Taisley and I have been awaiting the birth of our kits for a good few weeks, now. In fact, the rest of the herd and my family can't wait for the new arrivals either. Little kit paws pattering around. We just can't wait. Taisley and I have been trying to come up with names. In the end,
though, we decide to wait for them to be born.
As the days pass and the due date gets closer, I've been getting worried about everything. I worry that the kits won't be alright. I worry that Taisley could get injured or worse before the kits are even born. I admit the fact that I'm a jittering mess. Taisley keeps complaining that I'm overprotective. I agree with her on that. I'm just afraid that something could happen to her or the kits. I want to do everything in my power to protect her and our kits. Dad is trying to keep my mind off of the kits.
That is why, at this very moment, dad and I are sitting by the river. He had the idea that we should go on a fishing trip to bring something back for Taisley and the rest of the family. My dad caught more than me due to my mind being elsewhere (obviously). Dad notices it quickly. "Buck, listen ta me. Yer worryin' 'bout nothin'. Taisley will be fine. Th' kits will be fine. Ya just need ta calm down," dad says.
"I…I know. It's just…I don't want anythin' ta 'appen ta 'er an' th' kits. I can't 'elp worryin' 'bout anythin' that could 'appen…" I trail off. I shiver slightly from anxiety. I clench my paws into fists, nervousness crossing my features.
"Buck, it's fine. I understand. As I said before, I felt th' same way. It's a normal feelin'. I just want ya ta know that Taisley an' yer kits will be fine. There are so many of us that will protect 'em," dad tries to calm me.
I look into my father's eyes. "Thanks, dad. I…I'll try ta stop bein' so nervous," I speak.
"I know ya will, Buck," dad replies. We pick up our catches of fish. We both head back inside the cave.
I see that Taisley isn't there. I place the fish on a raised stone for us. I go over to Manny and climb onto his left tusk. "'ey, did ya get worried like this when Ellie was Preggers?" I ask.
"Oh, you have no idea," Ellie interrupts from across the cave.
"Yeah, what Ellie said. I was jittery. I can't tell you how many false alarms I called, thinking that Ellie would go into labor at any minute," Manny explains.
"I see…do ya think that Taisley an' th' kits will be alright?" I ask.
"Don't worry. Everything will be fine. Taisley's healthy. She and the kits will be alright," Ellie answers instead of Manny.
"Thanks, guys. 'ey! Where's Taisley?" I ask.
Right after I ask that, Taisley comes in. "Hi, Buck. I was just out behind the cave, getting a drink of water," Taisley explains.
"'kay, Tais. Dad an' I caught some fish," I tell her.
"Great! Let's eat!" Taisley laughs. We both dig into our shares of the fish. When the fish is gone, I look outside. I notice just how dark it's getting. "It's getting late. Why don't we get some sleep?" I suggest.
"Okay," Taisley nods her head.
We curl up on our nest. I nuzzle Taisley with my head. She nuzzles me back. "I love ya, Tais," I whisper into her ear.
"I love you, too, Buck," Taisley whispers back. I watch Taisley fall asleep in my arms. I close my own eye and fall asleep.
I wake early the next morning to the feel of someone shaking me. I open my eye. I find that Taisley is the one shaking me. "Buck! The kits! The kits are coming!" Taisley gasps.
I'm wide awake instantly. "Wot? Are ya sure?" I ask. I can feel the anxiety seeping back into me.
"Yes, Buck." Taisley yowls with pain.
"Everyone! Wake up! Taisley's gonna 'ave th' kits!" I shout.
The herd and my family begin to wake up. My mother rushes to Taisley's side. Mom feels Taisley's stomach. "'t won't be long," she says.
Dad tries to pull me away. "No! I wanna stay wi' 'er! I won't leave 'er!" I try to get out of my dad's grip.
"No, Buck. Ya need ta leave. She needs quiet in order ta give birth," dad tries to persuade me.
"No! Wot if somethin' 'appens? I won't be 'ere fer 'er!" I argue. Tears of frustration and fear threaten to fall from my left eye.
