Angels came to light your path

Orin Takekuro · 03-09-2011, 05:53 AM

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Word Count→500+ :: Shaw and Alaine. Shaw first for a couple posts, then Alaine! Here come the babies!! BTW just to make sure it is clear, the thread starts out in the afternoon but by the time Orin sits in the snow it is evening.

The mother-to-be was restless. She felt like this the entire day, and for half of the day prior. Something was wrong; Orin wished she could crawl right out of her skin! Maybe then this itch, this restlessness, would go away! The woman did her best to keep busy, to keep her mind off of her body's betrayal. She was becoming used to peculiar occurrences like these, her body had felt like an alien thing for the last two months – all throughout her pregnancy. But this time her discomfort advanced quickly, becoming too severe to disregard within a matter of hours. It was when she began to feel nauseous and hot that she finally sent word to her friend in Cour des Miracles.

Unfortunately, courier was a slow system these days. Not only did she have to wait for the courier to travel the distance to the Court (that is, if they decided to be honest and actually complete the task given), but she had to wait for Alaine to collect herself and cover the distance, too. That is, if Alaine would come. She would come, right? She had to. Orin needed her.

It's too hot in this damn book store! Orin thought, her mood darkening by the minute. She was anxious and there was little she could do about it. If anyone stopped by she would send them away. She did not want anyone to know there was something wrong, she did not even want to see anyone's stupid face! With a scoff, Orin jerked out of her chair and lumbered to the front door. The insufferable heat was worse than the possibility of seeing anyone but Alaine, so she yanked the door open and stepped outside.

The cold, frosty air hit her like a brick wall. Anyone else might have been overcome by the chill, but the biting air did not affect Orin, except maybe to annoy her because it did not cool her down enough. There was no one in Thornbury's shopping square, odd for the early afternoon, but all the better. Without any distractions she could keep a better look out for Alaine. It was not long until the ivory wolfess was pacing on her porch... and then leaning against the banister... and then picking at the paint... and then grumbling angrily... Hours passed and the cold night set upon Cercatori D'Arte, but still Orin did not give up her vigil (really, she could not bare the thought of going back inside, into that horribly hot store).

With a heavy sigh Orin's gaze flicked to the snow at the base of the porch, and suddenly the white powder looked so inviting that she could not dismiss the opportunity. Descending the steps, Orin found a nice soft mound of snow settled against her bookstore, and there she flopped down into it. A moment more and she was digging in it, piling it up all around her like a snowy cocoon. It was just so hot, and the snow was so cool...

Table made by Kiki! Image credit here.

Shawchert Menue · 03-09-2011, 06:15 AM

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WC: 331 OOC: SQUEEEEE!!

Shawchert’s day had been quite different. He had been working on other houses and he’d caught some food for his fiancé and some for Orin as well, and he knew how she liked her food cooked, so when he got the chance he cooked up the meal and found himself heading across the street to give Orin her meal. He knew she could take care of herself, but this was his way of saying he still cared for her, and he was there for her, and the pups. He was almost there when he saw someone as white as the snow digging in it. The slight pink of her fading locks and tail made Shawchert see who it was, though it was dark out. He wondered what on earth the woman could be doing? Moving to her he spoke.

Orin? Are you alright?

He asked, the steaming food was held in his hand. He had no idea what she was feeling right now and if he did he’d understand his hot steaming pile of food would not be regarded well. Right now he knew there was something wrong… and his mind jumped to the puppies, was there something wrong with them? Was she miscarrying like Sky did? Well this behavior wasn’t what Sky had exhibited when she had her pups. Shaw moved closer.

Is it the pups? Do you need me to get someone?

He asked in a hurried voice, his hands still holding the plate of meat, as he moved closer to her. Yes he was worried, he’d put her in this situation, and he would hate himself if something happened to either the pups or the white woman who was digging. Right now he had no idea what to do, other than stand there and wait for her answer. Maybe the food was a good idea, it could calm her down… at least that was his thought at that moment and was sure to laugh at himself for that later on.

Orin Takekuro · 03-09-2011, 06:40 AM

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Word Count→300+ :: Hormone rage! BWHAAHAHA!

“What?” Preoccupied as she was, Orin failed to notice Shawchert's approach until he spoke up, and now that he had she jerked a dagger gaze at the unwitting man before her. When she turned to him her face was dark, eyes half lidded and laced with an unexpected rage. Not only did she not want to be bothered, but she especially didn't want any male... no, especially not this male anywhere near her right now! A visceral growl rumbled in her throat, a noise that would have been better suited to her lupus form.

