Zerrüt prowled into the den where her pups lay peacefully sleeping. She stopped a moment and looked at them. Despite her ex-mates abuse and negativity a swelling a pride and love filled her as all five of her girls slept. She tried to separate them as much as possible from their father, they deserved better than what he had to offer. She knew that the protection would only go so far.Zerrüt was young but despite this she looked as though she had aged quite a lot in a short amount of time. The stress of having pups was compounded by an ambitious, abusive and unsupportive Kuruk-Baikal. She didn't even have the energy to be angry. Instead she picked her way around the pups to lay down, curled in a way so that she was touching all of them. Her girls, her beautiful girls. They would be waking up soon, the day would begin and their gorgeous eyes would open, their minds ready to explore and learn the surrounding world.
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Verzagen was awake when her mother stepped in. She seemed more tired than usual. Verzagen pretended to be asleep so as not to worry her mother, she seemed like she needed a moment to think. Verzagen needed a break as well. She loved her mother who had spotted early on that this brightly colored girl was a natural leader, the most independent and dominant of her sisters. Since then Mother seemed to focus on Verzagen a bit more, urging her to try new things, explore new places, moreso than her other sisters. Verzagen didn't mind this most of the time, she liked being in control and being a leader.Her mind wandered to her father. She didn't believe they had ever spoken. He never addressed the girls and when they wandered in his direction Mother stepped in very quickly to distract or redirect them. She wondered what he was like? Why did mother try so hard to separate them from this mysterious wolf? These thoughts plaqued her mind as she waited for her sisters to awaken, and a plan started forming....
A muffled sigh made it's way from Gio's maw as she breathed out. She watched with one eye open as her mother came into the den, and lay down. She smiled as the warmth of her mother's dark fur wrapped itself around her. She was so content with this very moment. It seemed perfect to her, unlike any other time. There was no awkward tension, or harsh words, and everything was calm. Just for a moment. Gio focused hard to cherish it and enjoy it as much as possible. Her focus was broke as one of her sisters whispered. Gio's ears twitched as she listened. the steady breathing of all her siblings, and her mother, was easy to hear of the silence. After a moment Gio decided to get up, there was no hope of her going back to sleep now that her mind had started to wander. Every moment Gio spent worrying and wondering about her family, who she loved dearly. Stretching her paws and yawning the young pup smiled, and wagged her tail slightly, nuzzling her mother and her sister Ignacia, who just happened to be closest to her. She tried to make the most out of every new day, and had gotten use to her father not being around much, and if he was, not being very kind. This, however, gave Gio more reason to grow even more fond of her mother. 