Despite the beauty of spring, there were warm showers and on this evening despite the moon illuminating everything and bathing it in dark blue the unrelenting rain made most wolves think of it as winter. Deep within the Akiiki Chibale Pack’s main den Alas hovered over her daughter worried as the petite white and pink wolf began to labor.
As a mother she had done all she could to make Venera comfortable during her pregnancy and now she would help her daughter bring her own pups into the world.

Venera lay on her side gasping in pain, oh dear heaven above why was this act of bringing life into the world so painful when the act of creating these lives had been only a haze of pleasure. She let out a ragged whine a mixture of the pain of her labor and the pain of remembering that her pups would be fatherless. “Mama…it…it hurts so much…”

Alas felt for her daughter, but this lesson was hopefully one the young female would remember. She could give her nothing for the pain lest it cause the pups harm either during the birth or within Venera’s milk. “I know baby, but your strong…just breathe deep.”

Moranna moved behind her cousin and tenderly dipped her muzzle in cool rainwater before nuzzling Venera’s neck. She tried to ease her cousin through the long hours as her slender body was wracked with painful jerking convulsions. Goodness how had Venera managed to carry these pups, how many would there be? Moranna felt badly for her cousin, being raised without her own mother she knew how hard the pups would have it being without their father. Granted Moranna had at least known who her mother was. She lay down behind her cousin and lightly kept her neck cool with the water telling her stories of their pup-hood together to ease her mind away from the pain. Moranna felt her own chest tightening, her breath rattled in her chest, she wasn’t supposed to talk so much…or run…or even be in spaces too enclosed. She hated the curse of weakness; of sickness that had always kept her behind if anything she hoped that all of Venera’s pup would be healthy.

Venera cried out as she suddenly felt the first pup making it’s way into the world, it slid out easily and she bent herself to see it and tenderly clean it before pressing it against her side. “Oh mama! Mama it’s a girl!”

Alas smiled proudly from where she was crouched watching her daughter deliver her pups into the world. She was glad to see Venera managing so well, the long labor had made her nervous a reminder of an experience long past. The night had been frigid cold, a sharp contrast to the warm evening they had tonight. Necrala had been curled up in her icy den and Musketeer had begged her to help, but while the first two pups had come into the world healthy…Her eyes drifted to Moranna. Poor Moranna had been scarred by sickness since her birth, and on the heels of her fragile life had come a still pup. Alas shuddered and looked at her daughter banishing the memories of the past as she saw Venera deliver another healthy pup into the world, this time a boy.
“Keep going baby, you can do this…”

Venera gasped happily as she birthed her second son, three pups; now she was cleaning and nuzzling them as quickly as they came. Her thoughts were filled with a mixture of pride, joy, and guilt. Now she understood why her parents had always taught her about families and the importance of love. With her carelessness she had condemned her own pups to an incomplete life, would they always be plagued by the question of whom their father was, where he was? She herself had suffered so much when Alas and Crunch had revealed she was adopted, where were her own parents now? Had they wanted her at all? The sudden pain of another pup, a fourth and male broke her thoughts.

Alas smiled and moved to nuzzle her daughter comfortingly watching with pride and inspecting the pups. Healthy, all healthy so far thank the stars for such a thing, granted alas had been so careful to give her daughter all the care she needed as the pups grew inside her.

Moranna smiled as she watched her cousin bring a fifth pup into the world. “Oh V it’s another girl!” She nuzzled her cousin happily continuing to cool her with the fresh water against her neck. Moranna lifted her head sensing Gracia in the back of the den preparing things no doubt a clean spot for the pups and new mother once this birthing was done. Suddenly Moranna lifted her head and shivered, how strange she felt something…a sense of sudden foreboding.

Alas gave a triumphant yap, as Venera pushed the last healthy male out into the world, six, six healthy pups no death no sickness. With a sigh of relief Alas moved to nuzzle her daughter, she knew Crunch was patrolling giving the females space for this moment.

Venera pushed herself up weakly and picked up the first pup ready to move back into the freshly cleaned area of the den with her pups to sleep.

Alas smiled as she and Moranna lifted two more of the pups their eyes twinkling happily. Alas ear perked as she glanced back for a moment the frantic sound of paws approaching the den. She shrugged and moved to set the pup back with Venera, it was probably Crunch come to check on their da-no. Hmm Crunch did not move in such a manner, her ears perked again and she slipped out of the den as Moranna took another pup back to Venera.

“Musketeer, goodness, come in your so-“ She looked at the bundle in the Male’s mouth startled.

