Bundles of Joy...Again! ((Tagged))

[Fierfly]

@shiver

Tear:


The mottled she-wolf lazily cracked one turquoise eye in the warm, dark of a far back room of the den. It was dark and a little intimidating with how deathly quiet it tended to be, but it was warm, and safe and secluded, just what she needed at the moment.

Both velvet-edged eyes came open now and she raised and craned her head, looking for Ramone. The spot next to her was cooling and empty, he was out already, probably off hunting or maybe just staying out of her way, not that she blamed him if it was the latter. She smiled, remembering how cantankerous she'd been last time. Poor Ramone, enduring a snappy, ornery Tear as graciously as he had...probably wondering what he'd done to deserve such a crabby companion. Interestingly she was calmer this time around, maybe she was better because she knew what to expect or maybe it was because of her recent trip with Ramone, the gentle reminder of how close they were, how much they'd grown together.

She craned her head a little farther, not to see any better, but to get her a little space and momentum to struggle more into an upright position around her swollen middle. After wrestling with herself for about five minutes she decided that it just wasn't going to happen at the moment and flopped back down in resignation. As she settled back down she felt an eager kick from the coming pups reminding her that they were still there. She smiled ruefully, how could she forget? "Anytime now," she mused, half to herself and half to the pups. She was ready for these pups to be born and she could be her mobile self again, instead of stuck inside for so long. She sighed and searched the darkness again, wishing for company.

[Deleted]

Ramone lay outside the den, black belly up. He looked above him, tangerine eyes scoping out the blue-lavender canvas of morning. A few sections of sky towards the west still held smattering of diamond stars, their pure light lingering. Lingering even as the sun rose and burned them away. Zooming out, Ramone could see the trees. Their once spindly fingers no longer grey and bare. Now they carried wreaths of foliage and the beginnings of fruits. Even the burned trees were adorned with lacy tendrils of ivy. The world was alive, and so was his pack.

Most wolves immediately assumed that Blaise had started the pack, just because she was the Alphess. The male snorted as the thought crossed his mind. No, he gathered members from each corner of the valley, proposing the tentative idea of settling the Sapling Grove. They had met and it was decided that the newcomers Blaise and Foxtrot were best suited for the leading. Ramone, the founder, decided that he wanted to sit in the back seat. He didn't want to lead a pack, he just wanted one that would share his ideals, keep him safe, and keep him company.

So many wolves lived alone, and they were well suited for it. Ramone was a more social creature, he needed someone to talk to, laugh with, to survive. And he found a wolf that would never leave him alone. Tear. She was behind him, in the den being her beautifully crabby self. The dark to his light, the bark to his bite, the laugh to his joke. Rolling into his side, he shook out his pelt, his golden stripes freeing of moss and dirt. His slender head poked into the den opening , bright pastel eyes glowing into the almost immediate darkness. "Tear, you awake?" He called to his mate tentatively, holding back a chuckle that was sure to come if she sasses him. When Tear sasses others they either get defensive of shrink back, but him, it mostly made him laugh or uncomfortable.

[Fierfly]

Tear:

Ramone's long, pointed muzzle poked curiously into her space and she regretted her tendency with the pups on the way to defend herself by putting herself far back from the entrance of the den. It was so tempting to reach out and swat the curious nose, but she couldn't reach it and she knew better, he was just checking up on her, there was no reason for her to swat him, it was just tempting for fun.

"Yes," she grinned at his reflective, almost glowing golden-orange eyes in the dark, "Just not up yet." she yawned and craned her head again, partially to see Ramone better and partly to invite him in. "I was wondering where you wandered off to, it's not all light out yet is it?" while neither was a particularly noted early-riser, nor did they often sleep late so both being up at dawn was something of an interesting happenstance. "You can come in if you want, I promise that I won't bite. ...Well...not hard anyway." She might not have been as cantankerous as she had during her first pregnancy, but that didn't mean that she didn't have her moments, this was still Tear after all.

She winked at her mate and let her head flop onto the nearest wall of the den in resting and she closed her eyes again, she could be really loopy and silly sometimes, not as lax as Ramone, but she could try. "Ready for the puppies?" she asked, half-opening her eyes again to watch his reaction.

