Whisper's POV:
It has been about a month since Shade and I were wed. In that month, Shade and I moved in to Shade's old home with our foster children a short distance away from my parents and siblings. We all did different things to spruce up the place. Shade gathered moss and built nests in the smaller chambers for the kits. Shade also built a bigger moss nest for the two of us to share. I put myself in charge of decorating the rooms. I painted Colby and Jayden's rooms blue, while Lacey and Kay's rooms I painted pink. Shade built toy chests and clothes chests with oak wood (dark wood for Colby and Jayden and light wood for Lacey and Kay) and put them in the corner of their rooms.
In the nursery, we have blue paint on one side with the sun and clouds and black paint on the other side with the crescent moon and stars. There is a clothes chest and toy chest in there as well. One of them is dark wood while the other is light. All of the baby clothes and toys are already in there.
In the main chamber, we have a moss and leaf couch with branches forming the outline of it against the back wall. There is a large round table in the middle with six chairs around it. It's big enough for all of us to eat together.
Shade is out hunting right now. We are all hoping for a decent meal tonight. I am in the main chamber, having a tea party with Lacey and Kay. Jayden is napping on the couch. Colby is in his room. Suddenly, my ears catch the sounds of sniffles and soft whimpers. I look down at both Lacey and Kay. "Wait here a moment. I'll be back in a little bit," I speak.
I get up from the floor and make my way towards Colby's room. I open the door a crack. I see Colby curled up on his nest, crying softly. I go over to sit beside him. I place my paw on Colby's left cheek, causing him to look up at me. "Mom, I…I'm sorry…I shouldn't…shouldn't…cry…" Colby whimpers, obviously trying to stop his tears.
"Oh, Colby, it's okay to cry. There's nothing wrong with crying. Please tell me, why are you crying? What's wrong?" I ask.
"I…I miss mom…" Colby whimpers, more tears escaping from his eyes.
I take Colby into my arms. He buries his face into my chest as he begins sobbing. I rock Colby back and forth, stroking his back in an effort to soothe him. "I know you miss her. I know. I promise you that it will get better with time. For now, just cry. Let your feelings out. You'll feel better afterwards," I kiss the top of Colby's head. Colby continues to cry until he has no tears left to shed.
When Colby stops crying, he lifts a paw and wipes the tears from his eyes. He looks up at me, his eyes red from the tears. "Will the pain ever go away?" Colby asks, his voice full of innocence.
"No, but it will lessen over time," I reply. Colby yawns, his needle-point teeth showing. I smile. "You should get some sleep," I suggest.
"No! I'm not tired!" Colby argues.
"How about if I tell you a story?" I suggest.
Colby nods his head. "Okay!" He squeals, curling back up on his nest.
"Alright. Well, once upon a time, there was a young boy named Hagen. He was happy with a mother and father who loved him. However, when he was ten, all of that changed. His parents were killed by his weasel clan. He, himself, was taken prisoner and forced to work by his clan. He lived like that for two years, until he had enough. He stole a sword and broke out of the clan, taking dozens of other orphans with him to freedom. They later return with more weapons and destroy the clan. They then manage to thrive in peace until they grow old and die, never to be harmed by another again. The end. There, now, how was that?" I ask.
"It was a good story. Good night…" Colby yawns, letting his eyes slide shut. He is asleep in seconds.
I chuckle, shaking my head. I resist the urge to say that it's still morning as I rise from my position by the nest. I exit Colby's room.
Shade is there with a bag slung over his shoulder. I can tell that his hunting trip was successful. "Hello, love," Shade greets me.
"Hello, Shade. I see your trip was successful. What'd you get?" I ask.
"Oh, a few birds. I also caught a couple fish. I'll go back out for some fruit after I take care of the meat," Shade replies.
"Alright. Come on, kits. Let's help Shade with the food," I suggest, turning to Lacey and Kay.
"Okay, mom!" The two kits giggle. Shade hands them the bag. They carry it to me, determined not to drop it. I take the bag and set it on the floor. I shoo the kits to their rooms to play as the meat obviously has more blood than the kits should see. Shade and I skin the birds and fillet the fish.
I turn to Shade. "I'll cook the meat if you get the fruit," I suggest.
"Alright. Only if I start the fire," Shade replies.
"Deal," I shake Shade's paw. After Shade starts the fire, he leaves for the fruit. I roast the meat over the fire. I then begin to bring the meat inside. I split it up on six plates, one for each of us. Shade returns with the fruit. He splits that up on all six plates. "Kits! Dinner!" I call. Lacey and Kay race out of their rooms. Colby comes out of his room, groggily rubbing his eyes. Jayden gets up from the couch and sits at the table with the rest of us. After we say grace, we begin eating.
As I am eating, I start feeling strange, almost sick. I place a paw on my stomach while taking deep breaths. "I…I don't feel so good. I'm gonna lay down," I speak hoarsely.
"Is there anything I can do for you?" Shade asks.
"No. I'll be fine. I just need to lie down for a while," I reply.
I head off into our room and lie down in the moss bed. I try to relax, but I really don't feel well. The nausea is becoming a more sharp pain in my lower stomach. I gasp. I suddenly become aware of blood trickling past my legs. That's when I know. I'm about to give birth. "Shade! Shade, come quick!" I scream, panic taking over.
Shade races inside. "What is it?" He asks.
"I…I'm going to have the kits!" I gasp as another wave of pain hits me.
Shade's eyes widen. "I'll get your mom. She can help deliver the kits," Shade replies, sprinting out of the cave.
He returns a moment later with mom. She takes her place by my legs. She examines me. "It won't be long until your kits are born. Now, on the count of three, I want you to push. Ready? One…two…three…push!" Mom orders.
I push with all of my might. Mom delivers the kits while Shade holds my paw. Finally, after pushing for what seems like an eternity, the pain stops. I fall back on the nest, exhausted. Mom smiles at me. "You have four beautiful kits. Two sons and two daughters." Mom passes me the two daughters and passes Shade the two sons.
Shade turns to me. "What do you want to name them?" He asks.
"Well, I want to name our daughters Scarlet and Lily. You name our sons," I reply.
"Alright. I want to name them Moss and Thorn," Shade suggests.
"Those are perfect," I sigh, laying down further in the nest.
"Let's call our little ones," Shade continues.
"Okay. Colby, Jayden, Lacey, Kay! Come on and meet your new brothers and sisters!" I call.
They scramble in, curious to meet the new faces. Colby is the first to speak. "They're cute, but you…you'll still care about us…right? I mean…we're not yours…" Colby looks down with a worried frown on his face.
"Colby, I love you and your siblings very much. Nothing will ever change that, understand?" I ask.
Colby nods his head. He climbs up on the nest with me and looks closer at my new arrivals. He puts his paw out slowly and lets Lily grab a hold of it in her tiny paw. "Awww…They're so cute!" Colby smiles.
I nod my head. "They are. Now, why don't the four of you go to sleep. It's getting late," I reply. Colby and his siblings nod their heads while yawning. They head off towards their rooms. Mom heads back to her home. Shade lays beside me and our four new bundles of joy. We are finally at peace. Our four foster kits as well as our four newborn kits are the hopes for the future.