The Matriarch hadn't even thought about it when the first twinge of pain crossed her belly that afternoon. She'd been out tending to the lifestock and making sure that they had plenty of hay for the first snow had already fallen, though the sun had melted away all traces of it two nights past there was a fury of snowflakes in the sky as she'd slowly made her way back to the barn to close the doors and make certain that everything was nice and snug for the night. The tiny sharp pains had continued on as she'd worked, the woman at first misplacing them for the active movements of pups to come but as time moved on she realized just what was happening.
She'd tried to make it home from the barnyard but the increasing contractions had stopped her in her tracks. The woman had slumped against the fence, slowly moving down to lay upon the fresh hay she'd gathered for the herd. The animals already had satisfied their hunger and had settled down for the night. The sun was setting early that day as the Matriarch closed her eyes and just breathed in the scent of the hay as the soft stark white of the snowflakes seemed to want to camaflage her within the depths of the clover and wild grasses. She laughed softly at how stupid she'd been. The woman had went through two pregnancies and had been more alert than she was today. Stuck out in the open and all alone.
She lifted her head up as she realized she was being more than stupid, she wasn't alone, she had her family and the pack behind her. Not that she exactly wanted to announce to the whole world just what was happening tonight but she doubted that the puppies would survive born in the mists of a snowstorm. She tilted back her head to call for the Shaman and yet she didn't even have time for that as a ripple torn through her body, choking off the words in her throat as she felt the dampness between her legs as she felt the pups began to move more actively. She whimpered softly as she closed her eyes and readied herself for the second course of pain.
Within minutes it seemed the silver and gold woman was welcoming her first child into the world as she tried to clean his body and shelter the frail being just the same from the elements that nipped at the family to be. She could hear his little yips and squeaks of alarm as she buried the small child in the hay, but not before admiring the brilliant hues that seemed to swirl on his coat. She knew he would have looked just like her, the silver and gold but with just a hint of black, almost like a stripe from right between his eyes and all the way to his rump. She smiled, forgetting that she'd even wanted the Shaman at her side as the second child began to force it's way into the world.
Right before the pain had set in she threw back her head and let the call ring out for the Shaman to join her, it wasn't a request but a plead. The pain that came with the second bout of contractions was almost too much to bare for the woman as she gritted her teeth, growling softly as she shifted, trying to get more comfortable as the pain blossomed along her body as the young slowly made their way into the world. What she was greeted with once the child slid into the straw was a mild surprise to the woman, a second set of twins had been born to her. She gently picked up the two as she cleaned them off and placed them before her, trying to get a good look at them as she dried their fur, trying to warm them against the snow that was battling it's way to earth.
Iskata whined softly as she realized that something was wrong with the pair, the larger of the two moved weakly while the smaller twin shrilled at the top of her lungs. She let her eyes fall over the two, mirror images of one another, Reddish gold pelts with silvery paws, speckles of black running up the forelegs and chest with a dapple of silver and cream on the back of both overly large ears. She tried to smile at the strange beauty of the pair but she worried still. Slowly placing the two in the mists of the hay with their brother she moved the hay from where they lay hidden and joined the pups below the mound, just her face sticking out of the burrow as she curled around the puppies, the cold of the fast closing in night already had her in shivers, she didn't want to think of what her foolishness had done to the children's chances.
[html] http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j40/k ... _Table.png); background-position: top center; background-repeat: no-repeat;">
The snow was now and the grass was covered with it, though some was melted by the sun, removing the proof of traces. however, a light snowstorm was upon the land. It was cold but not too cold. The forest trees were covered with the white ice. The avians of the sky were gone for the winter, which the forest silent. Only the animals that occupy the ground were left to make the noises. The Silence of the Forest was upon us.
In this forest was a white wolf brandishing his spear, Icicle Shard, stood there looking with his eyes closed. He didn't moved a muscle for sometime, until his eyes opened, revealing there red color. Then with swift movemeants, he practiced attacking with his spear, swinging and air impaling it. He grunted and graoned at each swing, taking a breathe to keep himself calm. He also practiced his kicks aswell when he jumped, also when he put the spear into the ground, performing spinning kicks like a tornado.
He stopped for now. He had enough practice. The snow was getting colder by the minute. Luckily he was wearing a long sleeve tee-shirt with a jacket to help keep himself warm. He placed his spear on the holster on his back, securing it so it wouldn't fall off again. After so, he started back for his home. He went through the forest, passing each tree, looking up at the top branches for any ambushes. He passed the forest safely so far, until he heard a clling for Deuce. It was a loud call, but sounded familiar. Iskata sounded like she was in pain. Pendzez was able to find the origin of the call. He found himself by a paddock with a wooden fence. He looked around, but he saw only cattle. Nothing more, until he found saw Iskata on a pile of hay, shivering because of the cold. "Iskata!" he yelled out. He ran to her to check to see if she was alright. Once he was there, he found her lying there shivering, curling with... pups? She must have given birth. Well, she looked like she could have them at anytime. Mabye this was why he called out for Deuce. Pendzez couldn't really see Deuce coming, or anywhere else, so mabye he to saty.
He came up beside the shivering female that was with her pups. He removed his jacket and placed it on Iskata to help her warm up. He was the only one here so far, so he had to make sure if everything was alright and to see if he could help in anyway. "Iskata, are you alright? How are they?" he said as he looked from her to the pups. As he looked at them, they had a beautiful, well-patterned pelt.
[/html]
The sudden call shattered the silence. The moon hued femme looked up from her book, startled. It was Iskata, and she sounded like she was hurt. Deuce tossed the book aside, leaping from her chair. She barely remembered to grab her pack as she moved swiftly. The snowy air was biting as she raced to where the call had emanated from. She arrived as Pendzez was asking Iskata questions. A jacket covered the Matriarch, and Deuce looked to Iskata questioningly. She hadn't seen the pups before pendzez had covered them, although the scent of birth was heavy in the crisp air.
"You had the litter? