Turtleback Lake don't let me drown

Last round! FInley just gave birth in the dirt a few yards away from her den.

The expectant mother heard the words lean on me and then could not focus on anything other than the pain. She did as was instructed and was overwhelmingly thankful that everyone was here and she wasn’t alone. Oh, what could have been if she had not run into Chan that desperate day. She didn’t even want to think about it. Leaning her swollen and stiff stomach against Jethro’s dark side she began to walk.

The others were around her as well, but she couldn’t bring herself to answer their questions and looked at the dark man thankfully when he did. They were shuffling really, at a snail's pace. It took so much energy just for her to put one paw in front of the other and try to ignore the waves of pain that gripped her whole body at increasing frequencies. They walked and they walked, it shouldn’t be taking this long but it was.

Looking up and seeing the den in the distance, but in eyesight brought tears of joy to Finley’s eyes, they were going to make it!

Then she felt something rip, and wetness hit the ground behind her. Stumbling down onto her belly she gasped when she saw the sight of a single cub, struggling against his birth sac. They had not made it back to the den, but her son was here, and he was alive. She had never had cubs before, but could tell by the way the pain was changing into background ache rather than a ripping pain that this was done. She was done.

Licking the mousy brown crown when the first cry came she murmured, ”Ryder.”

Chan couldn't help be anxious, and the feeling only grew as Jethro confirmed that Finley had gone into labor. As much as he tried to focus on the task at hand, taking post at her opposite side and helping as needed, he couldn't help but think of @Flair. This would be her soon enough, and the thought alone made him want to go to her. Instinct or selfishness, he couldn't be sure, but Chan tried to shake the line of thinking away.

Instead, as they made each slow stride as a group, he recalled the other births he'd been present for, particularly those that didn't go smoothly. What he had learned, what he might need to do to help with-

The situation changed in a blink as Fin collapsed between her escorts, a single child having joined the world just a few yards early. Chan moved to sniff both mother and son over thoroughly, expecting the rest of the litter to come or for something to go wrong, but... he was able to fall still as he came to the understanding that it was over and everything had gone just fine despite the harsh heat and brackish water.

With a smile, he sighed in relief.

Ryder, she christened him.

"Congratulations, Fin," he spoke softly before stepping away to return to the shore. He would make sure that her share of shells were filled, and make sure any goose carcasses were taken to her den if not beaten to it. It would be a few hours before he would feel comfortable leaving the single mother and her newborn, wanting to be fully satisfied that nothing more would be needed of him.

Now that the young Lennox was here and healthy, Chan intended to stay in Kingsfall until his own litter came.

After the geese had finally gone everyone's attention turned back to Finley. Reika was there to help where she could. She had no idea that the soon to be mother was so close to giving birth until Jethro said she was in labor. The young Archer had no idea how to handle this kind of a situation but she didn't want to leave the others in case they needed her.

She noticed Colette starting to leave. As much as she wanted the older woman to stay she knew it wasn't where her friend wanted to be. She would catch up to her later.

She stayed right with the others as they tried to get Fin back to her den. They didn't make it though. Movement toward the den was halted when Finley fell to her stomach. Then there was a tiny motion that caught Reika's attention as the tiny pup struggled. At first she was in shock at what had just happened but quickly snapped out of it as the new mother started to clean her son. She was expecting more but when the minutes passed and nothing happened she assumed it was over.

Chan gave his congratulations before disappearing but Reika remained. She touched her nose to Finley's head, "I'm really happy for you," she told the woman. Looking to Jethro and back to Finley, "We should get mother and pup to the den so she can rest and be with her son."

They had almost made it back when suddenly, Finley’s child joined them. She stopped then, to care for and name him. There was only one, it seemed. And feeling safe, now, the dark one could only stare for a few moments, captivated by this sight. He’d never seen a newborn before, and though he’d once been one, he did not, like many, remember much from that time.

The child was so small, but somehow, so incredibly precious. A new life, to be guarded, cherished.

Jethro blinked once, as Chan spoke, and then Reika, offering their congratulations. ”Congrats, Fin. Y’did it,” he murmured along with them. And he might’ve been content to let it go at that, though Reika’s subsequent suggestion gave him pause. He’d be sure to remain until the new mother expressed whether or not she wanted help in returning to her den, though it seemed possible she would just be content to rest here.

Finley was so involved in cleaning off Ryder and the wave of emotions that came over her that the sounds of congratulations seemed to come from far away. She murmured thank you to the group but her eyes did not lift from the cub until the suggestion that they should get back to the den. It was then that she suddenly realized how vulnerable they were out here in the open. Nodding her head in agreement the new mother struggled to her paws, acutely aware how exhausted she was. Grasping Ryder gently in her jaws she leaned once more on Jethro before making their way back to safety. What an eventful outing for water this had been.

Fade