Her ears perked as a familiar cry rang out. The deep voice was that of a wolf, not any of the motley hybrids that she lived with. Tail swaying she looked down at her pups, smiling broadly. They were comfortable as they were, Loki close to falling asleep and Ananse warm and refusing to move off her leg. Lifting her head she howled in return, inviting him to come and see. It would be good to have him there to see the pups with her. Pups were wonderful, something to share with pack and family. Occasionally the lines blurred for her, seeing family as pack and pack as family, but it didn't matter.

Tail wagging she awaited eagerly for him to come. Telling him that Kit was gone wasn't something she wanted to tell him, as being without a mate was a sore point for her. At least she had some good news to share. Licking Ananse on the head she watched the brown bundle squirm, moving closer to her. Her ears pricked forwards through the rain, waiting for when he would arrive. It wouldn't be long with how swift he traveled.

Her tail wagged as the large wolf turned the corner. He wouldn't fit into her den, as it was one made for her and her pups, too small for most canines. The black wolf looked forwards, mismatched eyes gleaming, and he froze. It was as if he'd suddenly been paused, time moving around him. The coyote watched him with curiosity as slowly pain filtered into his eyes. She watched him cautiously, allowing him to come closer. Her leg was shifted, Ananse letting out a small complaint at the movement as she did so.

Smiling she licked at her son's head, soothing him. Terra looked back over to Shadow, wondering what had happened since she'd last seen him. Something serious, or at least she thought so. The glance alerted her to what she'd been adjusting to. Terra didn't have a mate as she'd wished to. No one was there beside her. It was a sad thought, but she had to care for her puppies anyways. Loki and Ananse.

She watched peacefully as Shadow shifted, entering the lupine form that she preferred. It was surprising how well they got along, considering how different their lifestyles were. He'd helped improve her stealth, and Terra had gained many more tricks due to that. Tail wagging she stretched out, licking at Shadow as he placed his head down in the mouth of the den. It was good to see him again. It had been much too long, really. Terra had friends that she'd have to go and visit once the pups were old enough.

Broadly smiling her tail thumped behind her. I hope they live up to them. Loki chose that time to woke up. A quiet whining announced this change, Terra turning her head and nudging him gently. He wriggled around, doing his best to get comfortable. Bright green eyes remained on him until he latched onto her and began to drink. Satisfied that he was alright her attention returned to Shadow. I'm lucky. Not all pups are born as healthy as they are. She knew the chances of carrying to term.

Terra growled playfully, leaning to nip at Shadow's ears and play along with him. Nuzzled against his head Terra partly shifted, settling down again so that the pups would remain comfortable. He couldn't come in, she couldn't come out. Having pups was hard. At least Ananse and Loki were healthy, even if she was mainly by herself caring for them. Her pack was good with bringing her food and making sure that they didn't get too close. Any that approached the new mother without permission was met with a quick flash of fangs and a warning growl.

The coyote listened sympathetically as he spoke. Pups that died. It was part of life, but still a tragedy. While Terra knew that she had to get up and keep going, her instincts propelling her forwards, she had noted how detached many luperci were from that. If faced with the pain of the loss of pups, how would they keep going? Ananse let out some small squeaks as Shadow nudged him, moving around Terra's leg the best that he could. Growling a little Terra drew Ananse back, warning Shadow to back off from her pups. Sorry that you lost your pups.

The black male turned away, head removed from the den. It was better with her privacy restored to an extent. As much as Terra loved Shadow, she didn't care for others touching her pups. Not yet at least. She still felt that she needed to protect them from the world. Shadow was her dear brother, but she hadn't given him permission to touch them, and was willing to bite him and fight if it meant that her pups would be kept safe and out of harm's way. Irrational, but that was what her instincts said.

Nodding Terra wondered what to say. She didn't want to make him leave. Loki was quite happy suckling away, Ananse working on settling down nearby. Her gaze fell to them before flicking back over to Shadow. Won't you stay for a little while longer? I haven't been able to travel. Can you tell me about what's happening past the pack? Her yearning for travel was barely tapped down, hunger for excitement dwelling inside her. She would stay with her pups though, and get it from stories instead.

