//.Life Befalls Young Paws.//(Private)

[Lydair]

(((For Nocturnia, Draeg, and Koan...Shako, if you promsie to play well with Koan. -laugh- People who are playign my cubs, I'll PM you when you need to post. ^_^)))

Ragged gasps seared the still morning air as the femme stumbled forward, curling her small head around as she writhed with pain. As she moved forward, deeper, deeper into Ge-Rad terra, her black lips bared ivory fangs as she snarled with a twinge of the pain that twisted her insides. A jarring cry escaped her lips as her trembling limbs finally gave way; collapsing heavily she yelped in agony, blood spurting from her throat to stain her pearl-furred muzzle a vile crimson. Cyan eyes flew open and a choking cough blasted from her coated throat as transparent bubbles, a sallow red, filled her throat, breaking only when a shrill shriek sounded from her throat. Oh Tor, oh Sita, the femme thought wildly, straining to regain her breath as her entire body tensed. Claws scrabbling furiously she grunted, wincing, to remain on her paws, she retched, nearly emptying her stomach but managing to swallow and regain herself. As the blood-stain continued to spread, Lydair wrinkled her snout and weakly spat, wheezing with the effort as she tried to clear the thick liquid and breathe regularly again. As she rose shakily, a sudden tremor blasted her middle and, yelping, she fell down again, only to have crimson pool around her jowls. Contractions wavered through her, but as the first slowed, the world began to swim before her. Blinking rapidly, Lydair gasped for breath once, twice, before a sudden throbbing in her head brought a low whimper.

Cobalt fur was slicked with a warm sweat and white-trimmed ears were plastered against her head; fangs were stained pink and her dry tongue hung limply from her jaw to fall against the cold ground beneath her. The femme’s ribcage rose and fell with great difficulty and it was becoming increasingly necessary for Lydair to clear the blood from her throat as it trickled over the ground, spattering the ground with each cough. ”Koan..” Lydair whimpered weakly. ”Koan…” Another rippling contraction struck her with a vengeance as the block of pain sent her spiraling into darkness; her body writhed and jerked but her eyes were seeing nothing as they widened further; flashing-not their normal blue-green, but a dangerous silver-, she fell back to her side, grunting, though her mind sensed nothing. Flashes of light lit in her brain and her eyelids twitched and she groaned; in her mind’s darkness she saw three tiny forms, three wriggling cubs. A flash of silver; the handsome form of her scarred mate, nuzzling her- warmth spread through her body and she shivered before the image changed. Amber fur, side-by-side to a silver Drappa, and Lydair mentally shied away from the two before again he image changed. Shako now, and beside him was Yelae. Snarling, her mind went blank; nothing moved, nothing swam, nothing mattered…

[Draeg]

Farther out amidst the snow covered crags that signaled the beginning of the mountain’s base a lone figure tore across frozen landscape in a flurry of snow and fur, in the stillness of the morning Lydair’s jarring cries had carried across the vast indigenous terrain and attracted the attention of Ge-Rad’s amber Dragga. He had been sleeping peacefully alongside Firefly and Cwen, his mates, when he had heard Lydair’s piercing cries, upon recognizing the cobalt femme’s pained howls he set off in search of his packmate. Draeg, the amber Dragga of the Ge-Rad pack, was on the move. Thick padded paws pounded the ground as he navigated his way through the dense snowdrift and around fallen logs, snow crunching beneath them with each step as he drew ever closer to locating his companion and sent sleet flying through the air behind him. The whole time Draeg’s mind was racing as he pondered on what had befallen his friend and wondering what she was doing so far from the den so early into the day. Had she been attacked? It was highly unlikely but still possible, however somehow Draeg doubted that was the case.

