She is beautiful, my little star. I gaze down at her, fascinated. Her mane is as black as mine, but her little nose and chin are all No-rah. Her cheeks are fat and full, her legs long and skinny like all newborn kits. Her eyes are dark, like No-rah before she received her khui, and the sight of those eyes fills my heart with worry. I will not sleep well until we bring down a sa-kohtsk and give my little star the strongest of khuis. I lift a finger to her tiny hand and she clasps it, her small fingernails perfect. She has four fingers and a thumb, my Es-tur, and unlike her sisters, she has no tail.
The tiny, perfect little mouth of my new daughter screws up and she bellows.
I laugh, delighted. "Strong lungs, just like her mother."
No-rah gives me a tired smile, holding her arms out for the kit. "I should feed her."
I glance over at the healer, but she no longer has her hands on No-rah. Maylak looks tired, but her work is done. "It was an easy birth," Maylak tells us both. "And she is a very healthy kit. A worthy addition to our growing tribe."
I gently place Es-tur in my mate's arms, watching protectively as our newest daughter turns in toward her mother and nuzzles at No-rah's teat. There is no sight better than this one, and my heart skips a beat as my mate smiles down at our daughter. She watches the baby begin to suck, her fingers stroking the thick black cap of fuzz atop the kit's head. Then, she glances up at me, her eyes soft with wonder. "Will you get the girls from Asha when you get a chance? They'll want to say hello to their sister."
I do not want to leave my mate's side, but No-rah is right. Ah-nah and El-sah will be excited to meet Es-tur. They have waited for this day as much as us, eagerly touching No-rah's stomach when the kit kicked inside her. They will want to share this moment with us…and I want my entire family close. The birth of the little one has reminded me how fragile all of my females are, and I want to watch over them like a broody snowcat in a den with its kits huddled close.
I move forward and kiss my mate's sweaty brow, just because I need to touch her. She beams up at me, pure joy, and I gaze down at my mate and our new daughter as she nurses. "I am going."
"I know." Her lips twitch with amusement.
I pause a moment longer. "This one looks more like me." I reach out and touch the small fist, fascinated anew by how little Es-tur is.
"They all look like you." No-rah gives me an exasperated smile.
Maylak gets to her feet. "Well, I am going." She yawns. "Should I have Esha go and find the girls and bring them back?"
I want to tell her yes, that I want to sit next to my mate and my new kit and not get up for days. But I am a father, and Ah-nah and El-sah deserve to hear from me that they have a new sister. "I will get them." I glance down at Es-tur one more time and then pull away. "I will be back very soon."
"I'll be here." No-rah leans back on the pillows, watching the little one nurse. She looks tired, my mate. Fragile. I am going to spoil her this day, I decide. I will stop by Stay-see and Pashov's hut and see if they will be willing to cook a few meals in exchange for some fresh meat or furs. I will get the tea she likes best from Asha. I will warm some water and bathe her when the new kit is asleep. I will help the girls with their sewing and with keeping the hut clean, and we will let No-rah rest.
My work has doubled, but I could not be happier. My family is growing again. To think that eight turns of the seasons ago, I thought I would always be alone. Truly, no male is as lucky as me.
I head into the village, but I am stopped constantly. Harrec and his mate wish to hear about the new kit. Vektal congratulates me on the addition to the tribe. Claire and Ereven offer to watch the girls and take them hunting to give me and No-rah time to relax. I eventually find Stay-see, and she is delighted to make meals for my mate. She will bring some by in the morning, she promises, and pushes a basket of fresh-made seed cakes into my arms as I leave.
I find Asha with Air-ee-yon-uh and their kits, along with my girls. Ah-nah and El-sah jump to their feet with excitement.