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Rufus was not one to show his anxiety.
But when he heard Darkstar whine in pain, he felt dread travel down his spine. He reached out and placed a hand on her head. She was cool to the touch, and she was panting quite heavily.
"You're doing great." His kept his voice calm, hoping it was enough to soothe her. He watched as her middle contracted, the muscles shifting under her skin. He pondered on just who the father was. Darkstar wandered by one day, and Rufus noticed that something was off with her. A doctor's visit confirmed that she was to have a litter- and soon. It had only been a week since he received the news. It certainly was a shock.
His constant companion was to be a mother.
Suddenly, it was happening. Darkstar lifted her back leg slightly, and a tiny sac pushed out of her. Immediately she began licking and biting the sac, exposing a small face.
Rufus grinned. He felt his heart beat faster as Darkstar groomed her baby, cleaning it thoroughly. Darkstar acted quickly, like deep down she knew what to do. The tiny pup was adorable, its tiny head bobbing up and down as it whined.
He just sat there, in awe, as more puppies came.
In two hours, five babies were born, all suckling on their mother's teats. Darkstar rested her head on her master's lap, allowing him to run his hand down her neck.
Rufus smiled at his companion. "You've done well, D. They're perfect."
"Sir?" Tseng knocked on the door before entering the office. He walked across the floor and stopped halfway. Quietly, he asked, "How are things going?"
Rufus nodded his head and motioned for his bodyguard to come closer. "See for yourself. Five pups."
"Very good."
While his tone was professional and polite, Rufus noticed the happiness on Tseng's face. Even the most stoic of creatures melt at the sight of adorable puppies.
"I will try to contain Elena for as long as I can. But she will likely make her way in to see the pups."
"Thank you, Tseng. That will be all."
Tseng bowed slightly, gave a small smile at the puppies, and turned on his heel. He left the two of them alone.
Darkstar sighed deeply, her exhaustion setting in. Rufus kept petting her head, watching as she drifted off into a light slumber. Then he focused his attention on her pups. Five beautiful, healthy babies, resting against each other. Three were a healthy mix of their mother and whatever mutt Darkstar met; dark, shiny fur with white spots along their backs. One was completely white, with a small tentacle forming out of its head.
Then there was the one he favored, looking exactly like Darkstar herself when she was young. His eyes fell to the smallest pup, cuddling in the pile with its siblings. He ran a finger down its back, feeling the warmth on its tiny body.
He decided to keep it. Rufus chuckled to himself.
"Hell. I'll keep them all."