This was hard. Standing—no. Pacing anxiously and nervously outside the cave, Achak, along with the rest of the pack, was waiting, listening. The distressed sounds coming from within clearly affected the wolves as well, as is to show how closely-knit their pack truly was. Every time Kiona was heard crying out, or just whimpering, the large, silver streaked alpha wanted to run inside and comfort her; hating hearing or seeing his mate in any sort of pain. His heart was pounding in his chest, ears pinned flat against the wolf’s skull worriedly. Yet, excitement also filled the air, and not just from the leader.
All wolves loved cubs, it was natural. The others were just as anxious as their alpha and friend, some were restlessly walking about the cave, while others sat or were laying down, their tails and ears twitching. Takoda had tried pacing with his brother to keep him company, but eventually Kanook pulled him aside, saying it was best to leave the black and silver wolf alone. When the cries died down a moment, everyone’s ears perked and they looked towards the entrance, Achak especially. His bright blue eyes were fixed on the big hole. Something didn’t seem right now. The alpha blinked and took a step towards the dim cave, just as the cries came again, more frantic and pained, making said wolf’s head to raise as he fought the urge, once more, to rush in. He knew the cries belonged to his mate, making it all the more painful to listen to. It brought the wolf some comfort knowing his mother was in there with the hybrid, helping her. All he and the rest of the pack could do was continue to wait, and watch their alpha and friend go back to pacing.
She didn’t know what to focus on, the physical pain or the emotional. Kiona barely registered Olathe’s soothing voice trying to calm her through the rest of the birthing process. The red female’s mind was frantic with images of what had just happened. The pup…their first…it was dead, stillborn! The idea was just crushing to her, and she just couldn’t handle it. She struggled weakly, but the pain of birthing kept her from getting up in her panic.
“Kiona, you must calm yourself, you’ve still got pups to come!” The older wolf’s voice was slowly getting through to Kiona, but she still seemed distressed, looking around for her first-born. Ayashi was currently hiding it from her view, her blue eyes sad and sympathetic as they caught the panicked, grief-stricken brown ones.
It was then the red female was briefly distracted as pain shot through her. The next pup was quickly on its way, forcing Kiona to focus more on it. Olathe’s calm soothing voice helped at least some, telling her to calm her breathing and stop struggling. With a strained cry, soon after there was a new pup brought into the world. Instinctively, the hybrid turned to check on it, even as exhausted as she was becoming, but barely moved before a paw came to keep her down. It confused and distressed the female. Why was the older wolf keeping her from her newborn? Then she heard it…or lack of hearing something. Usually pups would immediately start crying out once they hit open air. But the silence that surrounded the cave was deafening. Kiona’s body went rigid.
No…oh no… Thought the bright silver-colored wolf, as her blue eyes stared down at the second newborn cubs still body. Oh please not again. Inwardly hoping for the best, the older female bent down to the smaller’s body, gently nudging it with her nose, with no response. Acting quickly, she then began to lick at it, trying to stimulate the tiny form. Now Kiona was beginning to struggle again, and Olathe tried to keep her still.
“Ayashi, quickly, come hold Kiona down.” The poor dear, having to go through all this. It was all so unfair.
From her place from coming back after hiding the first pup further back in the cave, Ayashi did as she was told, gently laying herself over her smaller friend. Her blue eyes were sympathetic and saddened as they watched the other, soon having to turn her gaze from Kiona’s stricken looking expression. She had no idea how to even begin to try and comfort her. Instead, she focused on her mother who was still trying to aid the new pup, licking down its body and around its chest. Despite the situation, Aya couldn’t help but admire the small reddish-gray body, with silver muzzle, which trailed down to mid chest. Its closed eyes, of unknown color, were surrounded also by slightly silver patches. It’s ears, and two back paws were black. A strange, yet perfect mix of both parents.
Drawn out of her thoughts by a cry beneath her, the silver and white wolf looked down, heart breaking seeing the red dog weakly tossing her head in her struggle, tears running down her face in grief and pain. It was then another surprise came. Aya noticed there was another pup coming! Ears perking, awkwardly, the wolf tried taking over the task of talking the other through it, encouraging her to hang on. And she was never so happy to hear what came soon after. The sound of young cries.
