24 24 Time of Pups (2)

With the mercy of the gods all five pups seemed to be doing well after their first week of life, though Jun Luna seemed to be constantly weakened. Bo Tsu lent out his boat to some of his relations to use while he stayed on land to take care of his wife and children. Though the midwife assured him that Jun Luna's body was merely taxed to its limit after giving birth to so many little buns at once, he could not help but worry for her. One day she simply would not awaken no matter how hard he tried to rouse her. The midwife returned bringing the village healers with her. They examined her from top to bottom yet could find nothing wrong with her. Puzzled they left while the midwife stayed behind to keep watch over her. Around the clock they placed the pups to nurse followed by their baths and sleep. Suisei accompanied the midwife with tending to her siblings. This went on for two and a half days.

In the afternoon of the third day the little female pup refused to leave their mother. She latched on and would not let go. She even growled a tiny growl when anyone other than Suisei tried to remove her. Finally relenting she wiggled up into her mothers hair and licked her cheek while giving her brothers finally a chance to nurse. She yawned and fell to sleep. Suisei slowly picked her up and set her on her lap. Just then Jun Luna raised her hand to her eyes and rubbed them as she awakened not even aware of how long she had been out cold. The only conclusion that anyone could come up with over what had happened was that her body had been overly exhausted causing her to sleep too deeply so it could heal. Suisei started to call her little sister Kiseki, miracle, after that day and the family agreed to it after that day. So her new name stuck.

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A few months passed since the visions in the sweat lodge had occurred... Little Fire fox had grown pretty strong from going up and down the mountain path to grandfather's place daily. He helped with the chores and learned the ways of the tribes, clans, and village from him. On one of the trips his father came along to check on the young lady that had been taken in by the old chief that acted as a wise, old, sage elder now. Half way up the path the sound of a horn being blown could be heard. Racing up the path Snow Fox saw his father blowing a buffalo horn and pacing like a mad man.

Grunts, groans, and growls could be heard coming from grandfather's cave. Cautiously Fire Fox moved behind his grandfather. he knew immediately what was going to happen. He knew these sounds from when his aunt had her pups. In no way was he going into that cave! Snow Fox smiled and went in. He opened his pack that he had brought along with him. This time being wiser he handed a meaty bone from the morning's meal to Little Bright Squirrel. He instructed her to clam her breathing and bite down in the bone each time the pain hit. She started to lick the bone at first to calm herself down and focus her thoughts. She then sat straight up once her thoughts cleared and remembered that there was a man about to see her womanly parts. She started to scoot back in fright. Snow Fox began to laugh, "Little one I am the medicine man on this mountain. I have seen all sorts of parts on all sorts of it's peoples. There is no need to fear me. I'm not here to harm you only to help your babies come into the world safely." At that she laid down again. Placing the bone once more into her mouth she bit down on the center of it as a contraction hit. Snow Fox thought to himself, 'Luckily I brought that bone along. I though it would make a good broth for father. But now all the better that I will not get bitten like my brother as this new set of pups are born.'

Twenty minutes, roughly, passed and a blonde furred female pup was born. A short time later came another identical female pup. Sadly as the third came it was still born, a male. With the mother being so young it was not uncommon an occurrence. Bright Squirrel held her twin daughters with tears rolling down her face. Snow fox laid the male pup on her belly for her to morn him while Snow Fox cleaned her up and took the afterbirth and soiled pelt rags to the fire to burn them. He then took the stillborn pup and wrapped him in a pelt while leaving Bright Squirrel to nurse her daughters.

Grandfather explained to Fire Fox that not all pups or babies survive long enough to be born. Some are just not meant for this world but meant for the world of the Great Spirit. As a burial site was prepared by Snow Fox, Fire Fox asked, "Do you think my first mother is with the Great Spirit watching over me Grandfather?" He looked longingly at the sky and Snow Fox's hands stopped moving as memories of her flashed in his mind. "I have no doubts over that my boy. No doubts at all. She was a wonderful lady. One that was as if made of all of the light in the world. She brought a presence that can never be matched. She was like a walking ray of the sun upon the land. She was one made by the Great Spirit's own hands. She was beloved by all who knew her. And she gave us you. You surely make her proud."

Snow Fox placed the pup into the grave and started to sing the morning song over the pup's body. Grandfather joined him. Once Fire Fox learned the melody he joined as well. Bright Squirrel lifted the hide door covering of the cave and wept as she held her daughters close lifting her voice as well. They covered the grave with dirt and colored stones. As the wind and mist picked up over the mountain top. The image of She Brings Happiness, could be seen by everyone holding a bundled pup in her arms to take it to "The Land of the Great Spirit." She smiled at her family as she faded away into a ray of light that broke through the mist.