The pups

[rowes]

It had been a month since Larentia have given birth and a month since the small female had died. The pups waddled around the den, investigating. Larentia smiled as the tripped over their own feet as they learned to walk properly. She sighed imagining the other pup. Riot was the most outgoing of the pups and ran with a unsteady gait. He yapped happily as a small, brown butterfly flew into the den. He followed it barking and whining. He jumped just to fall on his head. Larentia laughed picking his up and placing him next to the runt of the litter.

[PyschoMystic]

Kano shook his fur as he stood to his feet. Exiting the den he sighed. He was sitting just outside and howled to the sky as dawn took over the skies. He smiled back at Larentia but closed his eyes again. He was still tired, as he'd only just woken. He decided to go for a run. Taking off across the grounds, he threw his paws out ahead and took long, powerful strides with claws scraping and gripping, propelling him faster. His flames covered his body as he gained speed. He was in full flame now, stretching long muscular legs out. He slowed as he turned and headed back. He jumped inside the cave and licked Larentia calmly.

[rowes]

She smiled licking him back. Riot bit his fathers leg, shaking it.

[PyschoMystic]

Kano smiled and gently shoved Riot with a large paw, knocking over slowly and gently. He laughed and licked the pups head softly and looked over hte others. He looked out again and sighed.

[rowes]

''I'm going for a walk.'' she smiled. ''I won't be long.'' she continued, walking from the terra. She walked slowly, the strong sun on her back. After awhile she came to a stop. She stood over a small patch of dead flowers. Picking them up she moved them to one side, making space for new ones. She lay the deep blue flowers down gentely and stepped back. ''Sleep well my little baby.'' she whispered, the wind blowing through her ears softly. It was her daughters grave. She had died at only a few hours old by Sienna. They hadn't seen Sienna since the murder but Larentia knew she was far away. She sighed turning back to the dens.

[PyschoMystic]

Kano knew where she went and he curled around the pups. He whispered softly to them closing his eyes.

"Mom will be alright. We both will. Just remember your sister..." he said quietly.

He knew they were still so young tehy probably didn't know what he was talking about.

[rowes]

She returned and lay down in the den. A loud screech came from the sky. Larentia lifted her head instinctivly. An eagle soared high above, shouting down to them. She poked her head out of the den. The eagle circled in and perched on a branch. She sensed quickly that it ment no harm. 'There's news from the north lands.' it cried.
'Yes?' she hurried it.
'Sienna is there, fighting a grave war. The Beast also is fighting.' it continued, sensing her impatience.
'For Who? I thought it was a nuteral predator.' she enquired.
'He was. Have you heard of the two Spirit sisters?' he asked.
'Yes.'
'Well, they were scouting for a land and got into a quarrel with the two alphas. Being determined one thing lead to another and they started a war. Some how they have summoned the beast and sided him,' he sighed.
'Is there much blood shed?' she barked concirningly.
'Yes. Now the beast has joined many will die,' he squwaked.
'Why do you tell us? We have pups and I won't let them get hurt. Again,' she sighed sadly.
'It's Sienna. The beast took a swipe at her and it looks bad.' he nodded.
'She gets what she deserves then,' she barked a small smiled spreading across her face.
'That's all I will up date you my friend when the winds change,' he stated before flying away again. She sighed and ducked back in the den.

[PyschoMystic]

Kano shook his head. He knew Sienna and knew she'd probably want to die, after losing her pups and all friends she may have had. He laid down, feeling sorry for her and himself. He wished his pup had lived, and that made him angry at Sienna. But he felt it was wrong to leave her there to die. He sat up and shook his head again.

"She killed our pup...she deserves this..." he whispered under his breath.

He thought of how he wouldn't be able ot go anyway, not with the remaining pups still young.

[rowes]

She lay down one of the pups coming to nurse form her. She smiled and licked it's head. She sighed, looking at Kano's tormented face. It wasn't right for any wolf to die what ever they had done. But that's exactly what she had done to the pup. Ending it's life so soon. May be it was right she died. She knew it wouldn't bring the pup back but maybe it would restore peace to her guilt rivern mind.

[PyschoMystic]

Kano curled close to Larentia as the pups nursed. He wagged his tail slightly as he looked to his mate. He kept trying to tell himself this was right. But somehow he felt guilty.

"This is right...isn't it? I mean she took a life so someone should take hers...right?" he whispered.

[rowes]

''I don't know. No one deserves to die but... she was so young. She had so much life a head of her.'' she sighed, sadly. ''But, she chose to be there. So really it's her own fault I guess,'' she tried to convince herself. She licked Kano and sighed. ''She has nothing to live for. No pups. No mate. She's all alone.'' she whispered feeling a pang of guilt. ''Maybe it's for the best. She might want to die.'' she sighed quietly, arguing with her own feelings. ''Who knows how many other wolves she's killed there. After all she's only one wolf.'' she argued again. Shaking her head she laid it on the ground.

[PyschoMystic]

Kano tried to shake the guilt and decided to change the subject.

"We should focus on what is right here now." he turned to his mate.

He sat up and looked at all the pups around him and smiled.

"They matter most."