“Is that supposed to be some kind of sick joke!” She held nothing back. She shouted at the top of her lungs and didn't care if everyone else in the whole entire pack heard! “'Are you okay?' Do I look ok to you? I'm burying myself in the snow, for fucks sake! And it's all your fucking fault... Ow! See! No, I don't need you to do shit, you've done enough!” Orin suddenly summoned the words the sailors had taught her when she was on the ship that delivered her to Nova Scotia. She spread her arms and looked down at the mound of snow she had built around her. Shawchert was coming closer... was he going to ruin her work?

“Hey hey hey!” She held up a warning hand. “Get back! Don't you dare touch this, I need it to stay cool. In fact, all this snow? See it? It's mine. DON'T TOUCH IT! Get off of it! Get off of it now!” The hysterical Luperci got to her feet in that awkward way of pregnant women, then grabbed a handful of snow and began packing it tight. That was when the rich aroma of the cooked meat wafted through the air about her, and she paused for a moment to look at the plate in his hand. No! “What the? A cooked meal, Shawchert, really? Don't you have any brains? It's too fucking hot to eat a cooked meal!” As though to contradict her, a frigid breeze toyed through Thornbury. Orin failed to notice the cold.

“Ugh!” She snorted in disgust and let the packed snowball in her hand fly. “Didn't you hear me? I said get off my snow!” She grabbed another and flung it, and suddenly she was an erratic, snowball pitching machine.

Table made by Kiki! Image credit here.

Shawchert Menue · 03-09-2011, 03:53 PM

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WC: 307 OOC: Yes I don’t see him leaving her entirely, but I will only be a creeper, continue on, he’s too scared to come out of hiding!!!

Shawchert didn’t expect what Orin was about to do so when she started yelling at him he stood dumbfounded, his progress to her stopped entirely and he was staring at her as though she had gone crazy. The first thing that did go through his mind that she was going crazy, and he saw as she said the snow was hers, that he needed to go, and as she said this she was packing the snow. He watched her wide eyed about tell her he’d cooked her something, and then she seemed even MORE angry, his heart leapt as she yelled at him for it being too hot!! What was wrong with her? It was absolutely freezing out here? He couldn’t guess much of what was happening with her because suddenly her first snowball came, and it hit the plate of food and made it topple out of his hands. Never had he seen a wolf act like this so what was he suppose to do? He couldn’t do anything as she started throwing the snow his way pelting him over and over with the white fluff until he finally ran away, though he made himself stay within a few meters he wasn’t sure what he was suppose to do with the crazy wolf who was pregnant with his children. He was scared for them… if she was this crazy what would happen to them when they were born? Then remembering how Sky acted the color drained from his face. He stayed out of eyeshot but he was next to Orin’s house breathing hard and unsure if he should get Sky or not. She’d gone out for the day so he didn’t know where to find the medic. So he stayed where he was in hopes that soon enough she would be willing to let him help.

Orin Takekuro · 03-09-2011, 04:17 PM

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Word Count→400+ :: Alaine, we are ready for joo!

The snowballs kept flying even as Shawchert turned and fled from her hormonal rage. She felt the overwhelming urge to chase him down but managed to stave off the urge, no matter how darkly fun and satisfying it would be. She was beginning to feel the first of many rolling pains in her midsection and body and had not the strength nor energy to pursue the poor, unsuspecting father. She suspected he may have just slipped off and was hiding nearby, and this bothered her, but she decided to leave it alone. Orin turned to go back to her mound of snow, stopped, and turned around again. She did not want to leave that meat behind, no matter how much its presence offended her originally. She found it sprinkled with snow, grabbed the cut, and then returned to her mound of snow.

It took her a while to settle back into her spot, and she shuffled constantly like she couldn't get comfortable. She placed the meat cut in the snow and buried it with a few handfuls, hoping to cool it off so she would find it edible. Again she began digging in the snow, just to make a mound of it around her and pack it up. If she kept going she might just encase herself in an igloo! But Orin only packed it a few inches high around her and stopped. With a heavy sigh she leaned back against the post of the porch and cast her eyes to the sky, and then closed them. She was pretty sure that this restlessness would kill her.

