quidamling (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
quidamling) wrote2009-12-01 08:38 pm
quidamling) wrote2009-12-01 08:38 pm
Entry tags:
Little storms coming
Title: Little storms coming
'Verse: Pirate-'verse (explained here)
Characters: Wolf, his mate (who doesn't get a name. Wolf is just what the humans call the male.)
Summary: Where do little sea monsters come from?
Rating/Warnings: PG-13
AN: I had fun playing exo, xeno, or maybe cryptobiologist with this. Lots of blending whales that I know with something that kitteh designed. \o/
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A hard crack of flesh along the surface had Wolf lifting his head, flat teeth still grinding the seaweed he was dining upon. He had meandered a few leagues from the quiet cove where his mate rested, not wanting to deplete her supply of algae when she pupped and their offspring required the extra sustenance. The sea monster rattled his crests and turned to the source of the sound. The underwater echo from a single slap of their muscular tails on the surface would carry as far as Wolf had ever traveled with his human companions. His mate could simply be frightening off the too curious seals that sometimes gamboled about their nest, but another two cracks confirmed it was a distress call. Drawing air into his lungs and plunging beneath cool waves, he swam for his mate. While they could not keep up with the laughing dolphins, when he tucked his soft-padded feet against his body and poured power into the sinuous motions of his strong tail, he could streak through the water.
A few moments and he came on his mate, hovering low in the water just past the shallows, with only her nostrils above the surface. Her breaths came in rapid, chuffing blows. Wolf could sonar the muscles along her flank rippling strongly, and the little squirms from their four pups in her womb as her body tightened around them.
‘Now, now our pups,’ his mate creaked, the flash of wide red eyes reflecting on the surface of the still water.
Wolf dove beneath her, gently nuzzling at her belly and the low sonar thrum he made giving him a better image of what was happening. The biggest pup was already nearing the world, front feet tucked just before its nose and almost to emerge. He surfaced on her opposite side, gently rubbing his tail along the trembling length of hers. ‘Yes, yes. Pups here soon, soon,’ the male replied, he brushed his jaw against her chest and slid his shoulders beneath her chin to help her keep her nose above water.
She thrashed side to side, making a wash of bubbles in the water. With each of the forceful hardenings of her flanks, she would arch in a curl and the pup would move further towards its first breath. Taking a deep inhale she shut her nostrils and turned back, twisting to nibble at the three spongy toes and tough heel spur on each of the two feet that emerged.
When she straightened back and rested her head against her mate’s shoulder, Wolf made a soothing vibration in his chest.
‘Catch, catch pups. Bring to air. Need sire, strong sire. Must show, show the way,’ she pleaded between heavy blows of air.
He squeakclattered back and nosed beneath her crests. ‘Will, will bring pups to air. Promise, promise, pretty mate.’
His mate pushed a few more times, Wolf quietly supporting her when she sank and tried to kick against the distant bottom for the surface. She took a few deep blows and made a high sound like crystal shattering.
The male ducked around her side, leaving his tail where she could hold herself up. He knew that shoulders were the hardest part, but then the young would come quickly. The pup was eerily still as its hips passed, then slipped free of the mother and the cord snapped. Suddenly the little form flailed, pinpricks of red flashing desperately. Wolf squeaked gently and bumped his nose beneath his offspring, nudging the little male to the surface. The tiny being scrambled for air, drawing a gurgling breath then squealing until its lungs were clear. It had pudgy round features, and unlike the stark black and white of his sire and dam, the young one was matte storm-grey.
His dam purred and turned to her eldest pup, sniffing and nuzzling at the buoyant little creature. She clattered to him and imprinted his scent in her memory. ‘Welcome, welcome little babe,’ she crooned, he made a high squeak in reply. Hanging gently at the surface, she and Wolf encouraged the bit to paddle between their expectant noses and get his limbs in order.
Soon enough the ripples strengthened down the dam’s sides. Wolf kept the pup against his flank and held up his mate when she drifted below the surface. The second pup came more smoothly, and its sire dove down a moment to help him to the air as well. Siblings squeaking at each other, the parents made sure to greet and scent their second babe.
Number three apparently had no patience, giving Wolf’s mate but a brief pause before sliding into the water. Wolf brought the tiny female from the depths, and she clung quickly to her dam’s shoulder, nestling against the warm hide. The mother twisted around and groomed over her grey head, while she peered down at her two elder brothers bobbing nearby and hissed.
‘Like her dam, picky, picky,’ their sire softly clacked to his mate. She huffed quietly and bumped her crests at his flank. He nickered apologetically then lowered himself in the water, clicking approval when the babes all quickly settled on his broad, warm back with drooping red eyes.
