The time has come... [Mature]

[sahara]

A few days passed and Sahara was more sluggish than ever, as well as moody. Her ears stayed back most of the time as she was becoming more nervous with the anticipation of pups. It had been more than 60 days since their act of mating, and it was becoming to be apparent that the arrival of new life was amidst. Her panting was heavy and pacing seemed just about the only thing she could do.

Going to lay down, her bright blue eyes were almost glazed over as they looked at Grifan, she was making sure he kept his distance from her. Caution was her undertaking in this matter. Staying on the nesting material she had made just three weeks ago, it was made clear that her mate was not allowed anywhere near it. If he came within a foot of the material, her lips would curl and her eyes would look up at him, if that was not understood a large demonic snarl was emitted from her.

Just as she went to stand a pain came from her stomach and she layed back down. The moment was here, and the contractions began. Panting more she layed on her side, looking back every-so-often to see what was exactly going on. Curling up, she cleaned her area with various slashes of her tongue. Nothing was really happening yet, but her contractions.

[crystlia]

Grifan made sure that he kept his distance from his mate, especially now that the contractions were now happening with Sahara to make sure that she had her space and was comfortable enough to let her be a bit more calmer through her process. He knew this for quite a while now, he had suffered nasty problems from his mate whenever he had gotten close to her nest, though he was worried for her during this time.

Seeing her go through pain never made him feel very good and just paced around a little bit though kept his distance far from her with his ears folded down and his tail making no motions with a nervous look in his sky-blue eyes as things began to come up in his head, most were things that were making him want to be by his mate's side when she was going through this harsh time, though he knew that he would have to get Sahara's permission to come. Which would probably never happen with the ways she was acting up on him.

[sahara]

The last contraction was happening, the next thing to start happening was the delivery of the little lives. Soon within hours the first pup began to come out, it was taking so much energy from her. Whimpering she it was taking a long time to get the energy to push out the little pup. In the middle of her birthing she took a break, laying on her side panting. Her eyes looked over to him longingly.

Then within a few minutes, she began to push some more, and soon the first pup came out. She took a few heavy breathes as, then began to clean the newborn off, revealing the young one to be a boy. He was too young to reveal what his coat was really going to be, but so far, he appeared to look just like his father. His top coat on the top of his back and head was a very dark gray, almost black, then his under coat was lighter.

The moment he was finished off he began to suckle on his mom, eagerly. While the little one suckled, she went back to birthing. She didn't know how many more were to come, she just knew that she had more to come. Already, she was beginning to get wore out and very thirsty. Laying her head down, she pushed and took a break, then pushed more.

[crystlia]

When Grifan saw that Sahara finally had their first pup, everything just seemed to stop for and moment which during that time it made him come into a realization about some things. He now had a much bigger responsibility then just watching over his mate all the time, he officially had to start being a responsible father to him pups now, and he would make sure that they are well protected and have much affection. Unlike what his father tried to do with him and his sister when they were just born.

Though he also knew that this was his mate's time and would have to sit out and just watch her having their pups with him out of the way. So he just sat down and just kept his eyes on his mate and the den entrance to make sure that nothing bad was going to be happening to anyone that was in their den, though he would make a small smile whenever he looked over at the newborn pup that was by his mate's side and suckled eagerly, he could tell that little pup might be just like him in ways just by the mere look at the small furball that was called a pup.

[sahara]

It took a little longer to birth the second, but it was less pain on her. At this point the pain was just a constant ping. After a few deep breathes and pushes another pup was born.She layed panting for a looking back at her pup, before tending to it. This one was a very dark color, almost black. A lot like her mom in ways, but like any newborns, only time would tell. Cleaning off the pup with her tongue she was taking her time with this getting every bit of fur clean.

Once the pup was cleaned off, she too, went to suckle on her mom. Laying her head back down it only took a few more minutes before she began to push again. She didn't know how much more she could take of this labor, it was taking a lot out of her. Keeping her head down as she intakes air, she continued to push. Pushing, the third begins to emerge out. Just thirty minutes after the second puppy, the third was born.

The third pup was a girl as well, her appearance so far, was almost like her aunt. There appeared to be a marking going up and down her back that looked like her aunts. Her overall coat though was pure white, except for that said marking which appeared to look reddish so far.

[crystlia]

When Grifan saw the second and third pup came out, it just made him feel much more joyous inside to see that he and his mate were finally going to raise a actually family now, that is of course if the pups lived long enough and if Sahara didn't tire herself to death from her delivering their pups. That was the number one thing that was really getting him worried right now as he could sense that she was getting pretty over heated as well tired from her labour, and there could even be more coming along the way.

