Springtime of Life

T

he spring equinox had barely passed, but evidence of the new season was all around. The snow was swiftly vanishing beneath the longer, warmer days of sunlight, leaving verdant hues in its wake. The waterways were swollen with melt, calm creeks transformed into rushing rivers. The sweet aroma of flowers blooming could barely be detected in the air. Animals, from prey to predator, were welcoming their young, and the forest was teeming with new life.

Soon, his own offspring would be among the new spring arrivals, toddling through the same forest, and the ones that lay beyond the Lowlands. For now, this was Cian’s home, and it would be the place his children would make their impending arrival.

He accompanied Clover, now heavily pregnant, through the unfamiliar place. In his eyes, his love had never looked more beautiful, and he glanced to his side to sneak a glimpse at the mother-to-be. The young couple were expecting their litter within weeks, if not days. His nervousness increased with the passing hours, though he had become more practiced in concealing his anxieties, for Clover’s sake. Mostly, anyway. He still fussed over her well-being. But that couldn't be helped now.

After speaking to some of the friendly locals, Cian had been directed to a nurse who lived near the esteemed College of Eolas, someone who had experience with new pups. ”I think we’re getting close. Maybe,” he murmured quietly to the wolfess as they walked, more slowly now than before. He glanced to her rounded belly with a grin on his broad muzzle, addressing the unborn pups, as he enjoyed doing before they arrived in the flesh and fur. "Are you pups being nice to your mama for now? Not too wild in there?"



@Clover + @Nephele

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

A

sigh of relief moved past her lips when Cian reassured her they were getting closer to their destination. "Good...I feel like I could use a nap...or eat an entire deer...or both..." The young, expectant mother mused as she waddled alongside her beloved mate. Clover was starting to slow down in the latter days of their travel. She felt bad for having to stop so often as she took on a more sluggish demeanor, but she never felt that she couldn't express what it was that she needed to Cian.

He was the absolute sweetest gentleman, he could've put the finest Prince in all the land to shame. She was so fortunate to have him there with her to take care of her. There was no way she could imagine life without him there, and these days if she ever did, it would result in random bursts of uncontrollable tears. Clover tried her best to keep hold of her emotions, especially when she could feel that Cian worried over her a majority of the time. This entire journey of pregnancy was incredibly demanding for the both of them and she could only hope that they would come out better wolves than they were before after this experience.

@Cian @Nephele

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

H

e could see just how weary his mate was, and imagined how much more difficult her condition had become. Clover wanted a nap, or a meal. As much as he wished to give in, in that exact moment, they were too near to their destination now to waver from the worn path beneath his giant paws, and her aching ones. ”I can hunt after this. Promise.” He offered a kind smile. If only he could do more – a thought he had more and more frequently, as her time was drawing closer and closer by the day, by the hour.

”Don’t worry,” he said in his lowered voice – as if his voice was not deep enough, now that he was mere weeks from being an adult in the eyes of lupine kind. ”We are going to find a great healer here. She’s, uh – she’s a nurse, I was told. She has experience with – with this. We are looking for…” The youth’s voice trailed off as he searched his memory for the name of the wolfess they sought. His lips pursed as he considered. It was an unusual name, at least, he had never heard it before. Something with an N… ”Her name is – um, it’s – Nel? No, more like Nef–”

Cian could only laugh at himself and his confused brain as they approached a humble cottage that smelled of numerous wolves. Just outside of its wooden door, there was a garden – or, at least, what he assumed was a garden before winter’s chill. ”I think this is it, Clove.” Clearing his throat, he stepped closer to the door of the cottage, raising an enormous paw to knock gently. Hopefully, there would be someone inside, as he was told. "Um, hello?"



@Nephele + @Clover

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

"O

h! A Visitor!" a soft voice rang out from within the dilapidated cottage, excitement making the voice grow high. There was nothing that Nephele enjoyed more than entertaining guests. She scurried over to the door, using her nose to nudge it open unveiling the pair that awaited her on her doorstep. The diminutive nurse’s head popped out of the doorway, gentle features wearing a kind smile. Two scents. Two guests. Without her sight she couldn’t tell if they were injured, but the lack of blood scent was enough for her to know that it wasn’t an emergency. "Hey there. What can I do for you?" she queried, conscious of the fact that they might not be here for the clinic. They could be students of Kylar’s coming to ask her about an upcoming test or even friends of Willow or Anthe.

Most of the wolves that visited Haven were there for medical attention, but on the off chance that this was one of the rare occasions where they wanted another Fritz, Nephele resisted the urge to usher them inside and check them over. It was the polite thing to do after all.

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

W

ith the promise of a meal soon to come, the exhausted mother-to-be nodded slowly and moved to lean up against Cian slightly as they walked. "Mmkay." She trusted him to take care of her and that was all she needed to know to keep herself treading forward. When he lowered his voice as if to make himself seem more adult, Clover snorted as she attempted to cover up a giggle at his deep-toned reassurance.

