding back into her first den.
The puppies in her belly were acting up. They pushed their paws against her sides, kicking at her ribs, and in her head, they were crowded and wanted freedom. Didn't everyone want freedom? She smiled softly, licking her protruding tummy. Her tail thumped the ground twice.
She couldn't believe she was doing this again... This time... This time things would work out. This time her babies would adore her. This time they would be raised correctly, in a loving and caring home. Even if the packlands were Gomorrah, pack of sin.
Then, something unexpected happened. There was a wave of pain that brought a squeak to her lips. She looked down, over herself. Was it time? Fear gripped at her heart like a cold hand. Where was Tauro? Tauro said she'd help her! Oh, she couldn't do this alone...
Slightly panicked and still in pain, she threw her head back and let loose a hoarse, muted howl.
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Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 9:30 pm
 Tauro had been roaming less and less as Gerda's due date drew near, but they both still needed to eat. Gerda was a fine huntress, but not when weighed down with extra bodies. Plus, it fell to Tauro to provide for her new ward, the pup Seiphyr, who was growing longer and lankier and hungrier by the day. She was being run ragged simply trying to feed everyone. Sometimes there was a pack hunt, from which she was permitted to drag a choice cut of meat for the expecting mother, but more often she had to pick off small game on her own.
She had finished the task for the time being, feeding herself last. She was full, well, mostly full of squirrel, and taking her time heading back to Gerda's pacing grounds, not wanting to lose her meal via a jostling trot.
Her ears pricked forward, she thought she picked up a sound on the wind. An alarm bell in the back of her head rang, and she immediately broke into a run. That sound had been Gerda, and Gerda could only manage such a noise when she was in distress.
She skidded, throwing up dirt as she reached the crux of the two dens, swiveling her head back and forth to discern which one Gerda had chosen. The first den, the original one. She trotted in, her eyes adjusting to see her sister lying on the hard floor. "Gerda…" she breathed, and gave her nose a quick lick. "I'm here. I'm here. What is it?"
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Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 9:40 pm
She paced for floors for a minute longer, the pain washing away and the tears that had come to her eyes fading as quick as they'd come. Now she felt stupid; it was a false alarm... A damned false alarm. She hung her head for a moment, stretching back out on the cool floor. She was almost beginning to enjoy the spring breeze that floated in and took the damp air of the cave with it.
In the time it took Tauro to arrive, another pain gripped her belly, stronger this time. She licked her side, nudging at the babies, who had all gone still. She frowned. Still was good, right? How was she to know that they were beginning to move down in her canal and not that they were dying... She licked her belly again, then turned her head to the mouth of the cave.
Tauro was at her side in an instant, giving a warm lick of her tongue to her sister. Gerda's tail gave a brief wag. The puppies! she wanted to cry, They're coming, I think. Instead, she met Tauro's gaze, then looked pointedly down at her protruding belly and gave a soft huff.
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Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 9:46 pm
 He hadn't imagined pack life to be so nice. It was like he had a family now, even if it was rather small. Tauro was the huntress of their little pack, even though Gerda hunted for as long as she could before her puppies began to weigh her down.
As for himself, Seiphyr had grown plenty, nearly doubling his size. He was long and lanky, still a bit small for a male, but it didn't bother him. His puppy coat was coming out in patches, a thicker, plusher fur coming in. Soon, Tauro would take him on his first hunt now that he could successfully run without tripping over himself. And soon, Gerda would have her babies. Soon...
He heard the strange howl, recognizing Gerda's voice immediately. As if he'd been shot, he froze, spun on his heel, and headed to the dens where he knew she was staying. He got there just in time to see Tauro skid to a stop, then head in. He slowly padded up and peeked his head around the corner, peering into the den. He knew mother wolves could be...well, bitchy, and he didn't want Gerda to think ill of him. "Are they coming?"
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Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 10:08 pm
Tauro pressed the side of her head to Gerda's belly and listened. She could still hear movement, but it was no longer the random kicking and pressing that she'd so often felt before. She whined in the back of her throat, and then heard Seiphyr's question.
"I think so," she called back, trying to remain calm. It wouldn't due to have too many wolves in the den at once. Gerda didn't need the stress. "Stay out there in case we need you, okay?"
She, who had so much longed for a family, had no idea what to do when it came to delivering pups. She turned around again in the narrow confines of the cave so her face was lined up with her sister's. "You have more experience than I do," she said, attempting a smile. "Show me what's happening…"
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Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 10:20 pm
Gerda's tail tip wagged twice, sending up a wave of dust in the cave as Tauro pressed her head up against her belly, listening with a serious look on her face. Gerda heard the whine and her tongue snaked out, licking the edge of her sister's maw. It would be okay. They would be fine... Everything would be fine. If she could've, she would've comforted her.
