Kazmei & Pups

Into the dark depths of the basement slunk Kazmei, finding herself in a world far-flung from the one she'd known. This basement, and the entire complex, screamed 'human' to her, but she could find no hide nor hair of the inventive two-leggers here. No faint scent clinging to the lichen-covered stone, despite the obvious nature of their handiwork left behind. The Ruins might look human in design, but they smelt entirely wild, and that offered the soon-to-be mother some level of comfort.

The brown wolf found a small depression in the ground near one of the aging stone racks, where bits of dried grass and other debris had been left behind by previous tenants. The scent was old, and nothing in the lingering odors told the wolfess about the drama that had played out here - only that, at one point, a mother wolf had been her with her children. She circled three times, tamping the dried plants down with her paws before settling in, and permeating the nest with her own scent. Whoever the old user of this den was, she was long gone.

Quilikahm & Blackmist

Little Quilikahm had given Kazmei a few hours to herself before leading a second mother into the Basement, though this mother was no stranger the area. Under Quili's diligent ministrations, Black was set up with a cozy bed of cedar leaves and dried grass, offered a morsel of choice meat, and then left in quiet solitude for a few hours herself.

It was sometime later that the ebony muntjac then made her way back down the stairs with a strip of meat from a recently slain deer. Her tiny hooves thumped softly down the spiral stone steps, then across the floor as she made her way to the newcomer. "Kazmei?" She piped out between teeth clenched deftly around the parcel of meat. A few more steps brought her up to the brown and ochre wolf, where she set the meal down, "How are things progressing?"

Kazmei & Pups

The few hours of privacy had been all that Kazmei had needed to bring three new lives into the world. Two females and a male, all cleaned and pressed snugly against her warm stomach with bellies full of milk. The mother hadn't realized how hungry she was herself until the deer brought over a hunk of meat, and Kaz was too tired to irony of what kind of flesh the muntjac had carried to her.

"Thank you." She murmured before devouring the meal, eagerly gulping it down in a few swift bites. A pink tongue flashed out, cleaning away any bits of gore that might remain on her maw. Only once this was done did the wolf answer Quili, "Going well, I think. There are three-" She shifted her body and flicked her tail to the side, uncovering the three little bodies that had been hidden beneath it, "-Kandire, Moonfall, and Trelstar."

Quilikahm & Blackmist

Quilikahm gently snuffled about the three little bodies after Kazmei unveiled them, giving them a good inspection before stepping back and nodding to the mother. "They seem quite healthy, and by the looks of it, have inherited their father's size. Imre has blessed you and your children today." The tiny muntjac took in a deep breath, her ebony chest swelling as if pride itself briefly took inhabitance in her. She released it in a soundless exhale and went on, her small voice pleasant but firm, "<>BBecause we have no Mothers at the moment, you will be given the opportunity to raise the pups until they have been been properly weaned, and at that point they will become the communal children of the Haunters. If you enjoy the role of Mother, you may take that as your official title - you will then be responsible for helping Blackmist with her young, and ultimately taking over for her within the next month."

From her place nearby, Blackmist heard these words and felt a pang of sorrow hit her. She knew the rules, and she wouldn't fight them, but already she felt a strong bond with the three little lives she had given birth to and dreaded the day she would be forcibly separated from her children, if Kazmei did indeed take up the role of Mother.

Kazmei & Pups

It was still so strange to her, to have this deer inspecting her brood, and offering congratulations. A deer so diminutive that Kazmei could reach forth and snuff her life with a simple snap to the throat. Yet here she was, waltzing into the proverbial lion's den and giving a mother wolf orders. Tiny tusks aside, there was nothing else remotely intimidating about the little black muntjac, and yet the ominous little creature commanded a certain sense of respect, and Kazmei obliged without any outward hesitation. "Thank you."

To Quilikahm's explanation of her placement in the pack, Kazmei answered honestly,"I'm not sure yet what role I'll fit here." She looked down at her three youngling again, feeling a surge of protection and love for them... and yet, feeling an uncomfortable tether and weight bearing down on her. She wasn't sure if she could handle the confinement of these walls for long. "I'd like to get to know the place a little better though, once I'm able to. In the meantime, can I speak with Saulk?"

Kandire, Moonfall, and Trelstar continued to rest, unbothered by the big new world they had just been born into. All they knew right now was the warmth of their mother's belly, and the milk she had to nourish them.

Quilikahm & Blackmist

Quili was pleased with how easily Kazmei handled the reassertion of the rules, even if she could see the tender longing in the wolf's eyes as she gazed down at her newborns. "That's quite alright, take your time. You'll have a full moon cycle to make your decision, and it can always be amended later if your skills suit a different task." When it came to the resquest for Saulk, the muntjac frowned a little, "Unfortunately, Saulk is not allowed down here outside of an emergency. Co-lead or not, only Mothers and Healers are permitted in the basement." She watched Kazmei carefully before adding on, "I can deliver him a message though, and you're more than welcome to take a few minutes to stretch your legs and visit him, if you'd prefer."

Kazmei

-Oh, that's right.- Thought Kazmei when her offered was declined. She vaguely recalled Saulk mentioning that rule, though he'd described so many to her that one or two were bound to be forgotten. "No, no." The mother shook her head and gingerly flexed one forepaw out, moving just one limb instead of all four as her body yearned for. With all three pups slumbering so soundly, she was loath to disturb them with unnecessary movement. "It's alright, I'll visit him in a little while." Kazmei offered the deer a fleeting smile before resting her head down, letting her muzzle nestle between Kandire and Moonfall. The two little females barely flinched at the touch, and Trelstar gave a squeaky yawn before tucking a little closer to his sister.

Quilikahm & Blackmist

Quilikahm took note of the Kazmei's gentle nature with her pups, despite the clear restlessness she also seemed to display, even if very subtly, about being cooped up in the Basement. The new mother was certainly a promising one. "Very well, I'll let him know. And should you need anything else, just give a howl." With that taken care of, the little muntjac trotted across the way to Blackmist.

The wolf knew what was coming and shifted herself carefully to give Quili access to the pups, but without disturbing them too much. "Three females." There was pride in her voice, and the kind of quiet excitement one might expect from a new mother introducing her children to a friend.

Quilikahm looked over the three with keen eyes and a busy nose, nudging them here and there, and ultimately rolling Reveni away from her siblings with a deft flip of her snout. Blackmist flinched at this, and had to bite back her maternal instincts to intervene. Alarm began to grow in Blackmist, and just before she voiced her concern, Quili spoke, "They all seem very healthy. This one-"

"Reveni." Blackmist interjected, and Quili nodded to her.

"Reveni. She is rather small but appears quite healthy. Very feisty, that's good." The little whelp under scrutiny was indeed squirming about and making a fuss now that she'd been so rudely awakened. Why Quili was so fascinated by her, Black didn't know, but the muntjac was soon nudging her back up with her siblings. "Congratulations, Blackmist. I'll inform the leader of their birth." She parted Blackmist with a smile before bidding her well and moving back towards the staircase, and up out of sight.