Luin is BIRTHING!!

[daina]

The night was quiet. Small whisps of wind went over the snow-covered lands. A half moon hung over Twlight Lake, causing the ripples on the water to turn a feint silver. All was at peace, but not for much longer. A den was made by the shore, and within it was a wolfess at about the end of her pregnancy.

Luin's eyes flew open, and she groaned in pain as her water broke. She knew that this would be coming. It was natural to any fae so near to labor. The pups had waited long enough, and wanted to see their mother. Pain tore at her stomach, making Luin cry out with agony. It felt like her body was turning inside out.
But she knew that this would take some time, and that she needed help. This was one thing Luin couldn't handle herself. The fae raised her eyes through the underbrush and to the moon, praying for anyone to come nearby.
More pain came and Luin shrieked with it.

[Sivoncé™]

Screams ripped the night into shreds. Liviana turned abruptly and darted, heart pumping fast. Could it be...? No, the scent was not her son's. It was Luin...and by the scent, she was birthing. Liv had met the kind, brave heart back in the old forest. It pleased her to know Luin had made the journey, but it also worried her. Paris was still missing, and Luin needed help. She shifted through the barrage of scent, making out the aroma of thyme. She took it in her jaws and rushed towards Luin, setting the leaves down in front of her. "You're doing great...that's thyme. It should help with the pain..." she paused, hoping Luin would remember her.

[daina]

Luin silently thanked whatever god there was that someone had come. It was Liviana. She remembered her, but only a little. "Thanks," Luin managed to say weakly. "I wasn't sure how much I was in for it when the time came." Another strike of pain, but Luin held in her cries. Her breathing slowly became faster.

[Sivoncé™]

Livina's eyes sparkled with sympathy. "I birthed three moons ago, myself. Wasn't the most pleasant experiance, but I got through it. You'll get through it, too. Just breathe, nice and steady," she woofed kindly. Her thoughts were still lingering on Paris and her father. Had Diablo hurt him? Had Diablo gone mad...? Was he alright? I hope so. I hope to Lupus that he finds himself...and comes home. Liviana flicked her ears to clear her thoughts and glanced back at Luin.

[Ärï]

In the shadows of the trees around the Twilight Lake stood the see-through form of a large dark tri-colored brute. Topaz orbs burned through the darkness, focused on Luin. It was her fallen mate, Coldfire, a rouge that had died on the shore of this lake one moon into Luin's birthing. Now he would stand as a silent guard for it was all he could do for Luin now. In his usually cold eyes, sympathy and pity burned as well as a softer side. He wanted to comfort his mate as she bore his pups but he couldn't. The laws of life and death kept them apart now, just as his sheilds had kept them apart in life.

[daina]

Luin felt comforted with Liviana's words. She knew how it felt. The fae slowed down her breathing, and kept calm despite the pain. But the pain itself was what kept Luin determined to get this over with. She wanted to know that this was not for nothing.

That was when the fae knew that it was time. She began to push with all her strength. Her eyes were near to tears, and sweat poured down her brow. And through this, Luin felt Coldfire's spirit was near.

[Sivoncé™]

"Alright, Luin...it's time. It will all be fine in a moment or so..." Liv soothed. She felt a slight chill in the air, as if a spirit of some sort was lingering.

[daina]

Luin nodded. She felt sure of herself with Liviana close to see her through this, as well as Coldfire. The fae pushed again, streaks of pain coming this time. Her cries could no longer be witheld, and a small shriek came from her and into the night.

[Sivoncé™]

Liviana said nothing, only shuffled her paws anxiously as the fae writhed in pain before her. There was nothing she could do for Luin now...a birthing was a birthing. Pain was a part of it that wouldn't, and couldn't be bypassed.

[daina]

This cycle was kept up for nearly a half hour, Luin enduring as much as she could with her mouth shut. She was close now to the end, and her pain would soon be over in a matter of minutes.

The first pup came out with a small squeal of life, obviously male. Luin felt thankful that at least one had survived. She was able to lean over and nudge it once before the next one came. The pup was female, and it tried to squirm about on its small legs, only to stumble over by the firstborn.

The third and final pup was also female, but came out silent. The fae felt her pain slowly decrease and almost completely dissappear. Leaning over to look over her pups, Luin saw the last one was unmoving. She licked it, trying to encourage, but still nothing happened.

[Sivoncé™]

Liv's eyes clouded with sadness for Luin. The third pup was obviously stillborn, but Liv was not harsh enough to tell Luin this. She would figure it out soon enough, and there would be enough pain without Liv rubbing it in her face.
At least two survived.
Stillbirthings were all too common, and Liv hoped that the healers of the forest would find better ways to help a female in her pregnancy.

[daina]

No, thought Luin, gazing at her still pup. This time, she licked with near the mouth, and tried to give it air to breath. Just when she thought that this one would never see its mother, the pups choked up and began to whimper. Luin looked up at Liviana, teary eyed. All three had lived.

She moved the three pups together to keep warm, and to feed. The male was a jet black like his father, one female was a dark grey, and the last female was a lighter grey like herself. None's eyes were open yet. They wouldn't for some hours.

[daina]

Their names are Kiba, Ripple, and Misty, for the record.