Driftwood Surge when i looked into your eyes [m]

BIRTHING THREAD - This thread is for @Lachesis their children only - no other pack members please.

The pain wasn’t as overwhelming as it had been the first time around… and perhaps that was because she’d experienced it last year, and knew the day would be drawing closer now. She’d holed herself up in the den created specifically to protect her and her children until they were ready to get up and start to explore the world, the contractions having started a couple hours prior, growing closer together. She let out the call for Lachesis. She’d need her husband here… her husband, perhaps her children if either of them even wanted to see such a thing… if Lilliana had somehow returned in the past couple hours without her knowing…

Anyone else who came even close would surely get their noses bit off. Again, she was fairly close to the medical den… just as she had been the year prior with the same affect. It was easier to sleep with the familiar smell of Lach’s store surrounding her. They were coming – soon, she could tell… and she was bracing herself for whatever was about to happen over the next couple hours. She tried her best to steady her breathing, knowing that even breathes would help her block the pain out of her mind… well, at least that was what she hoped would happen.

“Lach, they’re coming…” She called out again, though this time it was not nearly as loud as the wind was in her favor and she knew that he was close by. Their second litter was about to arrive.

As the numbers of Driftwood began to unexpectedly dwindle Lachesis kept tight to the borders, ensuring that they were properly marked and free of coyote stench. Caelean had left to search for his mother, and the silver female (Odysseia) had disappeared. He had been sad to see the pale cub leave, as he had grown to like the quiet boy, and he knew Anastasia had been quite fond of him. The other, however, Lachesis was not surprised to see vanish. Most newcomers did; it seemed inevitable for the river pack. Perhaps it was his punishment for turning away members in the previous months, but he still stood by his decisions. The pack was small but mighty, and they always found a way to make it through the rough patches unscathed.

Another reason why he remained inside the Surge borders was because of his mate’s incoming due date. The pack was fortunate to have two healers within their ranks, which meant Lachesis did not have to worry about making sure he’d gathered the necessary herbs.

However, the collection of herbs never made him ready for his mate’s call.

Fortunately the ghost had been close, and immediately abandoned his patrol upon hearing Lilya call for him. They were coming. Despite this being the male’s third litter, Lachesis’ mind went blank as he fumbled through the trees, working feverishly to get to his wife’s birthing den before it was too late. He’d stopped by their shared den first to collect the bundle of herbs he’d left at the entrance just in case before sprinting in the direction of his mate’s second call.

I’m here, he exhaled with a heavy sigh as he dropped the bundle of herbs into the mouth of her den after he’d crawled in half-way, his tail wagging slowly behind him. His chartreuse gaze swept over her tawny figure carefully to ensure nothing was wrong. She looked okay—even sounded okay… maybe things would be different this time around. Easier. I hope, for your sake, we don’t have the five sons I’d talked about… he joked with a soft chuckle, his expression soft as he nudged the sweet grass toward her with his nose.

stick with those who stick with you

It wasn’t long until he was there, a grateful smile as he slipped into the den and he cracked a joke… perhaps, if it had been any other time, she would have laughed but she felt another contraction, causing her to wince, a soft scowl finding her features. “N’if there are yer gonna ‘ave ‘ell ta pay.” Of course, she didn’t actually mean that, it was just her pregnancy hormones and labor pains talking. This was going to be better than last year – she wasn’t going to lose any this year. She’d been good, hadn’t gotten hurt at all during her pregnancy.

That meant everything had to go her way, didn’t it? She could at least hope. He nosed the sweet grass toward her, and like an obedient patient, she lapped it up. “’urts.” That was all she was able to mumble out, the contraction easing and despite the fact that things had just gotten started, she already felt exhausted.

It definitely wasn’t the most appropriate time to be cracking jokes but the ghost couldn’t help it. He couldn’t imagine how difficult giving birth was, despite witnessing it enough times (with both Naia and Kisla). A small laugh escaped him at her threat, his ears sweeping down to the side as he observed her through careful eyes. Things seemed like they were going better; the blue-eyed sparrow was definitely more confident this time around. It didn’t make it any easier, but at least she knew what to expect this time. At her comment about the pain he frowned and shuffled closer, his nose pressing to her cheek. I know, he murmured softly as he rested his chin along his forepaws, it’ll be over soon. Breathe, he added with a hum as he nudged her cheek once more. Hell, he hoped it would be over soon—for her sake. And his. Mostly because he was ecstatic to meet the children she’d been carrying for two months.

stick with those who stick with you

He nudged her cheek, and she felt a little comfort in the touch, taking a deep breath. She could tell the first one was coming – and she had no idea how many she could expect to deliver. At least this time she knew that this pain was nothing compared to the joy of watching little ones grow. She remembered last year she’d thoroughly convinced herself that she hadn’t wanted to go through this again, and yet here she was… she took a double more deep breaths, trying to find a constant and stead rhythm. She wasn’t sure how long it was until she delivered their firstborn.

