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 Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 2:28 pm
 Rhea hobbled through thick underbrush, swollen belly dragging in the mud. She used to hate getting her white fur dirty, now she hardly cared. Hey, she had brown spots, didn't she? And she spent most of her time cleaning the tan ball of fur, following at her heels, clean. His light pelt got dirty easily. What kind of mother would she be if she couldn't even keep her own son clean?
Alright, so he wasn't exactly her son. But she considered him to be. She'd named him, after all, and raised him right after those two-legger children dumped him in the forest with a ruddy blue string around his neck. It seemd like forever ago that she'd found him, underweight and whimpering in a hollwed-out burrow that smelled like badgers. In reality, it'd only been a few weeks.
It'd also only been a few weeks since she'd realized that she, Rhea, was pregnant. No doubt from that silly young male she'd met, Brannx. Don't get her wrong, he wasn't a bad fox, and how could he know that she'd gotten pregnant? But it looked like he hadn't even tried to contact her again. Besides, what would she do? Certainly not ask him to stay. He would make an immature father, and likely end up being treated like more of another of Rheas 'children' than a mate. Pity. He was nice to look at.
"RheRhe?" The pregnant fox was interupted by Trouble's call. He was nudging her with his black, wet nose, using the 'I'm hungry!' eyes. No suprise, he was always hungry. And always growing. He was what, two months old? And his back was already almost at Rheas shoulder.
"Hold on, we're almost at the den. I'll dig up a rabbit for you, Roo." Rhea tiredly rubbed her brown muzzle across his black one. Being with-child didn't exactly give you more enegry. It sapped everything you had.
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Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 2:38 pm
 The beige pup bobbed his head in agreement with his mother. Meanwhile, his stomach gurgled with every step of his snow-toed paws. They were fading to a slight brown color, picking up bits of broken leaved and dried petals as they traveled in and around foliage. This was the route RheRhe usually took them on: hidden and winding. She'd taught him that it was safer like this. They had to be even more careful now that his mother was getting fat and slow. As to why, he didn't know. But she often muttered things about being 'pregnant' and such. Whatever that was.
When the odd pair arrived at the den, Rhea did as promised, digging up the baby marsupial with already muddy paws, and flinging it at Trouble with her teeth. He ate greedily, tail wagging so fast and hard that it made the walls of the dirt-den shake as it thumped against them Rhea sometimes called his tail a weapon, it moved so fast.
"Thanks, Momma." The pup choked out between maw-fulls of meat. His needle-like puppy teeth razored right through them, making it easier to swallow. The fox mother, in turn, nuzzled his blackened ears.
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Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 12:53 pm
Waiting until her pup was done with his meal, Rhea started to clean his constantly dirty fur. It was all she could do, trying to make him presentable everyday. Though the efforts were futile. He just rolled around in the mud as soon as she was finished, and they had to repeat the process again. And again. And again.
"Try to stay clean, Roo. Please?" He was starting to squirm under her tongue, and she rested a paw on his back to settle him. He could play as soon as she was done. But for now, he would stay silent and put while she cleaned him. Or else. It didn't ever take too long, unless she was punishing him for something. In which she would throw the occasional 'I'm in charge. Not you.' n**. But today was not one of those days. When the vixen was finished, she released him from the pressure of her paw on his back, and he took off, probably out to play with some squirrel.
Fine by Rhea. As long as he didn't run into a lynx or bear, he was usually fine. Even the occasional Buck ran away from him, afraid that where a pup was, a pack may follow. She was faintly listening to his playful giggles as she lay down on her side in the dirt den. Her unborn litter stirred inside her, anxious to greet the world.
No. Not yet. Not for a little while. She silently warned her kits. She would not give birth right now.
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Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 1:09 pm
Roo had sprinted out of the den as fast as he could, eager to play in a spot he'd found yeaterday. It was literally between a rock and a hard place, that place being a tree, and he'd seen a friendly-enough-looking lizard there the other day. Hopefully, it was still there.
"Hellooooo?" Trouble called as she sniffed out his previous play spot. Many scents flooded his nose, one that he couldn't recognize, but that was far from his mind. Becasuse he could smell the lizard. The same one from yesterday! And could easily spot it as it crawled across the rock. His death-tail wagged excitedly, tongue lolling from his maw. "Lizard!" Within seconds, he was ontop of the rock, only causing the piss-frightened lizard to go flying towards the narrow space between the tree and rock. Trouble whined, crouching down on his front legs to investigate. Why did the lizard run away? Didn't he know that he and Trouble were friends now?
