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 Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 3:34 pm
 Tsubame woke in the darkness of the den to a sharp pain in her belly, it dissipated quickly so she thought nothing of it, just one of the cubs moving yet again. She lay back down but couldn't seem to sleep so instead she watched her family sleep. Achal sleeping the closest to the den entrance, close enough that Tsu could see the outline of his head and upper body against the barely lighter sky outside. Then Ban'ma and Maua, Tsu use to sleep with them until she found she was pregnant since them it was determined that it would be best if she slept farther back in the den until the cubs were born. Then in the very back part of the den in the flattened area covered in grass and sweet smelling plants was Tsubame and the five cubs.
Her family. It still felt slightly odd to her to call them that after all for Tsubame who had been alone for most of her life to have a family was a new experience for her and now her already large family was going to get larger if Ban'ma was any expert to go on, which it seemed she was. The pale lioness striped in blue had to explain to Tsu that her growing belly and hunger paired with the irritability she felt at first and the pain and movement that came from her belly meant that she was pregnant and judging from the size it was not just one cub.
Tsu started to space out for a bit in the darkness of the den and could hear the movements of life outside drifting on the light breeze that drifted into the den carrying with it the sent of wet grass and dark silent places. These clues meant that morning was on its way and soon the sun would be rising along with her family. Achal would go out and do what he does as would Maua and Ban'ma. The cubs would go out to play or learn as they wished and Tsubame would stay here with a belly so swollen that she felt like a fat elephant.
Finally sleep tugged at her weary mind and she drifted back to sleep. When she woke again it was full morning and everyone was gone doing what ever they did on such days. She could see a cloudless blue sky in the den opening and the breeze was warm and sweet carrying the sounds of life from all around, from birds and mice to the laughter of cubs and the murmurer of adults. Wanting to spend the day out in the sunlight Tsu got to her feet carefully but had only taken a few steps when the sharp pain from early in the morning struck. This time it was much stronger and Tsu could not help but whimper a bit in the pain. She stayed where she was her teeth gritted and a silent growl building in her throat, her claws dug into the dirt floor right before the pain disappeared as suddenly as it came and she leaned against the wall breathing heavily.
After a bit she tried again to walk out of the den hoping that the clear air would prevent the pain from coming back but she hadn't taken more then a few steps when the sharp pain was back and with a vengeance it seemed. Her whimper this time was much louder as she sunk to the floor of the den and did her best to ride out the pain which like the last one disappeared soon after it came, leaving Tsu panting heavily with her claws dug deep into the dirt of the floor.
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Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 7:41 pm
 Ban'ma was an unusually heavy sleeper. A lion could die a painful death a breath from her ear and she wouldn't stir. Which is exactly why it was so odd that she woke up early today of all days. She'd left earlier than any of her den mates to get a fresh start on the day with the sky at her back and the sun in her heart.
The day had gone by relative clockwork until she found this pretty little rock that she wanted too keep.It was shaped like a cloud, all big and puffy. Smiling to herself she jogged happily back to the den to drop it off when she spotted a lioness. "Tsubame?" Ban'ma dropped her stone and trotted the rest of the way, her ears flicked back with concern. "Baby, you don't look good at all. Is it the cubs?" She'd seen this scenario so many times before that she really didn't have to ask.
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Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 12:26 pm
 Maua had risen with the sun, as she often did. It took time for her to warm, and she liked to start early. Plus, there was so much to do, take care of in her family. Tsu was expecting, and quite soon, and she couldn't feel happier. Their family was large already, but it was growing steadily still. The floral leopard enjoyed - watching the cubs play, and helping her Sisters care for them.
Upon warming, Maua had left to hunt that morning, only catching a Hare. it was what she was used to catching, after all. A quick decision led her back to the den, brining with her the untouched hare, fat with the life it lived, as an offering to Tsu to keep her strength up, especially having to gain nutrients that would help feed the cubs in her belly, ones that would soon be born.
How soon, she did not know.
Upon arriving at the den, Maua's demenour changed to one of confusion. Something was different - something would happen soon. The leopardess' muscles tensed and she dropped the hare near the entrance and moved into the den.
"Tsu, Ban'ma," she called softly, wondering. Was Tsu about to give birth? She shifted in worry for the darkly colored female, her sister, and moved closer, eyes adjusting to the higher level of darkness. "Is... is everything alright?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 1:40 pm
Tsubame looked up in relief when Ban'ma entered the den, she would know what was wrong. She was about to ask her what was going on when another pain struck and she could do nothing but grit her teeth and dig her claws into the ground. Tsu heard her ask if it was the cubs and that reminded her about the breathing that Ban'ma had demonstrated after she told Tsu that she was pregnant.
Hoping that the breathing would help she started to breath like she was taught, it seemed to help. The pain lasted only a touch longer and once it passed Tsu let out a heavy breath then started to breath a bit normally if a bit heavily. She was about to ask Ban'ma what was going on since this part was not really covered when she originally found out when Maua came in from hunting.