Instinct kicked in, pulling the child towards her, cleaning him off before gently nosing him towards her stomach, a soft smile as she looked up at Lachesis. However, she knew it was far from over, as that smile contorted with pain as another contraction weaved through her, making her tense.

It already appeared as though this year was going to be easier than the previous one—at least, delivery-wise. It was far too early to tell whether raising this litter was going to be easier than the twins. Lachesis suspected that it was going to be more difficult, as they had done fairly well with Lavender and Lilliana. The latter had gone off with her cousin, Seven, to explore more of the world. Thankfully the duo had departed before the arrival of the coyotes, which eased his mind. He hoped that both of them would return in a timely fashion, as he couldn’t help but worry about them—even while his wife was giving birth.

A sigh of relief escaped him as their firstborn made an appearance. He was greeted by a bundle of pale, tawny fur; the same colour as his older sister’s fur when she had been born, which meant the colour would likely fade into a pale white as he grew. Leith, he hummed as he shuffled in closer, his chartreuse gaze softening with pride. They had discussed naming one of their sons (if they had any) after her brother; naming their firstborn seemed like the perfect fit. 

stick with those who stick with you

Lilya smiled softly, licking her son’s head one last time as he snuggled up to her stomach, nodding as Lachesis gave him her brother’s name before the next bout of pain began. She winced, knowing that it was far from over. There was at least one more, perhaps two or, if Lachesis had cursed them by asking for five boys, more than that. If he did, she might just have to cuff his ear. It didn’t take long for the middle child to be born, a girl, she smiled softly as she repeated the process.

The girl’s fur was similar to her own, and it reminded her also of Kisla, her head sinking for a brief moment in sadness. “Makvala.” She stated, looking up at him. Mak, for the dearly departed Maksim, with hints of Kisla at the end with the ‘la’ ending similar to that of the fallen matriarch. They had discussed naming one after the couple, and all she needed was Lachesis’s approval to make it so.

It did not take long for a second child to join them. This one was adorned with a similar pelt to Lilliana’s; dark shades of mahogany and grey muddled together. Or, at least, that was what it looked like for now. It was possible that her pelt could shift as she grew, and become pale like his own (or Lavender’s). He was definitely pleased that his prophecy of five sons had proved to be false—unless Lilya was planning on giving birth to four more boys. For both of their sakes Lachesis hoped he was wrong. He did not think he could handle six children at once. It would be enough to make him go silver within a week!

His expression immediately softened as the name dripped from her tongue. Almost immediately his chartreuse gaze sought her familiar pools of sapphire as the corners of his mouth lifted into a small smile. Makvala; it was the perfect tribute to the former leaders of Hearthwood. Their friends. It’s perfect, he responded, repeating his thoughts aloud as he pressed a quick lick to their daughter’s forehead. But then there was a pause … was it just the two? He wouldn’t mind; two had been a lucky number for the father. You hiding anymore? He mused as he applied a quick lick to her cheek, his ears sweeping back against his skull as he waited for a response…

stick with those who stick with you

She was glad that he had agreed and with a soft grin as she nudged the little girl in next to her brother – she wasn’t done yet. She knew that even if her mate didn’t. He asked if she was hiding anymore and she offered a soft smile. “Ah think so.” She murmured softly. Just as she said it, like clockwork she started to feel the pains again. “There’s definitely ‘nother one.” She said shortly after, her eyes closing as she took slow and even breaths – or, at least she tried to take slow and even breaths. It was at least ten minutes before the another boy joined the litter. Again, she found herself repeating the process that had seemed to come so naturally to her, nudging the boy to snuggle against her stomach next to his siblings. She looked up at Lachesis. She didn’t know what to name him – originally they were going to name one after Aytigin but after his betrayal, it no longer felt appropriate to do so.

There’s definitely ‘nother one.

Three children. A wide smile tugged at his pale features, his tail wagging slowly behind him as he nestled closer against his mate. Three perfect children; the future of Driftwood Surge. It was possible they would deter from the mountain river as they aged, like their older siblings, but he hoped they would stay for awhile. Forge their own paths in the north alongside their parents (and remaining sibling). But he would not stop them if they wanted to leave—just like he hadn’t stopped Atropos from chasing after her brother or Lilliana from accompanying her older cousin, Seven, to visit the lands north of the Lore.

For now he would cherish them as cubs. For they wouldn’t consider straying too far from the Surge for a few months at least.

His chartreuse gaze went soft as he observed the new tawny bundle of fur that joined Leith and Makvala, but a name for the newest Stark hesitated on the tip of his tongue. Initially they were to name one of their children after the pack’s former second, but now even the thought of the dark male left a bitter taste in his mouth. He remained quiet for a moment, observing the trio of cubs between himself and his mate. I never thought of a third name, he admitted with an amused sigh, his ears sweeping back against his head. What did you have in mind, Val?

stick with those who stick with you