"Buck, nothin' will 'appen. Just come wi' me outside. Yer mothah knows wot she's doin'. She'll 'elp Taisley. Don't worry," dad tries. I finally follow dad outside.
I'm pacing just outside the cave. I can't seem to calm my nerves. I flinch every time I hear Taisley scream. "I can't stand hearin' Taisley in pain…" I mumble.
"I know. 't won't be long, though," dad places an arm around my shoulders.
I find it hard, almost impossible to relax. I keep pacing back and forth, fidgeting nervously. My breathing is erratic as panic starts to set in. Finally, I just let myself collapse onto a rock, the panic having exhausted me. Dad settles next to me and rests his paw on my shoulder. Tears of fear pool in my eye. This time, I don't try to fight them. I raise both my paws to my face as I begin to cry softly. Dad strokes my back in a comforting manner. "Buck, ya 'ave ta stop worryin' so much. Taisley an' yer kits will be fine," dad whispers.
"'ow…'ow can ya be sure?" I whimper the question.
"Because 'm yer fathah! I know everythin'!" Dad teases.
I arch an eyebrow at him. "Dad! Seriously! Ge' real!" I reply sarcastically, only somewhat annoyed.
"'kay, so I don't know everythin', but I do know that Taisley is strong enough ta birth healthy kits an' come away from it fine. Nothin' bad will happen ta 'er, I promise," dad smiles at me.
I wipe the tears from my eye. I smile at dad. "Thanks, dad. 'm sorry fer worryin' so much," I whisper.
"Buck, it's no' yer fault. I understand wot yer feelin'. I was a nervous wreck when yer mothah was givin' birth th' first time. Heck, I was a nervous wreck every time! It's completely natural!" Dad pats me on my shoulder.
My smile widens as my nervousness begins to dissipate. I'm about to thanks him again when I hear the screams stop and the sounds of kits crying take their place. I stand up and look eagerly at the cave entrance. Mom comes out. "Congratulations, Buck. Ya 'ave five healthy kits," mom announces.
"'ow is Taisley?" I ask.
"She's exhausted, but other than that, she's fine," mom replies.
I walk inside the cave. I see Taisley laying in the nest, curled around five little bundles of fur. I stop a little ways away. Taisley looks at me. "Come closer, Buck. It's fine," she says.
I go to sit beside Taisley. I look at the kits. I have two sons and three daughters. My sons both have brown fur and green eyes. Two of our daughters have light brown fur and blue eyes. I am surprised by my remaining daughter. She is the spitting image of the girl in my dream all those years ago. She is white with blue eyes.
"They're beautiful…" I whisper.
"Yeah, they are. What do you want to name them?" She asks.
"Well, 'ow 'bout Silver and Talo fer our sons. I want ya ta name our daughters," I speak.
"Well, Raska and Frost sound like good names for our brown furred daughters. Whisper is a good name for our little white furred daughter," Taisley names our daughters.
"Ya know, this might seem crazy ta ya, but I feel like I saw Whisper before. A good few years ago, when I lost my eye, I was very sick. I saw a female weasel in a dream when I was close ta dyin'. She said that I'd see 'er someday," I explain.
"I don't think you're crazy, Buck. Stuff like that really does happen. Do you want to hold her?" Taisley asks, holding Whisper out to me.
My eye widens a bit. "I...I don't know...wot if I hurt her?" I ask nervously.
"Oh, you won't, Buck. Kits are stronger than you think. Go ahead," Taisley smiles at me.
I take Whisper into my arms. She yawns and wiggles a bit. Without thinking, I hold her closer to my chest. She snuggles up to me and falls deeper to sleep. I smile at her sleeping form. "Tais, we did well makin' these lovely kits of ours," I whisper in awe.
"We sure did. Now, let's get some sleep. Giving birth is exhausting," Taisley smiles.
I smile back. "Alright, Tais." I curl up on the side of Taisley that isn't occupied by kits. "Good night, m'love," I whisper into her ear.
"Good night…" Taisley trails off as sleep claims her. I close my eye. I fall asleep, thrilled that I now have kits to care for. I swear, then, that I will never let anything happen to my family.