Whitestone Monadnock dawn among the storm

Birthing Thread! This is open to all Whitestone members but it should be expected that only @Wraith would be allowed in/close to the den

She had awoken with the beginning of pains. The pale female removed herself from the main den. She moved towards the infirmary and shuffled things around. Where had she placed the gift Lorcan had delivered. While she may not have known what it would do she figured he wouldn't give her something that would harm her or her soon to be children. When she found the stalks of grass she carefully chewed on them but made sure not to have too much. It was best to go under the dose than over.

Piety waited for some time but it seemed the pains only grew closer and longer. She reminded herself to take deep breaths. She needed to get to her safe place. Very slowly she worked her way down the monadnock to the coyote den. Tucking herself carefully inside. Muddy eyes spotted the deer antler. She gnawed on that to help distract her mind. Piety realized she hadn't informed Wraith but she wasn't exactly expecting to wake up with the feeling of labor creeping closer and closer. She trusted that he or someone else might stumble upon her sooner or later.

It was time indeed. She had done this once and could certainly do it again. She hoped. Instinct was her friend now more than ever. Time seemed to drag along as the dark still loomed outside. Soon the pale alpha was bringing life into the world. The first was a small black bundle of fur. Full of life with squeals. Just as expected she cleaned off the dark boy, ushering him to her teat. It took a few nudges but soon enough he was feeding. A relieved smile upon her face for only a brief moment. There was another child but it seemed fate had not been as kind to him. A pale little ball compared to the dark one. She tried her best to lick him clean, nudge him to suckle and seek the life he deserved but there was nothing in the end. A sharp frown on her pale face. The poor boy would need a proper goodbye but for now, he would stay here by her side.

Muddy eyes tiredly looked out into the light. Dawn trying to break through the heavy clouds that seemed to promise rain. She looked back towards her own body. At least one boy would be brought into the Monadnock. He needed a name. She carefully nosed him and with a soft whisper adorned him a name. "Cyril Kael." A strong name for her strong living son.

# C W T

The closer it became to time for Piety's pups to arrive the more worried Cheedo became for the expectant mother. She also found herself thinking more about her pups buried in Ritter, so much of her wished she could have brought the with her to the lore. She knew that was impossible so she had accepted leaving them behind. More of her time has been spent closer to the Monadnock and in the communal den in case her alpha needed her. Cheedo had come to care about the woman in the time she'd been in Whitestone and wanted to make sure she would be alright.

The agouti slept near the back wall of the communal den but was gratefully woken from one of her nightmares by the sound of Piety leaving the den. For a long time she waited for the expectant mother to return but the longer she was gone the more Cheedo wanted to go looking for her. Finally she decided she needed to go and check on her so she rose to her feet and moved toward the entrance of the den. She only stopped to give Wraith a nudge on the cheek to wake him so he too could find the alpha.

Once she'd left the den she followed the mother's scent to the infirmary where she found the chewed sweetgrass. A smile formed on her lips, at least if Piety was having her pups she had some of the sweetgrass in her system. Since she hadn't found the alpha there she picked the plant up and left the infirmary den and followed her trail further.

As she came to the coyote den Cheedo found the scents of Piety and birth to be strong, the agouti knew what had taken place that morning. Placing the sweetgrass to the aide she whispered into the den in case the mother was sleeping. “Piety, are you okay in there?” She dare not enter knowing how sensitive new mothers could be about who was around them. Cheedo sat back on her haunches next to the sweetgrass to show her support for the mother and child inside.

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There are several fresh rabbit tracks in the mud. Hunt Opportunity

The closer Piety came to term, the more anxious Wraith became. He kept the feeling well under wraps to all except likely his woman herself. She seemed able to read his moods like even Craw had been incapable of doing. But being constantly on alert throughout the day left the male ragged and worn enough to sleep like a stone during the night. While he felt his mate leave his side, he was back asleep quickly where time had no meaning and he could not feel its passage.

A nudge against his cheek from one who was not his wife earned a silently curled lip of annoyance. It could not be time for morning patrols yet. His internal clock was not that far off that he was sleeping past time when his attention was due.

Due.

In a heartbeat, the brute was awake with sudden clarity. Piety had not returned to his side and though the long dark was still upon them, it did not take that long to relieve herself or whatever else she could possibly be doing at this hour. Following her stale trail and Cheedo's fresher one, Wraith found himself standing at the mouth of the coyote den beside the scout. He need not ask her what was going on for he could smell the happenings of the past hour.

"Piety?" he murmured quietly, worry evident in his tone. The black brute didn't wait long before entering the den. Amber eyes adjusted quickly to the darkness and he spotted her in the corner. She looked exhausted, but well. And at her side...