After a moment she opened her eyes abruptly and started looking around, as though looking to see if Shawchert was sneaking back up on her. Not today, buddy, she thought. I'm not in the mood. But he wasn't within sight, and she realized it was just her being edgy.

She laid her head back and stared up at the night sky. Where was Alaine? She would be here, right? Suddenly another wave of that rolling pain overcame her again. It started as a nauseous feeling in her gut and then spread and intensified. It was not so terrible that she had to cry out, but she did breath deeply with the pain, trying to alleviate it. Soon enough it went away. Orin rested her hands on her stomach and kept her eyes closed. Alaine would come, she just had to have faith.

Table made by Kiki! Image credit here.

Alaine Winters · 03-09-2011, 10:19 PM

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Word Count → 5+ :: table © sie

It had been an unremarkable day thus far.

Her children, for the most part, had been sleeping off the winter chill in the small nest that the Winters woman had built in her chamber of the Chien Hotel. As time progressed, they would acquire little beds of their own, but for now the three fuzzballs seemed content to share the bodily warmth of one another.

The knowledge that other packmates were babysitting was what allowed the woman to go about her regular duties - She had spent a good hour or two infront of the kitchen stove, bubbling broths and the like and bottling them in small glass jars which she kept in the creaky, rotting wooden cupboard at the back of the room. Tired of remaining indoors, she had wandered absently out the front of the hotel, and was pruning away the dead branches of the rosebush when the courier found her.

The Luperci was panting as he issued his message, and Alaine's response was immediate. She tore back into the Hotel, gathering blankets and bits and bobs, stuffing rags and poultices and clinking glad bottles into the worn leather satchel that served as her healing bag. Quick words were given to the mated pair who often babysat her children, and then she was gone, printing through the snow to the stables.

Nana was in her stall, and it did not take long for the Apothecary to saddle her up. Cursing in Gaelic at the buckles that teased her frozen fingers, she finally managed to get all the equipment on the rotund mare, who had sensed her mistress' apparent seriousness and was shifting her weight from hoof to hoof. Bundling blankets and strapping them to the saddle, as well as pouring the odd assortment of healing equipment from her arms into the saddlebags, Alaine then tugged sharply on the reins and led the docile mare from the stable out into the fresh, crisp air.

She mounted quickly, thankful for the amount of time she had spent on horseback recently. Alaine was no expert in the saddle, but her mediocre skills provided a way to edge the lazy mare into a jaunty canter. They were off!

Through the woods, through the flatlands. Through swells of deep snow and across rocky tundra. It was an effort to keep the placid mare to her pace, and a few times they slowed to a walk so that both horse and rider could catch their breath. However, excitement was coursing through Alaine's veins, as well as the pressing sense of professional urgency. Orin's time had come, and she required assistance.

It was not long before the peaked rooftops of CdA came into view. With a sharp inhale, Alaine leaned low over Nana's withers, and the heavy mare broke into a thunderous gallop. Her huge dinnerplate hooves kicked up large flurries of snow in their wake, jets of hot breath swelling from the equine's flared nostrils. From afar, emerald eyes could make out the pink-tinged form of her friend, although the white of her pelt blended seamlessly with the white of the snow she had dug into.

Slowing to a canter, then a trot, Alaine pulled Nana up sharply in front of the bookstore. The mare whinnied crossly, but Alaine had already dismounted even before the moving mountain had come to a complete stop. "Orin! What on earth are you-" Leaving the reigns dangling in front of the blowing horse, the lithe Apothecary darted forward to her prone friend, observing her now with practiced and professional emerald eyes. A sharp white smile spread across her nymph-like maw. "Orin, you are in labour; We must get you back inside. Oh, don't you argue - I know you must be hot, but your children will freeze if they are born out here." She moved to help the woman to her feet, if she would allow it, and then glanced about. "And where is the father? If you'll not allow him inside, then he could at least tend to Nana, and bring equipment should I require it."

Orin Takekuro · 03-10-2011, 09:22 PM

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Word Count→700+

The wolfess stayed as she was for a long time, with her face cast toward the sky and her eyes closed. Occasionally she would shift and wriggle in her discomfort, but mostly she just stayed in that spot. There was a moment where she considered eating the meat – it surely would have cooled off enough by now – but then another contraction rolled through her body and she decided she did not want to even think about eating. Finally she heard the sound of the heavy hooves as Nana plodded through Thornbury. Orin's eyes shot open, and she peered across the square to see a mounted angel galloping through the clouds towards her!

