]Beginning[ of the [[End]](open)

[.Shadow.]

Shadow;;
Well this is it, now;
Everybody get down.
This is all -
I can take.
This is how a heart breaks.

A sigh surpassed coal-lined lips as a figure squeazed her way through the nursery enterence. Her stomach was swollen noticably now; considering that she was due to have pups in just a little under a month from now. The black mutt searched around, crimson gaze spotting just a few mothers with pups, and one or two who hadn't given birth yet. Skirting around all of them, Shadow slinked to the farthest corner, hiding herself in the darkness and laying down silently in the dirt. She'd make a nest later; but for now, the earth below her in any form would do. The Siberian Husky and Alaskan Malamute mix was exhausted; it seemed pregnancy had slowed her down, imparing her abilities to hunt for herself.

Shadow snorted in disgust at the thought of having someone else take care of her. All her life she'd managed to keep from relying on anyone else, so why should now be different? "Because your having pups, you idiot. You're...you're going to be a mother," she repremanded herself softly, sighing in a defeated manner. Lowering her head to rest on her fore-paws, her lean muzzle faced toward the enterence, blood-red eyes watching intently to see who would come to witness the female's mental break-down.

You take a hit, now;
You feel it break down.
Make you stay,
Wide awake;
This is how a heart breaks.

[Kato]

It had been a couple of weeks since she had mated with Darthyn, and it was starting to show in her lower abdomin. She decided she should move to the Nursery now. If anyone asked questions she was told to give a straight answer and say sh wa definetly have Darthyn's children. What would the other dogs say? Would they question her further? What if they thought he had force-bred her? All of these questions raced through her mind as she walked towards the Nesting Hollow.

Akira was pretty tired, even though she wasn't to far along, and was looking forward to relax in a soft comfortable nest. Then she remembered there was no nest waiting for her in the Nursery. She turned to the left where there was some pretty-old straw laying around. She had noticed it there a few months ago, and it had remained there since. She reached down and took a large chunk in her mouth. She carried it to the Nursery and set it down in an availible section. She made a couple more trips untill she had a decent-sized nest. She plopped down on it and let out a long yawn.

Just now did she notice a female sitting in the corner. She looked slightly upset, and Akira would do her best to comfort her. "Hello." she said calmley to the dog. She rolled over onto her side, and nearly dozed off.

[.Shadow.]

Well this is it, now;
Everybody get down.
This is all -
I can take.
This is how a heart breaks.

The dog failed to lift her head at the sound of paws approaching the enterence of the Nursery. Instead, pointed ears flicked forward, drowsy eyes watching with slight curiousity as the black mixbreed entered carrying some nesting materials. Silently, Shadow watched as the other female repeated the process a few times, and didn't bother to let her presence be known; perhaps the fem would be the loner type as well. If that was the case, it would make it so Shadow had less of a chance to open up to anyone; the last thing she needed was some sadistic bitch preying on her weak points.

Shadow lifted her head from her paws, jaws opening up widely as a yawn passed loudly from her mouth. Mouth shut again with a dull 'click' as her fangs touched once more, and it was then that the other canine spoke; "Hello." The voice was soft and kind, rather reasurring; perhaps she wasn't the bitchy kind? Shrugging to herself, Shadow nodded to the fem before speaking: "Hey," she murmered, unsure of how to greet another in this kind of situation. She'd never been to good at socializing with those of the same sex. "Guess I'm not the only mother-to-be, eh?" The words were meant to be kind; hopefully the other fem wouldn't take them the wrong way. "My name's Shadow, by the way. And your's?"

You take a hit, now;
You feel it break down.
Make you stay,
Wide awake;
This is how a heart breaks.

[[OOC: Sorry its pretty sucky. Low on muse. Hopefully I'll get better the more the thread gets started. : )][/color][/size]

[Kato]

The dog must keep to herself or Akira would have met her before. She had been with the pack since it's creation, and new most of the dogs in it. Some better than others of course. She thought back to all of her long-time friends. Thorn, Rico and Twitch were just a few. And there was also Darthyn, the father of her pups. Her eyes wandered around the Nursery before settling on her paws.