[Deleted]

The den was very dark, but his eyes slowly adjusted to the extremes; though not nearly as much as he needed. His eyes could pick up the beautiful teal eyes of his mate, accompanied by the glinting of a Cheshire grin. Ramone smiled at this, the sun rising ever farther, creating a mellow, lilac backlight. "I don't know what I was thinking, watching such a dull sunrise when I could've been watching that murderous grin on your pretty face." He yawned dryly. Nevertheless he entered the den at her invitation. "Best not to keep my queen waiting." He chuckled before settling in front of her. Ready for pups? Ready? How could anyone be ready. Pups were unpredictable creatures, demons even. You never knew when they would arrive. You never knew who they were or who they'd become. They were all their own souls with an unique quirk. No, he was not prepared. "No, nor will I ever be 'ready' for raising little wolves. They are much to complicated for my small mind to comprehend." He laughed, motioning to her bulging belly.

Returning to his original stance, he spoke once more. "The real question is, are you ready to do your best at raising some more bundles of joy?"

[Fierfly]

Tear:

She giggled, that Ramone! All of those silly, dopey things he said somehow made her fall in love with him all over again. She grinned more broadly still to let the tips of her smaller front teeth show and her eyes squint slightly for a more villainous look. "I don't know either," she quipped in kind.

There was a moment of slight alarm when Ramone - her sure, steady Ramone - answered negatively. He wasn't ready for the pups. No? What was wrong? That deep, dark, corner of her heart where she kept her most secret fears even from Ramone held a horrible, dark worry; usually it was silent, but now the worry, the worry that one day she'd lose him - that he would stop loving her, screamed. Didn't he love her anymore? Hadn't he wanted the pups? Hadn't he just said-?

Sweet was the relief as he explained his reply and now she did reach out and gently tap his nose with her paw. "Don't tease me like that!" she barked sharply, her contrasting seriousness to her mate's playfulness stark. She got her temper under control and continued more gently, but firmly "You'll do fine." then she considered his question for her. "As long as you're here to help me, stand with me. Lead our family and continue being my Ramone, I'll always be ready for whatever adventure you have in store." she promised, giving him a soft lick on the cheek and now slumping into him to let him know that she wasn't angry and that she really meant what she said.

It was a wonderful, peaceful moment. The assurance, the comfort, the strength they gave each other. There she went...head over heels again. And she would do it again, and again, and again, it made her day. The moment was so peaceful and perfect...Then came a vaguely familiar instinctual anxiety and uneasiness and she began feeling uncomfortable; natural excitement; her eyes widened slightly as their meaning dawned on her and then came that punch-in-the-gut moment of pain. She turned to Ramone, her voice shaking a little "Hey Babe...someone wants to meet their daddy."

[Deleted]

Ramone could sense the brief moment of panic that shot through his mates head as he answered her question. Perhaps he should've phrased his reply differently. Tear reprimanded him swiftly for frightening her, pressing her paw roughly into his muzzle. Tear then calmed down slightly, diminishing his anxieties sternly. He would do fine, he'd done it once, the second time must be easier. Ramone was a veteran dad. His heart fluttered like it was experiencing love for the first time when Tear licked his cheek. The black hewolf purred in his own canine way. However the moment of peace was abruptly interrupted by: "Hey Babe...someone wants to see their daddy."

The raccoon marked male laughed. "ha, that's funny Tear," He looked Tear in the eyes and his joking grin slumped. "What? Really?! Now?!!" Ramone's jaw dropped. He leaped to his paws and consequently rammed his head into the ceiling with a graceless bang. The gamma groaned slightly before speaking. "Do you want me to stay and help, or leave you be? Maybe Bianca can help...." Raine fidgeted, tangerine eyes glaring all the while at the den roof. His ears were low in anxiety and wariness. This was it...the pups were here...he had to be ready now...his panicked gaze came back to Tears lax one. Why was he panicking when she was the one giving birth?

[Fierfly]

Tear:

Ramone chuckled - he chuckled at her whimpering announcement. She wanted to swat him again! What was so funny to that lazy skeleton? She wasn't joking! The puppies wanted to come now! He turned to her, probably expecting her to laugh, but the look on her face must have convinced him that she wasn't joking because she could have sworn that he actually paled under his dark coat and his jaunty grin actually slumped into a crooked line on his face. No need to swat him, she already had her revenge.

She smiled apologetically, "It's you they want to see," it was her proud way of shamelessly begging without begging "please don't leave me alone right now, I need you." That darn pride of hers! Still, she hoped that he stayed, she needed the support. She needed him.

-Fade to black-

[Deleted]

Ramone fidgeted practically shaking. "Tear, you're a miracle worker." He stared down at the pups. There were four. One was a creamy white, another a mottled black tan and blue, the third and fourth the tawny of their mother. Names names names...no, he was terrible at names. "What are their names?" Ramone's tail best the air at an erratic rhythm. Magic, that was what he was feeling. The wonder and hope of parenthood, the very embodiment of love. He sniffed the pups and nosed them until they squirmed. His eyes grinned with tears and nosed Tear as well. They were together. Helios, Bianca and Chance would have four new siblings. Two wonderful girls and two strapping boys. The black hewolf began talking, and didn't plan on stopping anytime soon. "Wait until the pack sees these pups around camp! They'll be the best hunters! The future alphas and betas of Secluded Sunrise. The future of the Sapling Grove! These four! Think of what deeds they will preform when they grow! Just imagine! Oh, tear...."

