At last, Ryoushi's Wolf Puppies! Or are they? (Open)

IC Time: Early Autumn in Autumn of 10 AL
IC Setting: A week after the Hatching, Midnight, Kira's Quarters in the Candidate Quarters

Kira
It was the middle of night just a week after the dragons have hatched. Kira had been fast asleep in her bed. She'd stayed up as long as she could just making sure that Ryoushi was comfortable in her corner. Kira had lined Ryo's corner with thick blankets because the floor was getting a tad chilly especially at night. Besides, Ryo was definitely due to give birth soon. Her belly has grown so big that Ryo had opted to stay inside their quarters for the past three days. If Ryo didn't give birth soon, Kira was of mind to ask one of the Vets to help with Ryo's pregnancy. That or talk to that Geneticist who had asked to impregnate Ryo with those enhanced wolf DNA.

However, Kira's sleep was interrupted by a whimper. Instantly, Kira was awake in her bed as she listened for what had made the sound. And in a second, the whimper came again and Kira was bolting from her bed, still in her underdress, not caring that it was chilly nor the fact that she'd be undressed should someone care to barge into her room. Kira strode over to Ryoushi's side and saw that at last, her Arctic Wolf had finally started on her labor.

Ryoushi whimper again as the painful contraction went through her body. As she'd never had the experience of giving birth, it was understandable that the pain was making her whimper and begging for her master's attention. She had relaxed somewhat as she saw her friend coming over to her side. Ryoushi nuzzled the hand that Kira brought near to her face. She lay on her side panting a little as her labor commenced. She was somewhat bewildered of the fact that she had gotten pregnant without mating but nevertheless, she accepted her fate of becoming a mother to her soon-to-be-born wolf pups.

Kira sat on the floor at Ryo's head and let Ryo nuzzle her hand as she gave the wolf a caress on her head and further down to her stomach trying to help alleviate the pain that Ryo must be going through. Kira didn't really know what to do, but she hoped that all would be well with Ryo and that her pups will all be born without any problems.

Kagemusha who had been asleep with Kira, was awoken also by the whimpers coming from Ryoushi. And, like in the Hatching, Kagemusha started humming encouraging Ryo into giving birth to her pups.

Kira looked at Kagemusha and then wondered if other firelizards and dragonets would also come swarming into her room. And that thought made her look down at herself. She knew that if others did choose to come looking for their pets, it would not do to give them a sight of herself in her underthings. So, with a word to Ryo that she would be back in a few minutes, Kira quickly changed into one of her work clothes. She'd been using those set of clothes for when she had been put to work by Istvana as her punishment.

[OOC: Those with firelizards and dragonets are welcome to visit. Vets are very much welcomed/encouraged to visit as Kira would be beside herself with worry for Ryoushi. Candidates near Kira's Quarters are also welcome to visit if they want, since Ryoushi is whimpering loud enough. And Ryoushi'll start howling after her first pup is actually born.

Almost forgot, Riders are also welcome since their dragon would also probably be humming along with the firelizards and dragonets. Although, they might not really know why they are humming since it is probably instinctive to them. Am I right, Iski?]

Claudia was sound asleep. She was exhausted lately since the hatching. Thanks to the dramatic ending to the hatching and how awful it was, she had had a few more than usual people coming to speak to her. She didn't mind really, but it was wearing on her.

So the last thing she really needed was Sushi and Kipper waking her up in the middle of the night. Kipper was excitedly scratching at her face and neck and Sushi was lazily tugging on her sleeve. "Wha? What is it?" She asked getting up.

Both the dragonets started humming loudly and encouraged her to get out of bed and follow them. Since she knew them well enough to know they wouldn't give up she got out of bed to follow them. She probably would've thought twice about getting up if she would have known they was dragging her to the candidate quarters. It was too late to turn back though.

The two blues drug her to one of the quarters and started scratching at the door. Inside she could hear whimpers as from a dog. She knocked and then opened the door. "Hello? Hope I'm not disturbing you, but my dragonets desperately want into this room. Everything okay?" She asked as she peeked her head in.

Selena had been asleep after doing some research on the new dragons. She was suddenly awakened by a scratching at the door. "..What is it boy???" She asked softly as she sat up wondering what was going on to make him wake her up so late at night. She got up and put a robe on and went to open the door. As soon as she did Outlaw dashed out and was heading for the Candidate Quarters his whole body streached out like a house cat running after prey. Selena growled and stalked after Outlaw she could not understand him reacting like this and was planning punishments for him when he slipped into a candidates room. She stood almost ran into another until she heard shirps and looked up. She stepped back so as not to bump into the girl. Selena growled her dogs name softly not wanting to bother these two girls. When he did not come to her call she sighed with a roll of her eyes.

"Excuse me I'm so sorry my Dog has gone craz...crazy" She had to repeat her last word as she glimsed the wolf in labor. She guessed it had to be the one that had been worked on in the lab for they had not let her in saying they were doing important work. "Is she alright???!" Selena asked with curiousiness and a slightly drop of worry in her voice. Her eyes looked at the wolf and her dog who was inching closer while whining. He was going to get hurt if she didn't stop him then. She hoped she would be fogiven for yelling when it was over. "OUTLAW Get your arse over here now!!!" She shouted loud even and angry enough to send him crawling to her with a sad whine. "Sit and stay" She said sternly before looking apolgetic to the girls.

Taminy was not asleep. He knew full well that he should be; it was midnight and the Caldera was silent, his light the only one on in this part of the living quarters. Alexander had gone to bed an hour ago, encouraging Taminy to do the same. But the teenager - no, now he was an adult, he reminded himself; his birthday had just been last week - the man (uh...wow again) had been kept awake by his writing, by the way his hands itched to hold a pencil, and his brain buzzed with ideas. It wasn't an unusual feeling, but the unfortunate thing was that it often decided to come on at night...like this particular night.

Therefore, at midnight, Taminy was still awake, sitting at his desk, bent over a piece of paper. A nearly-finished poem was freshly written there, words that had sung through Taminy's head and flowed onto the paper. He was just about finished; adding the last line with a flourish, he sat back and read his work. It wasn't bad...not his best, but not bad. He'd show it to Alexander in the morning - his father's cousin seemed to like to read his work.

Alexander..That turned Taminy's mind to another matter. He was an adult now; they may be on Pern, but as far as Taminy was concerned in the way of such laws he might as well be back in the United States on Earth, where he'd be a legal adult. He was most certainly old enough to fend for himself by now; he'd have to see about moving out and into his own quarters, so as not to impinge on Alexander's good will for much longer. He was actually kind of looking forward to having his own place....

Terry hummed at him quietly, and Taminy smiled at her. "You're right. That can wait, right? Bedtime for both of us." He stood up, moving towards the bed, but glanced back when Terry didn't come with him. The green firelizard was in exactly the same place as before, and her humming had not ceased. "What's up, girl?" The young man turned back and stepped over to the minty green, holding out a hand for her. She hopped on, but continued with the odd humming, a deep sound that was growing louder; Taminy could feel the vibration of her small body in his hand. What was going on with her? He stifled a yawn, wishing she'd go back to normal so they could sleep.

But she didn't; in fact, in another moment, the green had hopped off of his hand again, flapping with her overlarge wings to the door, where she latched on, scrabbling at the wood and still humming. "Terry..." Taminy sighed, following her and opening the door. "What are you going on about?"

In an instant she was out, zooming town the hall. Her owner ran after her, calling, "Hey! Terry, come back!" But she didn't, merely waiting impatiently till he'd caught up, then zooming off again. Taminy followed, curiosity overcoming his exasperation. She'd never acted like this before...where was she leading him, anyway? That soon became apparent, though: the candidates' barracks. What were they doing here? Then she whisked into a candidate's room, still humming loudly. "Terry," he hissed quietly, but she did not reappear. He'd have to go in and get her....

