10 #10 Baby Cousins

After sleeping for an entire day, little Fire Fox woke up the following morning and looked around not knowing where he was. Soon he realizes that he is in his uncle's lodge. Sniffing around he could smell his Aunt's and Uncle's scents, but something else as well. Following the smell he lands his cold nose on his Aunt's belly. Feeling the sudden cold shock his Aunt squeals as she is forcibly awakened and thus also awakening his Uncle. Angry, his Uncle pops up and grabs hold of the child. Little Fire Fox yelps then looks at his Uncle's angry face.

"Babies are coming today," Softly he says to him making his uncle's face relax.

Not making too much of it at first he lays back down. Just about to drift back to sleep his eyelids spring back open. Looking at the child he grumbles, "How do you know?"

Looking wronged the boy answers back, "Aunt's smell has changed. She normally smells like flowers. Now she smells sickly sweet. Get Papa and the midwife today."

With a sudden jerk he sits back up and looks over to his wife and touches her belly to feel very active movements. He gets up and starts to dress. All of the sudden his wife stands up to get dressed as well when her water breaks. Panicked he rushes out of the lodge. Stopping just short of his brothers entryway he stands frozen. "Babies? Not one but plural?" After resuming composure at the entry Snow Fox's lodge he doesn't find him at home. Eternal Blossom tells him that he has gone out. She listens to Snow Owl as to what is happening. She then rushes out to find the midwife as he rushes back to his wife.

Terrified at the sounds coming from his Aunt Fire Fox is hiding behind a large clay pot in the corner of the lodge.

As Snow Owl comes back in. A scared little Fire Fox cries to him, "Uncle is Aunt dying? She's making terrible sounds. Is it my fault? Will the babies be alright? Did I make them come too soon? I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

With a tenderness that not known of the chief, he picks up his nephew and assures him while rubbing his back, "No little one this is Uncle's fault; all Uncle's. Aunt will be fine. Now go out and look for your father."

Running as fast as his little legs will carry him he ran home only to find no one there. Along the way he found his second mother. She then directly told him to try the other side of the village and to tell his father or the midwife when he finds one or both that she has gone to assist her sister. Running he howls trying to locate his father. Answering back was not his father's voice but the midwife. He catches up to her and tells her what is happening. She lifts her voice alerting the other women of the clan to meet up with her ASAP. She catches up with Eternal Blossom as they near the Chiefs lodge. The poor man is pacing in circles not knowing what to do.

Pulling him aside the midwife in calm voice said to him, "White Owl, you are not doing your wife any good pacing like that. You are stressing her out more than needed. That is not good for the babies. Now go and sit behind her and hug her from behind so that your warmth will ease her back. With her back eased she will calm down. Can you do that? If not we will make you go out. Let us ladies handle the rest. We will keep the babies and her safe. We know what to do."

Nodding he does as told. Mentally he is thinking that the last time he was ordered around was by his parents. Now this lady dares to do so, but his wife needs him right now so has no choice but to heed her words. Once he gets into position behind her she relaxes into his embrace. Comfortable she lets out a sigh and looks up endearingly at him. "Today you become a father my dearest."

The ladies of the clan bring water and herbs for the midwife to keep her comfortable. Hours pass and her breathing picks up pace and becomes ragged. The midwife instructs her to steady her breaths pace. Eternal Blossom keeps wiping her sisters face and giving her water. Suddenly the urge to push over takes her. Instinctively she bites down on Snow Owl's arm. Sucking breath and squinting his eyes he holds back from yelling out. He knows that this is all for his beloved so he endures. Suddenly before he knows it she releases his arm and wilts back. A tiny cry echoes through the lodge. Tears start to flow for himself and his wife.

"Your son has arrived.," says the midwife as she is cleaning the child, "There is another coming shortly." She hands the little one to his mother. "The next will come easier now."

Moments later the urge hits again and again the bite. This time a tiny white daughter comes into the world. This time as about an hour passed and everyone thinks that she is done she howls in pain once again. Biting down on her husband's arm once again, this time drawing blood, she births another slightly larger son. Exhausted she passes out without letting loose of her husband's arm. Ever so slowly he wedges his arm from her jaws grip. His blood running down her face he gently wipes it off with a damp cloth. Kissing her he lays her down slowly as he slides out from behind her. The midwife and the other women tend to his wife and help to clean her up and to tend to the babies.

Stepping out Snow Owl announced, "Today Great Spirit has blessed my wife with the birth of two sons and a daughter. All appear to be strong and healthy. Though tired my wife has made it through safely. The midwife is helping her now to clean up and when she is ready we will celebrate this occasion. Sun Dog please run up to the mountains peak and bring down the Elder he needs to be here for this. It's not often a birth of three graces our clan." Turning he remembers his bleeding arm and summons his brother to come over. " Would you mind helping me out with this?" He laughs awkwardly. "This is a badge of honor, Bestowed by my wife, but it really hurts. Next time she births I'll be keeping my arms away from her biting shaking his head he lets out a sigh.