Willow Ridge A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes

Special tags for @Sven. Takes place mid-afternoon the next day following this thread

not looking for some fairytale bliss

The storm had raged most of the night and through the birth of Ravenna's pups. Leotie had stayed as long as the alpha had allowed her before she'd had no choice but to return to her own den. She was glad to have been able to support the silver woman through the difficult process. Now she knew what she would he going through soon. She just didn't know how soon.

Only a few hours had passed since she'd left the den of her friend but Leotie had been unable to sleep. She'd kept up with the herbs that Ravenna had given her which she hoped would ease her through the birth. As the hours passed she sensed that it was now her turn. The Agouti woman wanted to go and tell those that may still be gathered at the Alpha’s den but she feared leaving her own. What if it started while she was away and she couldn't get back?

As that thought crossed her mind she felt it the first shot of pain through her body as the contractions started. The pain wasn't like anything she'd felt before and caused her to cry out in pain and shock that it could hurt so badly. Her thoughts went to Ravenna and all she'd been through and Sven. Would he make it to see his children being born?

i want something just like this

(This post was last modified: May 08, 2018, 03:05 PM by Leotie.)

Please see Kajika's OOC profile for OOC preferences, thank you

the devil is & always will

Sven had planned to only stay those few hours, then begin a routine of passing between the two dens, ensuring Leotie's comfort and well-being along with watching over @Ravenna and her newborns from the outside world. Yet it was on his first visit with the mother of his own children that he recognized that something was off. He could almost smell it in the air as he peeked into earthy den. He crawled forward on his elbows, but was watchful of any signals the tawny wolf might give that she wanted space.

"Is everything alright? ... is it starting?"

Luck would have it that the two would birth so close to each other, a truly melded family as the women had so wanted. Nerves as well as excitement began to creep along his skin as he awaited her response with baited breath, hoping the possibility was true.

be a gentleman.

Any packmates who still want to join still can.

not looking for some fairytale bliss

She didn't have to wait very long for one of her packmates to find her. It was the one she'd been hoping for too, the father of her children. Sven's appearance at the den entrance was comfort in itself. The pain had gone away for the time being and she thought she might be okay though after watching what Ravenna had gone through she knew deep down it was all just starting.

His voice sounding concerned as it asked two questions of her did bring a small smile to her maw as her head rested on the furs she'd lined the den with. “Yes, I think everything is okay it just hurts,” she told him just before she felt the tensing of her body as a contraction washed over her causing her to whine loudly.

“I think it is starting,” she said a little breathlessly as the contraction subsided. She knew more were to come but in between she reached out and licked Sven's muzzle, “Thank you for being here. I didn't want to do this without you.”

i want something just like this

Please see Kajika's OOC profile for OOC preferences, thank you

Adeltra had spent most of her time sitting outside of Ravenna’s den or patrolling the area just around it. She cleaned up the mess the storm had made, tugging away fallen branches and uprooted shrubbery so that none of it would fly in or toward the birthing den. She would poke her head in every once in a while to check on her silver cousin and the two little pups before continuing with her tasks. During one such inquiry, the matriarch asked the dark Archer to go check on Leotie for her. Her auds had dipped in embarrassment, as the scout-in-training had forgotten about the agouti woman in the events from the previous day. She hadn’t even checked to make sure the blue-eyed woman had made it safely back to her den. Addy nodded before turning and heading toward the den.

As she approached the den she saw Sven crouched at the entrance, butt sticking out and tail wagging in the air. She moved forward to squeeze herself next to him but stopped when Leotie’s voice escaped, clearly breathless and in pain. It was much the same tone that Ravenna had used the day prior. How ironic that the two Ridge litters would be born closely together. She stayed back, watching from the sidelines to see if everything went smoothly. She surely hoped that it would.

Their birthing dens were not placed far from one another. Ravenna had asked this of her friend if only do they could easily communicate with each other while in the dens with their pups should anything to wrong and to keep one another company. It would keep them from going so store crazy, knowing they would always have someone just to bark out and sing to when they felt the need. It made the pups happy already too, Ravenna could tell, as they squirmed to the sound of her yips and rumbles to them. With the world so dreary outside and the pups just being born the day prior, Ravenna refused to leave them for even a second. Physically she didn't think it was a good idea to try to, either. She was so tired, sore and weak from the endeavor of first time childbirth. She couldn't be there to see the pup's born like Leotie had been though had no intention of not seeing them soon. Soon, when she was better herself and had her strength and wits about her. For now though she stayed in the den though when the first cry if her friend touched her ears Ravenna's head shot up. She knew the sound all to well. The uncomfortable and painful displeasure she went through the day prior. Ravenna's head lifted, singing out into the mid-afternoon air in support for her friend. ””

Blitz was never far from Ravenna's birthing den these days. With a new mother and two tiny pups to care for, he spent more time lingering than he probably should. Not just to her convenience but to his own as well, was that Leotie's own den of choice was also relatively close by. In his eyes, the choice for the females to space their dens so close together was a practical move. He could afford to stay by Ravenna's side, while a quick check in on Leotie was only a short walk away. The tawny woman was due to give birth any day now and he didn't want to miss the big day when her and Sven's children entered the world.