He just moved up slightly as he got a little closure to get a better look at the newborns though kept his distance from them as he knew that Sahara would try to growl at him, though she really needed all the energy she could get. To help out his mate during her labour, he made the air around her body a little more cooler while the pups were kept warm and a small puddle of water was made from the moisture which his mate can drink from as he would think that she was probably thirsty by now. "Don't worry Sahara, you'll make it through, just hang on." He told his mate to comfort her down a bit more so she would stress out so much.

[sahara]

As she was beginning to deliver the last and final pup she saw Grifan come closer, she began to muster a growl. However, before she even began she noticed he was cooling her down, and provided her with something to drink. Her tail lightly wagged and she leaned her head to the puddle lapping up the water generously. After quenches her thirst, she panted out of exhaustion. She was not yet starting to push the other one, this one was the hardest to deliver than the other three.

After thirty minutes, she began to push again. The pup was coming out head first then, within long minutes she came out. As soon as she came out, Sahara began to worry. She stood up and stood over the last pup, licking her her and nudging her. The little winged pup was not breathing. As she whimpered, she tried harder to stimulate the little female. Soon with all her efforts the little one let out a large strong cry. Sahara's tail wagged with joy at the little girl. Licking her happily, she then circled around her newborns and layed.

The last pup wobbled and crawled to the warmth of her mother and began to suckle. She was the largest of the pups and had their mothers colors and her fathers wings. The rest had already had their fill and were sleeping in a little bundle while their youngest sister suckled. Sahara's eyes looked up to Grifan with loving proud eyes. Laying her head in her paws as the rest of her body was contorted to allow for feeding, she watched her mate. Seeing the happy and proud look on his face, she knew he loved his pups as much as her.

[crystlia]

What Sahara thought was so very true as he had his eyes on the four small pups that were by Sahara's side with as large smile upon his face and his tail wagging, though it was quiet for he didn't want to wake the sleeping pups up. He then looked up at Sahara to see if she was still alright and noticed that she was looking right back at him with her head laying on her paws.

She was probably still worried about hurting the pups despite her knowing that he would never do anything like that in his life, but he understood that very well knowing that it was mere instincts to her. "You did great Sahara, you should get some rest." He told her as he put his head on his paws and tucked in his wings as he closed his eyes and began to drift off to sleep, it was quite and exciting day despite him not really doing anything, but at least he was there to make sure that his mate was alright.

[sahara]

The large wolf smiled, looking at her larger mate. Her eyes were tired and so was her body. Staying curled around her pups she slowly nodded off to sleep. The last of the pups joined near the other three as they all tucked near their warm mother. The winged pup seemed to not know what to do with his wings, as the dragged about and layed over the others.

Making little grunts and whines they soon all were comfortable. Sahara would only wake to the hungry whines of the pups making herself available to them to eat. After doing so, she would look over to her mate then fall to sleep laying on her side.

She had woke in the early morning standing up and stretching out avoiding the pups with her steps. Watching them she nudges them with her nose and licks at them. She looked over to her mate to see if he was awake or still sleeping. She herself was feeling quite hungry, but she knew there was yet one more task. Names. The two wolves, had yet to name their precious bundles of joy.

[crystlia]

Grifan was very well awake when Sahara went to look at him, he had been up just only a few minutes before his mate had awakened and was watching the pups from some distance away from the nest. He didn't know their genders or really their colors as his mate never really said anything about it to him, neither the names for them. Though he knew that she was probably wondering the same thing as well, having no clue how many pups and what their genders are until birth can sort of complicate things a bit for anyone really.

"Well." He started off as he stretched his wings wide before tucking them in again and looking at his mate with a smile. "We should be thinking of some names now I guess. Though you should probably give me some description on them, after all with me being so far from them." He told his mate s he just looked at the four pups all nuzzled up together, though they looked like little dark balls of fur to him with the distance he was away from his young.

[sahara]

Seeing him awake she wagged her tail, so far, she was asleep and he did not come near. Maybe he would be safe around the pups. Looking down to them and their all unique appearances she smiles. The largest one stuck out the most from the bunch and the other three were just as unique, the two dark ones looked more like siblings than the rest. Looking back up to Grifan she put her ears back and her eyes locked onto him before she spoke, "You may come closer..." She stated in a tone that said But if you do anything, you will be in huge trouble'

She moved in a way so he could see all the pups; the white one with the marking like her aunts, the all black one that seemed to have a marking like her mothers, the one that looked exactly like his father except for the wings, and the largest of them all, the winged pup that looked almost like a spitting image of their mom. Her eyes looked to them with a loving manner that only a mother has. Her bright blue eyed gaze looks up to Grifan with a watchful look. The pups were helpless, the only real protection they had was their mother, but she did not know they also had their father.

