Relaxing

[lexi]

Zoran walked slowly into this strange yet beautiful place. He was in a mood I guess you could say and he snorted fitfully, glancing around. Dropping to the ground, he sighed and leaned up against a tree. The roar of the waterfall was heard close by and he closed his eyes to relax for just a moment. What sunlight made it through the trees hit his body in broken strips of heat. Yawning he welcomed what little heat beat down on him and the air around him still held a good chill to it. Tucking his paws under his chest, his eyes fluttered as he debated on whether to sleep or not. He wanted to be on the alert but his travels tired him and the loud watery noises came to be like a lullaby. From a distance his was a pile of glinting silver which was easily seen through the trees but he was unaware of those around him at the moment as he dreamed of some kind of company.

[Rose Petals]

Enrique warily approached the lounging wolf. He wasn't afraid; he just didn't want to startle him. Enrique was always amicable and benevolant, and he showed this to the new wolf quickly by lolling in the ground with his paws outstretchec in the air. He smiled and seemed to be reveling in his actions, as though it was the best thing that could have happened to him to find this wolf to befriend. Enrique was still new to Kiba's pack, and often contemplated over the idea of the members of her pack being against him for recently being in Lokken's pack. He feared that they would see him as a spy for Lokken.

[lexi]

Zoran lifted his head with a sleepy gaze in his eyes. Quickly he found the wolf rolling around in the grass and he smiled. His dreams had come true for now before him was another wolf to make acquaintances with. He looked the wolf over, making sure he was some soft of attacker. Then, he stood and walked towards him. “Hello there.” He said with a smile. “It’s nice to finally see someone else in this beautiful place.” He looked around at the large trees and tilted his head as the rushing sound of the waterfall roared in the distance. It was a relaxing spot and one good place to take a nap.

[Misery]

The young royal female sauntered toward the water. The sound of the harsh current attracted her, and she would have jumped in to challenge the current, but she didn't want to kill the pups she carried in her rounded belly. She looked at the two males briefly, and shuddered. She tried to keep as far away from them as possible, but still the water drew her in. Ever since what had happened with Kani, she never trusted males until she was sure it wouldn't hurt her to trust them. She silently cursed Kani, but kept moving toward the water. She finally reached the edge of the water and put her front paws in, and then went farther into the water until it reached her belly. The water felt so good on her legs. She didn't want to leave. She glanced over her shoulder at the two males, wondering what they were talking about. She dipped her muzzle into the water and sighed into the water, sending bubbles up to the surface. She couldn't help but bring her head up and laugh softly. She was still young, and carrying pups already. She sighed angrily as the thought brought her back to Kani, and wished, not for the first time, that she could kill Kani.

[Rose Petals]

Enrique thumped his tail a couple times on the ground in a happy manner. Pleased that this male either didn't care or didn't know about his history of being one of Lokken's followers, he relaxed to a casual state of mind that he had only been in as a pup, and maybe once or twice as an adult, before his parents were brutally murdered. Though he wished he could befriend his brother again, he knew that if he saw him again, he would either have to fight him or be killed, especially with his brother's mate around. "Hey. It is nice to see a friendly face around here, I agree. This is quite a lovely place, and very soothing." Enrique smiled, then noticed the seemingly pregnant female in the water. He worried that she might injure her pups in the force of the water, but he didn't say anything. She would know more of what she and her unborn pups could handle than himself, for he had never been, apparently, pregnant. Turning his head back to the male, he added, "I'm Enrique, by the way."

[lexi]

Zoran smiled liking the fact that the male seemed nice and friendly. “I’m Zoran,” he replied nodding his head a little. He followed the males gaze to find the female standing in the water. He sat down, watching her for a little, and then sighed. She didn’t seem the friendly so he averted his gaze to not make her uncomfortable. He wondered of course about these two wolves’ pasts but kept his wonderings to himself. Arching his back, he stretched his back and yawned releasing the sleep from his nap. The crashing of the waterfall almost made Zoran want to go back to the tree and sleep again, but now hunger and thirst pulled at her insides. He relaxed a little though, letting his muscles loosen, and smiled to the male again. “Have you just now found this place?” he asked wondering now though how such a large curious place could go unseen.

[Misery]

Nica sighed and stepped out of the water, reluctant. She went to lay down in the shade a few feet away from the males. She was still wary, but found herself craving company. She was careful as she lowered herself to the ground, not wanting to disturb the pups. She watched the two males, curiosity and longing filling her eyes. She put her head on her paws, and averted her gaze as the male, Zoran, did. She glanced back every once in a while, but always looked away again quickly. She was thinner than was healthy, as she hadn't been able to hunt for a few days. She sighed and felt the hunger bubble again. She felt one of the pups kick her belly and it made her forget the hunger. She knew she would have to hunt soon in order to keep the pups alive. It was likely that one or more of them was already dead. She closed her eyes for a moment, but opened them again to glance at the males.