That time was now, apparently. The sound of her voice, in a pained yip, roused him from his rest. The raven sea wolf had been keeping guard outside, his large frame placed protectively in front of the base of the willow tree, but not blocking the underground entrance. As Ravenna's own voice filled the air to assure her subordinate that she was aware of the upcoming birth, Blitz pulled himself up. He spared a quick glance inside the silver alphas den, green eyes glinting as he checked both on her and the newborns. Moments later he arrived at Leotie's densite, where the others were unsurprisingly, already gathered. Sven was among them, rightfully placed at the mouth of the den. Adeltra was there too, on the sidelines. Murmurs of Leotie's pained voice reached his ears, and from the sound of it, the pups were well on their way. Nervous excitement tickling his veins, he held his composure and stood back, content as a bystander. But his presence was enough. She had been here for the birth of his children. It was only right he was here for hers as well.

the devil is & always will

It hurts, she told him, and his ears cupped backward against his skull in sympathy. There was nothing he could do, however, to abate the pain. He could only be present, and do as much as he could to share in her struggle, even though he would never come close to fully comprehending what Leotie was going through. His own tongue reached after her own, moistening her nose before smoothing her whiskers, tender in its care of her beautiful face.

That was when he felt someone nudge against his side, and instinctively his teeth clenched as a low, threatening growl rumbled through his tensed body. The wolf retreated as swiftly as they had come, but their scent lingered; Adeltra. Sven immediately eased, but did not have time to offer an apology. He expected the perceptive youth to understand on her own.

Ravenna's howl of solidarity was the last thing he heard before he slipped underneath the earth and into the den, to curl along Leotie's spine. His head rested upon her shoulders, but he would move as she did. He wanted to give her as much comfort as he possibly could.

be a gentleman.

not looking for some fairytale bliss

In all her life she had never felt anything like what she was in that moment. The pain was so intense she didn't know if she would make it through. She now understood what her friend had went through the previous day. Her cries had been answered by many of her packmates, she could smell and sense their presence. It was Sven’s appearance that gave her the most comfort. She knew he could never know what she was feeling in that moment but that didn't matter. He knew what she needed even as another contraction caused her body to tense.

Her puppies were coming just as she'd watched Ravenna's come the day prior nothing would stop them. Her eyes closed as she felt Sven’s tongue first on her nose and then across her whiskers. His growl caused them to open and for the briefest of moments she thought she'd seen Addy but then the girl was gone. As another contraction came over her she focused on Sven’s pale face. “Their coming,” she whispered, “I hope you have their names ready,” she added with a small smile across her maw.

Leotie's ears came forward as she heard her friends voice calling out to her. Leotie howled back a song to reassure her friend she was doing okay, she didn't want Ravenna to worry when she had her own litter that needed her. When Sven entered the den she didn't protest, they would do this together. There was no time as she felt the need to push and a moment later she was cleaning off the tawny body of her first born, “It's a girl,” she voiced after nudging her daughter to start nursing.

A break came in which the new mother rested her head against buy it didn't last long before the contractions returned and she was pushing again. A short moment later she was cleaning the silver body of her son and nudging him into position beside his sister. When the contractions and seemed to lessen Leotie felt that there wouldn't be anymore puppies. Blues looked over her children with pride before she turned them on their father, “You're the father of a son and a daughter,” she said breathlessly.

i want something just like this

Please see Kajika's OOC profile for OOC preferences, thank you

Sven snarled at her and she ducked her head, tail tucking against her stomach and auds flattening in a show of apology. She hadn’t known what was happening until it was too late for her to realize her mistake and she didn’t blame Sven for his actions that were very out of character for him toward her. After all, this was his first litter and if she’d learned anything from Ravenna’s birth it was that males were protective when the process was happening. Of course it set them all on edge, to know that a woman was giving birth within because with birth came risks. It wasn’t common for a wolf to die during birth as far as she knew, but it wasn’t something that didn’t happen. There wasn’t much any of them could do other than be there for them.

Ravenna’s call rang into the air, her auds swiveled back in the direction it had come and a small smile played on her lips. Of course, it was just like to cousin to give encouragement even from afar. Blitz also showed and she moved to his side, both bystanders to the miracle happening within. Both sat silently for what felt like forever, listening quietly to the grunts and pained sounds coming from within and the comforting of Sven. After a while Adeltra began to hear mewls of new life and hushed whispers, her tail giving a wave behind her frame. Her honeyed-amber gaze turned to the man at her side and she gave a grin. The Ridge had more mouths to feed.

His heart ticked rapidly in his chest, his paws itchy and his emotions running high. He knew how dear of a friend Leotie was to Ravenna. If anything were to happen to her or the children, he wasn't sure how the silver woman would handle it. Days ago he had went through the emotional roller coaster of becoming a parent and now the time for Sven and Leotie was here. If he could have, he would have crossed his toes and hoped for the best. Like the guardian he was training to be, he remained poised from afar, lime eyes intent, dark ears pricked stiffly.

He was patient, even as Adeltra moved to join him by his side. He knew she must be excited, even though it would be some time before the pups were well enough for even the most tender of socialization. Time seemed to stretch on and his thoughts frequently went to Ravenna and her newborns. He didn't want to stay away for long...his desire to remain close and watch over them diligently was strong. But he would remain here until he knew that Leotie had successfully given birth and everyone was well. The soft cries of new life, a sound he had only recently became familiar with, emerged from the depths of her den. His tail wagged gently, his lips forming a smile. He looked to Adeltra. "How are you feeling? Excited I'm sure?"