[Fierfly]

Tear:

Helios, Bianca and Chance had taken their time when they were born; these little rogues had done no such thing! Four beautiful little bundles of joy snuggled up to her belly to suckle and begin the sometimes hard, sometimes trying, sometimes treacherous, but always worthwhile journey that was called Life. Ramone marveled at the tiny wolves that would grow and one day have their own families...she couldn't think about that now, she just wanted to revel in the peace and love of the moment.

Ramone eagerly nosed at the new pups, getting their new scents, learning who they were, knowing that they were his. "They're our little miracles." she reminded Ramone, he deserved half the credit, she could already see the resemblance between him and several of the pups. One of the little girls jerked and squeaked at her father's inquisitive nose and Tear had to smile. Now he turned her, gently nuzzling her, teasing her cheek with his nose. When he pulled back there were tears in his eyes, tears of joy, of love, of hope and dreams, of indescribable, complete joy.

He started rambling. Tear just flopped against the wall and listened, eyes going from Ramone, to the pups, back to Ramone, then up into her head and behind her lids. She was tired! Just listening to Ramone talk about them grow and imagining the trials and lessons they'd go through and learn was exhausting. She forced her eyes open and looked at the pups again, then to Ramone. "Slow down Ramone!" she managed a tired giggle, "They're only a few minutes old. They have plenty of time to grow up. But they do need names." she wasn't going to pick them all out, but she did have to name at least one. "This handsome little guy," she nosed the chalky-white male, "Looks a lot like you. Why don't we call him...Rontu." it was pleasantly similar to Ramone and yet, had a unique, younger, sprier feel on the tongue, a neat compromise of a name-sake and just a fun name. "C'mon Ramone, any ideas for what to name your son or baby girls?" she teased.

[Deleted]

Ramone's string of excited exclamations and predictions halted as the exhausted mother of his pups interjected. She told him slow down and he obeyed, chastening himself. He didn't even know them yet, he needed a basis for his predictions; and in order for a foundation to be made, he needed names. Tear affectionately named the white pup Rontu. looks a lot like you.

At that comment, Ramone looked closer at his sons and daughters. Throughout their fresh, new coats were markings, taken from somewhere within his and Tear's family tree. Little Rontu had the raccoon makings and stripes of his father, and hints of coloration from his mother. Tears spotted pattern was a familiar theme throughout their offspring. Focusing on the tan she pup he focused on a name. Who was she? Who would she become? She was victorious, a heavenly being. Heaven itself. She was a warrior. She was his little "Valhalla." Ramone's Orange gaze flicked up to Tears to affirm the choice. Moving on to the tortoise shell shepup he focused in once more. He pouted slightly out of concentration..."Meylin...Meya...Emrys...Emey...Mey...Meyeli....." Ramone struggled to find a fitting name for the velvet shewolf snuggled against Tears belly. "Meyeli!" He decided upon. "You get to name our last son, he's gonna be a strapping young lad..."

[Fierfly]

Tear:

Ramone's jaw slackened and he did indeed calm down, then pursed his lips into a rare but amusing pout of concentration. "Valhalla" for their masked girl. It fit well; it was unusual, but an interesting and altogether well-rounded name. The tortoise-shell patterned pup already had a special place in Tear's heart. All of the pups did of course, but just like Rontu very clearly resembled Ramone, this little pup was a near spitting-image of her apart from a few color differences. Meyeli! That was a pretty name, soft and warm, like the early May sun that was starting to show its face in the Valley once again.

Their other little boy, the youngest. She studied him more closely now. Tan fur with a gradient blue mask and rings around his ankles and an active white feathering on his rump. "Rontu, Meyeli, Valhalla and...Ferox." she nodded. "Another sly little fox in the family." she smiled again at Ramone and cuddled her head up against his, in pure contentment - in pure joy. "Our family,"

((Rykett, @lowin, tovaana))

[Deleted]

-time skip-

Ramone:
The pups were older, they could all speak, except for Rontu that is. Ramone was slightly saddened by the disability, it it didn't make him love the pale hepup anyless. Now he sat outside the den, leaning against a young tree, pink tongue lolling out. It was a beautiful summer day to watch his pups play. The sun sifted through the lace-like canopy in jewels of gold that fell upon his family's new additions.