[Rose Petals]

Enrique smiled as the felme laid down closer to them, but did not act as if he were aware she had even moved from the water. "Yes, I have just stumbled upon this place in my long journey," Enrique said, careful as not to leak any unecessary information to Zoran. "I was not born around here, and just recently joined the Fane's pack." Enrique's eyes were sparkling with happiness, though if one were a good observer, they could tell that Enrique was hding something crucial to his life. He decided that if the felme would talk to them, he would will at her command for the time being, at least until she gave birth to her nals. He had no idea how he came to a conclusion as absurd as this, neither did he know what made him think of it, but he had settled his mind nonetheless. Taking in the smells of this scenic area, he knew that this was the place he would call home, for the most part.

[lexi]

Zoran nodded at first listening to the male’s story. His head tilted later on as he looked into the males eyes. Shaking his head his stomach once again rumbled and he rolled his eyes. Standing up he looked down at the male. “Sorry, but you’ll have to excuse me.” He said and trotted off into the dense forest. It look a little while and he ended up deeper in the forest than he would’ve liked but he wanted to dins something big enough to bring back that all three of them could share. His nose to the ground, he moved quickly with sure feet towards what was marked as a large buck in his mind. Seeing the large animal just ahead in the distance, he stalked close to the ground circling it slowly. As he jumped for it, the buck stiffened at first and then ran off. Zoran leapt on his haunches and bit hard just so the deer could let out a bellowing call. Steadying himself with his claws he made his way to the neck and bit in hard, shaking his head with effort. After a while of fighting, the deer finally hit the ground and Zoran took a step back tired now and wondering how he would get it back to the waterfall and the other two wolves.

[Misery]

Hearing the buck bellow, Nica's head came up, ears forward, and she stared intently in the direction of the sound. One ear flicked as she heard the buck go down. After that, she heard almost nothing. She stood and walked into the trees, listening for the male. She stopped when she finally found him, and smiled a little. "Would you like some help?" she barked softly. Her voice was light and gave one the impression of a Royal, which was exactly what she was. She put her head somewhat low, a little nervous, but not completely submissive. She moved forward and stood above the kill, waiting for his reply.

[lexi]

Zoran looked up at the sound and smiled a little. “Sure, and your welcome to have some when we get him back to the waterfall.” He walked around the deer to stand next to female. “Help would be nice.” He laughed a little and took hold of the deer neck and pulled hard turning it around. He waited then for her to join in and get the large buck back to the clearing and water.

[Misery]

She smiled at the thought of food. She was glad to see that he was friendly, and willing to share the kill with her. She bent her head down to the deer and took hold of a front leg, pulling it back toward the waterfall and the other male. Despite the burden of pups, and not having eaten in days, or maybe a week, she was still stronger than she should have been. She helped pull the buck an inch or more at a time, back to the waterfall. She tugged and tugged, throwing her weight backward every time she pulled. Nica felt her teeth penetrate the soft flesh of the leg, and the blood filtered slowly into her mouth. She paused and closed her eyes, but opened them and tugged again, more eager now to get the kill back. She finally let go of the leg when they were back to the clearing, and licked her lips. She looked down longingly, but stepped back, for it was not her kill to eat first. She sat and waited patiently, waiting for the male to take his fill before she did.

[Rose Petals]

Enrique was disappointed at first when the male left him, for he thought he was being dumb and that the male didn't want to talk to him for this reason. He was relieved when the two wolves came back with the buck, and was happy to be able to eat, if Zoran had brought it back for all three of them. He walked up, hoping he wasn't out of line, and, seeing the female's actions, commented, "If you don't mind me saying, I do believe, no matter the hunter, that this female should have her fill first, for she is with child." Enrique smiled, a bit weakly, for he knew the rules of Lokken's pack: eat or be eaten, kill or be killed, and the hunter has all rights to the kill. He had no idea of how things worked in Kiba's pack.

[lexi]

Zoran shook her head dropping the neck on the buck to the ground. He looked strangely at the male for he seemed different all the sudden. Zoran's eyes watched the male closely but they switched back to the female and he nodded his head. "I think we can all eat together." he said looking from on to the other. He really wasn't too hungry and went hunting mainly to pass his time and so this female had at least something to eat. He grabbed a leg and yanked and chewed, pulling it away. Taking it he wandered off closer to the waterfall and laid down to gnaw on the meaty leg.