What? It seemed only that small sound was what drew the red female from her grief stricken trance. Her head snapped around, eyes wild as she searched for the source of the small cries. It was almost too good to be true…
Ayashi was quick to gently nudge the small young one towards Kiona, who immediately began licking at it, pulling it closer to her and guiding it to her belly. This one was black with silver muzzle, with more silver markings on its legs. This pup was very similar to Kiona herself, marking wise.
There was no time to rejoice for too long, for just then, yet another pup came! And thankfully, like the previous, let out a high-pitched cry upon hitting the open air. Ayashi could have cried with relief, when just after the newborn’s cry, still another cry. But it wasn’t a new pup…it was the second one that had suddenly given voice! Olathe looked just as relieved. Thank goodness she had been able to save the newborn. If disaster had struck again…the oldest wished not to think about what would have happened to Kiona. What was most important was that it had not, by some miracle.
Gently the second pup was also brought over to join its siblings beside Kiona. It seemed the experience was finally over. Thankfully the new mother seemed to be calming down more now as well, as she focused more on her newborns. It was all so amazing to her, a completely new experience. She was exhausted yet still exhilarated, her brown eyes never leaving the tiny forms at her belly. Three beautiful pups. Kiona had been scared to death that all of them were going to be dead after the first. She had begun to blame herself to be as a terrible mother, not even able to give birth to pups, and still did that a bit. Atleast these three had lived. Their tiny content noises as they fed calmed her further. It really was an amazing feeling…she was a mother!
Just then, her red head rose to Olathe and Ayashi, who were watching her with soft smiles. Smiling back, though more tiredly, she glanced towards the entrance quickly, and then back at the two wolves.
“Can…Achak come inside now…?” While exhausted, she wanted the father of their pups to see his new addition to the pack. Though she was worried on how he would react to knowing their firstborn hadn’t made it. Would he think her weak? A knot began to form in the hybrid’s gut.
Olathe turned her silver head to her nearly identical looking daughter, who wordlessly got up with a bright smile and headed out to the entrance to fetch her brother. It wasn’t long at all before the clicking of claws on the cave’s floor returned. Kiona turned her head to see the large silver streaked wolf trotting over, his face somewhat drawn looking with worry and anxiety. For a moment, the red female felt bad for having worried him, but also knew it wasn’t her fault.
Achak hadn’t hesitated to enter once Ayashi came to the entrance and bade him to come inside. The rest of the pack had all come to attention at the silver wolf’s presence, ears perking and bodies turning. But they knew only their alpha had first right to see his offspring. Nonetheless they all grew excited.
The alpha passed his sister and started inside, anxious to see Kiona after the wait. Once catching sight of her, her perked, eyes taking in every little detail of the female. She looked exhausted; he could see it in both her eyes and her posture. Smiling at her as he neared, his blue eyes lowered to the small balls of fur at his mate’s belly. It was a beautiful sight. The wolf was so proud of Kiona; it shone in his bright eyes. The female seemed to see this, before her eyes grew sad, confusing him. Drawing nearer, he bowed his head to nuzzle the other.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” At his soft, concerned voice, Kiona clenched her eyes shut as her throat tightened from holding back emotions. This distressed Achak even more. He shifted closer, lying down to spoon beside the female. “Kiona, tell me what’s wrong…” He hated seeing her like this.
The continued soft toned voice, the hybrid couldn’t hold back any longer. A sob escaped her, and she buried her face into the thick fur of the other’s neck, tears now escaping her clenched eyes to trail down her face. Trying to form words became hard in her emotional state.
“I…I’m sorry! I t-tried!” Achak could feel Kiona’s entire body stiffen and shake with her cries, and wanted nothing more than to comfort her.
“You have nothing to be sorry for…Why are you saying this?” Tilting his head down, he rested it gently upon the other’s. He felt her shaking her head.
“I failed…! I’m a bad mother… I can’t even do this right!” That was certainly a surprise to hear coming from the female. The black and silver alpha’s eyebrows drew up in worry and confusion. What possibly could have happened to cause Kiona to break down so much?
“Nonsense, you did perfectly. You gave us three--”
“There were four!” Her voice broke at the exclamation,
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