Okay, Orin admitted, that was a little dramatic, even for her. Still a smile spread from ear to ear as the graceful apothecary slipped off of her mount and, without breaking stride, hurried over to her. Excited, she clapped her hands together once, then held her arms up to Alaine, though she was reluctant to do the work to get herself off the ground and out of the snow.

Alaine had the same confounded look that Shawchert had when he discovered the Tundra girl sitting in the snow, but Alaine knew better, and the look of 'have you lost your mind??' quickly melted into a compassionate smile of understanding. Unfortunately, completely naive to the business of having children, Orin knew nothing about the terminology Alaine used. “Labor? I don't think so. I think I'm about to have the pups.”

She was grateful for Alaine's help, and accepted it in getting herself off of the ground and standing, but as she straightened another wave overcame her and she bent over slightly. Her hand moved to her stomach as though she could alleviate the pain, though she could not. They had gotten stronger since she first settled herself in the snow. She gritted her teeth for a second, but though it was stronger, it was still short, and soon the wave passed.

She stood up straight and looked at Alaine pleadingly. “Oh my god, but it's just so hot inside. I don't even know how it got that way, I don't even have a fireplace. Are you sure? They're full wolves, you know, I think they can handle a little snow.” She almost sounded a little indignant, though she never would be rude to Alaine. But really, the little ones were half Tundra wolf, for the moon's sake! They should be alright. But Orin trusted Alaine completely, and at her insistance, she began walking towards the stairs to go inside.

“Oh, him,” she grumbled darkly when Alaine mentioned the father. “I just got done chasing him off. But knowing his nosy ass-” that was some of the sailor jargon she had learned “-he's probably just stalking me around the corner or something.” She waved her hand in Shawchert's general direction. “He went off that way.”

Orin climbed the stairs, careful to hold onto the banister as she went. Then, once on the porch, she looked in Shawchert's direction and could have sworn she saw a tell tale shadow. At this, she laughed heartily, then shook her head and, in a tone that implied she knew she was acting crazy, said, “Shawchert, it's okay... Alaine says I'm done with the snow.” This was a joke, and she laughed as she said it. “I'm sorry I said 'shit' and 'fuck' and 'don't you have any brains?'” She spared a glance at Alaine, wondering if her friend would diagnose her a loony.

Her golden eyes returned to the shadow – or at least, the shadow she thought might be Shawchert, but could have been anything – and she waited a moment to see if the man would come back. While she waited, she spoke to Alaine, “I was completely unprepared up until a couple days ago. Then all of a sudden I had this urge and I got the whole store cleaned up, and the floor cleared. I want to keep them downstairs – no way do I want to be climbing stairs in the next few weeks.” Her hands idly moved to her round belly. “I made a bed... Well, it's kind of more than a bed... on the floor that's ten times more comfortable than my cot upstairs. I don't know what else I'll need, though.” She was slightly worried until she looked at the mare that milled around the yard, saddlebags apparently packed with provisions. She hoped that it was all the things Alaine needed.

Table made by Kiki! Image credit here.

Alaine Winters · 03-11-2011, 06:28 AM

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The woman seemed childishly gleeful that Alaine had arrived, her sullen mood slipping away in spite of the aches that the Apothecary knew (and could empathise with, twice over) would be rocking her bulged frame at the moment. She chatted at the Apothecary, who was much too concerned with helping her sizable bulk out of the snow and up the stairs to pay much attention to it. Alaine knew her friend well enough to recognise that her grumblings were only offered out of discomfort, and that whatever the healer said was best for her, she would eventually succumb to. The ivory and pale coral-pink woman seemed to have a strange respect for Alaine's profession that many others lacked, and for this, the smaller collie-woman was glad. She certainly didn't want to have to wrestle her good friend into the house.

The mention of her babydaddy was obviously a rather volatile one. Orin spat such descriptions that the colliewoman had never before heard, and thoroughly amused in spite of herself, Alaine managed to limit her reply to a curiously raised brow. When the pair reached the porch, Orin stopped to look for the said male, and because she had the current power of a rhino the shorter colliewoman had not option but to stop also, her emerald gaze skimming the white world beyond for wherever it was that the ivory wolfess saw her previous lover. Seeing nothing but suspicious shadows, the healer shook her head slightly, waiting for Orin to finish her blustering and rather crude words before catching the female's eye and offering her a bemused eye-roll. It seemed that hormones had taken a far more direct route within Orin's system than it had within many other soon-to-be-mothers, but Alaine was not surprised. Her pink-dashed friend was incapable of missing an opportunity to be suitably dramatic, and it was one of the qualities that the cream healer found so endearing.