[Misery]

Nica smiled gratefully and bent her head over the buck. She bit at the skin of the buck tentatively at first. She was still unsure about these two males, but they seemed nice enough. She stripped off a peice of meat that covered a rib, and gnawed at it before swallowing. She savored the taste of it. It tasted so good on her tongue. She took a step to the side, glancing at Enrique, inviting him to come and eat. She lowered her head again and stripped another peice of meat. She swallowed it more quickly now, in her hunger. She ate until she was full enough. Surpisingly, she backed away before she was really full, despite her extreme hunger. Her belly started to ache, and she whimpered, backing away from the meat. She knew it wasn't the food making her belly hurt so much. She looked around urgently, searching for some place to go and be protected. She trotted past Zoran, toward the waterfall. There was a gap in the cliff behind the falling water. She headed into it, not even hesitating in front of the water. She slipped in between the water and the cliff. She went to the back of the gap, where it narrowed slightly and there wasn't much light. She started scratching at the moss that covered most of the ground, making a comfortable enough nest. She curled on the make shift nest, feeling her belly start aching more and more.

[lexi]

Zoran was now chewing on just the bone of the leg and he set it aside now licking his lips. Looking up he saw the female run past him urgently and looking almost scared. He sighed and stood up walking to the waterfall. He wondered just slightly if there was something wrong and if she was ok but he figured she wanted some privacy. Sighing he noted the place where she ran to hide and he tilted his head slightly. He lay back down, eyeing the cave behind the waterfall and also eyeing the other male.

[Rose Petals]

Enrique watched the female leave behind the waterfall, and had an idea that she was in labour, but he knew that the females in Lokken's pack liked to be alone, so he didn't follow her. Instead, he tore at one of the remaining legs and chewed on it where he was. After just a few minutes, though he hadn't eaten much, he carried the leg off to a tree, knowing that it would be safe with Zoran right there, and ran and jumped into the water. Wading around, he listened carefully and discreetly for any signs of the female giving birth, just in case she might want or need help, though he knew quite well she would most likely rather be left alone.

[Misery]

Nica fidgetted, not finding it possible to get comfortable with her stomach so tight. She whined softly as a contraction pulled at her belly, and gave her the urge to push. She relented, and then fidgetted some more. Finally she got into a position that was moderately comfortable, and stayed still for a moment. Another contraction, and she pushed again, now feeling the pup start to come into this world. She pushed once more, and the first pup came. She nipped gently at the sac that covered the tiny being, and then licked a little roughly to encourage it to breath. She stopped when the pup gave a loud squeal.

In another minute, a second pup came. A male, very similar to the first. It was dark now, but in time his fur would be a light gray.

She whined, for she was having almost constant contractions, and it had already been three minutes after the first pup. Finally, she gave one last hard push, and another male appeared near the other two pups. She went through the procedure again, surprised at how natural it seemed. Her instincts had very much taken over, and she was just doing what they told her.

She curled around the three newborns, letting them nurse while she waited more patiently for the fourth and final pup. She was having contractions, though they were scattered and slow. She began to get worried, when it was about ten minutes after the first pup had been born. She knew if she didn't birth it soon, it would die. She began to push without the contractions, trying desperately to save the last pup in her forced litter. She yelped quietly when the pup finally began to emerge, for it hurt more than the others. For that reason, she knew it was dead before she saw it. She whined, as she bit the sac away and tried to get it to breathe. Nothing seemed to work, and she finally gave up, pushing the stillborn female out of the nest and away from the other three pups. She stared at the still form, feeling a mother's loss at that moment. But she curled around her pups, resting her head on the edge of the nest. Though she was exhausted, she didn't close her eyes and sleep, for she was protective. In a few days, when she had regained her strength and energy, she might venture out again to eat and possibly let the two males see her offspring. Until then, though, she would keep them from coming inside and she would go hungry in order to keep her pups healthy and to make sure they were safe.

[lexi]

Zoran could hear the scuffle of noise and he smiled at the fiat squeals. His heart wanted him to run into the den like a worried father but his head fought hard to keep him right where he was. He groaned and lay back down now a little mad at his mind for keeping him here. Looking around her sighed and walked back to the carcass of the buck. He was quite full but at least it would keep him mind off the female in the cave he barely knew.

[Rose Petals]

Enrique whined to the female, hearing that she had trouble. He knew she had just given birth from the the sounds and the smell of new life. He knew he ought not enter her cave, for as a new mother, she would be overly protective. Instead, he continued to wade in the small pool-like lake, contemplating on something he could do to help, though he knew without her permission, there was nothing he was able to do.