Another agonized cry rang out across the sky the realization of what was transpiring became as clear as thunder clapping during the storm, Lydair was going into labor. The pups would be born soon! For a moment Draeg felt like howling until his lungs burst however cast aside the urge to do so, though the thought of becoming a grandfather and arrival of new pups into the pack was cause for celebration enough experience told the golden brown wolf that Lydair would need him soon to stand guard over her den just in case Koan wasn’t around to do so. Still he couldn’t help but feel slightly elated by the fact that in a short matter of time he would be a grandfather, he could still remember how he had felt the first time he laid eyes on his own children moons ago and wondered if this would be any different from the experience. As he drew nearer Draeg became distinctly aware of an oddly familiar scent that hung in the air though it the accumulative moisture in the air seemed to have greatly diluted it, however despite that it was still unmistakable and Draeg’s eyes suddenly widened in horror. It was blood. Lydair’s blood.

Increasing his speed the amber varg found himself charging entering the forest regions of his home at full gait, fear driving him to find Lydair as quickly as possible and determine whether his friend was alright or not. Draeg began to reconsider the thought that the wolf hybrid might have been attacked, knowing that it would be just like Serg to send a small group of wolves to ambush as many rival varg as they could when they’d least expect it. However he began to realize that he could detect no other varg asides himself and Lydair and soon he realized that something was terribly wrong, he spotted several large pools of blood clustered amidst the snow and soon he found himself following a trail of the crimson liquid and upturned snow across a sea of never-ending white. Lydairs tortured cries sounded nearer though they had become a great deal weaker, when Draeg finally spotted Lydair she lay whimpering pitifully amidst the snow, blood pooling around her as it bubbled out from her muzzle staining the fur surrounding it and splattering down onto the virgin snow. “LYDAIR!” he screamed, running to her over side. He gave out a sigh of relief upon realizing that she was still breathing, though her breaths came were harsh and shallow. Throwing his head back the amber wolf let out a booming howl so loud that it carried across the entire span of Ge-Rad and beyond, it could still be heard even long after Draeg had finished and begun tending to the pregnant femme. Across the land of Transylvania one name rang out clear and true, calling out to its owner and summoning him forth to come to his mate. “KKKKKOOOOOOAAAAAAAANNNNNNNN!”

((lydair I didn't know whether you were able to make it into a den or not so I just put it that you were outside, I can change it if you want.))

[Lydair]

(((-amused- Ah, you guys are so funny. lol. Koan and Nocty, get your butts posting, because I can't until you do, and obviously from the *snugs his puppies* Koan's probably getting tired of waiitng. So hurry it up. ;D )))

[Koan]

Koan's mind boiled with the coming days battles and tribulations. He knew what he had to do...even if it cost him his place in the pack, he had to protect them, those who were precious to him. His father, his siblings, and most of all... his mate. Lydair... he had to protect her. He had failed one person he had loved... he wouldn't fail her. Draeg was quite probably furious with him, or worried. Koan hoped for the worried side... he hadn't went to anger anyone with his actions.

He heard the summons, pondering what exactly it was....

He ran. He hadnt been a Kerl for nothing, for it had given him great speed and stamina. He was closeing the distance...then he froze. A scent reached his nose. A scent that he had prayed he would never smell again. Blood. Blood from Lydair, he knew. Blood from the one he loved. Memories rushed up in his mind, of sick wounds, and life sapping away. He ran now, with renewed speed. This was not happening...not again. His heart throbbed, and his eyes began to burn. He skidded up to where his father and she both were. He stared at the scene, horrified. Blood, everywhere. He moved, a mere blur, practically knocking hisa father aside in his panic. "Dad! What happened? What the hell happened." he paused, as he could hear her breathing. "She's alive..." he sighed. "Garm's grinning at me today..." He looked her, frantic. "Is she going to be ok?"

