Note: I just wanted to thank Karin Skywalker for being a faithful reviewer and giving your input on my story. I'm glad you're enjoying it. ;)
Chapter 5
"Just like that huh?" Kam asked, ears pitching backward out of concern.
Sharra laughed. "Just like that it hit me. I think that's why the need to find someplace was so strong."
"What was wrong with the den?"
Her mother smiled. "Nothing, really. It was more that I just didn't want to be around anyone else, not as the time got closer. At first I didn't think I'd care, but then…I don't know, it just didn't feel right. I wanted somewhere secluded, private, where I could have out my pain in solitude…and I'd be the first to see my own babies and not be overwhelmed by everyone cooing over them…" She laughed and had Kam laughing.
"Yeah I suppose that makes sense…"
"You'll see when your time comes," Sharra replied.
Once the pain subsided, Sharra forced herself to crawl into the hollowed out tree and make herself at home. She knew there wouldn't be much time before the next contraction, so she moved some old brush around, swiped some twigs and branches out and then dug until the earth felt cool and her paws were filthy. Sharra was about to keep digging when she felt the beginning of another one.
This one wasn't as severe and she had time to lay down before it really hurt. She dug her claws into the soft, cool earth and groaned, shutting her eyes tight and wincing. As the pain started ebbing away she let out a long sigh and then took another shallow breath. A tiny tear escaped and slid down her cheek, despite her trying not to cry.
She was excited, but hadn't exactly been expecting it to hurt quite that bad. So she waited, trying to brace herself, and almost, almost wishing Kieji were there with her. In some ways she knew it would make her feel better, but she also knew he would be in the way more than anything else. So she pictured him there instead, letting her lean against him and licking her cheek as another contraction took her.
This time she let out a little roar of agony, immediately regretting it as the hollow almost made a cone to which the sound echoed through and then out, surely carrying through the woods toward the den. She shut her eyes and dug her claws into the earth again, then took a deep breath and tried to let it out slowly. No, she hadn't expected the pain to be this bad…or perhaps she was just a sissy…no…she was a huntress. She was just in real pain, that was all. Real, physical pain instead of the emotional pain she was used to.
Another one hit almost immediately after the last and something inside her told her to start pushing. Though the pain was so intense it made her head spin, she pushed, fighting the waves of dizziness threatening to overtake her. Another contraction and another bout of pushing and she felt something. Opening her eyes as the pain slowly began ebbing away, she curled her body around to see the little cub.
Shock had her staring at it for a moment before instinct took over and she began cleaning it. The little life started mewling and yelping as soon as it's mouth was clear. Sharra laughed, a huge smile spreading over her face. However, she didn't have time to discover the gender of her cub before another contraction hit. Sharra threw herself flat against the ground, gasping and pushing at the same time, her body taking over.
"I thought I was done…" she cried, a few more tears escaping and sliding down. The second cub slid out screaming in protest and again Sharra curled around to clean it. This one she didn't stare at, merely cleaned rapidly, not wanting it to get anything in it's lungs. When both cubs were clean, she gently picked them up and moved them to where they could suckle. She let out a long sigh, staring down at her beautiful cubs. She was exhausted by this point, and so while they suckled, she laid her head down, ears alert and dozed.
Kam's face was screwed up in a weird sort of frown.
Sharra smiled, nuzzled her. "Don't worry, once you see your cub or cubs, you'll forget about all the pain, it won't even be in your mind anymore," Kam merely nodded.
She gulped. "What if I don't forget, what if, what if I have like five cubs or something??" She asked, her voice on the edge of hysterics now. Sharra couldn't help but laugh.
"Then you'll have five cubs, and yes, it will hurt for every one of them, but you'll look at them when all is said and done, and you won't care anymore, because these little lives, these beautiful little lives just came out of you, were created by the love you shared with your mate and nothing else in the world but that will matter to you," Sharra licked her daughter's cheek. "Trust me,"
The cracking noise outside had Sharra awake and standing, teeth bared, hair standing on edge. She peered outside, ears pinned, ready for anything. Once she saw it was Kieji, her features relaxed and she bounded out of the den, throwing herself against him and licking his cheek.
He smiled and nuzzled her. "I thought you were in there," he said. Sharra nodded and then walked back over and slipped in. There was enough room for both, so Kieji followed. Sharra lay down again and motioned for him to lay with her.
He obliged, curling up behind her and resting his head over her shoulderblades as he peered down at his cubs.
"One male and one female," Sharra supplied. Kieji nodded.
"Names?" He asked.
"I'm not sure yet, do you have any ideas?"
The male looked over his two cubs. "Which one is which?" Sharra smiled and then showed him. One, the female, was a dark chocolate color, her belly and muzzle a tan color. The male was a dark beige, with light tan for his muzzle and belly.
"Kasoni," Kieji
said, nodding toward the male. Sharra smiled.
"Kamira for the
female then," she replied.
They nuzzled, touching noses before settling. Sharra laid her head on her paws while Kieji left his head over her shoulders. He smiled, sighing with contentment. "Kamira and Kasoni, hmm," he murmured, licking her shoulder. "They're beautiful Sharra, absolutely beautiful,"
A/N: Alright…I know…this one was super short. I didn't want to leave you all with a cliffy b/c I'm not going to be updating for a few days and I also ran out of ideas for the night. So hope you enjoyed the birth of Kam and Kasoni, and the next chapter will be up later on in the week. Please review, let me know what you think!