"I was thinking I was the only one too." she told the other. She glanced at the females abdomin, it was larger than hers. She must be going crazy with boredom. Akira knew she would be soon. "Akira." she responded to the fae's question whos name turned out to be Shadow. Once again she nearly dozed of, her eyes closing for a few minutes. She snapped back to the real wold quickly though, and was once again watching Shadow.

"So, who's the father?" Akira asked Shadow. She licked her paw, already falling into boredom.

[Skitt is Under Marmalade Skies]

Kitty was silent, a bit overwhelmed at the sudden appearance of all these mothers to be in the nursery. Feeling a bit smothered, she pressed herself against the wall of the nursery, keeping her pups close to her belly. They were only about a week old or so, but they were quite loud, with their yips and what not.

It wasn't that she disliked other dogs, it was mainly that there were so many out of the blue. She noticed Shadow, the Fae who had been present when she'd asked Thorn that ridiculous question. Hopefully the femme had either forgotten or else she'd never mention it.

Watching the other occupants of the nursery, she wished Thorn were here. She always felt less anxious, scared, and threatened when he was around. She shook her head, slightly alarmed. What in the world was going on with her. She sounded as if she was in love with him. She didn't, or so she tried to convince herself, and even if she did, he would never love her.

The pups were not a outcome of love, they were the outcome of a mission. The hadn't been in love at all. The had forfilled a mission, which she knew was not over yet. She wouldn't be surprised if the other mothers that came into the nursery next would be pregnant because of him.

[.Shadow.]

Have some composure,
Where is your posture?
Oh, no, no.
You're pulling the trigger,
Pulling the trigger,
All, all wrong.

It wasn't a surprise that Shadow hadn't heard or seen this Akira character before. Sure, the other fem might be important to the pack, but it was natural for Shad to be a loner at heart. She liked company,she couldn't deny; but still, two can sometimes feel like a crowd to the fem, so she hadn't really met many dogs. Thinking back to it, she'd only met four so far: Darthyn, Thorn, Kitty and now Akira. Remembering that Kitty had been very pregnant when she'd first met her, Shadow lifted her head for a moment, peering closely around for the American Bulldog; surely her pups were here by now? Finally, she spotted the familiar figure. Woofing a greeting toward Kitty, Shadow nodded and smiled in a friendly gesture, though respected her space and privacy as a mother. Finally, her attention was drawn back to Akira when the female popped the ever-expected question; who was the sire?

Gulping silently, Shadow glanced down at her fore-paws, a sigh escaping past her black nostrils. No doubt about it, the fem was rather embaressed that she'd gotten pregnant by a brute on a mission to sire multiple litters of pups. 'But, you're helping the pack. That matters, right?' The thought raised her spirits, and she lifted her muzzle once more to face Akira, giving an uncertain smirk. "Thorn...is the father." Ears flicked back to her head as the female realised that it was easier to say that in her mind than out loud. Never the less, she attempted not to show her discomfort, retorting kindly; "How 'bout you? Who's the lucky fellow?"[/color][/size]

[Kato]

Akira raised her head and noticed Kitty with to small pups. They were so precious. Akira got very excited at that moment. It would be very hard to sit still for her whole gestation period. She set her head back down on the old, dried out hay. It was definetly a good nest, one of her better ones. Akira had created many throughout the years.

Thorn was the father.So he was doing well with his mission."Thorn, eh? Well, thats good. Your really helping out the pack." she told her, trying to turn the sad look on her face into a confident one. She wondered who fathered Kitty's pups. Probably Thorn. He was really getting around, which was good, seeing as the pack needed it. But when she asked about her, a lump formed in her throut. She hadn't told anyone yet, and she was finally going to let it slip.