The site that met him at the door was a strange one. There were three women, two dragonets, one firelizard, a dog, and....His eyes fell on the wolf, a large, white one, that took up much in the space. She was obviously in labor, panting painfully and whimpering. Taminy's eyes softened and he beckoned to Terry, who finally allowed herself to be summoned, fluttering down to alight on his shoulder. "I'm sorry," he apologized haltingly, a slight flush suffusing his skin. "Terry got out and came here...Is your wolf okay?" he added, eyes landing on the arctic wolf once again. It made him remember when Alexander's late dog had given birth...he'd watched, and had a pretty good idea of how it worked. He thought he might be able to help out if needed - if only to soothe the soon-to-be mother - but he didn't really know that there was all that much he'd be able to do if it did come to that...

Frill cocked her head in the darkness of her owner's quarters. Everyone was asleep. Something had woken her... She cocked her head to one side and considered the feeling. Aha! Chest swelling with pride that she had figured it out, she fluttered daintily over to Anka's bed. Landing carefully, she perched on the sleeping woman's shoulder and hummed. She broke off with a brief squawk as her foothold abruptly turned over. Sniffing, she resumed her humming as she hopped awkwardly over to her head and poked her narrow snout into Anka's ear.

She shot upright. "What the-" she fell silent as Frill backwinged to land on her knee. "Oh, Frill. What is it now?" She yawned and glanced at the clock set nearby. "It's the middle of the night!" The firelizard just blinked. "And why are you humming? What's going on?" She watched as the minty green dragonet sprang into the air, circling once before scrabbling for purchase on the door's handle. Anka sighed. "Well, I guess you want me. You can get out on your own, after all." She whistled sharply and two furry faces quickly sprang into view.

She set a hand on Cheza's multicoloured head as she pulled herself upright. "Cheza, guard," she said firmly. "Mezzo, heel." As ordered, the younger Aussie settled herself near the door, glancing between it and her owner, while the elder male followed close to Anka's ankle as she hurriedly pulled on more appropriate clothing. She rubbed each behind the ear briefly before she slipped out, Frill ahead and Mezzo behind.

As soon as he was into the hallway, Mezzo whined and looked at Anka. She called Frill back as she crouched next to him. "Mezzo, help Frill. Where're we going?" Given a job, the red-and-white shepherd bounded after the dragonet. Anka followed close behind. The three wound their way quietly through the various hallways and corridors of the Caldera, Anka silently noting that they were approaching the section reserved for the draconic candidates. She hadn't been there before...

Frill chirped happily and stopped near an open door. A number of people were already present, and Mezzo resumed his heel position with a soft whuff. Anka rubbed his head in thanks for leading her as Frill settled onto her shoulder. The green cocked her head as Anka stepped into the room with a brief knock. Hmm. She didn't know anyone who was already here. A low whine caught her attention. Was that a wolf?! No, it couldn't be. Maybe a wolf hybrid, specially requested from the geneticists. Why would there be wolves on Pern?

'Damn it, Rhain..."

Throwing a hand up to swat at his brown firelizard, Morgen rolled over and tightened his grip on his wife, the new Avalon Remington. Oh, he loved remembering how her face had looked when he'd proposed, and the nights after the ceremony were amazing, to say the least.

He'd just started to drift back to sleep when Rhain pulled at his sheets again, and this time Morgen sat up angrily. Before he could scold the brown, though, his firelizard sent him an array of emotions, ending with a mental image of Kira bent over Ryoushi.

Immediately straightening, Morgen pushed out of the bed and stood up, speaking to Ava as he did so.

"Love, wake up. C'mon, Ava, Ryoushi's giving birth and we need to be there for Kira."

