Brenna approached the den, nerves coiling in her belly. Her sister was within, and had been asking for her. Ordinarily this wouldn’t have worried the bard one bit, but Sóma was heavily pregnant with her and her husband’s first litter. In fact she was over due now, and ever time Brenna was called for, she got nervous. What if something had happened? What if the birth had gone wrong.. what if Sóma was in labour right now? The last idea terrified Brenna, the responsibility of helping her sister through the birth was bad enough, but when something was going wrong? She had no idea what to expect… And having the balance of brand new lives in her paws? Terrifying. But it was her beloved sister who called, so Brenna would go, each and every time.
Popping her head cautiously round the den’s entrance she breathed a sigh of relief. Sóma was resting on the biggest pile of furs Brenna had ever seen, but she looked fine, and certainly not in any current difficulty, beyond being as uncomfortable as hell.
“Morning sis…” She offered as she slipped sensually into the den and padded over to give the paler female a cheek rub.
“Morning.” Sóma returned with a tired smile. “How are you today?”
Brenna chuckled as she settled down, placing a paw over her sibling’s in comfort. “I am very well. You look tired. Have you been sleeping?” At Sóma’s wide-eyed incredulous look of ‘are you kidding me?’ Brenna couldn’t help her laughter, though she tried to smother it under Sóma’s glare. “Sorry sis… that was a stupid question.” Sóma hadn’t slept properly in weeks, and now that he time was here, the cubs inside had been even more active than previously. It was a wonder Sóma wasn’t being dragged about by her belly with the rate the little ones kicked and squirmed.
Sóma sighed. “You would think they would be ready to come out with all the fuss they make…”
Brenna smiled with sympathy and leaned closer to lick her sibling’s cheek. “Soon, I am sure. They can’t wait much longer.” Pausing for a moment she eyed her creamy-coated sister. “How about a walk? A slow walk.” She amended hurriedly at Sóma’s arched brow. “You need to keep moving hon.” She coaxed gently.
After a moment Sóma sighed and nodded. “Ugh, I feel like a beached whale. Remind me of this the next time I decide having cubs sounds like a good idea.” She grumbled to her sibling as she heaved her giant swollen belly off the ground and waddled to the den’s entrance.
Chuckling at her sister’s grumpiness, which was completely understandable given the circumstances, Brenna followed her slow, heavy progress, slipping from the den and moving up alongside her sibling. “So, how about a walk along the beach?” She knew Sóma preferred not to be seen like this, not because she was fat, but in case anyone jumped the gun and assumed there was something wrong, with either her or her litter. She would hate to reflect badly on her husband, Holmgeir. As it was not wholly his fault that the cubs were taking their sweet time in making themselves known individually.
Not that Sóma was thinking quite so generously of her mate right at the minute, spending half her time cursing the cubs and half of it cursing him for his role in the whole situation. Huffing already she eyed her sibling. “West beach then, its not so steep…” Not giving Brenna a chance to reply Sóma set off, walking in that typical slow and swaying gate of the heavily pregnant.
Some time later they had finally reached the beach and Sóma sank down into the little wavelets with a groan. The water was cold, but it felt good on her overheated body. Beside her Brenna settled down also, though she stayed out of the water, preferring to sunbathe than soak. The two sisters stayed that way for some time, enjoying the peace and quiet of their secluded little cove. Eventually however Sóma grew chilled and eased herself out of the water and up onto dry sand.
Brenna, having dozed for a while, woke and looked over. “Are you hungry? I can go fetch something from the stores.” After receiving a nod and a grateful look from her sibling, the burnt umbre coloured lioness stood, shook sand from her fur, and set off back up the path they had come down earlier. Leaving Sóma to nap in the sunlight, the warmth after her long soak helping her to rest in a little more comfort, if only for a short time.
It wasn’t that long before Brenna reappeared, trotting down the path and stepping back onto the smooth sand. A buck swung from her powerful jaws , which she soon deposited next to her sister and then laid down on the other side, to the meal could be shared between them. “Hope you are hungry. I snatched this off a reaver as he was sneaking off with it. Greedy bugger.” Snorting she lowered her muzzle and tore a chunk of meat free. Across the other side of the buck Sóma chuckled, before shifting round to reach the meat more easily. “I am sure you sent him crying to his dam.” She responded with amusement. Brenna may not be a reaver, having chosen the path of a Bard, but there had been no reason why she couldn’t have become one. She was strong, a talented fighter, and with the necessary stubborn streak a mile wide.
Brenna smirked, pale eyes flashing with evil amusement. “I cuffed him round the ear and threatened to bite his tail off if he didn’t quit whining.” Snickering at the memory even as her sister shook her head in denial at being related to such a heathen, the pair finally settled down to enjoy their meal.
By the time they had arrived back at Sóma’s den evening was approaching, and the paler sister was starting to grow weary. Even though all they had done after eating had been to alternately sunbath and soak in the ocean, lounging around and catching up on each other’s lives. Brenna helped her sibling to settle back into her bed of furs before nuzzling her cheek to Sóma’s affectionately.
“Do try and get some rest, sister dear. You wont have any once the little devils are born.” Chuckling at Sóma’s weary yet amused sigh she bumped cheeks once more before slipping from the den. She would be back tomorrow to offer her support, as she would ever day until the little fuzballs arrived.
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