Her head popped up, looking Seiphyr in the eye as he craned his neck to watch them. He looked uncertain and curious all at once. She smiled. Soon he would have little brothers and sisters running around. Hopefully it would make due for the family he'd lost...
She quickly nodded. They would have to wait for the contractions to get closer together, and the pain to start. She remembered the pain well... It wasn't a pleasant experience. Her tail wagged once more as the dull ache began again. She strained, but knew it was fruitless.
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Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 10:22 pm
Seiphyr watched them nervously, shifting his weight back and forth. He watched as Gerda tensed up, keeping her in his sights. He worried. What if the pups never came. Would they die in her belly? He looked down at his paws, then up at Tauro. She wanted him out of her hair. He wagged his tail with a nod, then curled up outside the den, close enough so he could hear every word. He didn't want to stray far. He didn't want to stray at all.
He would wait. Wait for his brothers and sisters to come. He would be Cousin Seiphyr. A smile rose upon his maw at the thought and he closed his eyes, content once more.
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Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 7:49 pm
Tail wagging was good, right? Tauro whined again, laying next to Gerda, their noses touching. She realized she couldn't really help here, unless something went terribly wrong. It was Gerda who would have to do all the work. So she kept up a litany of talk.
"How many do you think there are? There must be more than one; sorry, luv, but you're rather big." She remembered the size Seiphyr had been when they met, and Piper's pups. She winced. "It probably isn't fun pushing 'em all out, huh."
She glanced out at the adolescent. He seemed ready to wait it out, too.
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Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 12:23 am
Gerda was pleased that Tauro laid down beside her, feeling comforted by her sister. This wasn't a new feeling; Tauro had been there for her considerably since they'd been reunited and especially since she'd gotten pregnant. She just hoped that someday she would be able to return the favor and the love that Tauro had showered her in.
How many babies? She mused to herself, looking up at the ceiling. She thought of Piper and Abital and Beauty and Akiva. They had been rather small at birth. They had all been small. Tiny little lumps of fur who couldn't hear or see and were completely dependent on her for five or six weeks. Before they became little demons. She sighed sadly, licking her belly once again.
It would be different this time. As long as she kept telling herself that, she knew it would be true.
She lay there for probably an hour, the pains coming and going, getting closer and closer together. And stronger, too. She found herself getting up and pacing around Tauro, laying down and getting situated only to get up again. Her brows furrowed as she found her final resting spot in the farthest corner. Her body strained and she would've whimpered if she could've.
Finally, after what seemed like forever of pushing and grumbling to herself, she passed the first pup. She knew what to do; she quickly ate the sac and cleaned the baby up in soft, quick licks. She nuzzled it lovingly, motioning it closer to the warmth of her belly.
But it didn't move.
Her ears folded back, nose pressed into the silky, neon blue and white fur. A pup that looked like him. Almost an exact replica. She huffed and moved it closer, curling a leg over it. It didn't try to nurse. Or breathe.
Worriedly, she looked at Tauro and then down at the lifeless female once again. Back and forth with a strained whimper. How could she be dead? What had she done wrong? Tears sprang to her eyes.
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Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 7:14 pm
Tauro held still as Gerda continued to pace, occasionally nudging her with her nose when her sister lay down. It seemed best to remain calm, to continue to ground the impatient mother. Finally, as Gerda found her final position, Tauro stood to lay across from her, giving her plenty of room, but near enough so the pups would be encircled by their bodies.
She couldn't help herself from being tense as Gerda began to strain, but without sound, Tauro couldn't tell how bad it was. She certainly couldn't help. So she licked Gerda's snout and whined with her until the first pup appeared.
Gerda seemed to clean the little thing with professional efficiency. Tauro's tail began to thump as her sister pushed the little ball of bright blue and white fuzz toward herself. But then… then the dear didn't move. Tauro sat up and pushed at the pup with her snout. It was hard and cold already; not simply a pup that hadn't quite figured out how to breathe but one that had sat dead in the womb. "Oh, Gerda…" Tauro whispered. "Perhaps… perhaps…" She could not think of any words to comfort her. She whined in her throat, keening.
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Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 7:38 pm
Gerda watched the look on Tauro's face, the glitter in her eyes, go from excited to worried to saddened as she nudged the little bundle of fur. Gerda looked at her almost pleadingly, waiting for that cold baby to awaken from its eternal slumber and look at her in his stubby way.