Putting his clothes on in a hurry, he grabbed a sleepy Avalon's hand as he strode out the door, making his way to the candidate's quarters. Good thing they were still on the Honeymoon and staying up at the Caldera....

Eventually they pushed through the door, surprised to see a few unfamiliar faces. Muttering a hasty "Excuse me", he might've only lied once or twice and claimed he was her father as he moved through the folks, still dragging Avalon beside him. Within a few seconds he'd reached Kira's side, and after he'd dropped Avalon's hand Morgen knelt down beside his apprentice and her wolf.

"What can I do, Kira?"

Kira

And no sooner had she settled herself back down on the blankets with Ryo when there was a knock on her door and it opened to let two firelizards in and a woman by the door asking if everything was okay. Kira looked up towards the woman, her eyes casting a worried glance back at Ryo as Kira replied, "I think so... I don't know... This Ryo's first pregnancy and..."

She wasn't able to finish as another person made herself known and then somehow, there had been a dog inching closer towards Ryo. Kira was a little worried about the dog for she wasn't sure how Ryo would take it. But then, the new girl had called the dog, Outlaw, back to her, and Kira had a small smile on her lips as she watched the dog walk back to his mistress.

Like the first arrival, she asked if everything was okay. Kira was about to reply but Ryo whimpered and Kira's attention was diverted back towards her wolf. Her hand gently massaged Ryo's side trying to ease the contraction from the labor. She looked towards the others once more when she heard yet another set of voice, this time a male.

Kira hadn't had time to properly give a reply to anyone that had arrived into her quarters yet as she was torn between gathering a decent reply from her and worrying about her wolf.

Ryo didn't seem to mind that there were strangers in Kira's room as she was more focused on what was happening to her. Every time a contraction occurred that made her feel pain, she whimpered and tried to endure. When another contraction rippled across her body, a puppy plopped out of her still contracting body. Ryo twisted around trying to take a look at her first born. The umbilical cord was still attached to the wolf pup and Ryo howled in worry for she could not move herself to get to her cub. Instinct was guiding her, letting Ryo know that she needed to clean up her wolf pup and that she needed to bite the umbilical cord that was still attached. She looked up at Kira whimpering as with imploring eyes Ryoushi tried to communicated what she needed to do.

Kira was at a loss as she worried over the new born and worried over the fact that Ryo had howled. She didn't know what to do and with worried eyes she looked at the new arrivals wondering if any of them might know what to do. And yet when she looked up, there was yet another stranger in the room with yet another firelizard. Kira was about to ask anyone of the strangers for help when, her Mentor, her Foster Father finally came. A sigh of relief escaped her lips not even realizing that she had been holding her breath in apprehension for Ryoushi's well-being.

As soon as she heard Morgen ask her what he can do, all she could babble in a worried tone was, "I don't know, but... maybe Ryo needs to do something with her pup. She just howled when her first born was born just a few seconds ago." As she gestured at the other end of Ryoushi where a wolf pup can be seen and heard mewling for it's mother.

The pup's color was still undetermined for the moment but it showed a creamy fur color. Gender was yet undetermined for none had gone to inspect it yet, nor the color of it's eyes. Ryoushi looked at her first born then looked up at Kira and then howled once more in worry. She wanted to get up to get to her pup but she couldn't with her very large and gravid belly contracting rather painfully every few minutes. And besides, she wasn't about to do anything that might be harmful to the rest of her pups still within her womb. She wanted Kira to get her pup to where she could give her first born a thorough cleaning and also bite off the umbilical cord. She would tolerate Kira handling her pup, but for the moment, she would not tolerate anyone else trying to get close to her offspring.

Kira once more was focused on Ryoushi, trying to calm the wolf down but unable to do so. She knew that Ryoushi wanted something, but what, she was helpless to know. She looked back at Morgen hoping that he would know what to do. And if not Morgen, maybe one of the other strangers within her room knew something that would help ease Ryoushi's worry.

