Clearwater Tarn Blackbird

Pack mates welcome to come snoop but I honestly don't know how she will react!

Lenae Selwyn

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly

The little lives- or rather life, as Lenae had started to suspect- inside of her just didn't want to keep still. Paws pressed against her ribs as she huffed and puffed, tossed and turned throughout the night in the shelter of her own little den. It was only in the early hours of the morning that the discomfort faded, quickly replaced by something far far worse. At first it was nothing more than a twinge, so slight she didn't even wince. But in time it grew sharper, more prominent- painful. A pathetic little whine slipped from her as she struggled up into sitting position, there was no denying it. It was time.

She didn't- she didn't know what to do. Lenae understood the process in theory (she was silly but not a fool) but there was far more to it than that. The thought of doing it alone, struggling in the dark without even the stars to keep her company, terrified her. Panic seized her heart as she scrambled to her paws, only for her legs to wobble and collapse beneath her. There was no running from this, her body would not allow it.So she settled down, gently this time as she closed her eyes and willed that it would all be over soon.

Alas, it was not to be.

Her sides heaved as yet another wave of pain bore down on her, so heavy she could barely breathe. Tears rolled freely down her cheeks as the smell of blood lingered in the air, as though her den was the scene of a massacre rather than the miracle of life. She imagined it all to be so wonderful and shining, but all she saw was darkness, a sordid beginning to the new chapter of her life.

(This post was last modified: May 09, 2018, 11:28 PM by Lenae.)

Kip felt like a ghost around here. There wasn’t anything she could do - no way that she felt useful. Everyone else seemed to have someone that they could be with - a friend. And yet she was alone, with no real companions.

That was just as well, she figured.

She was wandering, per the norm, when the scent of blood overwhelmed her senses. Quickly, the little wolf followed it - all the way to Lenae’s den.

Ah.

It was the pups.

”Hey,” she called awkwardly, approaching the entrance. ”You okay? Need anything’?” Not that there was much she could do to help, but hey. The sentiment was there.

All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow

The routine had long been set, check the borders, catch something for Lenae, even if she couldn't keep it down, back to the borders to make sure those damn coyotes knew better than to come around here.

The scent of blood was slow to ebb through the rabbit clenched in his jaws, it was only when he noticed Kip so close to Lenae's den that things started to tumble into place in all the wrong ways. The meal was quickly abandoned, a low growl deep in the Archer's chest as he barreled forward to shove Kip back from the den. His head was screaming that he should have expected her to go after Lenae before this. What if she was hurt? Certainly her whines weren't encouraging any sense into the young males mind. "What did you do?!" the question was low, as a single eye narrowed on the smaller wolf, he wanted to check on Lenae, but he wouldn't turn his back on a potential threat either.

Odin Archer

It was luck really that she just happened to be in the area when the scent of blood reached her nose. Cheedo knew Immediately what it meant having gone through the process herself and been there when Piety birthed Cyril the previous year. It wasn't something that one forgot very easily.

The tawny woman quickly made her way toward the scent realizing that it was Lenae that was birthing her pups. She still felt uncomfortable around most of the pack these days but she was still a part of it. If she were honest she wasn't sure she wanted to find out what the result of this birth would be. She feared that Lenae hadn't done what was needed to make sure the pups we're okay.

Still she went and when she got there she found Odin going after Kip, at least that was what she thought the females name was. They hadn't formally met so she wouldn't assume. Aside from that the whole thing was off especially when she caught the words that slipped from the males maw. “What are you doing?” She asked him as she approached. “Leave her alone, Lenae doesn't need this going on outside her den while she's trying to bring pups into the world,” she added as she moved between Odin and Kip facing the male.

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Why don’t all of you piss off?

He’d been alerted to the birthing by an all too familiar stench—one that consumed his dreams more times than he’d care to admit. One that haunted him, almost nightly, reminding him of what happened to his father. Panic had surged through his veins, launching him forward over the mountain. Mostly because with the increase in coyotes Cyril didn’t know what to expect—but also because it was the scent of Lenae that accompanied the copper smell.

Instantly his posture grew defensive as he spotted the haggle of wolves outside his former teacher’s den, words being tossed around between them. Anger. Frustration. Things Lenae didn’t need. The only wolf that should be here is my mother. So piss off, he repeated as a growl accompanied his voice; his upper lip pulling back and exposing a row of ivory canines. He didn’t care if the wolves before him were his packmates—hell, one of them had been in his life since since. Lenae didn’t need this. She needed his mother, and to know that everything was going to be okay. He couldn’t only imagine how frightened and exhausted she was without the sound of yelling outside her den… 

S for swears

Her dutiful son had beaten her to the punch. Granted that wasn't going to stop her from making her point known. So as quickly as such a pregnant wolf could move, she made her way to the scene.

To say she was upset was an understatement, even saying she was angry was an understatement. Piety knew she was close enough to her own due date but that didn't stop her from making her way towards Lenae's den. Her stance was not one that she typically used. A face that was usually motherly was overcome with aggression as her features wrinkled. She offered a swift snap of her teeth at the small gathering. I ought to skin you all and use your furs for her den if you think this behavior is appropriate at such a time. Her voice low but the tones in it were clear enough. Take your bullshit elsewhere. You have a whole mountain to hash it out on and I'll be damned if I let it be here Piety's tail arched over her back as she eyed the crowd. While she did not wish to contribute to the chaos, she'd swiftly deal with anyone who stepped out of line at her warnings.

