*Cougar*

A large female cougar makes her way slowly into the den, her large belly noticeable. She lays down, and puts her head on her paws, ready to sleep. She falls into a light sleep, because she had to worry about larger predators.

*Cougar*

As the last latescent rays of the lunar light faded, and the sun broke free, dawn came. And labor dawned. The cougar blinked as she felt an unusual amount of pain shoot through her lower abdomen, and quickly put together what it meant. Cubs she thought excitedly. And it was about time. Her stomach swelled considerably, her litter being slightly overdue. She stayed in the same spot, reclining, and waiting, and occasionally whining when the pain became greater. Eyes shutting the cougar panted, the panting becoming yelps of pain. In a few hours, five cubs suckle at her side. She lays her head on her outstretched paws, exhausted.

*Cougar and Cubs*

The cubs whimper slightly, as they curl up into a ball. The mother sniffs two anxiously, for they were weak, and died. She nudges her other three into a ball, before setting off. She needed food.

*Cougar*

The female cougar returns, having eaten. She lays down, allowing the cubs to nurse again. She lays her head on her paws. She would move the den in a little while.

*Cougar cubs*

The five cougar cubs race around in the den, biting and playing with each other. The mother was weak, as she was past her prime, yet she still played with the cubs. She had named them all, the golden color with sparkling blue eyes was Rheia, dusty brown with soft dark eyes was Qillous, cream, almost white with brown eyes was Deidamia, the reddish-brown pelt with auburn eyes was Diavolo, and darkened, almost black pelt with white spots on the backs of both ears and bright, orangish brown eyes was Ferro. They all held a special place in her heart. The mother laid her head down, and coughed, before her body failed her. She had been sick, and now left the cubs by themselves.