She'd been cloistered in her cabin for days. The pressure was building, making her jumpy. Any day now the pups would come. The light was hours away yet, leaving her alone and anxious in her cabin, in front of her fireplace. She took a breath, the contractions were getting stronger. She placed a few drops of valerian into a glass of water, drinking it. She wished she could have something strong, with more bite, but she knew she couldn't. Not if she wanted these pups to be healthy.
She grunted as the contractions intensified, leaving her lower half with the mounting pressure. She could feel the pup in the birth canal, and she pushed, groaning. A small brownish pup slid out, squeaking indignantly. She took care of it, cleaning off the afterbirth, stroking the pup gently. The pressure mounted again, and she strained and struggled. This one was rougher. There was something wrong, she could feel it. Bi-colored eyes widened in panic as waves of ain began racking her body. This wasn't right. This was all wrong, there was something wrong with this one. She continued to push, her energy focused on making her body expell the next pup. She could smell blood, hot and tangy in her nostrils.
She slumped to the floor, leaning against a wall, still straining. Outside the indow, the snow continued to fall in the dark of the moonless night. Deuce felt panicked. The pup still hadn't moved, was still in her birth canal. The small borwn female pup had squirmed it's way closer to the mother, using Deuce to keep warm. Deuce barely noticed. She whimpered, wanting to call out, wanting to call for help from someone. But she didn't. Instead, she grunted, straining harder. Finally, something gave, and the second, and final, pup slid out of her body accompanied by a gush of blood.
Deuce could see the boy's tiny movments as she cleaned him off. His fur was a soft ash grey, and his body was tinyer than even galen's had been. She lifted him, holding him close as his sporadic movements slowed, and then ceased. She felt her heart drop. Two pups, and one dead shortly after birth. She set the boy down, just as her body's lack of energy caused her to involuntarilly shift down to her normal wolf form. She could smell her blood, and it made her gag. She lifted the small, frail girl and moved her away from the birthing scene. Names for the two pups whirled in her mind. She settled on Willow and Ash Soul. Even if Haku wanted nothing to do with the pups, the would still bear his name. She had no reason to hide the truth; she was not ashamed, it was he who was ashamed.
She yawned as she nuzzled Willow to her teats. Her tail wagged breifly as Willow latched on and began nursing contentedly. Even though Ash hadn't lived, Deuce was pleased with the way things had turned out. She didn't call for anyone to come and see. If they wanted to visit, they could. Otherwise, she would be content to be left alone with her pup.
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