Preparing for the Inevitable (RavenShard)

[nightblood]

The sound of angered growling drove bats from their hang outs and sent mice scurrying for their burrows. At the mouth of a large cave, a shadow marched forward at a snail's pace. The Beta of Arnlan had already waited too long for this, fooling herself into believing she could make it to RavenShard's cave at the first sign of movement. For the passed three weeks, she had been totally dependent on the food stores for her daily meals. Now that she was almost bursting at the seams, it was high time for her to make plans for her delivery.

Pacing herself, NightBlood trudged down from the rock floor of her den and onto softer earth. She took a quick breather before setting off again. She lumbered through the forest slowly, as if pulling a large boulder behind her. It felt like it. She had seen pregnant females in Draviria, very few had ever grown to this size. If she had to guess, she would have said at least ten. She wouldn't bet on it, however. It could just as well be fifteen tiny ones. Oh, how she hoped THAT wasn't the number.

After five stops along the way to where Blood thought RavenShard's den was, she was discouraged to find that she had barely made it half way there. She would have cried out in disappointment, but decided to keep whatever dignity she had left. Instead, the Beta lifted her head and called out to her Shaman friend, hoping that the slightly touched wolfess understood that she would be in no mood or condition to play. She was certain that she knew, but one could never be too sure with RavenShard.

When the song ended, all NightBlood could do was stand there in the open, knowing that it was very unlikely that she would get up if she sat down. Being this far along, she could not only feel the pups, but hear them as well as they sloshed around in the water inside her. Today, it felt like they were playing a game of hide and hunt. Every once in a while, one would jolt and kick off from the side of her stomach only to stop and settle down. She would growl every time this happened. These pups were way too big to be doing anything like that inside her. One wrong move and her water could break right there.

Growling at another jolt, NightBlood looked around, searching the forest for the slightest sound that would tell her that the Shaman had heard her and was coming to her aid. Once at her den, it was unlikely she would have the energy to get up again.

[Blackfeathr]

Unsteady feet shook in place as they gripped the top of a thick tree branch. RavenShard was up fairly high in a large pine tree, conversing with a group of birds in their tongue.

They were having an animate conversation, with rapid squawks, loud and harsh as if in an argument. Forgetting that she was somewhat of a normal wolf, at least in body build, and not realizing that wolves really don't belong in trees, she got so engrossed in the conversation she lost balance and fell out of the tree. She landed in a heap of lanky limbs, laughing as the birds did above.
Suddenly a howl broke out over Arnlan. It wasn't any ordinary howl, the howl belonged to NightBlood, her fine feathered... pregnant... friend.
Yes, RavenShard knew that the Beta was pregnant. In the past two months she had scented NightBlood here and there, and entwined in her scent was the aroma of unstable hormones and developing life forms.
And the Beta in question had howled for her. For her? JUST for her? Horray!
A happy face sprung up from the heap of fur and limbs. Springing to her feet, RavenShard bolted toward the direction of the howl, laughing insanely. It wasnt long before she reached NightBlood, nearly bursting with pups ready to be birthed. This sent RavenShard into a fit of uncontrollable giggles.
"Well if it isnt my fine feathered friend, miss feathered friend," she said happily, dancing around NightBloods figure.
"And how long were you going to go before telling me? Till you're on the brink of birthing, eeeehhhhh?" She drawled, "I would have made things a lot easier for you."
If she were human, she would have had her hands on her hips with her hips cocked, and an angry, pouty expression on her face. However, as she was a wolf (though it is disputed), she could only display the latter. However, this mock expression was dissolved as fits of giggles resurfaced again.
Her expression remained blissful for several seconds before she seemed to gather her bearings (if any), and shook her head and neck.
"Well then, lets take you to my den, shall we?" she pursed her lips, making her expression look funny. Standing up, she led the way, beckoning NightBlood to follow.
It was times like these where your last resort was to follow an insane wolf.

((bleh XP))

[nightblood]

"And how long were you going to go before telling me? Till you're on the brink of birthing, eeeehhhhh?" She drawled, "I would have made things a lot easier for you."

"I'll remember that next time," Blood answered, attempting a half-hearted smile.

No matter how hard she had tried before, there was no seriousness to be had around RavenShard. Now, however, as pups pulsed against her gut, it was hard to grin and bare it. Had they been Armageddon's, she might have had a different mood about the whole situation.