‘Tired, tired…’ his mate rasped, leaning her chin on his back by their pups.
‘Almost, almost. Only one, one left,’ he soothed, dipping his head beneath the waves to thrum at her side. He could sonar that the last pup was wriggling, but had not moved down yet. Grooming gently at her back and sides, Wolf stayed low in the water in case one of their still-awkward young decided to tumble from its perch.
His mate had almost fallen asleep when her muscles finally began moving again, pushing the last pup to the outside world. Wolf eased under the water, leaving three drowsy and bewildered grey bits floating above him. The final pup slipped free, and remained limp, not struggling for the air like his siblings. Quaarking worriedly, the big male propped the smaller one on his neck and broke the surface. The other pups squeaked curiously, while their dam nosed at the last, and smallest of their brethren.
‘Cry, cry,’ she pleaded with a desperate hum, exhausted but thrashing her tail in anguish.
Wolf jostled the pup, starting to worry he would need to tuck a little body beneath a stone on the bottom when the babe gave a cough and spat water.
Both parents gave a triumphant and relieved clatter, the female nuzzling delicately at the littlest as he started squeaking unhappily.
She purred gently, rubbing her jaw and warmth over the shivering grey babe. ‘Welcome precious, precious one. Rest, rest is safe,’ the female squeaked.
Herding his family to the shallows, Wolf sank to let his mate scoot the three errant pups onto his back. She paused to dive down and hide the afterbirth, then padded and collapsed on her belly on the smooth stones near shore, just letting her nose touch land.
Wolf followed, nudging tenderly at her flank and settling beside her. Their babes were squirming tiredly across his back, making high squeaky calls. He nickered gently to his mate, ‘All, all safe, healthy babes,’ he confirmed.
She lifted her head and waggled her crests happily, then worked to nudge the pups into the nook of Wolf’s shoulder blades where they would be secure. The four grey bits wriggled feebly, but nestled closely in a pile and slipped off to sleep. ‘Like sire, strong, strong,’ she muttered with a purr, resting her head on his back.
‘Sure to be pretty, pretty, like mate,’ he crooned, rubbing his tail along her hips.
Fine crests clattered in a chuckle, ‘Wise, wise sire,’ she clicked in amusement. She settling her chin close to her babes, fencing them in place between her and her mate; only then did she let bright red eyes close.
‘Rest, rest pretty mate,’ he squealed, curling his head against her chest. He wrapped his tail around her, circling his mate in a wall of warm flesh and watching over his family as they slept.
'Verse: Pirate-'verse (explained here)
Characters: Wolf, his mate (who doesn't get a name. Wolf is just what the humans call the male.)
Summary: Where do little sea monsters come from?
Rating/Warnings: PG-13
AN: I had fun playing exo, xeno, or maybe cryptobiologist with this. Lots of blending whales that I know with something that kitteh designed. \o/
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A hard crack of flesh along the surface had Wolf lifting his head, flat teeth still grinding the seaweed he was dining upon. He had meandered a few leagues from the quiet cove where his mate rested, not wanting to deplete her supply of algae when she pupped and their offspring required the extra sustenance. The sea monster rattled his crests and turned to the source of the sound. The underwater echo from a single slap of their muscular tails on the surface would carry as far as Wolf had ever traveled with his human companions. His mate could simply be frightening off the too curious seals that sometimes gamboled about their nest, but another two cracks confirmed it was a distress call. Drawing air into his lungs and plunging beneath cool waves, he swam for his mate. While they could not keep up with the laughing dolphins, when he tucked his soft-padded feet against his body and poured power into the sinuous motions of his strong tail, he could streak through the water.
A few moments and he came on his mate, hovering low in the water just past the shallows, with only her nostrils above the surface. Her breaths came in rapid, chuffing blows. Wolf could sonar the muscles along her flank rippling strongly, and the little squirms from their four pups in her womb as her body tightened around them.
‘Now, now our pups,’ his mate creaked, the flash of wide red eyes reflecting on the surface of the still water.
Wolf dove beneath her, gently nuzzling at her belly and the low sonar thrum he made giving him a better image of what was happening. The biggest pup was already nearing the world, front feet tucked just before its nose and almost to emerge. He surfaced on her opposite side, gently rubbing his tail along the trembling length of hers. ‘Yes, yes. Pups here soon, soon,’ the male replied, he brushed his jaw against her chest and slid his shoulders beneath her chin to help her keep her nose above water.
She thrashed side to side, making a wash of bubbles in the water. With each of the forceful hardenings of her flanks, she would arch in a curl and the pup would move further towards its first breath. Taking a deep inhale she shut her nostrils and turned back, twisting to nibble at the three spongy toes and tough heel spur on each of the two feet that emerged.