[crystlia]

When Grifan heard that he was able to come closer to the pups he had began to lightly wag his tail as he stood up and began to make slow and soft steps towards Sahara and the pups while making the look that he wasn't going to hurt their pups in any way possible. When he went to lay down he was by Sahara's side with his head by hers so that she could react and grab him if he were to do something to the pups, which of course he would not go very near them as to nudge or lick them incase his mate thought he was going to grab one of them.

He just stared at the four small pups that were on the nest and noticed that there was even a pup that looked almost just like her aunt and may possibly pocess some of her powers, though the rest looked just like their mother and father, especially the pup that had Sahara's colors and Grifan's wings. With a small chuckle Grifan still had his eyes on the little fur balls as he began to speak to his mate. "They're all just so...... beautiful." He confessed as he looked back at Sahara's electric-blue eyes and gave a large smile to her. "Just like you." He finished his sentence and began to nuzzle his neck against hers lovingly and just looked back at all four of their darling pups again as he tried to think up of some names for them.

[sahara]

She had smiled at him some after getting over the nervousness of him coming so close. He had relieved this by laying next to her and keeping his distance from them still. She looked upon them their beauty was noticeable, but his words when he spoke about them and her made her almost blush with a starry eyed expression. To get over this she refocuses herself on the young ones in her own care. Her eyes looked back upon her pups nuzzling and licking at them, this made the little boy cry out and throw a fit. Most of the others didn't mind. A few grunts of protest was made though.

After they fully awakened they went back to what pups do best. Eat. Suckling back onto her she layed upon her side and rested, her back pressed upon Grifan. This was comfortable and relaxing to feel his presence near her so close, but somewhat nerve racking with him so close to the pups. However, so far so good, he has not made any attempt or sign of wanting to harm them. As they fed she began to think.

"Do you know what you want to name any of them, my dear? I have thought about it some, but I had no idea what we would have..."

She states with mild care as their suckling seemed almost to put her into a trance. She had only two names thought up, not knowing she would have so many pups. She fought the sleep she seemed to want to go back into as they ate their fills. The largest of the pups seemed very eager in the attempt to gain food almost hurting Sahara with her tiny soft claws. It would be a few weeks before their eyes would open and they would start to see the world around them.

[crystlia]

Grifan just had a long and hard stare at all of the four pups while thinking up of good names for all of them, it was actually a little difficult for him as he really never thought of names for them despite him knowing that his mate was going to have them. Though their were some ideas in his head that he was getting for the pups, mostly they were for the male pup and the winged pup as they most likely had the power of the winds in them, though the female may possibly have the lighting powers in her as well.

"Well, I'm going to be honest with you Sahara, I can only think up of names for one or two of the pups." He confessed calmly as he gave off a soft smile and a loving smile to his mate before looking looking back down at their pups again with a caring look on his face, he truly did love them all dearly, though he was respecting Sahara's thoughts on him right now and kept his distance from them all.

"I think Audra would be a good name for the winged one, meaning storm as she might have both our powers in a way. Though it's your decision." He told her as he nuzzled his neck onto hers while giving her small licks on her cheek, he just wanted to give her a little affection since he wasn't for a while now.

[sahara]

Sahara smiles calmly at his words, the name he came up with was nice for the nice, she liked it very well. Opening her brilliant eyes she looked over to him out the corner of her eye,"I actually like it. It sounds nice, my love."Her voice was soft with a mothers kind tone. The pups were done eating by this time and she sat up looking to the winged pup,"Audra.."she tested. It was nice, a nice fit. Looking to the white pup with the red arrow on her forehead. Her eyes looked over to her affectionate mate and nuzzled him as she continued to speak softly.

"I was wondering how you like Alexis for the white pup.." She continues to nuzzle into her mate lovingly. Then lightly licks his cheek before withdrawing from him to look deeply into his eyes. Becoming a mother made her happy and having a loving, affectionate mate like Grifan only added to it. Within the past month she had changed. She was a depressed unhappy wolfess, now she was full of life and happy with her new life. Looking into her mates eyes, he could see this and them cooperating only added to the love within the den.

Her eyes looked down to her pups as now there was two others to be named and she was sure they could both come up with good names that would suit their pups. Nuzzling them and licking them, she cleaned and inspected them. This made sure that they were healthy and cleaned. The nest was keeping them warm as well as clean until they were old enough to walk and Sahara made sure that this was done by her various nuzzling and inspections.