The dark smudge suckling at her belly was the easiest to spot in contrast to her white fur whereas the second was hardly but a wisp, a fitting term Wraith realized after passing his nose over them both.

Sorrow filled his gaze and he turned to his mate to lick her face sweetly. "I'm sorry, Acushla." Only after assuring her no fault rested with her, the black male gently gathered the stillborn in his jaws and quietly exited the den. Meeting eyes with Cheedo, he shook his head sadly for the pup he carried. He carried his lost son away from the den and settled on digging a grave near Kettlepot Pond for him. Only once the last of mud and snow was nudged over his body did Wraith return to Piety's side.

He settled behind Piety, more than happy to serve as a pillow for the exhausted mother. There would be no more talk of the one they lost. The one left behind was strong as they came and Wraith watched him over Piety's back with adoration. Pups always stole his heart. It was unfair, really. He didn't even have a chance.

pi is gonna be snoozin' but others are still welcomed to pop in they'll just likely have to answer to Wraith c: @Cheedo @Rowan @Roosemooth @Saradathia

She drifted in and out of sleep, constantly checking the one living son by her side. He was alive and well so far. Some softer sounds made when he was not feeding or sleeping. The pale boy still showed no signs of life. It was tragic but what could she have done? Was it the stress or merely her genetics? Her mind never wandered for too long until tiredness took over. It was only when she heard a voice that her eyes snap open. That wasn't Wraith and her first instinct was to offer a soft rumbling growl. She was not ready to be greeted by the rest of the pack. Between her current physical and mental state, she didn't wish to associate with anyone but her own husband. Even if they were being kind.

It was then that his voice spoke her name. The pale mother was hesitant but allowed him in. Words failed her when he noticed the ghost that been slumbering with her and their son. No matter his apologies or kisses she felt awful. Her eyes followed his form as he carried the ghost away. She looked down at the dark ball at her side. At least they would have something good coming from this winter.

Piety wasn't sure how long her mate had been gone but welcomed his presence. She needed true sleep and felt much better knowing that she and Cyril could be watched over. She tucked herself carefully against him with their son against her stomach. Her next words were whispered softly to the large giant that hid behind her. "His name is Cyril Kael." With that said for her husband to know, she let sleep truly wash over her.

# C W T

A small smile crept across the small agouti woman'i maw at the lip curl she received from the large alpha as he slept. She felt he would be a good father as he was already a good mate to Piety. The alphess’ prolonged disappearance from the den had set Cheedo off on a path the follow the pale woman. She remembered being worried about being around the expectant mother when she'd first come to Whitestone. She feared that it would just bring back too many painful memories and the questions she would never receive that answers to.

In time Cheedo found she only wanted to help Piety have a successful birth and go on to raise a healthy happy litter. The fear that something would go wrong as it had with her own still remained which was what led her from the den after giving Wraith a subtle wake up call. She’d followed the fading scent which led her first to the infirmary where it was clear the sweetgrass had been used. Just in case it might be needed later she brought it with her wanting to be prepared should it be needed.

Upon arrival at the coyote den Cheedo knew that the birth had taken place the memory of how she had felt in that time after came to her. She'd only wanted to allow Craw into her den to see his children. The soft growl that greeted her words wasn't taken personally as it was expected. Knowing better than to push her luck Cheedo took up vigil a short distance away. She wasn't seated long when Wraith appeared, it seem she had woken him after all. She watched the large man as he passed by her and went to the den before disappearing inside.

Sadness fell over the scout as he exited only moments later with a small pale bundle in his mouth. A sad shake of his head told her what she already knew, Piety had delivered a stillborn. The emotions she thought she should have never came, the overwhelming grief for her own pups. Instead she was sad for Piety and Wraith for their lose and understood the feelings that might be there. “I'm sorry” was whispered to the dark alpha and as he passed her she added in the same whisper, “My children shall take care of you little one.” She watched as the new father disappeared to give his lost child a proper resting place she was sure.

When he returned Cheedo's chin rested on her chest showing the sadness she felt at the loss. While it was a great loss to the alphas it was also one to the pack. She could he happy that at least one other had survived, the small sounds reaching her ears as she continued to remain outside the den.

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Despite his loyalty to Piety and Wraith, the Attaya male was not excited when the lead female's pregnancy finally came to an end. A small hare hung limp from his jaw as he approached the old coyote den, intent on delivering the gift and giving the she-wolf her space - an admittedly selfish gift to himself as well. Outside the den he spotted Cheedo, his tail giving a low-swung wave as he approached - only to find himself shackled to the spot when the minatory smell of it reached him.