Avalon was not all that happy about being dragged here in the middle of the night, no less when it was disturbing her honeymoon, and Especially since it involved THAT woman. Avalon still couldn't figure out exactly why she hated her so much but one thing for sure was she hated Morgen being that close and affectionate to her. There was a loud sigh, looks like the girl didn't take the time to ask about what would happen or even made arrangements for a vet to come. That enough made Avalon upset, just like hearing of people who let their horses die because of their own ignorance for the birthing process. Kneeling down behind the girl Avalon bend over Kira, arms going about the girl as she lifted up the squirming pup and moved it to be just next to Ryoushi's nose.

"There you go sweetheart"

Her tone was soft for Ryoushi but when she pulled her arms back and looked at Kira her eyes hardened.

"You didn't think of reading up on the process of birthing did you. You're weapons and galavanting across the countryside were more important than her health. How could you be so selfish? What would have happened if I wasn't here, or Morgen. How would you have handled something going wrong without having a vet on call?"

=======

"Easy does it Avalon"

The voice came from Kita as she pushed her way through everyone, she didn't seem as lacking as sleep as everyone, despite the fact of her kid thinking it fun to jump up and down on mummy's bladder. Word travelled fast and she was quickly there with her bag and pushing through everyone to ear Avalon chew out Kira over her selfishness and ignorance.

"Alright everyone back off and leave some room for the new mother before I kick you all out."

Putting her bag down she pushed up the sleeves of her long sleeved night gown she was wearing and knelt down opening her bag. Pulling on a pair of gloves she gave Ryoushi a sympathetic smile.

"Not easy is it girl"

She spoke softly and then turned to Kira, eyes stern but no where near like Avalon's.

"She is right though Kira, did you take time to make her needs more important than your own, would you have known how to handle an emergency should one have arrived. Such actions could have endangered her life and the life of everyone of those puppies. Especially because of the nature of this birth. Now just keep talking to her, I need to examine how many are left and inspect the birth canal."

She waited for a moment watching Ryoushi, hoping she would understand it needed to be done, from a quick glance the first puppy looked to be doing well, so she would worry about that one later. For now the health of Ryoushi was more important.

Kira

Kira remained silent as Morgen's woman, Avalon verbally reprimanded her of her shortcomings. True, she might not have read up on how wolves gave birth, but she had never neglected the needs of Ryoushi. She was also silent as Kita, the Vet, arrived also reprimanded her of not having Ryoushi's needs more important than her own.

However, from out of nowhere and from no one currently gathered, Kita heard a voice from within her head, Oh will you two stop hammering on my mother's master for supposedly neglecting my mother. She has done nothing wrong to my mother. And my mother is perfectly fine and healthy thank you very much. It is just the birthing that's a bit painful is all, nothing to worry about. And my brothers and sisters are all fine, they are just anxious to get out of mother's womb. the voice said with almost a hint of disdain for the others who were there.

Kira's eyes were wide as she looked around wondering if she was the only one who heard the voice, wondering if the others also heard that touch of disdain in that voice that Kira had heard in her head.

Ryoushi who finally had her first born daughter within her reached, promptly cleaned the little pup who turned out to have a cornsilk colored fur with a bit of silvery gray running down her spine to her tail tip. The pup's eyes were already open and they had amber yellow eyes. Eyes that seemed full of knowing and appeared to already see and distinguish the world around it. Ryoushi didn't even mind that Kita was going to be examining her to feel the five remaining pups that were still inside of her womb for Ryoushi was more concerned with getting her daughter cleaned and making sure that her daughter was healthy and fine.

After Ryoushi had cleaned the pup and bit through the cord, the pup, once more spoke letting everyone hear her. Thank you for the bath mother. But I believe, my brother and the others are ready to come out now. the pup said as she crawled to where she could suckle on a teat to get nourishment from her mother.