Helios:
The young adult towered over his little siblings, a devilish expression on his handsome face. "Bow down to your king!" He puffed out his chest and raised his head. Helios the conqueror had just stormed in, now he would build his kingdom. He smiled at his father, reminiscing of when he was younger and Ramone was the conqueror, with Queen Tear by his side.

@lowin
tovaana
Rykett

[Deleted]

Meyeli

The tortoiseshell pup was enjoying the vastness of outside.  She lay there, in the grass and dirt, her forelimbs splayed out in front of her as her immature blue eyes drank in the sights.  They were as wide as saucers.  Trees, bushes...rocks!  Why roughhouse when one could explore the world from where they sat?  Of course, she would eventually want to venture farther out, but for now, just the space around the den was a whole new world to her.

She averted her attention as her older brother's voice boomed in her small ears.  Now she craned her neck to meet Helios' eyes, her own holding a glint of innocence as they momentarily bore into his then examined the rest of him.  He's big, she noted.  I can't wait till I'm that big.  It was hard work, being small, with her round little belly and peg-legged stride....Soon.  Soon, she would make it past the trees.

Playfully, she wagged the tip of her tail and tilted her head.  "But isn't Father the king?" she squeaked matter-of-factly—with a hint of sass.  Technicalities....

[tovaana]

Valhalla squealed with delight at her older brother's announcement. She whipped her body in a tight clumsy circle – enjoying the thrill she got from being on her feet and being able to move with slight more grace. The feeling of the soft dirt under her paws that gave away as she jumped, every little thing seemed to be a distraction for the fluffy pup. As she finished her twist her long white splotched tail hit her in the face and distracted her momentarily, reaching out with her blue tipped nose and tried to get her suddenly interesting tail.

“But isn’t Father King?” The voice distracted her again, reminding her of the game that was in play. She rolled her eyes dramatically, but ignored her sister’s plaintive voice that mocked their game. Nothing could damper her mood, unless of course, the game stopped all together, which it had not yet. She took a magnificent leap at her towering brother, “neverrrrrrr!” her voice squealed just as excitedly before- but her mighty leap only made it below his shoulder. “Come on, fellow princes and princess, we must take down the tyrant!” She continued hopping on her back legs, reaching as far as she could with her laced foot and teeth to get at her brother. “Heeliohs, you neeeed to pretend to be shohr-ter.” Val whispered in protest. Her words were slightly slurred, it was so frustrating learning how to communicate proper!

[Fierfly]

Tear:

"This must be what heaven is like." Tear decided, lazing and lounging beside Ramone as they watched the pups fool around together. Helios (the king) seemed to be enjoying his new subjects...Bianca and Chance had also reacted well to their younger siblings...if only they didn't spoil them! With the pack still growing with howls at the border and 3 older siblings to play with she knew they would be in good paws...as long as they didn't get spoiled with all the attention. Beside her Ramone was beaming at the pups - all healthy and hardy. Valhalla was active and everywhere at once, her playfulness was default and almost even contagious, but just watching her run around could be exhausting. Meyeli was softer, quieter, more reserved, but she was just as curious about the world around her and spent quiet hours just soaking in the sun and the feel of the outdoors. Ferox was forward and competitive, eager, ruling. When Ramone had said the pups would be the future leaders of the pack he'd probably been talking about Ferox who usually tried to take charge in everything. Then there was Rontu...sadness and guilt crept into her heart for a moment. Ramone's little look-a-like and name-sake was mute; Tear could only guess that the season had been against them - she was so sure she'd taken good care of herself! But Rontu couldn't speak - he was healthy and active and happy though, and that was enough for her.

---

Rontu:

Muted, squeaking growls rasped in his throat and his chalky-gray rump wagged in the air before he pounced! Helios was going down!! Val lead the attack while Mey questioned the game as a whole and Ferox protested against something...he wasn't paying enough attention to really register what, he was attacking! While Val took the shoulder he had Helios head on. Rearing up on his stilt-like, puppy legs that he'd inherited from his father, his over-sized front paws grasped and pulled at Helios's muzzle. If only younger pups weren't so much shorter than older pups - almost yearlings - for Helios was indeed a young adult now that he'd completed his first year. Still Rontu leaped and grabbed and begged for Helios to lower his head - then he could grab him by the ear and say that they'd won - he liked to win. One jump didn't quite go as planned and he fell onto his back instead, belly and paws sticking into the air. Now he waved his paws eagerly, squeaking quickly and eagerly, begging for the tyrant kings mercy - but he still wanted to chew that ear...