The first birth he had ever witnessed had been that of the Willow matriarch, Elettra, when she brought into the world Deacon, Castiel, and @Greer. It had been far from a pleasant occasion, crashed by a cougar who intended to make breakfast of the Ridge princes. The great protector of the pack had perished trying to save them - and Rowan, a gangly yearling still, had been tasked among his pack mates to bury the body. A shudder crept up his spine as he remembered how distinct each blood smelled - the blood of birth, the blood of the cat, the blood of their own.

Then there was last spring, when his own children had been born - the first litter he had ever sired. The ghost of a smile appeared on his muzzle to recall the sweetness he and his mate had shared looking upon their daughters and son. His smile twisted sour then, pushing away the less than happy memories of what came next. Perhaps the only happy birth in his life had been his own - when Ava delivered him and his three siblings on the night that their pack was founded. Even that happiness had been short lived.

Dark ears pressed against his skull; he hated himself for the negativity brewing in his mind. It couldn't be that way for them - not for Piety or Wraith or any of the wolves on the monadnock. He needed to be stronger for these cubs than he had been for the last. Finally Rowan steeled his expression and continued forward, stopping just at the mouth of the den. Gingerly he lowered the hare to the ground and nudged it further into the cave where Wraith might be able to reach for it. The dark wolf offered no words, but a soft whine of congratulations to the couple.

He withdrew from the coyote den and loped away several paces, close enough to hear if they called from him but generous with the distance. His stomach was still uneasy and it was far more polite if he didn't get sick within sight of the den.

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Word Count: 271  

It was time. Roosemooth felt it in his bones when he awoke that morning, but he took his time rising for the day and shambling down the path to where he knew Piety was resting in the coyote den.  He could smell the birth, and swiftly glanced around, searching for any opportunistic creatures that might deem it wise to attack their leaders.

There were none.

As he approached he spied Wraith removing a stillborn from the den, and saw Cheedo’s mouth move as he passed.  He was too far away to hear what she said, but he could guess.

He dipped his head to his leader as he returned but said nothing until Wraith was back in the den. “Just the one?” He murmured to Cheedo, referring to the dead pup.

Before she could answer, pack’s recent addtion appeared, coming up the path. He froze, and his expression suggested he was not as excited about the newest member of the pack as the rest of them.  He quickly seemed to regain control of himself and offered the hare he was carrying to the leaders before continuing on his way.

The advisor shared a look with Cheedo, then turned and followed the other dark man. “Are you unwell?” He asked as he caught up with him. He had not had the opportunity to truly welcome him to the Monadnock, but now was as good a time as any to really get a feel for the man. They were not far from the birthing den; he would be able to hear them should anything happen, and he didn’t expect to be here long.

"Speech"  Thought

Settled behind his Acushla, Wraith happily served as a pillow for the exhausted mother while his head lay draped across her shoulders to stare with adoration at the bundle of dark fur nursing at her belly. His name earned a smile of approval from the father. It was a strong name and one that fit the Kael line well. He thought of his own father and wondered if he'd felt as much pride on the day of his birth as Wraith felt now. A silly musing, he supposed, but a welcome distraction from the heady feeling that left him dizzy.

Love, he knew. It was a love so strong he felt his heart may burst. As much as he loved Piety, worshiped the very ground upon which she walked, the Kael man felt he had fallen for another even harder. His son. His son! His chest heaved with the depth of his contented sigh. There could be no better moment, he realized. This was one that would stick in his mind until the day he died. It would be with him no matter how many other wonderful or awful things happened. In twenty years - he was convinced - when he passed in his sleep alongside his mate, this moment would be in his last dreams.

Though the loss of the little ghost - how awful for him to look so like his mother and not have the chance to live - was undoubtedly hard, Wraith was convinced that all would be well with Cyril. He'd practically raised any number of pups already. Younger siblings from the Northern Highlands and Kara and Odin as well. So raising another would be an easy task. But so much more important. Because he was theirs. And that would always matter.

To his minute displeasure he was not able to go freely. A voice called after him as he disembarked, prompting Rowan to reluctantly slow and then eventually stop. The Attaya wiped discomfort from his expression as he turned his black-painted face toward the older male. His ribcage felt fragile as his heart thundered against it, each beat echoing a queasy feeling through his skin. He fought to maintain his composure as he met the wolf's emerald eyes with his own stare of tarnished gold. He preferred not to make a spectacle of himself during such an important moment of the pack's future.

Images of Elettra and Phaios gradually dissipated from his mind, allowing him to focus instead on the wolf who had called him out. Swallowing whatever bile had been rising in his throat Rowan thought to lie, to say, yes I'm quite alright, but he wasn't a liar anymore. "Bad memories," he mustered instead, his dark ears briefly slicking against the silver-threaded fur of his skull. Gaze flickering toward the ground Rowan made it clear he did not intend to embellish the subject further. After a silent beat he slowly looked back toward the second in command. "Name's Rowan."

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