Mika’s Kits

By Donna and ABs

Mika, who was normally very round anyway, was even more so now that she was almost due to have her babies, or kits as she called them. One afternoon, while the men were all off hunting or fishing, she took up a little basket filled with some warm blankets and other things she would need, and simply disappeared into the forest. She knew exactly where she wanted to go. Not too far from the camp was a hollow tree that she staked out. That would be where she would give birth!

It took her a while to waddle to the tree. Once there, she placed the basket inside and then walked away in another direction to the stream. Stepping into the shallows, she changed into her animal form, a raccoon, and scampered out of the water using some overhanging branches. Heading back to the tree, she covered up any signs that her human form had left with leaves and pine needles, and then with a happy chirp, entered her den.

But she was not completely alone.  "Mika?" called a familiar voice from outside.  "Will you be all right, or do you need my help?"  The kits were rather large, Lucinda knew, and she did not want her sister to suffer needlessly.

Mika stuck her nose out of the den, her black eyes shining. In a series of chirps, chitters, and other noises, she told her sister that coons had been having kits for ages, and if they could do it, she could too! Lucinda laughed at Mika's determined attitude and told her that she would stay close, just in case she was needed.

In the meantime, the hunting parties had returned, and that was when it was noticed that Mika was not around.

Echo, herself quite near her time, was sitting at the fire with her wolf friends.  When Joseph had passed her three or four times, frantically looking for his wife, Echo finally said, "She's not here."

Joseph stopped in his tracks. "Did she go to the birthing lodge?" he asked, a worried look on his face.

Echo shook her head.  She sang a little tune and picked up a wolf cub, snuggling it in anticipation of her own birthing moment.  But she said nothing more than the nod.

Joseph hesitated. Just in case, he had to check for himself. It was against tradition for a man to hover around the birthing lodge, but he had to know if she was there. Slipping out of the camp, he headed to where it was located. As Echo had said, though, Mika was not there!

Joseph headed back into the camp. Of all the men there, Wolf MacLeod was the best tracker, so he asked him to help. In just a short time, a search party had been organized, and the men set out to see if they could find the Chief’s woman.

Meanwhile, outside the den, Lucinda chuckled.  "You should have told him, you know. He's nearly frantic with worry."

This time Mika didn't stick her nose out. "I'm kinda busy right now," she chirped back at Lucinda. "He would only get in the way if he knew."

"Then you don't want me to tell him? Even if it were just to say ‘Bugger Off’?"

There was just a grunt in reply. Lucinda waited, a smile on her face. Mika had not been joking about being busy. A few moments later, she heard the soft mews of a newborn raccoon.

Giving a listen, she decided that even Black Wolf would not track them before the second kit was born, so she settled back down, a smile on her face.  Nothing pleased her more than births! Leaning against the tree, she peeked inside at the newborn, who was already seeking nourishment while Mika licked it clean. It was a girl kit, and Mika was extremely proud of her.

"Have you got names chosen?" the childbirth fae asked.

"Not yet," grunted Mika as another contraction seized her.

"Ah well, let me know if you need me.  The men are looking for you, but they won't get here in time.  They're only men, after all, and totally clueless!"

Mika nodded in agreement as she strained again. This second kit was even bigger than the first! That was because it was a boy.  This was the one Lucinda was concerned about, and the main reason she would not leave her sister until it was safely born, joking manner aside!

After a few more tries, Mika looked up at Lucinda. "I think it is stuck," she panted.

The other woman smiled gently.  "Then let me help," she said, suddenly a whole different sort of person.  All joking was gone, and she was serene and comforting.

Mika nodded. It was to the point where she was now very uncomfortable.

Lucinda had to change sizes to get into the tree, but it was no problem for her.  Somehow she managed to get to just the right size, both to fit inside of the hollow of the tree, and yet still be able to help pull the baby raccoon from his mother!

He was a big boy that was for sure! With Lucinda's help, he was soon safely delivered and competing with his smaller sister for nourishment!

And, as soon as he was there, the men tramped up! Wolf had had no problem following Mika's tracks. When he got near the tree, he knelt down and moved some pine needles and leaves aside. "Looks like a little coon tried to cover up her tracks," the Highlander chuckled.

"What else should she do, to get a little privacy?" asked Lucinda, seeming to appear out of nowhere.  "They're in there."

"A tree?" Joseph gasped. "She is having my children in a tree?" Behind him, the other men laughed and watched as Joseph crouched down to look into the hollowed out portion of the tree. "Oh, Mika," he said softly, reaching in to stroke her head. “They are beautiful! Just like their mother.”

"He knew she was what she was, didn't she?" Lucinda asked, already knowing the answer.  "Why's he so surprised she reverted to form to give birth?"

"He knew," Wolf said with a smile. "But there are a lot of hazards in the woods for the little creatures and he, like so many of us, are becoming fathers for the first time. Ask her how long is she planning on staying in there, would you please?"

Lucinda nodded, forgetting for a moment that the humans could not understand what was so easy for her to understand.  "She heard the question, but of course I need to translate her answer."

Mika nuzzled her head against her husband's hand. She was happy but very tired, and wanted to rest there in her den until the next day. When she said this, in her squeaks and squawks, Lucinda nodded again and translated.  "Be sure the children will be safe during this time.  And maybe," she added with a grin, "she will have names by then."

"Am I allowed to suggest some?" Joseph asked. But Mika's indignant little snort told him the answer without benefit of a translator. "I will camp here for the night myself then," he said firmly, "and escort my family back to the camp in the morning."

"Of course that is your privilege," said Lucinda.  "Come," she said to the other men, "let's leave them alone."

The next morning, Joseph and Mika walked back into the camp, carrying in her basket two sleeping raccoon fae turned human babies wrapped snugly in some hand woven blankets. As everyone gathered around, the civil chief of their little tribe introduced everyone to his daughter Kit, and his son Kemu, a look of immense pride on his face. He was a father at long last!