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 Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 6:14 am
Part 8
Title - A Spanner in the Works
Time - Morning of Day 4
Characters - Sirena, River
Summary - Sirena returns to the den after her fight with Fluke, weak and covered in blood. It is here as she rests that River tells her of more grave news. She is pregnant.
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Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 6:15 am
Each breath burned in her lungs, her sides quivering as she tried to suck in precious oxygen. The fight had taken a lot out of her and somehow she seemed to have aged even more. Her hollow eyes squeezed shut momentarily as she swayed on her paws, her blood caked face wrinkling in pain.
Each step brought agonising pain and as she raised her head to look for the den, her vision doubled dangerously.
It had been foolish to fight that male but Ren knew that if she could rewind the event and have a second shot at it, she would still have acted the same. Ridding the world of her traitorous family was the only reason she lived now. What would be the point in turning a blind eye because she felt old? She may as well die now if that was the case.
The scent of Fluke's blood would probably give her away to River, especially with the wind carrying it. Yet whilst it would bring River, it would also bring others, others who might not be so friendly.
---
River had slept the night through without realising a thing was wrong. Her brown young body had been curled up in a ball with young wolves growing insdie her. She didn't know about this, infact, she hadn't a clue that it was happening nor did she realise she was growing fatter and not eating more then normal.
She had woken to find Ren not around, it didn't surprise her, waking slowly she got up stretching. She was taking things slowly, she felt no need to rush about, she had to wait for Ren to get back anyway. Her blue eyes scanned the area for some tracks to work out where Ren had gone but she couldn't find any.
Then the smell hit her hard. She could smell blood. She was still too tired to work out whether she recognized the smell or not so she just went and looked, it might be a nice meal in hiding.
Finding Ren instead of a meal made her feel sick. She hadn't been there to help.
"Ren?" The brown female rushed over to the old girl and started to lick at the wounds. "What did you do and why didn't you wake me?" She growled a little as she spoke. What was Ren thinking? She could have got herself killed!
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Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 6:29 am
Ren stood still, head slightly drooped and body quivering. The only real wound she had suffered was a small one on the side of her neck where Fluke had managed to get his teeth into. Other than that it was just old wounds playing up, not to mention her old age.
Don't fret so. Ren scolded slightly, Most of that blood isn't mine. Belonged to some runt, son of my daughter in fact. Her face contorted with rage then, That whelp mated with a dog! A disgusting human-servant. She tried to take another step but found herself falling forwards, stubbing her nose on the ground.
I didn't wake you because there was no need. I may be old, I may be on my way out, but I know my limits. The male was pathetic, he dared not fight back. She lowered herself to lie upon the ground, shaking her head.
---
River still growled at her. "I dont believe you care too much about your Limits Ren. You would go past your limits if it meant hurting your children." She continued to lick at the wound untill she was happy it was clean. She then left it.
"Lets just hope your body can heal that, otherwise any more fights will kill you." So much for a nice slow day.
The brown wolf stood infront of Ren and looked at her with the same look a dissapointed mother would give its pup. "Dont get in a fight again Ren or you won't get to your children to punish them." Her voice was still harsh, something that River didn't even realise she had in her. She wasn't willing to let Ren kill herself by fighting, it just wouldn't be allowed.
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Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 6:49 am
Ren snorted ands turned her head away briefly. There was no reply she could give to that, especially when River spoke the truth. If one of her offspring were to appear now she would fight them whether she was in a condition to or not.
Slowly she regained her footing and turned her eyes back to meet River's dissaproving look. I'm not your pup. Was all she could say and then turned her head back to the west. We still have a few more days travel I believe. It's best we keep going. We'll walk slow, take rests every so often. I don't wish to remain in one place any longer. Time is running out. She shivered then, eyes turning up to the sky above. Snow will be falling soon so perhaps it would be best to hunt for food whilst we're able.
She cast a a suspicious look towards River and her thickening middle, though it looks like you've fed well enough. Are you going on secret hunting trips? Ren was not the best wolf to notice pregnancy. She had all but blocked the memories of when she was fat with pups. However, it would only be a few moments longer, after River's reply, that the ideas might begin to flow.
---
River just sighed. "We can travel if you insist but I will hunt for you alone." She was certain about that if nothing less and if Ren tried to fight then well it wouldn't take very long for River to knock Ren down and she could have got some food and been back again with the time it would take the old wolf to get up.
She did look back suddenly. "I haven't eaten any more then you have and I don't intend to." She was somewhat insulted by the words, she had no idea that she was pregnant or that she was getting fatter.