[Lydair]

Amidst a roaring torrent of pain and darkness, a sliver of light sliced through the shadows that ensnared the femme, bringing with it her possible death yet the one thing that could keep her alive. The scream that fled the air; her name. The howl that pierced the dark; her father’s. But when her eyelids flickered and twisted, the cyan eyes that were slowly revealed were desperate looking for the voice that had summoned her from the blank state that eventually would decide the fate of both the slender cobalt hybrid and her unborn cubs that stirred a yelp from her bloodied maw. Her breath quickened but a hint of a smile smoothed the jagged breathing that was forced from her lips. ”Koan...” Lydair spoke, her clouded gaze resting on his muscular form. ”The pups…they’re coming….but…” A tear slipped down her façade, dragging the grime and blood that muddied her features with it. ”If these cubs kill me, promise…” she gasped for breath as another contraction waded through her form. ”Promise you’ll take care of them, my love. But I don’t want to…to die, like Huts.” A small spark streaked through her azure orbs and a wry smile contorted her muzzle, and she craned her head around to look up at her amber father-in-law. ”Hello…Draeg. Glad to see…you…today. “ Lydair stiffened before a savage snarl tore the air in anguish; she whimpered and lowered her head once more, running her dry tongue over her blood-soaked chin. ”Is Cwen...a-alright? I…I may less than…than like her, but I’d n-…never let that get in the way of my…job.”

Another cry burst from her lungs and as more blood sprayed the ground before she gritted her fangs against the pain and growled gently before making a feeble attempt to rise to her paws. Snapping her head back and forth wildly, Lydair sought the entrance to her whelping den; Sita be damned if she would ignore her primal instincts and let any Varg, her mate, father-in-law, or not, see the birth of her cubs. Again she rose into an unsteady crouch, her eyes narrowing and she grunted with determination. ”Koan…Draeg..” The femme gasped suddenly, ”Please, help me into…the den…”


(((Okay...suck-ass post...sorries. I'll edit it later.)))

[Cwen]

Bursting through the terrain and into the small clearing where blood dappled the virgin white snow in crimson pools, the silver Drappa came to an abrupt halt at the sight she took in. “Lydair…” she spoke almost silently to herself – in complete disbelief at the sight she saw acting out before her. Turning her steely gaze sharply to Draeg and Koan she snarled at the two males, bounding forward to her Healer’s side and giving her a gentle lick on the muzzle, attempting to clear the clotted blood that caked her nasal in hope that it might help her breathing.

Cwen had been sound asleep within Ge-Rad’s den, for the first time in several suns, when the blood curling howls and calls from the hybrid had awoken her ember mate. Of course curiosity had gotten the better of her and she’d followed Draeg through the snow littered terrain, keeping up with his swift and agile pace with little effort needed – for her muscular frame was built to run, and run for long distances at that.
However one set back that had kept the faemme that bit further behind from her mate was the still aching injury she’d gained to her spine and chest roughly a moon ago now. It was not as severe as it had been, but it still caused her some grief.

Taking a cautious step back from Lydair as she began to get up on weak limbs, this shown clearly by her trembling legs, Cwen growled and gave a frantic glance to both Koan and Draeg. Cwen knew how much Koan disliked her – and of course this was her mate and after he blamed her for the death of his past one, he would no likely take no hesitation in attacking her now for getting this close to his new one. But he was no faemme, and Cwen knew exactly the pain that Lydair was going through…of course she had not quite experienced this strange reaction as the Ge-Rad healer had.
A small smile curled the edges of her lips as she remembered what Lydair had asked Draeg only seconds before her intrusion on the threesome, and she nodded silently to the faemme. “I’m fine Lydair – but do not be concerned for your Drappa at this point in time. All you need to think about now is giving birth, and if you cannot make it to the den in time, then I’ll have no hesitation in driving the males away for you if you are not capable,” she chuckled in a humorous fashion – trying to evade Lydair’s thoughts from the pain and hoping it would bring a more light-hearted feel to the tension that was shared between them.

Rushing to the healer’s side, Cwen nuzzled her muzzle underneath Lydair’s body and gently pushed upwards – giving the sign that if she needed someone to rest or fall on, Cwen was by her side.

((Hope you don't mind the intrusion...but still, should be fun to see your reactions, heheh.))