Her heart sank and she heaved a sigh. Perhaps she'd not done a good job. Perhaps she was too old. Perhaps she had killed it... Her ears folded back, blinking away ears, and she rested her head on her paws, staring at the lifeless pup. Please wake up. Please, someone help it.
With a soft utter in her throat, she could stand no more. The pup was dead. She was wolf enough to handle it.
She leapt to her feet and picked the pup up gently, tenderly, by its little scruff. It dangled from her jaws as she padded out of the den. She passed Seiphyr, who was looking at her with wide eyes.
Heading to the forest behind the dens, she quickly dug a hole, her claws cutting through earth efficiently. She dropped the little femme inside, staring for a moment. Another contraction rippled up her side. She winced and covered the hole with dirt, then turned and went back into the den.
How many more holes would she have to uncover? How many more of her babies were born without a spark of life?
She lay down in the den, determined that her gift wouldn't be stolen from her. Not yet.
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Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 8:02 pm
Tauro sighed, settling back down, only to spring up again as Gerda rose to her feet. "Gerda? Gerda!" She ran outside the cave, then paused next to Seiphyr as the mother buried her tiny daughter, her haunches still damp with blood. She waited for Gerda to return, as she was sure she would. There were more pups. There HAD to be more pups--Gerda couldn't have swelled with only the wait of that one within her.
She paced back into the den after Gerda, fuming slightly. What if another pup had slipped out during her jaunt? Tauro could have moved the body and waited until after to bury it. However, her anger was short-lived as she settled in to eagerly await the next child. Certainly this one would be fine. They had both felt the pups move, had both cooed over their little kicks. There MUST be at least one alive.
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Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 8:30 pm
She knew that her sister wasn't pleased with her, but she'd kept herself tense and tight on the way over to the forest line. None had slipped out. She would've felt them. And if she had to've, she would've cleaned them up right there and then.
She stretched her hindlegs out across the stone, claws scraping slightly. She began to clean herself up until the next pain came and gripped her. Her head lolled back and she pushed against the pressure once again.
Within minutes, another pup was born. She cast a hopeful glance to Tauro and looked down at the bundle, cleaning him off -- he smelled like Akiva had. She breathed in and shuddered, remembering the past before shoving the thoughts out of her mind once more.
This pup was squirming and splayed out along the stone, tail flagged out behind him. It was thin and wiry. His eyes were closed and his ears were mere flaps, but it was love at first sight. Her beautiful puppy... So beautiful... Clean, his white pelt revealed blue claws, as if reaching out to snatch him away. Gerda grinned, nuzzling him close. She was happy. Even with one puppy, she was happy. She would make this puppy work.
She gave a silent bark to Tauro, tail wagging. It wasn't until after the little whelp had drank his fill and curled up against her flank that another pain hit her.
Her head popped up. Another baby?
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Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 8:00 am
Tauro waited with baited breath while Gerda pushed out the next pup. Then, as her sister's tail began to wag, hers also began to thump against the ground. It was a beautiful boy, white like Gerda, with a creature like hers and their father's, but in a brilliant blue color. Tauro took after their mother--and neither of the pups, live or dead, looked a bit like her. It didn't matter, though; Gerda hardly did, either. Seiphyr wasn't even related and they were still a family together.
She gently pressed her nose to the little pup's pelt. It smelled like a boy, and like Gerda. "He's beautiful," she said, a bit of pride in her voice. Gerda, too, seemed pleased, and then her face twisted into surprise and shock. Tauro tensed again.
"Another one?" she asked.
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Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 11:58 am
She could tell Tauro was nervous. More nervous than herself. Maybe it was because Tauro hadn't been a mother yet. Gerda wiggled her tail, snuggling her baby closer. It yawned and shifted. Alive. Her heart was soaring. Even if fenrir only gave her this one baby, all of her pain would be worth it.
Until another pain came.
She nodded briskly, looking down at her not-so-puffed-out belly. Was there another puppy?
Fifteen minutes of straining and five minutes of thorough cleaning later, another pup was busy nursing. A black pup with dark blue underside and teal paws. The serpents running along his side and face were proof that he was her son. Their outlines were blurry from the puppy fur, but Gerda was certain that by the time he was older, they would look ferocious.
She grinned over at her sister, stretching out once more. Her belly was trim again, and no more pains plagued her. Two babies... Two babies... She kept repeating that in her head, tail wagging the entire time. Her babies...
She swung her head to the mouth of the cave, motioning that Seiphyr could come in.
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