Whoever wishes to have their wits about them and be helpful, go to the medic den and find me sweetgrass. Surely Odin and even Cheedo will be well versed with the plant. If you see lavender then bring it too. She ordered to whoever would be running the herb errand. Piety was not keen on leaving Lenae at such a delicate moment.

Cyril, She spoke softer. Keep a watch out around her den for anything that can be harmful to the situation. Please? The Santoro knew the closeness of her son and his teacher, surely he'd want to be included in keeping her safe.

Carefully she lowered herself to the earth and stuck her head into the den. If she was to be met with teeth then so be it, she knew she'd deserve it. She just needed to see for herself what was happening within.

# C W T

Lenae Selwyn

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly

Lenae flinched, hard, as she heard a set of paws approach. As much as the thought of being alone terrified her, the alternative seemed oddly...repulsive. She didn't have the mind- or energy for that matter- to realise that it was only Kip, a packmate who most likely didn't mean any harm. But her instincts were starting to kick in, ramp up the nervousness. What if they tried to take her baby away? No, it was hers. Lenae, as weak and as feeble as she was, would not allow it. She gritted her teeth as another contraction tore through her, her ears pinned against her skull as she pushed, she opened her mouth to speak- only to be cut off by a booming, but familiar voice.

She couldn't even fathom the drama that was occurring outside, several voices were raised- loud enough to drown out the sounds of her whines and pants and the scrabbling of her paws as she searched for a purchase. As if that would make the process any less unbearable. Perhaps if she had been more with it, in their moment rather than tangled up in her own, she would've tried to unravel the mounting tension. But as of then all she could feel was worry and pain, so so much pain. She heaved again- the hurt reached it's peak, sharp and unwavering...And then a new scent reached her nose, something new and precious.

Pressing her neck against the floor she wheezed, was it over? The voices outside, she could hear them even over the roar of her heartbeat in her ears, but their words held no meaning to her. It was all background noise as her ears twitched at the sound breathy little squeak.

Oh.

With a grunt, she heaved herself up into a sitting position and twisted to see- oh, there it was. A little one, a dark, wriggly bean, no bigger than her paw from toe to ankle. She sniffed and snuffed at it, before her tongue darted out to clean the muck away from her dark fur. A little girl, her little girl. Tears welled in her eyes as she gently nudged the little one to her belly, she would keep her safe. No matter the cost.

The voices outside died down, as the little one squirmed against her side, already tucking into her first meal. But something was wrong, the sound of foot falls reached her ears once more and for the first time in her life she squinted. Brows drawn together, lips down turned, it was a proper Selwyn scowl.

No, please don't.

WARNING: swears

———

Well. She supposed this was what she got for trying, then.

Odin shoved her out of the way and snarled at her - something that she had never expected would happen, even though they weren’t on speaking terms at the moment. Seafoam eyes widened in shock and hurt and fear as he loomed over her.

Then Cheedo came in, apparently to Kip’s rescue.

And, to top it all off, the youngest wolf in the pack strolled in like he knew what the entire situation was. His mother didn’t help at all, heated words thrown about like they meant nothing at all.

This is what you get for trying...

She was out of place. This wasn’t her home. She was being treated like some type of threat, and everyone else just barged in without thinking.

Fuck you guys...

But Lenae would need herbs, and apparently Kip was the only sane wolf in the immediate vicinity, so she figured it should be her. She’d learned enough from helping Lorcan to get what they needed.

”I fucking hate you,” she muttered lowly to Odin as she passed, head low, and turned to hurry off in the direction of the medicine den. She would be quick in getting the herbs they needed - she didn’t even want help.

All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow

The presence of Cheedo was not a surprise, and it was with the earthen woman's words that he realised his error. Fury quickly faded to slack jawed wonder. Pups? The pups were coming?! Now! He knew he owed Kip an apology but he couldn't muster the words between gaping like a stranded fish, that was until Cyril arrived. "Hey they're my pups too, I'm not goin' anywhere." He shot back with a squint, a stampede of caribou wouldn't drag him away now that he knew what was going on.

Piety's words were met with the same squint her sons were, backing himself up to lay by the den entrance, not across it but near enough to be on hand if Lenae happened to tell him she needed anything. It would seem Kip was going to get the sweetgrass... maybe? But his apologetic look would have been missed as it was thrown at her retreating back. He deserved that. Really, he did, but he was quickly swept up by high pitched squeaks and Lenae's gentle voice just beyond his field of view.

Odin Archer

When she arrived on the scene she could see that something was obviously going on between Kip and Odin. She didn't know of their past, frankly in that moment she didn't particularly care. Lenae was inside her den struggling to bring her pups into the world. Out of the three of them she understood that all too well so it had been her goal to stop whatever was going on an calm the situation. Odin seemed to take her words and do as she'd expected of him, she watched as whatever anger was in him faded. She had the situation under control.

At least she thought she had but just as she was about to turn to check on Kip. Make sure she was okay since it was obvious that the girl was not the first thing on the soon to be father's mind Cyril decided to stick his nose in. Cheedo just looked at him wide eyed, the language that he used. It was what he gets said though that cut right through the tawny woman. Had he not heard her when she had told him about her own children. She had been through it herself she could be of help.

Then Piety came backing her son who Cheedo no longer recognized. Wide eyes were turned on Piety as well, she'd been trying to help, had helped. The situation was contained and this was what she got. Spoken to like a child when she had been trying to do her job. She watched Kip leave, it seemed she would he getting what was needed. Well then if her help wasn't welcome then she would return to her duties.

The tawny woman dipped her head to Piety in respect before slipping back into the forest from where she had come.

Cheedo's Exit

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