TRIGGER WARNING!
This content might touch on topics that are sensitive or triggering for some readers. Trigger Warning for mentions of child birth, thoughts of infanticide

stabs of pain rolls in like a tide, flickering fire and lightning that jostles into faustine's bone and skin. it's especially worse around her stomach, where her cubs - strong and alive as they should be- are nestled in. the time is here, but faustine still hasn't yet found a trace of her cubs. she's relentless, however, in allowing her and @Cassius ♔'s children to arrive on their own. paws sink into thick fur coats and feather nests as she paces back and forth, circling her den like a woman scorned. every rumble of pain, every little bite of fire, her face scrunches and her ears tip backwards. faustine dieudonne is going into labor, the smell of it, all rot and blood, coils inside her nostrils as if it's the only smell to exist in the world. her legs ache and she knows she must lie down, but she cannot.

her thoughts dread the existence of boys in her litter, of cubs too weak and too small to call her own. what'll she do with them then? will she have to execute them like the ways of her ancestors? a shudder slides through the crocodile princess - this would've been so easy if these cubs aren't hers. but, soon, cassius would be here and he can take the unwanted babes. faustine would do just fine with the girls, if fate has blessed her with any. and, finally, with a resounding thud, she lowers herself into the safety of the furs. another wave of pain shots through and faustine lets out a low growl, a calling sound, for both her husband and her family.

[fade]

the pain ebbs and ebbs until it's barely on her mind. three suckling cubs lay beside her. two boys - cassius will be happy- and a girl for her. revelle will be her name; and, as for those boys, well, perhaps cassius can offer his suggestions once he's here.

@Elaine ♔, @Louve ♔, @Amara + dieudonne family only

ART BY RABBIT, CODE BY LARS

She had been watching her granddaughter closely over the last few months and without a doubt, she was about to make her a great, great, grandmother. Amara didn't really know how she felt about it but there was nothing to do about it now. Her line would keep going and that would be her lasting impression on these lands. The day came and Amara, as she had done for Louve, made a kill and pulled off a leg. She hauled it up to where @Faustine had made her den and chuffed around the gift.

Amara poked her head in and dropped the gift within reach of her granddaughter, she would need the strength. Her yellow gaze took in each of the little ones. It was hard to tell much about them at this age beyond their base coloring. Time would tell what markings lasted and which ones faded. You did well. Do you need anything else? She asked softly as she looked back to Faustine._{BG — ART — CODE}

Even her niece was having cubs before her. Elaine did her best not to let it dig under her skin that she wasn't doing any better than Vemier. She needed to find a way to be less picking and just find a male that she could stand to be around enough to bring some cubs into the world. To pass on the name and the bloodline. That was all that was needed from her right now. It was only her and Louve from their litter and while Louve had many cubs, she didn't know if her sister would have any more. She would not blame her if she did not find another mate. She arrives at the den after her mother. She didn't have any gifts as she poked her head in and looked over the cubs that were born. Should I go get their father? She asks since the male wasn't here yet. Elaine would be sure to pull him here and make him stay and care for her as long as @Faustine wanted him to be. She wasn't sure how they were working things out but she would make sure that these cubs came before that pride.

Code by Shaz | Art by Yumpy

No need. The Darkling half rumbles half purrs as he emerges from his place of hiding. He had been aware that his Dieudonne lover had been close to her due date. As such, he had left the Brook in preparation roughly a week prior. Not only to be close for when this most joyous day arrived, but also to remove the scents of Icefang, Freja and Melusina from his coat. To ensure that only that of the valley lingered and nothing else.

I have been eagerly awaiting the birth of my first children. He continues on, not entirely a lie as these were indeed his first.. with Faustine..

The new father inches closer, giving both @Amara and @Elaine ♔ respectful acknowledgement before attempting to press his head against @Faustine's own. They look strong. He praises with uncharacteristic warmth. Eyes cast down to examine the three small bundles.

code by loki / art by duudlin

though certain that her mother would bring a gift of her own louve did not stop from having her own hunt. it had taken days of planning and tracking until she had found the ideal target, and by the time faustine's blood and birthwaters fed the dust of wolfbron she clutched a prize in her teeth.

a heart. plucked carefully from a still warm body, the rest tucked away in the most secret of wolfbron cache's. a heart that she lays at the paws of the tired mother, casting a wary glance at the others that had come. @Amara -- whom louve had a somewhat fractured relationship with at best, now; @Elaine ♔ -- ever loyal and always present; and @Cassius ♔ -- the outlier whom earns the most prying of looks, louve's mistrust evident. it would take time to convince the matriarch that this was, indeed, the best situation for her daughter, with her husband living so far with such minimal connection.

"ils sont parfaits" they are perfect she murmurs, feeling a fierce swell of protectiveness as she recalled Icefangs information about the men taking the boys to raise... "our family 'as needed more strong sons, oui?" words murmured in a language that all would understand while her focus lay entirely on @Faustine to gauge her reaction.

the cubs squirm and clash against each other for their milk. they're so very alive and strong, the blood of her ancient family coursing through each of their veins. only time will harden, but, for now, faustine will give them all they need. the first to arrive is her grandmother @Amara, who arrives with a precious gift. giving birth is a taxing thing and faustine hasn't had much to eat for hours. but she'll succumb to hunger here before leaving her children alone. thank you, grandmother she says, lip twitching into a smile.

next comes her aunt elaine, who faustine has not had the privilege of enjoying her presence long enough for some time. which is why her being here is more than welcoming. a full family to welcome faustine's children is almost...lovely. he shall come faustine says in the silken lilt of her mother tongue. or i shall have his head.

and speak of that devil.

@Cassius ♔ emerges as a dark tide. perhaps it's the illusion from labor or perhaps the male did change, but he seems fatter. faustine ought to consume amara's gift now before her own primitice instincts awakens. even so, the crocodile princess wolfishly smirks at him. they will grow even stronger she tells him. as if in response, a chorus of shrill noises rip from each newborn's throats. [see? they already know that.

last, but not least, is her mother @Louve ♔. faustine's eyes track her movement as she gifts her a heart. it's warm, to the point where faustine can imagine it pulsing against her leg. she licks her lips, but tiredness keeps her from partaking in the meal. the multiple eyes here would make it unbecoming too, for a dieudonne princess and new mother to commit to her indulgence. as louve speaks to her, faustine's eyes lower onto her children. she has two sons and only one daughter ---a surprise even for her. they will be taught well she aays, before casting a look at cassius. i will teach them to obey.

ooc: all in french except to cass bc im lazy to translate]

ART BY RABBIT, CODE BY LARS