The past few days had been terribly restless for the young leopardess. Her sleek coat glowing with immaculate health. Since discovering that she was with cubs Hime had gone out of her own way to take better care of herself for the sake of her little ones. Her abdomen had swelled over the months with strong, active offspring and despite the loss of her girlish figure the pale female was proud to be carrying the children of the one that had turned her life in a new direction. Akua and these cubs were a blessing, one that initiated the start of her new life and she cherished them.Spasming muscles brought Himeru back to the present as she winced and paced a little longer with uncertainty before finally ducking into the small, nest-like den she had created over the past few weeks. Lining it with large, cupping leaves and soft grasses. This was where she would bare her cubs.
Exhilarating as it all was terrifying for the inexperienced first-time mother, Himeru could only trust her goddess-given instincts that she would be able to see herself through without much trouble. And why not? Females gave birth to cubs every day! Alone in the strangely still jungle, however, laboring leopardess tried not to dwell on her solitude. Instead she looked ahead with an unbearable anticipation to gazing upon her children for the first time.
Sharp, short seizures of pain caused every inch of her body to flex as her paw parted in quiet pants. Shifting on her side with extended claws pressing into the soft earth beneath her a far and doubt that she couldn't do this simple, natural task on her own nipped at her fidgeting tail. Thankfully, passive young momma's mind was too clouded to give the idea too much serious contemplation. Strong contractions caused the sinew beneath Himeru's milky pelt to ripple with discomfort. Giving a hard, flexing push to deliver the first infant of the evening.
Warm and wet, Hime held her breath even as she twisted to draw the pale baby boy closer. Resting his tiny body upon her forepaws a heavy sigh of relief washed over the newborn when he squeaked and wormed beneath her rough tongue.
He was alive. Thank the heavens.
Purring with absolute bliss and nuzzling his ears, a different shade from his base coat just like his mother, she couldn't help but smile tenderly at the markings and hues he'd inherited from his handsome father. A son. She hoped Akua would be pleased.
Despite the arrival of the singular cub, tensing frame persisted with its uncomfortable clenching. Still finding herself short of breath with the strain as her body convulsed. Fur cringed over taut muscle while mismatched hues lowered upon her son with a feeble smile. Looks like you're going to have a brother or sister, my little one.
Her quiet, musing titter suddenly twisting into a soft moan of pain while another violent contraction shoved through her body, eyes wincing shut. Willing herself to relax and quit fighting the battle that raged inside her body Hime puffed a soft breath, paws kneading into the ground as she gave one great push to bare the second cub of her small litter. As with the first she didn't dare breathe, quivering ears piqued for sounds of life. The nearly inaudible sound of flailing paws shifting the carefully placed nesting material causing Himeru to chirp in delighted greetings to her new, baby girl.
Careful of the cub already set between her forelegs, she reached with an open maw to grab the second by her scruff, dragging her to lay beside her brother in the encirclement of curled paws. This baby was almost as dark as her sister and as pastel hues peered at the pair side by side she couldn't help but notice how much they resembled herself and her twin, Sagasu. Her beautiful children. Carefully licking her daughter dry, the spasms in her abdomen were finally calming leaving the leopardess drained after such an adventurous escapade, but it was well worth it. The smile upon her muzzle overjoyed by the new life she and Akua had brought into the world, none two cubs had ever been more perfect in her honest opinion.
The world suddenly bloomed from the tight, comforting warmth to something sharper, colder, and huge. The little Leopon cub twitched and squeaked as his mother cleaned him off before he was nestled to the comfort of her fur, between her front legs. Sniffing and sneezing with all the new scents, hers was the strongest...and the most comforting. He squeaked and chirped, sensing the distress of labour, even if he did not know what it was, just that the one that kept him safe was not well.