Now surrounded by her sisters Tsu felt infinitely better better but she was still worried. "Ban'ma, Maua I'm not sure whats going on..." She said with worry and a touch of embarrassment. She didn't want to admit that the pain she was feeling made her fear that something was wrong with the cubs. She didn't want to admit to herself that she was already in love with each cub that she was carrying.
((cubs will come in next Tsu post ^^ ' after one more round of posting))
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Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 8:45 am
"Thats it, thats it." She whispered soothingly as she moved around to Tsubame's backside. Cocking her head to the side Ban'ma saw what she expected to see and with a smile she looked up at her Beybanu. "When you feel the pain I want you to ride it. When it's the worst, push."
Ban'ma had barely noticed Maua's approach. To her she nodded. "We're having babies!" She smiled like the happiest of cubs and motioned with her head to Tsubame. "I need you to comfort her. Keep her mind on track, okay?"
She loved her family which was why she pushed all emotional attachments out the door. For once she had to be completely cool in a situation. Mentally she was screaming. How long had it been since she'd assisted in a birthing? Months, years? Oh, Gods help her.
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Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 5:49 pm
"Oh, Wonderful!" Maua said emphatically, eyes sparkling wtih both worry and excitement. The floral leopardess nodded at the instructions and glanced at the peach lioness before laying her body near Tsu's head.
Maua honestly didn't know what to do herself, being sheltered most her life, she never witnessed the birth of anything. A slight nervous smile crossed her maw.
"Everything's gonna be alright, Tsu." She said, as calmly as she could.
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Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 6:05 pm
((sorry for the page stretch, when i'm able i will shrink imgs)) When it was at the worst push? Tsubame didn't think the pain could get any worse as another wave hit her, but it seemed to spike just a bit so she did as she was directed and pushed.
After a few moments of pushing Tsu gave birth to her first born, a girl. Light blue and cloud colored like her father but her eyes were all Tsu's.
Tsu breathed a sigh when the pain passed and she saw her little girl but she knew it wasn't over, she only hoped this entire thing didnt last terribly long. She clung to the sound of Maua's and Ban'ma's voice as a second pain racked her body. She knew when to push this time and it didn't seem like it took all that long before her second cub was born. This time it was a boy. He had his fathers mountains but his coloring was a perfect mix of them both.
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Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 6:13 pm
Again Tsu rode the pain, and again when it was at its worst she pushed. It was another little girl this time. She had Tsu's plain markings but was predominantly colored to favor Achal.
Tsu smiled at the cubs and dearly wished that she could take a break but that was not her fate because another contraction struck bringing into the world another girl. She was like her mother in coloring but carried the marks of her fathers clouds and mountain tops like a red badge.
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Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 6:22 pm
Tsubame couldn't help but make a comment, "It seems like us females really will out number the males in this family." She laughed tiredly, giving birth was hard work and it was not done because another contraction struck. Another little boy, dark blue like Tsu but he had white snow caps much like his father.
Tsu was proud that she had given birth to five beautiful cubs and was quite ready to rest. She had in fact thought that she was done but when another contraction struck she was almost resigned to the pain. Unlike the other contractions though, this one was the strongest and the most painful. Tsu broke her methodical breathing that she had been using to gasp as she begin to push once more. Another little girl with Tsu's markings, heavily colored in her coloring as well but with touch of Achal's blue and brown.
The little girl was followed quickly by a boy marked and colored just like her. Tsu gasped in surprise, twins! That explained the heavy contraction right before.
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Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 6:33 pm
After giving birth to seven cubs Tsubame really was more then ready to sleep but it seemed she wasn't quite done as yet another contraction wracked her tired body. Another little boy, this time the same markings as the first little boy but a invert of coloring. Another set of twins!
This time it really did seem like it was over since Tsu felt empty, both figuratively and literally. She smiled sleepily and proudly at her eight cubs and at her sisters. "Thank you," she said to them yawning largely. She didnt think she would have been able to give birth to this many cubs with out Ban'ma's expertise and Maua's calming presence. "Now I know why I looked like a pregnant elephant," She smiled and placed her head down on her paws. "I guess naming is next." Tsu mumbled as her eyes drifted shut and she sunk into sleep knowing that everything would be fine even as a small voice in her mind scolded her for not staying awake and watching the cubs.
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Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 6:52 pm
Safe to say, Ban'ma became more than a little squimish after this.
She'd always known the process of birth and had assisted in it, but to be that close was something that nothing could prepare you for. At first she was just as scared as Tsubame when the first cub emerged, but duty called and she started the cleaning process before the whole litter escaped.
The only time she'd stopped to take a break from her work and passing the cubs along to Maua was to laugh at Tsubame's comment. "Thats because they know whose boss around here!"
Each cub was more beautiful than the last. Her heart swelled with love just looking at them. It didn't matter if one was blue or the other brown, they all had that gorgeous mixture of Beybanu and Pad that made it all worth it in the end. That and the twins. Where she came from, twins were good luck and to have more than one pair....well, what a blessing!
Sighing tiredly, Ban'ma leaned against the den wall after it was all said and done with a sloppy smile on her face. "I told you already. You were a rhino." Watching Tsubame drift off, she looked up at Maua in what would have been a thumbs up moment. "Not bad. Not bad at all."
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