But swaying with happiness in the air, he shoved his nose into the narrow space, sniffing and looking and retrieving all at once. He could hear the lizard trying to escape, his tail flicking against the pups nose. Troubel let out a frustrated whine and pushed his snout further. A half-growl, half-yip escaping him. Tight little jaws clenched around his nose, and the playful emotions he once had were gone. A long, loud, high yelp escaped him.
"OWOWOWOWOW!" Pulling his maw from the crawlspace, Trouble fell to his side and rolled in the muddy dirt. He was furiously pawing his nose, trying to pull the squirming lizard from his nose. It was no use. The thing wouldn't give! Another yelp sounded form him. Calling forward a fox that certainly wasn't his Momma.
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Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 1:22 pm
 Barely containing his laugh, a male fox lay in the bushes. This was unbelieveably, this pup. Yelping and trying to pull the poor lizard from his snout. Maybe he shouldn't of gone sticking his nose in strange places. Ouch. But something else intrigued Brannx about this pup. His smell. He was certainly a wolf, but he had this foxish tinge to him. It was strong, and prominent. And the fox part of him smelled oddly familiar. The it hit him. Hit him like Bucks hit eachother during their mating season.
Rhea. He smelled like Rhea.
This pup. Smelled like the vixen he'd met a few weeks ago. Eleven weeks, to be exact, Brannx had counted. Eleven weeks, four days he'd been away from the captivating Rhea. If this was love, he'd fallen hard for the motherly vixen. But why was she with this pup? Maybe she was taking care of him. Maybe she just wasn't there to take care of him right now. Maybe she would reward him for taking care of her pup while she was away! Yes, that was it!
"Pup! Pup hold still, I'll help you!" Hopefully, this would be easy. He sprang from his bushes. Huge and hero-like, and rushed over to the squirming pup. He looked pathetic, really. Eyes watering, yelping, pawing at his nose frantically as the lizard held on. Gently, Brannx took the lizard in his huge jaws, and pulled. The thing nearly ripped in half, and died falling off of the pups nose. The tan ball of fur looked up at him, wide-eyed. Horrified.
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Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 1:37 pm
Rhea's head shot up, ears flickering in the direction of her yelping, screaming pup. Trouble. What the hell was going on? Where was he? Why was he hurt? All of these questions rushed through her mind and she stood as fast as a pregnant fox could, running toward her distressed child.
"Roo! Trouble!" He wasn't too far off, and the scent of an all-too-familiar fox flooded her nose. Brannx? Was he hurting her pup? She was already planning ways to dismember him when she saw him leaning over Trouble. His maw was bloody, and Trouble's snout was the same. "What are you doing to my pup?"
Like only an angry mother could, she snarled, tackling the father of her children to the dirt. Happy-go-lucky or not, her son was bloody, and he had something to do with it. Her front paws pinned him to the ground, and she was still carrying on the snarl. Her bown-tipped tail stood straight up, ears folded back against her skull. "Why is he bloodied?! Answer me! Why is his fur stained with blood?!"
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Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 1:43 pm
Brannx squirmed under the female's weight. More in shock then hurt. When had his Rhea gotten so heavy? And why was her stomach buldging like so? He was barely able to answer when Rhea's teeth came down on his deaf-numb left ear, tearing it slightly.
Note to his future self: DO NOT make Rhea angry. At least that was his dead ear she ripped.
"Lizard-pup-bit nose-RHEAGERROF." Apparently, the vixen though he wasn't answering fast enough, because her teeth nipped at his chest next, a snarl on her maw, exposing needle-like teeth and eyes that blazed with the fire of a protective mother. His tail curled between his legs, and he fell limp under her. "I didn't bite him! A lizard did! I went to help him and the lizard ripped in half! Just ask him!" Brannx looked to the frightened pup for help.
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Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 1:49 pm
Trouble whimpered from where he lay on his back, belly exposed. His Momma had popped out of nowhere, rescusing her from the lizard murderer. The reptile's blood smelled, and it covered his chestfur and nose. His still stinging, black nose. But now, the lizard was behind him. Roo just wanted Rhea to teach him how to do that! Tackle somone and make them completely submit like that!
"Momma! It's lizard blood, RheRhe. He's telling the truth." The pup nodded in agreement, still laying on his back. His mother would surely throw a fit, him being so dirty now. "How did you do that?!" He rolled onto his belly, and popped over to Rhea's side, completely oblivious to the pain the male fox was in, and who he was. Or how mad his mother was at the male fox. Her anger went unnoticed to him.