While Orin chatted, the Apothecary midwife listened absently, her emerald eyes trained on Nana and the wealth of healing equipment she carried. Alaine was not worried on her walking off - the mare was far too lazy for such a thing, and seemed content resting hip-shot where she was. Returning her attentions to the other female, she nodded gently, wanting to reassure the ivory wolfess that everything she was experiencing was natural. "You are a nest-maker, mo cara. It is very common - I was, too." Orin had yet to see her children, but Alaine shared a secret smile with the other female, joyful with the knowledge that soon her pups would be able to meet the woman unofficially deemed as their godparent. The healer had given it a lot of thought recently, and should she no longer be able to care for them, she could think only of how much her children would gain from being with the ivory wolfess. It was a concept she wished to discuss with Orin, but obviously, at a later date.

"How about we head in to this 'bed' then, hmm? If the heat makes you uncomfortable, I will wet some rages to cool you down." It was important that the tundra wolf not overheat, although the temperature itself was dipping towards cool. There must have been plenty of adrenaline stored in her system for such a rise in temperature, for she did not look otherwise feverish or ill. With gentle coaxing, she aimed to lure Orin back to her nest, where she could set up her gear and prepare for the arrival of the pups. Glancing back over her shoulder at the frosty world beyond, the Gaelic maiden paused for a moment, before raising her accented tone to shout, "If you would be so kind as to tether my mare, and gather the equipment stored in her saddlebags? I will require it all. You may leave it at the entrance of the room." Her tone was curt and commanding, but not irritably so - this was her area of expertise, and the father would do well to follow through with her requests.

Orin Takekuro · 03-12-2011, 01:04 AM

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Orin Takekuro

:: 500+ ♥ Word Count ::
:: Puppies next post! Shaw, feel free to bring him back around at any point you have the time. Otherwise, we'll just PP his lurky presence outside! (Note: PP previously approved by Shaw!) ::

She waited expectantly for Shawchert to round the corner, but nothing returned from that shadow but dead silence. Orin's temper ascended to its peak again with each unanswered second, and the apology in her features began to mutate. The woman looked like she was just about to lash out with harsh words again when her gaze caught Alaine. It was like the woman was her rock, a center point, and each time she looked at her it was like she was suddenly reminded of what was actually happening. Her body was preparing for a rapid change and it was taking a toll on her mood. This was to be expected, although how each mother-to-be handled it was unique in its own right.

A half smile played at the corner of her mouth and she shook her head as though to chase away the bad words that percolated inside her. Now she was worried, though. She could have sworn Shawchert was right there. Had he actually run off or was he just too angry with her after that little scene to come round the corner and help now? Well, whatever the case, the onset of another contraction made her realize she needed to worry about that later.

“That sounds like a great idea,” she said as she stepped up to the door and opened it, waddling inside. Another wave was going to rock her in a few seconds, and she decided they were much easier to cope with when she was seated.

She seemed to slowly bend over with each step as the pain crept up on her. Trying to ignore it, she said in a halting voice, “I can't believe I forgot to ask...” it was a funny thing to say, since Orin was understandably preoccupied at the moment. “How are your – ah!” ...pause... breath... “pups?” With Alaine's assistance, she shuffled over to the pillow of coverings she had made a few days ago. Her own small, white fingers tightened their hold on Alaine's arm for a moment as she fought the wave, and with a turtle's swiftness and Alaine's help, she sat down in the nest, and then reclined.

“I think Shaw heard you, I'm sure he was still there,” she said idly, but her eyes were wrought with distress. Whether it was for Shawchert or for the quick progression of her labor was uncertain.

“The pain is getting worse,” she worried. “And faster. Ah! An... other... one! Oh! What was that?” She looked down with a furrowed brow. It felt like she was suddenly bleeding, and when she cast her eyes down the fur was matted and wet. “Is that normal?” Her gaze jerked back to Alaine, and there was a flash of fright in them. Orin knew nothing about this... she should have read up on it! Instead she was marching into this adventure blind, and as she realized that, she began to panic, and it was written all over the frightened look she gave Alaine.

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