Gift of Gods

This content might touch on topics that are sensitive or triggering for some readers. Trigger Warning for mentions of still birth, cub struggling, and general birth stuff

OOC: Family only, please.

Amara had a hard time adjusting to the swell of her sides and everything else that came along with being pregnant. She knew that her older age had a lot to do with how tired she was but she couldn't just stop being the High Sovereign. For caring for the pride and the members within. It was as much a part of her as the cubs growing within her. It hadn't been wanted but she had managed it, kept lands safe until another could take it over. Louve would be that. She led the family and now had two litters on the ground, making sure that their family would keep growing, it would be time for @Louve to take her place and Amara to find a new spot.

The pangs of early labor sent Amara into her den with a chuff to @Jean-Claude and her family. Fear pulsed through Amara as the pains started getting worse. Her first litter had two stillborns, she wasn't sure if she would be able to handle having that happen again. Not after everything she had been through to get to this point in her life.

Time passed and the darkness covered the Bluffs before the first cub made its way into the world of the living. Its loud mewing was quick to catch her attention as it started trying to move right away. Amara cleaned the cub off, a brown female with soft blue unders like Amara's own. It was hard to tell all the markings at this age but the spotting of her own pelt was there. She moved the cub around a bit, a marking over the left eye, brown paws, and a marking up her back legs that reminded Amara of Ambro for a moment. A quick lick was passed over the marking on the closed eyes as she thought of Ramona with it. There was a marking on her shoulders as well as a dark tail. The female really seemed to pull from her father with her markings.

Once the cub was settled against her, another round started. This cub came quickly and Amara hardly had time to think about it before the cub was ready to be cleaned. Blood streaked this cub more than she had seen before but it was quick to come off. A black female covered in her white spots, her whole body was dark and Amara couldn't pick out any other markings on the wet cub. Maybe as she dried some would stand out against the dark fur. She cleaned her and got her settled in.

Amara was ready for the next one as the pangs rolled through her, this cub took a little longer, unwilling to enter the world it seemed. The pain seemed to roll on longer and longer before finally with a growl of annoyance from Amara, the cub joined her sisters. Amara pulled the blue cub towards her, another female. The cub's unders looked to be a bit darker with light spotting along her back. It was hard to make out the other markings against the blue coat but she could see that the cub seemed to have a few markings close to her father's. Amara tucked her in with the others and hoped to be able to find some rest now. Three was good.

Three was not where she was stopping. She managed a few minutes with no pain before a wave of pain stronger than any of the others she had been through and her whole body responded as she seemed to jerk forward with the waves. Wave after wave the pain seemed to be worse. Something. Is. Wrong. Amara barely managed to say between the waves of pain as fear washed over her. It seemed like it was hours but only minutes passed before she felt the cub slip from her. After a moment to catch her breath, she turned toward the cub. It wasn't moving. It lay lifeless behind her. No! She whispered as memories of her first litter flooded her mind and she pulled the cub towards her and started to clean the cub harsher than the others. Her paws held tight around the small bundle of fur as her tongue rolled roughly over it. WAKE! Her voice was strained and tight as she nipped at the cub and it finally started to move, slowly at first before its mewing joined the others. Amara's gaze flicked to her mate's with relief washing over her features. She didn't say anything as she looked back at the small brown female with darker markings and darker spots. All the cubs so far shared her star markings in some fashion. Only one in her last litter did.

Four cubs. That is what lived last time. That is where she thought for sure that things would end after that heart-pounding moment with the last brown cub. She rested her head as she listened to the soft sounds the cubs made and let sleep catch her. She wasn't sure how long had passed when her body gave one last push and another cub joined the family. Amara grunted as she moved to pull the cub forward and went to work cleaning it. Five cubs. All females. This cub was a darker brown, much like Xavier, with spotting, dark markings, and an odd-looking tail. She tucked them away and hoped that this would be it. She wasn't sure she wanted six cubs.

After a small nap and no more cubs, Amara looked at @Jean-Claude. Five girls. She said with a weary but proud voice. They wanted to help the family grow and with this litter, they had. Let the others know. She said as she curled herself around the five cubs at her belly. It was time to name them. They would have a larger family than her first litter and she could only hope that they would have the benefit of a father who would be there for them through each stage of their life.

JC image by CC. Amara image by Betha. Coding by Analese.

grandmother was louder than her own mama, faustine realized as she stood outside and waited for the harsh moments to pass. she didn't want to be present when @Amara was giving birth as the primitive urge to feed settled inside her brain. so instead the heiress took to the secret cache and few out a breast from the innard. like mama, grandmother would need her strength for herself and her litter.

faustine stepped in and saw the wriggling pile of cubs by amara's breast. there were five of them - all girls - and they were alive. faustine made the best chuff she could while the breast was still held in her mouth before she deposited them by amara. bonjour grand-mère, je t'ai apporté notre nourriture hello grandmother, i brought you our food she said with a distinct smile on her face. she was closer this time, so faustine took the chance to look over the cubs -- her newborn aunts. mes tantes my aunts she said to herself. such small looking things, like her full-blooded siblings, and like she herself when louve gave birth to her.

code: cala | art: drifty

louve knew when the moment came. it was instinct that guided her to her mothers den, her own small cubs tucked safe away. settling down outside of the den, listening to the sounds of labour. tensing when she hears the panic and fear, rising to all fours, ready to intervene if she must. louve knew little of assisting a birth but would do all she could if it was necessary.

thankfully things settle again, and soon enough they are being welcomed. unsurprisingly @Faustine is already there, slipping in to the birthing den, and louve follows with only the faintest hint of irritation. "félicitations, maman," she murmured, her voice pitched low as she watched five girls fight for the best spot to feed. a large and seemingly healthy litter; further proof that their family was thriving.

@Amara