And true to the pup's words, the other wolf pups were not long in waiting to be born. After five minutes of the first born being born, the second pup emerged from his mother's womb just as bloody as the first born had been. The second pup also cried out for his mother as any normal wolf pups would. It managed to crawl a bit to where he could see that his sister was already at a teat suckling for milk. The second pup's eyes were blue, as blue as Ryoushi's eyes were and he complained to his sister, That is not fair, not waiting for the rest of us to be born before eating, Cornsilk-Fur. the second pup said.

Unlike his sister who had just kept crying for her mother at first, he knew what needed to be done to him by his mother and crawled to where Ryoushi could clean him up like his sister. After being cleaned of the blood, everyone could see that he was almost an exact copy of his mother with fur as white as snow and silver streaks here and there. The only reply his sister told him for his complaint was, First born, first fed, White-Fur. White-Fur just sighed with a shake of his head. But he didn't approach his mother's teats as he waited for his other brothers and sisters to be born.

After two minutes, the third pup was born. He cried at first for his mother, but with his brother calling on to him to where his mother could clean him up, he said to his brother, I see that our sister, Cornsilk-Fur, did not even wait for us. But thank you for waiting, White-Fur. Once cleaned, the third pup had brown fur with a white tail-tip, and black socks up to his knees on his hindlegs. His eyes were a warm honey brown as looked about him and at the people looking down at him.

By scent, he knew that the woman where his mother laid her head was someone very special to his mother, and crawling to her, he said to her although his voice was also heard by those near him, Mother loves you very much. Maybe even more than us. he said as he tried to scramble atop Kira's lap. But that's just fine, we don't mind. Well, I don't anyways. I'm Brown-Fur. Not very original, but that's what mother named me when she cleaned me. the pup said as he finally reached the top of Kira's lap with the help of Kira boosting him up. Mind if I stay here as I wait for the others to be born? he asked looking up at Kira's face. Kira just shook her head in reply, still speechless at Ryoushi's three wolf pups all speaking quite well in fluent English.

It was four minutes after the third pup was born when the fourth pup emerged from Ryoushi's womb. As with the third pup, White-Fur called out to their second sister and she crawled to where Ryoushi could clean her up. She was gray in color with a white underbelly. Her eyes were a dark chocolate brown as she also looked about her. But she remained silent where the others were quite chatty and she remained waiting by her brother's side, White-Fur.

Three minutes passed before the fifth born pup emerged from Ryoushi's womb. After being cleaned, he had raven black fur and when he opened his eyes, they were a startling silver in color. He nodded a greeting at his brother as he said, White-Fur. White-Fur nodded back as he said, Black-Fur. Black-Fur also waited beside his second sister whom he also greeted with a nod of his head. Gray-Fur. Gray-Fur just nodded back at Black-Fur without uttering a word.

Ten minutes passed before the last of Ryoushi's wolf pups were born. After being cleaned by Ryoushi, she was also as raven black as her brother. But where Black-Fur had silver eyes, she had bright green eyes when she finally opened them to look around her. Consequently, she was named Green-Eyes by their mother. She looked at her brothers and sister that were waiting for her and she said, Thank you for waiting. But I believe if we don't hurry, our sister, Cornsilk-Fur, will have drank all of mother's milk. as she crawled to where she could suckle on one of Ryoushi's teats. The other four pups also scrambled crawling to where they each could suckle on a teat and drink their mother's milk.

With the birthing of the six pups over, Ryoushi was finally relaxed as she looked fondly at her pups. She looked up a Kira wanting to be praised for a job well done. And Kira still speechless but with tears running down her eyes for Ryoushi had safely given birth to six wolf pups just caressed Ryoushi on her head. An act that Kira always did when Ryoushi had done something good. And Ryoushi feeling tired of her ordeal, rested her head on Kira's lap once more. She was content to stay like that and let her pups suckle on her. There will be time enough later to hunt for her food once more with her beloved master, Kira, now that she was no longer heavy with wolf pups in her belly.