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Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 1:55 pm
Only listening to the words of her pup, the pregnant vixen got off, still glaring at the male. She didn't answer her Troubles question, only stood between him and the male. Convinced that he would attack her young. She was ready to rip his throat out at any moment.
"What are you doing here?" She spat out warily. Blood lightly stained the place where her teeth had broken skin on his chest. But he didn't seem afraid. Only glad to see her. "Brannx. Why are you here?" She asked again when he didn't answer. Why was he staring at her like that? Oh, right. Rhea was pregnant. Well, he had to know sometimes, right? Her ears perked back up again in cautious curiosity. How would he take this fact? Why was she worrying about it? It wasn;t liek he was going to stay and get to know his kits...right? And it's not like she still felt anything for him...
right?
"Trouble. Go back to the den." She gently nudged him toward their foxhole, still watching her secret persuer. A pup didn't need to listen to this. He stalked back to the den, defeated that she wouldn't answer his questions.
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Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 2:02 pm
Brannx slowly rose from the ground, cautiously watching the vixen he loved so much. Their first metting had been breif, but left him craving her. Even her anger. He wanted any kind of attention from her that he could get.
-
-How pathetic was he for her? How deep did this infatuation go?
"I...wanted to see you again." He offered. Never had he known that he would find her today. It just worked out like that. His able ear flicked towards her. Now that the pup was away, it seemed like her stress was lowering. But hell, even stressed out and on edge she was the most beautiful thing he'd even seen.
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Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 2:09 pm
Oh, crap.
Rhea knew this feeling. She'd experienced it the last time they'd met.
Every look he gave her make her heart pound, rattling her ribs. The little flips her stomach did when she thought about him made the kits start to kick, swimming around and complaning about the noise out there. His voice made her knees and joints melt and fall apart.
"Y-you did?" She tried to hide the fact that her voice was weak. Inside, she was holding a fury with herself. She did NOT want to feel this way. Not one bit. But he was doing this to her. Rhea didn't like it at all. She sat down, tired from the effort of her earlier actions. Or at least, that's why she told herself to sit down. Hiding the fact that he made her weak with every word he spoke.
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Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 10:38 am
Confusion flooded Brannx's mind. First she attacks him for helping her pup, and now she's nervous around him? Vixen's...they were so moody! But he supposed that he could handle this, as long as it was only part of the...
He couldn't say it. He knew that she was...
But he couldn't bring himself to say it. What kind of male was he? Brannx could meet with a female once, not see her for eleven weeks, go on four-day journey to find her, but then couldn't admit to himself that she was really...carrying his litter?
There. He'd done it. But just to make sure...
"Yes. I did." Brannx shifted on his feet, and puffed out his chest a bit. No use acting like a frightened kit now. "And you're...carrying?" The male couldn't find another way to put it. He never was bright.
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Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 10:41 am
Rhea nearly smiled. Brannx wasn't known for his exhilirating poetic words. But she understood his meaning nonetheless. Slowly, she lowered her head in a nod. She was pregnant. With Brannxs kits. Of that she was sure.
"They're yours." She blurted out before he could question it. She'd never been with another fox.
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Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 10:52 am
The male sucked in a harsh breath. They were his. His kits. His kits inside of Rhea.
And he liked it. A small, uncontainable smile spread across his maw. Rhea and he had only met once, and he might now of known what she felt for him, but he was certain that he loved her. He would risk everything for these kits.
"Mine." He breathed out, bushy tail wagging like a dogs might. "...can I stay with you? I'll help. I'll hunt for you, and watch your pup and the kits, and protect you-not that you need protecting- I'll do everything." Brannx couldn't contain the excitement in his smooth voice. During his talking, he had chanced getting attacked again and stepped closer to her, until his nose was barely brushing hers. He wanted so badly to stay. To be with her any his children. Their kits. A family like he never had.
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Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 10:56 am
Rhea didin't care anymore. She'd told herself long ago that he'dve just been another child to take care of. She'd told herself that he'd never want to stay. That Brannx would only mess things up for them.
Now, she was eating her words, all because of his.
"Alright..." She smiled back, probably sounding like a dumb, love-struck vixen. But that's all she was, really. Exactly that. "But...you have to earn your keep. I feel that there might be many kits in this litter...are you sure that you want to stay?" Her heart jumped as his nose nuzzled into her neck lovingly. How she'd secretly longed that touch since thay'd last been together.
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