"Oh, um. Darthyn. Darthyn's the father." she told her. Akira was nervious. She didn't know if she was ready to let it slip, but she did anyways. Akira rolled back onto her stomach. She felt even fatter than she did only an hour before. But she knew that that was impossible. Even if she was, she wouldn't be able to tell. "What about you Kitty, whos the father?" she asked, trying to sound friendly.

[/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Skitt is Under Marmalade Skies]

She looked at Shadow, not showing any sort of emotion as she wolfed a greeting. However, she nearly yelped when she heard that Thorn was the father. It was, of course, to be expected, but that didn't make it any less painful. She looked up at Akira, who seemed friendly, her eyes brimmed with sadness.

Attempting to push her emotions away, she replied. "Thorn is the father....as well." she said, though rather softly. He was respectable and all, but it was awkward for her. Looking back down, she watched the pups sleep.

Shouldn't she be brimming with excitement or something? She had to beautiful pups and most mothers would be yelping with joy. For some reason, she just couldn't bring herself to be so. She wasn't like depressed or anything, but something was going on.

[.Shadow.]

Have some composure,
Where is your posture?
Oh, no, no.
You're pulling the trigger,
Pulling the trigger,
All, all wrong.

Tail lightly thumped against the ground at Akira's words, and she smiled gratefully, replying with a soft; "Thanks." Shadow shifted her position, rolling gently onto her side and sighing with relief at the gentle cushion of a small pile of nesting material that now rested below her head. Her eye lids were heavy; no doubt about it, sleep would come easily tonight. She smirked at the prospect, but was awakened fully once more at Akira's words:
"Oh, uhm. Darthyn. Darthyn's the father."
Shad smirked, lifting her head to meet the other obsidian femmora's gaze. Noticing how nervous she was, she rolled gently to her stomach, and spoke some words that were hopefully soothing; "Well, then those pups of your's are sure to be beautiful and strong, with lineage like the Alpha's. You should feel proud; after all, he chose you over all the other females in the pack," the smile on her face showed no hint of jelousy or aggression of any kind. She had no reason to be, after all - she wasn't after Darthyn in the least bit. Though, if she were to befriend him she wouldn't regret it. No - the truth was, she had a small thing for Thorn. But she'd keep it hidden, because she knew the brute wouldn't ever take her as his mate, let alone even have a crush on her.

Shaking her head sharply to clear it of any of those kinds of thoughts, Shadow's gaze traced over to Kitty, and a smile stretched her features; she already knew who the father of the bulldog's pups was. Never the less, she let Kitty answer for herself, giving a simple nod of encouragement at her words. Though, it was clear the mother of two wanted nothing to do with her; for reasons she didn't know of. Shrugging to herself, Shadow turned her head away, resting it softly on the ground once more.[/size][/color]

[Skitt is Under Marmalade Skies]

She looked back at Shadow, feeling slightly bad. Hopefully Shadow wouldn't feel as if Kitty hated her, which she didn't. Nodding her head to signify she wanted Shadow to come over to her, she though about what she was to say. Probably sorry for acting like a bitch , which at that she nearly laughed, for that was what she was. Or perhaps ask how far along she was. If she told Shadow the reason for her odd behavior, it'd seem like an excuse, and Kitty hated excuses.

As she heard her pups wake, alerted by their high pitch yips, she rolled over on her side, allowing them to nurse if they wished. She loved her pups to death, but she grew bored in the nursery. The pups were expected to open their eye somewhat soon, but until then she was totally stuck here, since they were totally dependent on her at the moment.

She began to wonder if she'd have pups again after this, becoming one of the fae's in the pack who was always in the nursery. Part of her found that to be just fine, but the other part of her reminded herself that she'd grow bored. Licking her paw, she looked around the nursery, missing, even if just a little bit, when it was empty. Even though she had been more vulnerable to attack

She didn't really want to talk to the other fae, but it was better that they were on good terms. The nursery would surely not be fun in the least if there was tension between the two femmes