[Draeg]

Draeg was doing his best to remain calm as he tried to determine exactly what was happening to Lydair, this was far different from the time Cwen had been forced into labor early and in the amber varg’s mind it was a great deal worse. All around them the once white snow had taken a crimson hue, stained by the pack healers own lifeblood which she had expelled violently throughout the course of her labor. Was all a result of Lydair’s labor? Why was her pregnancy so hard? Was she dying? Draeg prayed not, Koan had been devastated by the death of his first mate. The amber varg did not want his son to go through losing another mate, he had suffered enough already. While he awaited his son’s arrival the amber varg busied himself by tending to the pregnant mother as best he could, cleaning as much of the dried crust from her muzzle as he could and trying to determine what was wrong with the pregnant femme.

After what seemed like an eternity Koan came skidding onto the scene, his eyes wide with horror as he frantically made his way over to his mate, completely ignoring Draeg and practically knocking the amber varg aside in his hurry to see Lydair. Words flowed like water from Koan’s maw as the gun gray warrior shot forth a stream of questions, clearly terrified by the sight before him and trying to determine what exactly was happing to his mate. Draeg did his best to steady his son but the amber varg was having trouble dealing with the matter himself, having never been in sort of situation before. This wasn’t the kind of labor he was used to, where he would simply wait at the entrance to the den until the pups were born. Lydair might actually die if neither varg couldn’t determine what was wrong with her, as would her pups if they weren’t whelped in time. Lydair suddenly regained consciousness though her eyes were clouded with pain and her breathing was labored, blood beginning to flow out from her muzzle again as she began violently expelling the crimson liquid so that hit splattered onto the already stained snow. She attempted to stand but was only able to manage an unsteady crouch, Draeg could see that her contractions were hitting her hard and knew that it wouldn’t be long before she finally began to give birth to the cubs. If the cubs were born outside of the den their chances for survival would be cut considerably short, taking a place on one side of the pregnant femme the amber varg pressed himself firmly against Lydair’s side as to act as a support for his son’s mate.

Cwen arrived a moment later, driving Draeg off with a fierce snarl as she took his place alongside Lydair. Knowing that Cwen was more qualified to handle the situation than he was Draeg allowed her to take charge of the situation, calling Koan over to him with a light yip as he watched his mate tend to the cobalt colored wolf dog. “Koan, it’s best to let Cwen handle things for the time being. Neither of us is really of any use at the moment, the best we can do is start preparing for the arrival of your pups.”

[Koan]

The young male was practically hyperventilating, panicing. This was all so wrong, this wasnt how things were supposed to go. Now was not the time, now was not the right moment. He wasn't ready. Then he supposed, no father ever was, nor was any mate. He turned to Draeg and went to the amber male's side. "She's going to be ok, right?" he growled to him. Koan, despite his attitude to his father, and their fights, and arguments, still looked to his father for reassurance.

(bleh. I'm only posting here cause Lydair insists that I do. )

[Lydair]

A course rustle in the foliage beside her brought a fearful snarl to the femme’s stained maw and she curled instinctively into a ball, tucking her small paws and ignoring the driving pains in her womb. Whining softly she clacked her jaws against the cramps; the angry snarl that echoed her own snapping her white lids apart to reveal flashing cyan orbs and her head whipped around to meet the stare of the oncoming Drappa steadily. Cwen’s charging form brought a sharp gasp and then a grimace to Lydair’s façade and she yelped, pulling her ears tightly against the sides of her cobalt skull in an effort to parry the oncoming pain that she expected. The caressing tongue that touched her nares next made the pregnant femme flinch but in disbelief she stared into the femme’s eyes, her fear melting into gratitude and she sighed softly as the crimson that crusted her flaring nostrils was wiped away. Her sides heaving, it shifted slowly into a constant rise and fall of her furred sides before coming slightly erratic again. Relaxing suddenly against the ground, she smiled weakly at her Drappa and her tail slapped the blood-bruised ground that she had only moments ago stained with the expelling of her own lifeblood. ”Thank you…Cwen.” The cobalt healer whispered as she gazed at her Drappa. The tension that was still slightly strung taunt between them had deepened at their last meeting; the femme had been stung by the snapping dangerously close to her once-ivory muzzle but she had well-deserved it, but now Lydair remembered little of it and all she could think of was keeping her stomach from churning and heave more than blood, for the stabbing pains that racked her slender form were doing anything but good.