She followed Cian's gaze as he peered around as though looking around might bring him the name of the healer he sought. Clover blinked at him, unsure of the name he was trying so hard to recall. When he laughed, she smiled, bumping her head into his shoulder in an encouraging nudge. "We'll find her. I believe in us!" SHe piped up with a tired yet cheerful tone.

They couldn't have found the cottage sooner and Clover stared in open-mouthed awe at the garden and the adorable homestead they'd come across. "Is it really? It's beautiful here." She began to stray from him, curiously inspecting whatever was in their winter's harvest. The knock, caused her to jump slightly as she looked over to see it had been Cian trying to see if anyone was home. She waddled as quickly as she could back to where he was standing and she nestled herself into his side as they waited for someone to answer.

A woman answered the door with her eyes closed and greeted them all the same. Clover tilted her head in mild confusion, but she glanced over to Cian before she spoke up. "Hello! Are you...uhm...Nel?" She asked, giving her mate a side-eyed look, uncertain if that was the name they needed to request. "I'm Clover and this is Cian and he brought me here to see a nurse that knows all about having pups." She did her best to resist the urge to point out the obvious featuer about this woman, but she knew if she didn't it would nag her the entire time they were talking with her. "Uhm...are you sleepwalking? Why are your eyes closed?"

@Cian @Nephele

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

”W

"e'll find her. I believe in us!" Cian nodded with enthusiasm. ”Yeah. So do I. We’ve got this.” Clover seemed particularly impressed by the serene scene they had found as she briefly examined the garden. Cian was sure that whoever tended to it was attentive. Kind. Smart. So he was very hopeful when he knocked on the door, and someone actually responded.

”Oh! A visitor! A feminine voice sounded from behind the cottage door, and Cian sighed with relief that someone was indeed behind the door. A woman dressed in ivory and ebony soon appeared in the doorway as she opened her home up to the strangers. She wore a kind smile and exuded a maternal air, even though Cian knew nothing about her – including her name. Before the she-wolf spoke again, Cian noticed that there was something a bit different about this woman.

Clover quickly introduced them to the wolfess, stating their purpose. A smile tugged at his lips when Clover mentioned pups. It was obvious to anyone who looked that the young femme was due any day now. "Uhm...are you sleepwalking? Why are your eyes closed?" As Clover asked the questions, it suddenly occurred to Cian what seemed different about the dual-colored wolfess. He cleared his throat as he leaned closer to his mate, whispering in her ear, ”I think she – I don’t think she can see us, Clove.”

He looked back to the nurse nervously, worried she would be offended. ”We just – we’ve traveled a long way today. We – er, Clover is going to have pups. Soon.” He spoke the final word with urgency.



@Nephele + @Clover

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

H

er ears twitched when a girl greeted her. It was hard to tell by voice alone, but she sounded young. Nephele let out a small giggle when the girl asked if she was Nel. "It's Nephele, but Nel is fine too," she corrected her, not minding the misnomer at all. It was quite cute. The girl went on to introduce herself and her companion. Clover and Cian. They were looking for a nurse experienced with pups. She'd assisted with a few litters during her time as a nurse so the girl's words made her blush slightly at the unexpected praise.

Nephele was about to step back to welcome them in when Clover questioned her about her eyes. It was the first thing most people noticed about her so she wasn't offended by the question. "Oh, uh.. No. It's an old injury. I can't see," she admitted, hoping that their confidence in her abilities wouldn't be shaken by this revelation.

Cian cut in and explained the gravity of their situation. "Oh! Of course! Come inside, Nephele insisted, taking a step back and gesturing with her nose for them to come in. "I've helped a few mothers before and I'll do my best to help you too," she assured the young mother.

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

A

fter she made their introductions and learned the woman's true name, her smile only brightened, tail swishing happily behind her. "Nephele!" She repeated, glancing over at her mate as she nudged him playfully. "See, we were close."

Cian lean in to whisper to ber. Her ears perked and flicked towards his hushed tone to hear him gently tell her that he thought Nephele couldn't see. Clover tilted her head in mild confusion and whispered back. "Well, that's because her eyes are closed, silly." The kind healer's voice drew her back in just then and she turned back towards her only to find out that it was the truth. Nephele couldn't see, but it was an old injury that made it so.

"Oh! Well, I think you're absolutely beautiful!" Clover delivered a compliment after realizing she'd made the mistake in hopes that it would be well received. She gave Cian a sheepish grin before following the other female into the cottage as they were waved inside. "This is such a lovely place...very cozy!" Clover wandered the home, sniffing about, likely where she shouldn't, but she was hardly used to an enclosed space such as this.

@Cian @Nephele

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck