` welcome to existence [BIRTH]

[SINEAD]

Sinead

Sinead woke abruptly, lifting her narrow muzzle from her paws. The darkness of the dens surrounded her as she paused, blinking sleepily at the shadows. The soft breathing of the others who slumbered deeper within the caverns, separated from where Sinead slept, was as comforting as the dull chirping of cicadas outside. Eneko lay peacefully beside her, wonderfully handsome even in his sleep. All was as usual, and yet something was…off. It took a very long time for the Einheit alpha to figure what had roused her. She laid very still, eyes narrowed, muzzle tilted towards the ground – and then suddenly her body was racked by a contraction so strong that she gasped aloud. It was time.

”Eneko,” she exclaimed, her voice dripping with urgency as she struggled to her paws. Her rounded belly feeling overly heavy as she waddled to an area of the den that was more spacious. ”Eneko, wake up. Now.”

Her sharp voice tapered off into a groan as she clenched her teeth, wracked by another wave of contractions stronger than the last. It was all happening so quickly, her body shuddering as she lowered herself to the ground. There was a pressure building between her hips as her ears flattened against her skull, her tail quivering as if in anticipation. For some time she lay there in the darkness, breathing heavily, her eyes half-lidded until suddenly the pressure was too great to resist. She needed to push.

No one had ever spoken to her of the pain; it was not unbearable, and yet it was notable, great waves of sharp agony that rose and fell like the waves of the ocean. She lay panting, occasionally gasping and hissing curses between her teeth. Her head lolled back against the earth as she pushed until finally, blessedly, the first pup emerged into the world. There was a long moment of silence that made Sinead’s gut clench, her head lifting suddenly as her bright eyes landed on the still at the exact moment that it shuddered and squealed. Relieved, she lowered her head to clean the blood and muck from its tiny mottled pelt.

”A girl,” she said as she pushed the pup closer to her stomach, her voice cracking with emotion as she glanced up to meet Eneko’s gaze. ”A healthy little girl.”

There was only a moment’s rest before the pressure returned, and Sinead gave in to the urgings of her body. The second was more difficult than the first, immediately whining it’s indignation to the world as Sinead set to work cleaning it. It was bigger than the first had been, and as she gently rolled the pup onto its side she glanced towards Eneko again, repeating her earlier words.

”Girl.” She gave a breathy laugh as she pushed the second born alongside her sister. The third came quicker than before, leaving Sinead no room to breathe as she gnashed her teeth and whined. There was a moment where her gut clenched, her mind sluggishly realizing that perhaps something was wrong…but then several pushes later the third pup was born, and Sinead eagerly rolled it over, a tired grin gracing her muzzle at what she found. When it became clear that there would be no more, Sinead laid back with a soft sigh, her threat thrumming with pride and a hint of fear. She was a mother now, with three beautiful, perfect pups to care for. After a long moment she lifted her head, stretching her muzzle towards Eneko. She craved his touch, his warmth, as the three lifeforms that they’d created together hungrily suckled away.

”The third,” she said with a devilish grin that was tinged with exhaustion. ”is also a girl. You don’t stand a chance.”

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[ENEKO]

E N E K O

If one took the disrupting presence of a certain individual out of the equation, life had been a relatively peaceful existence these last few weeks. Despite the daunting reality that edged closer with each passing day Eneko could not say he was perturbed by what lay ahead. He could recall a time back in his youngest years where the prospect of pups and a family had been daunting or cast aside completely, a pipe dream if he'd ever had one. Now, he'd melded into the oncoming role as if it had always been expected of him, pronouncing his surprising capability to adapt. Not a paw had been stepped over the borders since his return for his most immediate concern was Sinead's well-being, as well as their pups. He'd fetch food when she needed it, upkeep the borders with no effort to conceal his glee when Fane's scent had mostly faded from them. And he'd slept by Sinead's side every night like the doting mate he'd never been, just as he did now.

It was the abrupt disturbance of a voice that had him bounding to his paws with a start and yanked him from the clutches of a half-sleep. For a heartbeat he looked out of sorts until his eyes adjusted and finally landed on Sinead, who'd planted herself in a larger portion of the den. It didn't take any time at all for Eneko to piece together what was occurring and he was by her side in a flash. It was funny in a sort of non-humorous way to him how he'd not felt more than a few licks of panic over the prospect of a difficult birth, but now it hit him head on. He'd heard of females dying while birthing, the horrifying reality not some great revelation, only one he'd not wanted to dwell on. Never had he prayed so vehemently to whatever Gods might be looking out for them that Sinead would get through the ordeal alive. It was all he could do and it was a rather sudden, helpless feeling that he encased inside. He was there to give her an encouraging nuzzle or lick to the cheek each time one of their pups demanded entrance the world.

When the exhausting experience had come to an end for Sinead, all Eneko could do was stare in wonderment. He'd never been told what it would feel like to finally look upon his own offspring. They were so small, so fragile, still blind and deaf to the world and the two doting parents that watched over them. A whine caught in his throat before it could escape and he lowered himself to the ground next to his family. It was an onslaught, overwhelming now that it had happened and the usually confident brute was at a loss of what he was supposed to do in a moment like this. The only thing that came was a soft laugh at Sinead's comment, not at all sure if he was relieved or disappointed that all the pups had turned out female. Perhaps a part of him had wished for a son, if only to meld him into a less infuriating brute like all the others seemed to be. But he was happy and what also swelled within his chest was pride. He was a father, their babies were alive and well and beautiful, Sinead seemed okay and a new sense of determination washed over him, mingling with everything else.

"Are you alright? Do you need anything?" He asked with another nuzzle to her cheek. He found his paws once more and stepped carefully around her as if he were afraid he might trip and squash one of the pups. Something told him they'd grow and be dashing around his feet in no time at all and the thought brought a smile to his maw. "I can find you food. You look exhausted." And goodness, there was a minuscule part of himself that still felt lost on what he was to do, despite the joy and love that warmed his heart. He even forgot to ask her what she was going to name them.

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NOTES: ENEKO CAN'T BELIEVE HE'S A DADDY| WORDS: IDEK
TAGS: ⋆Ravɛn SINEAD

[SINEAD]

Sinead

"Are you alright? Do you need anything? I can find you food. You look exhausted."

While Sinead normally might have peeled her lips back at the suggestion that she looked anything less than stellar, she could not be bothered now. She was exhausted, waves of dull pain still radiating through her hips, although they were nothing compared to the overwhelming feeling of joy that coursed through her as she gazed down at the three wriggling balls of new life. They were beautiful, each and every one of them; as she glanced up at Eneko, her eyes gleaming with pride and affection, a slow smile spread across her muzzle.

”I’m fine, for now,” she assured him, not wanting to part with him for even a moment. Perhaps it was the hormones, she told herself, or the exhaustion from giving birth…but no. She wanted to enjoy the moment for just a while longer, the vision of Eneko gazing at her with love and amazement flickering in his gaze while her newborn pups nuzzled against her belly forever burned into her memory. A year ago she never would have expected to be where she was: Alpha of Einheit, and new mother to three lovely princesses, sired by Eneko of all brutes. She was hit with the sudden realization that she was no longer a young, vagabond she-wolf driven by dreams and desires. She was a leader now, a mother, a lover. Everything had changed.

One of the pups, the second born, squealed suddenly. Sinead’s ears perked as she glanced down at them, watching the three roll and push against each other. She chuckled, laying her weary head on her paws as her eyes flicked from one pup to the next. ”What should we name them?” She asked, her voice soft in the cave. The barest hint of light was beginning to show outside; in a few hours, the sun would rise in Einheit. She hadn’t even thought of names yet, although she knew she should have. It still felt surreal to her, as if she would wake at any moment, alone and curled in some desolate cave somewhere. She might have nipped herself if Eneko hadn’t been there; instead she shifted to gaze up at him, her tail sliding back and forth slowly across the stone floor as the newborn pups drank their fill from her, confused but hungery and eager regardless. Her eyes moved to the firstborn, and most certainly the smallest, as she wracked her tired brain for something that fit.

For some time she was silent, considering, and then it came to her. She lifted her head a fraction, gesturing to the pup in question with her nose as she asked, ”Alta?” It was a name she vaguely remembered from her mother’s stories years ago, and already she was fond of it…but Eneko’s opinion mattered to her as well. He was an essential part of her life, now and forever. Something about the realization thrilled Sinead; somewhere along the way, she’d come to love him more than she’d realized.

NOTE: Figiured they could name them together =D | WORDS: 509| TAG:Ὀδύσσεια♐ / ENEKO