The time had come, somehow she knew it even before the first increasing spasms in her stomach had begun. Instinct perhaps or mothers intuition, not something she ever thought she would be relying on but here she was. It had all happened rather suddenly, perhaps they had been a bit carried away after finally being reunited, after finally confessing their true feelings to one another. It had been a day she would never forget for many reasons, not too many moons after that beginning to recognize the changes her body was beginning to go through. She had thoroughly enjoyed the surprised look on Rhaegal’s face when she had revealed the news to him, though surely he had his own suspicions before that as well. They had taken long enough to be truly bound to one another so perhaps it was only fitting they were so quick to begin their family.

Grimacing against the pain that was beginning to course through her abdomen she staggered to the mouth of the den, poking her golden topped snout out into the still chilly spring air to release a short howl to her mate, who she knew would not be so far away that he wouldn’t hear it. He had been keeping close by of course, taking time to go visit his mother sparingly and hunt when she needed it which had been increasingly so. That was what had led him from the warmth of their home today, despite being in the middle of spring the upper reaches of the mountains warmth was much slower in coming.

Padding back to the soft furs she was soon lying on her side atop them. They littered the floor of this den since before she herself was born and it was both gratifying and comforting to breath in their musky, familiar scent now. It was early still, she knew Rhaegal couldn’t have gone far but she did wish he would hurry back. The pain was only increasing and she had to wonder if this much discomfort was normal. She had never witnessed a birth before and this being her first pregnancy she had nothing to compare it to and she longed even more so for her mate and best friend to provide her the comfort she needed.

At last he finally returned but by that point she was so consumed by the throbbing achiness of the contractions she almost didn’t register it. She was vaguely aware of him moving around her, her ears barely flicking at the sound of his own concerned whines but she couldn’t find the focus to respond. It seemed that time only drug on, despite the suns movement outside making it apparent otherwise. Still she struggled on and on, and it was only as the light began to grow dim outside did the last of their children make its way into the world. She was nearing complete exhaustion by this point, cognizant only enough to get them all settled within the warm gray fur of her stomach and blink of wearily at Rhaegal. “Our children,” were the only words she could manage and even they were breathy with her tiredness, her eyes fighting to drift close even as their brilliant color danced from his face to the small gray and white bodies which had begun to nurse noisily.