"Well then, lets take you to my den, shall we?"

Hesitating, Blood lurched forward, her old limp being more pronounced with the extra baggage. Her sides swayed with every step, the pull on her skin making her bite her lip in an effort not to growl. However much she hated these things that ramped around inside of her, she would not show aggression toward them in the sight of her now midwife.

"How far is it?" Blood asked, a slight pang in her voice as another pup spasmed and hit her in the right side.

[Blackfeathr]

"Next time, eh?" Raven asked curiously, tilting her head to an extreme angle.
Seeing NightBlood struggle to get up and her limp become more pronounced, Raven rushed to walk by her side, her lanky body touching with the belly of NightBlood's, feeling the pups move around quite often. So this was what it felt like to be pregnant... a venture never to be discovered by the likes of her....

Abandoning negative thoughts, RavenShard began to hum absently as they walked. She only paused when NightBlood began to speak, albeit interrupted by a very hard kick that even RavenShard felt.
"How far is it?"
Raven remained silent, her haphazard mind calculating. She suddenly spotted a familiar sight-- a poisonous berry bush. They were almost there.
About ten feet later, they had reached some fallen trees, their vines and branches dangling, seeming to make a mesh over the only gap they could go through. RavenShard ducked and slipped through it, turning around and waiting for NightBlood to follow.

Once they were through, RavenShard stepped in a small clearing around a river. A large willow tree sat beside the river, slightly uprooted possibly due to its weight. Some of its roots still clung to the ground for dear life, keeping the tree from falling down entirely. Beneath its pulled-up roots with carved-in runes was a cave-like entrance, with a vine draped in moss snaking over it. On the thin willow switches were branches of herbs and stalks of flowers tied nimbly (as if by a bird or a squirrel) to them, withering and drying in the sun. Perched near the trunk were strange nest-like creations, lined with mud, with tiny rocks inside, some with interesting colors and shapes, quite possibly medicinal experiments of RavenShard's invention.
"We're here." RavenShard said, taking in a deep breath of air and sighing peacefully.
"Evenin' Gaagii," she said, giving a curt nod to a black raven swooping low over the clearing. The raven named Gaagii cawed audibly and elevated, settling itself in the willow tree, staring beadily at newcomer to RavenShards living quarters.
RavenShard giggled as she turned back to NightBlood.
"He has no idea what I just said," she said as she grinned, squinting happily.
Suddenly gaining a burst of energy, she hopped in a high arc toward the entrance to her den. Using a paw to pull aside the curtain of moss, she gestured NightBlood to come in.
"Mi casa es su casa, Amiga." she said happily.
"Now get in before your water breaks and ruins my clean floor, I just cleaned it."

[nightblood]

NightBlood was able to get the front half of her body through the vines and branches. The rest of her, however, got stuck on the way through. Making the old wood creek in protest, the Beta pulled herself forward and was able to squeeze through the rest of the way. Another sharp pain in her abdomen told her that the pups did not appreciate that maneuver at all.

After what seemed like an eternity, Blood was finally able to set eyes on the den where her pups would be born. Now she couldn't wait to get them out of her so she could give them a piece of her mind about all that jumping and squirming around they seemed to enjoy so much. She silently wondered if RavenShard knew of any herbs she could eat that would bring the birthing closer. If they stayed inside any longer, she was afraid she might explode. In the end, she decided not to ask. She remembered the last medicine she had taken. It was not a happy memory.

"Mi casa es su casa, Amiga." Raven said happily, "Now get in before your water breaks and ruins my clean floor, I just cleaned it."

On the doctor's order, Blood stepped toward the den and inched her way forward through the tunnel. Had she not been pregnant, it would have been relatively easy to get through. Now, however, it was a tight squeeze with what she thought might be ten or eleven fetuses in her gut. She entered the first underground room she came to, not bothering to venture further.

Laying down on her side, she stretched out as far as she could. There was plenty of space for her and the pups. It was wide enough that she could extend her legs out and miss the sides by a whole inch on either side, perfect for birthing. Curling into a plump ball, she peered out at the light coming from the tunnel.

"As soon as they start to leave the den, I'll take them to my place. I don't want them messing with your herbs," she said pointedly.