23 The Time of Pups (1)

Months had passed on the island and the villagers took on a project of building a bridge from their island to the small one next to it so that the fruits and edible plants could be more easily gathered and a few extra homes could be built as well. Jun Luna's belly was now as big as a ripe melon, as her time to have her new pups was coming near. She had to have Bo Tsu help her up and down since it was getting difficult to move around. The local women helped her prepare what was needed for the blessed time that was to come.

Suisei helped to do the rituals and prayers at the shrine to help her mother. She diligently practiced her writing and brush painting each day to perfect it. The elder villagers adored the sight of the tiny girl dressed in her miniature white and red temple maiden uniform complete with her silk like hair pulled up into a pony tail tied with a white ribbon. Hearts melted at how cute she was. Along with offerings to the shrine gods they just could not help but to pass her sweets.

In the evening Jun Luna cried out in pain and called for Suisei to run to fetch the midwife as her water had broken. Bo Tsu ran hurriedly to grab a cloth to wipe the floor to keep Jun Luna from slipping. He tidied it up, scooped her up, then carried her in his arms like a princess to the bed. All of the years of running the fishing boat had made him strong as an ox. Not being able to hold her human-like form for long, her tail and fluffy ears emerged, then her feet changed to paws and claws. Panting hard she looked up into Bo Tsu's worried eyes. He held a piece of bamboo in his hand as he climbed behind her to act as her living pillow for support. Suisei was told to wait out in the alter room while the babies arrived as she was not old enough by village customs to be in the room. She busied herself sweeping with her little broom and polishing so that she would make mother proud of her and so that mother would be able to rest for the next few days.

As the midwife arrived Jun Luna's feet started to grip into the sheets shredding them as a contraction hit her hard. Under instructions of the midwife Bo Tsu gave the bamboo to Jun Luna to bite on so that she would not bite her tongue while the contractions increased. Spreading her legs, tying her feet to the foot board of the bed, the midwife instructed her on her breathing. The first pup came fast. A Boy! Placing him on Jun Luna's chest the midwife waited to receive the next. With a hard push came a second boy. As the two pups began to nurse from their mother, Jun Luna's breathing evened out and all she could do was smile. Soon the pups fell into a sound slumber. As everyone present thought she was done and had cleaned the pups, Jun Luna screamed a blood chilling scream. Again she panted hard and gripped the sheets hard shredding them further. This time two pups were trying to come out at once. The midwife had no choice but to reach in and push one back while helping the other forward, as she didn't want to risk the life of Jun Luna or the pups. Jun Luna gasped at the strange feeling and growled in displeasure. Five minutes later both pups came into the world safely. Two more boys. Lastly just before the afterbirth started to clear, came a tiny female pup that was white as snow. She was so small that she could fit into her fathers cupped hands. She did not even wake up after being born. She simply whimpered, shivered, and yawned. Bo Tsu was so scared that he would crush her that he sat stone still. The midwife had to take her from his hands to place her on her mother to nurse before he attempted to move.

Bo Tsu walked out of the temple like a man without a soul. He made his way to the Elder's house to report the news. Upon knocking on the door all he could keep repeating was this, "Five pups. Five pups. She gave me five pups. Five pups." Never in the history of the village had there been a birth of five pups at once. The elder was shocked. He ordered a man named Ju Xuan climb up to ring the bell on the shrine. The whole population of the island gathered within and hours time. The shell-shocked Bo Tsu snapped out of his rambling and passed out in front of the shrine steps. Two of his brother fishermen carried him up and in and placed him next to the alter.

At the same time, The Elder went to confirm the news with the midwife. She recanted the details to him before whispering to him in hushed tone, "The boys are chubby and healthy, but i am very worried about the smallest one, she is so tiny and frail. I would like to stay here for a few days longer as I am not sure if she will make it. The tiny ones don't often do. She also will need to fight for milk with those brothers of hers. I just can't bare it to think of how Jun Luna will take it if she passes. Especially after all that Jun Luna has gone through to come here to us. I just can't fathom the idea of a brokenhearted goddess."

As the first few days passed, Jun Luna formed the habit of feeding the female pup first, followed by her brothers, so that she could get nourishment enough to get stronger. Suisei helped her mother burp them and place them into a basket next to mother's bed. She was determined to be the best big sister that she could possibly be.