The silver Drappa backed away suddenly from the Healer and Lydair cast her pained glance to her mate and her amber father-in-law before she turned away; above her she thought for a moment, among the branches of the trees, she saw the flash of golden talons and heard the flapping of auburn-flecked tan wings. ”Get away!” Lydair snarled suddenly, her azure orbs flaming suddenly as she glared at the hovering air-putnar. Cwen’s voice cut through her angry stare and Lydair’s rose-hued muzzle upturned into a small smile and she forced a small chuckle to dab the air without wincing; however as a small pressure pressed against her pained side she yelped and snapped at the air before realizing it was Cwen aiding her in standing; craning her head Lydair licked her pearly chin thankfully and rose shakily to her paws; her muscles burned from the tension that riddled them but she was relieved and leaned against the much stronger fae beside her heavily as Cwen made her way to the entrance of the whelping den. Smiling gently, Lydair growled a her thanks and disappeared in the blackness, the only noise to heard from her was her heavy breathing that rasped from her maw, but as the primal knowledge that her cubs were not going to wait much longer to embrace the world drove her farther and farther into the den her breath deepened and became more regular; she smiled again as she heard first draeg speak and then the frantic voice of her beloved mate, and Lydair crouched, and the lay down, straining with a small whimper, her front paws kneading the ground anxiously. Her coat again became soaked with sweat that beaded at her forehead.

The internal damage the sickness had created had not only damaged the femme, but also a select few of her cubs. As the first cub met the world, Lydair murmured to it, licking it roughly to its sac burst open, but it did not respond. Yelping shrilly she furrowed her brow and nudged the puppy, but it did not answer it mother. As another contraction harried her, she lay down yet again, worried but not about to yet one puppy stop the birthing of her cubs. Again she rose to free the cub of its placental sac, but the small-muzzled hybrid cub did not respond. Its small paws still curled against its chest, Lydair whined, more etars forming in the corners of her eyes. Sita… she thought mournfully. Is this the legacy of all mothers? To lose their young? The world swam as a pain writhed her gut, but she shook her head gingerly and ignored it. Raising her head, she saw the small movement as the pup yearned to breathe as she curled around hurriedly to nip its sac and free the cub. Whimpering softly, its paws flailing, Lydair licked the cub, her eyes sparkling and as her maternal side engulfed the femme’s heart and mind she herded the little body to her side where it latched onto a swollen teat and began suckling with a zeal. It was her eldest, her son. Its coat was damply silver and she could see how he resembled his handsome father Koan. ”Koude,” Lydair whispered tenderly. ”Memory…Koude.” The cub raised its small head and opened his jaws against her loving nudges. The next was smaller in form but Lydair was amazed as she nearly sliced through her encasement herself; Lydair was met with the dappled body of a silver-brown she-cub with a cub-mark on her chest that resembled that of a small bird, its head and beak stunningly clear and Lydair took a moment to scrutinize it. The falcon outside. Its beady eyes had seemed oddly intelligent and it had watched her keenly, but did not make any move towards the femme. ”A sign from Tor and Fenris…perhaps that bird will be your savior…or perhaps it will mark the pinnacle of your death, young one.” Lydair sighed with contentment and urged the cub to her side; the pup took her place immediately beside her brother; it was uncanny how she seemed to already see the world around her and Lydair glanced at her with a crooked smile before naming her, her voice coming gentle and soft. ”Caoimhe…young Kalli. Beauty and grace, Caoimhe.”