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Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 7:07 am
Dark eyes narrowed as she scanned River's form. She had not noticed up until now that River had indeed been getting fatter. Which of course didn't make sense after all the travelling they did. She herself was thin as a rake, though that was down to age as well as lack of food.
But if River was telling the truth than how could...?
Wait...no...that wasn' tpossible, was it? River had told her that her mate had gone so there was no way that she could be carrying his pup, could she? Though in all honesty River could have mated along the way, though again that didn't make sense. She had never smelt a strange male upon her fur so what did this mean?
Finally she dared to speak her thoughts aloud.
River, I hate to ask this for more than one reason but...are you pregnant? Her words were put bluntly. She was not one to dance around metaphors.
---
River turned at Rens question and laughed. "The last time I saw Diego we ended up fighting." Though there had been, no that was too long ago for her to be carrying pups.
"I can't see how I am pregnant Ren, last time I saw Diego we fighted, I haven't been close enough to any male for any such thing to happen." Then again she had felt oddly happy but it wasn't just a normal type of happy. No she wasn't pregnant she couldn't be.
"What difference would it make Ren? Even if the impossible were true? I promised to help you and I will no matter what." She wasn't lieing, pregnant or not, she promised.
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Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 7:24 am
An instinct rose within her, an instinct to help River protect the lives of her...possible unborn children. It was strange to feel it again after so long and for the first time ever she remembered a little of what it had been like to be pregnant.
~
Kafara, listen to me, my love. The young wolfess drew her mate's gaze with her opwn deep brown eyes. I woke this morning and something happened, something has changed within me, though I am not sure what. Her voice was soft, young and slightly confused. She moved to nestle her face in the arch of her mate's neck, finding great comfort in that dark grey fur.
The male wolf smiled and rubbed his chin against the top of her head. Now, now Sirena, you'll have to tell me more than that if I am to understand.
I...I feel heavy, heavy as if I am more than one. I think...I think I may be pregnant my love. Pregnant with our children. Our pups. She drew away to look him in his eyes once more. There was comfort in those too, though surprise now as well.
Pups?
Yes Kafara, pups. Our pups. She repeated her words so that they would sink in and could not help but laugh softly as he reached down to nose her stomach.
I'm sorry dearest, have I ruined the reputation of the beautiful forest siren? He glanced up at her nervously and she stiffened.
I know I have always said I would not want children Kafara, but somehow it feels right. This can be the beginning of something new. We can find a land untouched by others and raise a family, start a pack. What do you say? We could be alphas as we always dreamed.
Alphas to rule over our children?
No, not just to our children, but to others as well. We can find lone wolves, ones who need somewhere to go. We can guide them with our wisdom, create names for ourselves. What do you say? Again she repeated herself, somewhat desperate to hear his answer.
Very well. I would be honoured to be your mate and your partner.
Then what I first thought a curse is a blessing after all. Sirena smiled and followed her mate into their makeshift den.
~
Old Ren snapped from her reverie with tears in her eyes. Her belly felt cold and empty now as if it had never been capable of having pups. Yet the last words she had spoken, the words of a blessing had not been right after all.
The pups had been a curse. A curse that had killed Kafara, driven her mad and now saw her battling against death to bring them to justice.
I trust you River, more than you'll ever know. In this whole forest you are the only wolf I have met who has shown promise. If you are pregnant then you must be wary. I wish for you to raise fine pups, pups that will grow to be noble wolves, true wolves. Not many mothers can do that, not even I, but somehow I think you can manage it.
She smiled then, in your stomach lies not just pups, there lies hope also. For though you deny it I believe that deep down you know. You know you are carrying lives within.
---
River was confused at the words that came from Ren but it touched her heart and she nodded her head.
"Ren..." She paused feeling a little choked up, in her throat seemed to be a big lump that didn't want to move and she suddenly felt more then happiness to know Ren.
"Thank you. I will be careful but if I am pregnant, it will take a while before I can't hunt and fight. Lets just hope if I am pregnant that the pups will be born so I can help when we find your children." She meant that, her own pups she could hide away and then help Ren, if Ren was right, those pups needed to be born before they found Rens kids.
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Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 7:25 am
Ren simply nodded and got to her paws stiffly, stretching them out in turn. Then craning back her head to her companion she smiled again.
Something had happened today, something that had revived her heart perhaps a little.
Then let us be off. We will travel slow but atleast it'll be a few more steps in the right direction. And with that the old she-wolf limped off, finding strength in the fact that she no longer walked alone.
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