When she straightened back and rested her head against her mate’s shoulder, Wolf made a soothing vibration in his chest.
‘Catch, catch pups. Bring to air. Need sire, strong sire. Must show, show the way,’ she pleaded between heavy blows of air.
He squeakclattered back and nosed beneath her crests. ‘Will, will bring pups to air. Promise, promise, pretty mate.’
His mate pushed a few more times, Wolf quietly supporting her when she sank and tried to kick against the distant bottom for the surface. She took a few deep blows and made a high sound like crystal shattering.
The male ducked around her side, leaving his tail where she could hold herself up. He knew that shoulders were the hardest part, but then the young would come quickly. The pup was eerily still as its hips passed, then slipped free of the mother and the cord snapped. Suddenly the little form flailed, pinpricks of red flashing desperately. Wolf squeaked gently and bumped his nose beneath his offspring, nudging the little male to the surface. The tiny being scrambled for air, drawing a gurgling breath then squealing until its lungs were clear. It had pudgy round features, and unlike the stark black and white of his sire and dam, the young one was matte storm-grey.
His dam purred and turned to her eldest pup, sniffing and nuzzling at the buoyant little creature. She clattered to him and imprinted his scent in her memory. ‘Welcome, welcome little babe,’ she crooned, he made a high squeak in reply. Hanging gently at the surface, she and Wolf encouraged the bit to paddle between their expectant noses and get his limbs in order.
Soon enough the ripples strengthened down the dam’s sides. Wolf kept the pup against his flank and held up his mate when she drifted below the surface. The second pup came more smoothly, and its sire dove down a moment to help him to the air as well. Siblings squeaking at each other, the parents made sure to greet and scent their second babe.
Number three apparently had no patience, giving Wolf’s mate but a brief pause before sliding into the water. Wolf brought the tiny female from the depths, and she clung quickly to her dam’s shoulder, nestling against the warm hide. The mother twisted around and groomed over her grey head, while she peered down at her two elder brothers bobbing nearby and hissed.
‘Like her dam, picky, picky,’ their sire softly clacked to his mate. She huffed quietly and bumped her crests at his flank. He nickered apologetically then lowered himself in the water, clicking approval when the babes all quickly settled on his broad, warm back with drooping red eyes.
‘Tired, tired…’ his mate rasped, leaning her chin on his back by their pups.
‘Almost, almost. Only one, one left,’ he soothed, dipping his head beneath the waves to thrum at her side. He could sonar that the last pup was wriggling, but had not moved down yet. Grooming gently at her back and sides, Wolf stayed low in the water in case one of their still-awkward young decided to tumble from its perch.
His mate had almost fallen asleep when her muscles finally began moving again, pushing the last pup to the outside world. Wolf eased under the water, leaving three drowsy and bewildered grey bits floating above him. The final pup slipped free, and remained limp, not struggling for the air like his siblings. Quaarking worriedly, the big male propped the smaller one on his neck and broke the surface. The other pups squeaked curiously, while their dam nosed at the last, and smallest of their brethren.
‘Cry, cry,’ she pleaded with a desperate hum, exhausted but thrashing her tail in anguish.
Wolf jostled the pup, starting to worry he would need to tuck a little body beneath a stone on the bottom when the babe gave a cough and spat water.
Both parents gave a triumphant and relieved clatter, the female nuzzling delicately at the littlest as he started squeaking unhappily.
She purred gently, rubbing her jaw and warmth over the shivering grey babe. ‘Welcome precious, precious one. Rest, rest is safe,’ the female squeaked.
Herding his family to the shallows, Wolf sank to let his mate scoot the three errant pups onto his back. She paused to dive down and hide the afterbirth, then padded and collapsed on her belly on the smooth stones near shore, just letting her nose touch land.
Wolf followed, nudging tenderly at her flank and settling beside her. Their babes were squirming tiredly across his back, making high squeaky calls. He nickered gently to his mate, ‘All, all safe, healthy babes,’ he confirmed.
She lifted her head and waggled her crests happily, then worked to nudge the pups into the nook of Wolf’s shoulder blades where they would be secure. The four grey bits wriggled feebly, but nestled closely in a pile and slipped off to sleep. ‘Like sire, strong, strong,’ she muttered with a purr, resting her head on his back.
‘Sure to be pretty, pretty, like mate,’ he crooned, rubbing his tail along her hips.
Fine crests clattered in a chuckle, ‘Wise, wise sire,’ she clicked in amusement. She settling her chin close to her babes, fencing them in place between her and her mate; only then did she let bright red eyes close.
‘Rest, rest pretty mate,’ he squealed, curling his head against her chest. He wrapped his tail around her, circling his mate in a wall of warm flesh and watching over his family as they slept.