Musketeer was soaked to the bone, he was shaking from his mad dash and he knew he had twisted his paw somewhere back in the forest. Still in his mouth he clutched a bundle, a small pelt with precious contents. He had never dreamed that the sweet smelling female he had found in the darkness would return to leave him such a treasure. She had set the pelt down, and four pups had tumbled from it into the warm rain. Musketeer felt himself go back, back to the day Necrala had left the den…and left his pups with him. Now another female had left him again…and again he knew he would be raising his pups without their mother. “Please…please Alas…I…I need your help…again.”

“Bring them in!” Alas quickly moved into the den. “Moranna bring the water!”

Musketeer quickly brought his pups in and set the pelt down letting it fall open to reveal four small pups. One wriggled wildly letting out tiny whimpers; the other three were quiet, still.

Moranna quickly came dripping cool water from her muzzle; she stopped and looked at the pups before looking up at Musketeer her eyes narrowing. “Wha-“

Alas cut her off and quickly nosed the pups gently pushing their chests and leaning down with her ear against them, her movements became more and more frantic as she moved along. She looked up at Musketeer her blue eyes filled with an old pain. “It’s too late for…two of them…take them out…we’ll try and save the other two.” She nosed two of the still pups aside before starting to stroke the other still pup trying to get it’s tiny heart to keep beating.

Musketeer hung his head and picked up the two still pups carrying them out of the den into the forest, he knew it wasn’t Alas’ fault, she would save what she could but she could not bring back the dead. He set the pups down and nosed them beneath a bush, from their death would spring some new life at least. He sat quietly for a long moment trying to recompose himself, when would he learn his lesson?

Moranna slipped out of the den and followed her father with each step her fury increased and when she reached him she snarled. “How could you? Didn’t our mother mean anything to you? Don’t we?” She gave a ragged sob.

Musketeer looked up started and frowned “Moranna it’s not like that…I had no idea…she…I was so alone, and she looked just like your mother. I just needed a moment of…” He growled and shook his head “You have no reason to question my actions, you don’t know what it was like raising you three and knowing your mother had left that way…hateful.”

Moranna growled and paced furiously “Oh she looked just like my mother so that was good enough for you? You don’t really love anyone you’re just an old wolf and momma was probably right! You probably did force her! I’m…I’m never going to speak to you again! I hope you realize your dead pups are all because you failed to care for the females you used!” She turned away with a snarl and ran off into the darkness the rain soaking her white pelt and turning it grey. Moranna felt her breath hitching; her chest was painfully tight still she moved onward she needed to get away from the pack for tonight. She wanted her mother so badly, how could anyone create a life without the power of love behind them?

Musketeer was shocked by Moranna’s words, she remembered Necrala despite how young she had been. Worse she remembered the she-wolfs poisonous words, words he never thought to hear again. They weren’t true though, he had loved Necrala and their night together had held no struggle. He considered going after his daughter, but he couldn’t take much more of her cruel words tonight, they reminded him painfully of her mother. She would be back when she was calm he sighed and stood shaking off from the rain and heading back to the den.

“Alas?” He murmured softly as he slipped into the den,

Alas sighed and wearily shook her head “I’ve…lost another…the girl lives still, but I don’t know if she’ll make it through the night. I’ve placed her with Venera and her pups, she’ll give her milk, perhaps that will help…” The pink alpha swayed slightly feeling the burdens on the night heavily on her shoulders. She looked past Musksteer and frowned slightly.
“Where is Moranna?”

Musketeer looked down in pain his eyes falling on the pup wrapped in the small pelt. He lifted his head as Alas’ question sliced through him. “She…was upset, she’ll be back once she’s calm I’m sure…”

Alas frowned slightly before nodding and moving to nuzzle Musketeer. “Go rest cousin, Venera could use the company and so could your daughter…I’ll…” She glanced at the dead pup. “I’ll be back soon…”

Musketeer hesitated before sighing and nodding at Alas, he wanted to place his pup with the others, and find his daughter to apologize and try and explain. Yet he was so very tired and he knew his explanations would fall on deaf ears. “Alas…I put them under the bush that blooms with white flowers. Please…bring Moranna home…I don’t want her to get sick, even though it’s warm she’ll still be soaked…”

Alas nodded at Musketeer with understanding and moved out of the den with the still pup. She slunk through the warm rain towards the bush and gently nosed the two dead pups out placing them on the pelt with their sibling. “Rest now little ones…” She sighed and covered them with care digging a small trench and placing them down before covering them. She longed to seek out her mate, but first she needed to find Moranna, Musketeer was right about her not coming home until she was ready, but by then the poor thing might get sick.

It was a beautiful spring evening, warm rain fell over everything to rejuvenate it two litters had been born to the pack this night, yet only the new pups slept easily. Within the mind of all the pack was pain, loss, memories they wished to push away. With the rising of the sun they would all be forced to come to terms with things said and done, and learn to move on.