Gone Tomorrow

Summer's heat had not yet hit them, but Corinna was sweltering. Standing knee deep in the River, the large and round female panted heavily. Green eyes looked upward, trying to find a cloud in the sky. But the Canadian sky was clear, and it was only common sense that stopped Cori from wading any deeper into the pool. She had been like this for the past couple of days, and more often than not, she could feel the tiny kicks to her stomach, demanding her attention. Experience told her that the time would be soon, and despite her agitation at the lack of shade, she was grateful for being able to stand outside and breathe fresh air. Once she gave birth, her freedom to roam would be greatly reduced - not that she had been roaming anywhere far for some time now.

Lowering her head to drink, the cool water helped parch her throat. But almost instantly, she felt the strain on her bladder. It was an unfortunate side effect, though Swift River's borders had been particularly well marked ever since. Waddling back onto to dry land, she lifted one paw and then another, shaking each one in turn to dry herself. She was too far from the borders to put her need to any good use, so she merely wandered over to a nearby bush. Far too pregnant to lift her leg as she normally would, she settled for squatting. Relieved, Cori rose up, shook herself and began to walk away, thinking that she would go find Indru. More broody than ever, she was constantly nagging at him to help spruce up the newly constructed den. It had been a fine pack event, but there was always more to be done, in her mind.

But before she could howl for him, Cori was halted by a wet feeling on her hindleg. Confused, she dipped her head, peering around her stomach to get a better look. It was an uncomfortable feeling, but almost a release at the same time. Sure enough, there was a small puddle where she had been standing. Immediately, the gray female began to waddle in the direction of the den. Howling as she waddled, she called for Indru. "It's time." Her song was cut short by a violent contraction, one that halted the leader in her tracks and almost forced her to her knees. But she had to keep going. Their den was not too far off, and she did not want to have her cubs born in open territory.

The contractions gradually increased, growing in intensity the longer she walked. By the time the large tree and mangled roots appeared, Corinna was in agony. "INDRU!" She screamed, her normal docile nature nowhere to be found. Throwing herself into the dark howl, the leader collapse in a heap near the back wall, momentarily disoriented from the sudden lack of sunlight. Whining loudly, she burrowed onto her side, scratching with her front legs at the empty air. Her hips had begun to dilate, but she had not yet felt the need to push. Panting, she grimaced as another contraction hit her. It was going to be a long day.

Gone Tomorrow

Panting rapidly, Corinna pawed at the air madly, her whines growing louder and more shrill. She couldn't remember it hurting this much, but the truth was, she remembered very little of her first delivery. Instinct had guided her through that one, and hopefully would do the same here. At least she had the comfort of knowing she was not alone. Despite their argument over his sister, Indru was still here. She heard him, his howl just as demanding as her own had been, warning to keep them all away. And then the light went, as Indru's body blocked the entryway into the den. Plunged into a state of semi-darkness, Cori's confusion was only increased and she shut her eyes.

What happened next, she wouldn't really be able to recall later. One moment, all she could hear were own whines, and then after a sharp feeling of pain, her calls were joined by that of another. The yips and whines were distinctively female, and forcing her eyes open, Corinna peered between her hind legs. Amidst a puddle of liquid and covered in afterbirth was a squealing female pup, protesting her expulsion from her mother's womb. Without thinking, Corinna reached out with her muzzle, licking the pup all over, cleaning her. Sharp teeth cut through the cord that had held her to her mother, but absolutely unwilling to let the newborn go, the second-time mother used her muzzle to push the girl towards her breast. Breathing a momentary sigh of relief as the girl attached herself to Corinna's breath, the leader let her head fall to the ground. Finding Indru's fiery eyes in the darkness, she beat her tail against the floor twice before letting it fall. "A girl." Her voice was a whisper, but it would only confirm what Indru's nose would be able to tell him.

For maybe an hour, that was all the action that happened inside the den. Corinna's contractions faded, no longer as intense as they first were, though still very regular. She had encircled herself around her first born, peering at her with intense curiosity. It was hard to believe that she was so small. The mother couldn't help but smile - had Rihael, Fenru, and Kisla ever once been so small? They must have been, but being able to make the comparison now, it was hard to imagine. Nosing the small creature who had fallen quiet after feeding, Cori ran her pink tongue over the warm body. "I like Aiyana, for a name." She and Indru hadn't discussed names much, but this one had been in the pack of the mother's mind for some time. Looking up to meet his gaze again, she could hold it only briefly before she let loose a low whine as her body shuddered.

Claws digging into the ground once more, Corinna pushed, bringing into the world her fifth cub. Healthy like his sister, he came into the world screaming. Coming to his aid immediately, the boy's mother cleaned him as she had his older sister and guided him to her breast so that he could find comfort there. Nosing them closer together, Corinna let her head fall to the ground again. "Boy." Too exhausted for more words, she let her head fall to the ground again, contented to hear the sounds of the young wolves suckling.

The ordeal of birth would only have to be repeated once more, but not for several hours later. Only then did the final cub of Indru and Corinna Tainn decide to enter the world. Though far later than her siblings, she put up very little protest, and as Corinna nosed her youngest daughter into her breast, she was pleased to feel the small mouth latch onto her quickly. Breathing in deeply, Cori exhaled slowly, trying to mentally search her womb - but she no longer felt the urgency that had come with each of her three. Just as in the years previous, her womb had produced in threes. But that was fine with her. Thoroughly exhausted, the she-wolf curled up around them, her eyes partially closed, though keeping an eye on her mate as he looked on in the den entrance.

Gone Tomorrow

The pain was rough, every female leader in Relic Lore would soon come to understand that if they had not already. Even though this was her second litter, Corinna was certainly not immune to that particular aspect of the ordeal. But laying there now, looking down at her nursing cubs, the pain hardly mattered. She had nodded in agreement with Indru's choice of names. Aiyana, Torrel, and Rissa, their newest additions to the Tainn family. A smile had graced her lips, immediately catching the similarity to Triell's name - though it was Aiyana, who took after him in terms of appearance. She was far darker in color than her siblings, and while that might not be a permanent fixture, Corinna liked it and hoped that it stayed as the youngest daughter grew up.

Settling back, the River leader tried to get as comfortable as she was able, though she was careful to avoid squishing the newborns in her efforts to adjust her position. Satisfied, she let her head fall back against the dirt, a content sigh escaping her lips. A few weak beats of her tail signaled to Indru her pride in their accomplishment - a healthy litter that she had not even been sure would have happened. But they had come through for one another, and no doubt the rest of the pack would soon arrive, and they could all bask in the pride that was the newest litter. Thoroughly exhausted, Corinna made no effort to hide the yawn that came next. Settled in, she allowed her green eyes to close, taking refuge in the dark. They would be safe, with Indru standing guard outside, and it was time for her to join her cubs in sleep.