Shadow paused, her words sinking in. Terra's tail wagged, eagerly awaiting a good tale. She loved listening to them. Well, loved being the center of the stories more, such as when she went out and caused trouble, but listening to them was pretty good too. The words began to flow, and Terra closed her eyes. She was back with him, living the fights and battles that Shadow had gone through. She could hear the skips, but didn't press, enjoying what he did say.

The story came to an end, and Loki was sound asleep once more. Ananse had managed to squirm over to him, and was now bumping against his brother, determined to go through him. Terra gently nudged the pup, picking him up and settling him so that he wouldn't disturb Loki. Tail swaying she looked over to him as she spoke, smiling broadly. That would be great! I'm sure they'll love their uncle. When they were old enough to do more than just squirm around.

Her tail wagged behind her, watching Shadow as he turned back towards her. She cocked her head, wondering why he would think that she might not be serious about that. He was her brother. She was his sister. Even if they weren't truly related. Laughing at his words Terra tried to look serious. I would never cause so much trouble, Shadow! I'm a responsible canine. Of course, responsible canine only meant something if she was addressing the respectable side of the canine tree, and not the one steeped in tricks.

Asked to tell a story Terra drew herself up. Her eyes fell to her pups, and her voice began to ring out, even and calm. It was different than her usual speech, rhythmic and holding the kind of tone that one had to listen to, wiser than the one speaking.

Pups are born and die with each breath, but there is a secret few know. That is, Coyote played a trick to help them. Many young die, but the sorrow of carrying a stillborn is Coyote learned the hard way. Her first litter was of four, two strong males and two beautiful females. All died within days. Full of anger Coyote raged at the world, howling and shaking it. Everything ran and hid from her, though she was so much smaller than the other predators that roamed the earth. To come across her in her anger, meant that they would be subject to a cruel trick, and as their forms had already changed once, they did not wish for it to happen again.

Coyote found Death after much searching, cradling her pups in his arms. She fought and attacked death, but he was too strong for her. At last, she had to acknowledge he was more powerful, and bowed her head. Coyote wouldn't give up though, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Great Death," she said, "I have looked for you everywhere. I know you're powerful, and I wish to learn some of your trade."

Now Death was wise, and knew Coyote's ways. Often he had dealt with the consequences. "I will not help you stir trouble, Coyote. I have plenty of work already. Your pups must be taken to the sky to become stars and spread light." Coyote nodded, surprisingly agreeable. "But before you do that, please, may I see them once more?" Death nodded, and placed the pups on the ground. In a flash, she swallowed two of them down inside her. Before she could get the other two though, Death caught on, and struck out, angry at being tricked.

Coyote fled, and when she could she released her children. They lived, and grew, but Coyote paid a terrible price for the stolen death. Half of all of Coyote's children are taken as replacement, spreading across the sky. Coyote hasn't given up though, and sometimes, she'll steal them back, just like she did for her first litter.

Terra listened to his response quietly, no true opinion formed on the matter. Death was part of life. The tale was just a tale. Death did inflict those in life without favoring one or the other, a fact Terra knew well with how often she'd court danger. That's how life is. What could she really say? Shadow's views on such things was different from the feral coyote's, based more on the mercies of the luperci than the way she had been raised.

Laughing lightly she looked back to her pups. They'll cross again. We're family. Besides, it's not like you live far. I can trot up there anytime. Well, currently she was stuck in the pack, but that would change soon enough, and she would have plenty of other things to do. A small yawn escaped the pups, and soon whines filled the air. Terra nuzzled them close, licking their heads gently as they fussed. It didn't look like they'd calm down anytime soon, busy with complaining about not being warm enough, or too warm, or hungry, or a million other complaints she'd have to interpret.

Terra nuzzled the pups, moving them around to try and quiet their squalling. They had decided that they weren't happy though, Terra quickly finding the reason traced to the fact that Ananse had tried to eat Loki's foot, and Loki had disagreed with the idea. All that was left was to settle them down and hope they would tire of whining. She licked both of them, settling them close to her body where they would be warm and close to milk.

Shadow's offer caught her attention, the mother looking up with deep hunger on her features. Could you? A goat. She really wanted one. Big, fat and juicy. She had wished for one since the one she'd eaten from the trading pack. It had been so delicious! To be able to eat that easy sweet meat again would be fabulous. Her tail wagged behind her, quick in it's pace. Shadow would bring that back for her for sure.