The last cub had not come after the arrival of Caoimhe and Koude; before it had come another stillborn, its coat a stunning white. Lydair’s second daughter, however, had not been completely stillborn- she had stopped breathing only minutes after she had been nursing beside her two siblings. It had pained the cobalt hybrid beyond compare to remove the dead corpse from her side, but her thoughts turned to the last life that stirred within her. Her second son soon lay at her hindquarters and Lydair smiled to see the bright tan fur of her son Kaemon. His tail was already weakly wagging and her had a comical look around him, for his eyes were ringed in a deep brown-gray that set him apart. The male had nudged his way between Koude and Caoimhe before Lydair, with a frown at the sight of Caoimhe slowly moving to push away her brother, had placed him beside the dappled bodice of Kalli and nodded to herself with a smile. ”Kaemon…joyful.” the pup brought a grin to her face as the pup’s tail wagged vivaciously. ”You’ll always do as your name describes…my son…my cubs…” Lydair lowered her head, eyeing the three dead cubs that lay several feet away, at the edge of the back of the den. Yawning widely, with the thought of Just a small nap…I’m so tired… Lydair drifted into a deep shroud of sleep, her breathing regulated and her body curled around her cubs to keep them warm against the barren floor of the cold den.


Lydair woke up to streams of amber sunlight filtering through the den entrance; midday was close at paw and Lydair rose slowly, strength returning to her. Padding quietly forward, Lydair gazed around her at the three wolves before her cyan eyes, weary but bright with happiness, rested on her scarred mate. Her muzzle curling into a tired grin, Lydair nodded. ”Would you like to see your cubs now, love?” Lydair breathed, her thickly plumed tail wagging furiously. ”Draeg…Cwen…” Lydair laughed. ”You’re grandparents…” Raising her muzzle, Lydair spoke proudly. ”Koude, Caoimhe – Kalli – and Kaemon.”

Stepping aside, Lydair glanced towards the sky, when again the falcon caught her gaze. Frowning, Lydair suddenly barked a challenge to the bird as it seemed to glower at her, but in the depths of its amber eyes she saw a strange flame. Muttering to herself, she shifted her stare now to her Dragga and Drappa- now, at least indirectly, her mother-and-father-in-law.

[Koan]

The silver male rose, and padded to her side. The last night had been a living hell for him, wondering if he'd awake to find his mate and cubs both dead. The thought had made his sleep shallow and fevered, and he had awoken frequently, glancing worriedly at the den. His father had tried to comfort him; even his stepmother, Cwen, had told him that she was ok. Still, even with that reassurance, he couldn't shake his deep fears of loss.

He paused as he heard her voice, and smiled. He nuzzled her silvery side affectionately. "Their born...* he said smiling, a sigh of relief escaping his muzzle. "Don't ever scare me like that again, Milady. I barely slept." he smiled again, and poked his head gently into the den, staring around at the collective balls of fur. His eyes caught on each of them, and a smile filled his whole muzzle, a joy so fierce and strange filling him. The empty gap inside of him ... while it wasn't filled, it was bridged. He lookd them over with gentle eyes, absorbing ever detail of them deep into his mind. A silver cub, with a slight tinge of white on the crown of his skull. A small black patch on his chest..he looked similiar to Koan himself. The silver brown fae that lay there was beautiful ,and tiny, and Koan felt a strange protective feel rise up in his stomach. His eyes traced the tan fur of his second son, and felt that same emotion , a deep love that transended his own anger and hurt... it felt good to let go of his hate, even for just a moment. He nuzzled his cobalt mate again. "Their so small.." he whispered. Grinning at Draeg, he laughed. "Almost as small as I was when you found me, eh old man?"

[Nocturnia Diiore]

[I'll reply to this soon.. Let tomorrow end and you'll find a post of mine up.

Sorry for being so sour, Draeg, but you did deserve a bit of the cold-shoulder for a while, and that's what you got. -Shrug- Read posts next time, ooc or not.

Lydair will shoot me for making this banner. -Hide-]