The time had come and the Gods had insured the wolves of Willow Ridge as such with a storm none could easily ignore. Darkness had arrived hours earlier that late afternoon with the coming of dark, thick clouds. Now darkness had overwhelmed the lands with the coming of nightfall and it only broke when lightning flashed overhead, spidering through the sky and ending with a rumbling of thunder which rolled over the mountains to the east. The wind had picked up, the willows being whipped about so harshly their newly buds ripped from their hanging limbs and likely struck those with a sting who tried hiding under them for some sense of protection. Ravenna, hours now, had already found the protection of the den which she had chose to give birth in, the den which Enoki had created for the coming over her own first litter. She remained laying near the opening of the den, head poking out to view the raging display of the Gods. It reminded her of how Romanov, the very first Archer, had been said to have been created.

Though the silver Amazon may have been comforted by the wild display outside, taking it as a well sign from the Gods, this did little to stop the horrible wild feeling inside her gut. She had done her best to take in various herbs this day and more recently a high dose of sweet grass. It seemed nothing however could stop the pain of contractions and with each snap of thunder came a cry from the mother to be. The contractions were coming along more frequent now and her panting heavier, her body tensing with a shiver, a whine passing her lips every so often. It had already been hours of this, how much longer would this go on? How much more pain did she have to take before the pups could finally come?

Another quiver of pain took over her, causing a louder whine this time. Outside, a crack of thunder and flash of lightning caused her to flinch for it sounded far closer then she had expected, the sound of breaking wood causing her ears to fall back against her skull. With the sound came a sudden on pour, like a flood all at once plummeting onto the world. Had she not taken into consideration 'April showers' the rains may have been quite worrisome, able to not only flood the pack den but drown the birthing children within it. Though Ravenna's den was situated under the roots of one of the various willow trees she was lucky that the placement was also upon an uprising knoll, the waters moving down the slope and away from the burrow Ravenna laid within now. Still she wondered, with the storm, if anyone would hear her cries and if anyone would be able to be here to support her while she gave birth to the newest generation of Willow Ridge pups. Her pack members would be much safer in the pack den, out of the heavy wind and rain, away from any falling branches. She nearly willed them to stay away, all of them, even if it meant enduring this alone.

It was not surprising that Leotie was the first to arrive, with how close her own birthing den was. Though Ravenna was also happy that she had been the first, for Leotie was her best girlfriend after all (family excluded). A whine shot from parted jaws as she heard her voice over the pouring rain, howling of the wind through the trees and rolling thunder. She lifted her head to move it close to the den's opening. Perhaps she should have thought to make the den big enough for the both of them so that she wouldn't be standing in the rain now. "Leotie, you shouldn't be out here..." She spoke breathlessly. If she got hurt my a fallen tree limb or slipped or even got sick...?? It was just far too risky and yet still she was happy to have someone, especially her, here with her. "I...I think I am." She spoke, trying to remember back to her one and only experience with this, when Enoki was having her pups. "It just hurts."

It was just a second or two and Blitz was pressed to the side of Leotie, their heads tilted down to her as they both looked through the opening of the den. "Hey..." She spoke with a smile, her tail padding on the plush floor of mosses, feathers and pelts. "Keep Leotie warm, okay?" She spoke, willing him to stay close to her side of they were going to stock with her through this. She couldn't think of anything else she needed that she had not already prepared for. She didn't have another moment to think on it either nor the safety of her pack mates. Another contraction took over. She cries out in a high whine, breaths on deep. She could scent Sven out there. He was here for her if she needed, a silent guard. She wouldn't have doubted his arrival through any odds.

The smell of blood was overwhelmimg in the den though the heavy storm outside hopefully would mask some off it, warding off any predator. She doubted any coyote would come in this far into pack territory however. Instinct took over and squirming little child was licked and nudged away from her backside and to the side of her stomach. Now pushed more up to her torso the pup would be just slightly viewable to the pair gathered at the entrance. With it being so dark outside of was not like they were blocking any lighting. If anything they helped block the winds and mist of rain from getting in. "Looks like we have a little boy." She spoke after she was done cleaning the child and was sure that everything seemed to be in working order.

With all the fiddling with her first child, her first son, the time flew by. The next child was coming. She knew there was another because the pain came back, could feel her body readying itself. In another few moments another child was born and she nosed it closer, cleaning it's wet dark tanned looking fur. "And a girl. We've got the best of both, hu?" She spoke, lifting her head up to smirk into her dark friend's direction.

Ravenna couldn't be certain if more pups were on the way. Enoki had only two, Greer one, but her mother often had three and Morganna had five once before! She felt her body ease for the time being, finding herself growing tired already. "Leotie, you should probably get back to your den soon..." She spoke, a small frown pressing her lips because she didn't want to shoo Her away but knew this storm wasn't letting up anytime soon. She'd already been out here for long enough. "Blitz can let you know if another comes." She insured her. Yawning, she turned her attention back to the two bundles at her side, cloaked in a seemingly solid dark tanned color. They looked exactly alike and yet she already wondered how the weeks would unfold their true markings and coloration.

Ravenna had done her best to prepare for her first pregnancy and the birthing. Having grown up by her mother's strict paw it was only in Ravenna's nature to be as ready as one possibly could and after being there through Enoki's birth for the most part knew what to expect. Leotie's words were a comfort to get though she couldn't think of anything she needed. The rest would have to be up to her body and the strength of her pups and only this. Leotie's lick to her muzzle and she reached out to her, half out and half in the den, soothed Ravenna emotionally. She brought a calm to her, as did Blitz and this helped ease her body and as well too make the process easier. She couldn't imagine what it would be like to go through this is a loner. With no protection from predators, no-one to offer a helping paw, no comfort or guidance. The silver Alphess would be forever grateful to her pack.

"Thank you..." Ravenna then spoke to her friend as she congratulated her on the two healthy pups. Ravenna's tail thumped weakly on the ground, her head lifted with a smile as she looked between the two wolves at the den opening. Her second objected the idea of leaving just yet, wanting to linger a moment longer in the rain. Blitz seemed awe struck with the event and as she met his attention as he said she did wonderfully, she could see the shine of  damp fur on his cheeks. She had not expected tears of joy, even if he had become a father, though the raw emotion which he offered her and the words he had given Leotie and Sven there after as the pale Leader came nearer, brought a flutter to Ravenna's chest. Maybe it was the hormones talking, maybe not, but Ravenna felt herself feeling even more for the black wolf then she had before. Mates or not, nothing could break the connection they now had with one another by the two lives which now whimpered at her belly and they began their first feeding. There was not a single doubt in her mind that the seaside Mizuno would be everything of the father he could be to these two pups.

Though Ravenna did not hear anything from Sven or Adeltra outside the birthing den through the pouring rain, she smelt them there none the less. She shifted, wincing slightly from it as her lower half felt most uncomfortable. Situated now fully on her side, she yawns once more. Her body felt sore, stung down there, but there was no more contraction and she felt as though surely she was done. "Little fur balls wore me out..." She spoke as her head arched, looking at the two pups which had settled down at her side. No longer did they cry out and grunt, little paws pressing to her sides as they drank. They made the tiniest whimpers, their bodies moving slowly as it seemed like they too were growing tired, little bellies full. Ravenna's head fell back then, cheek pressing to a cool piece of earth not covered in furs of predator or prey that had been skinned. Her pale attention remained on the two wolves at her den entrance, her ears twitching to the rainfall, though her eyes grew heavy and sleep would soon get the best of her.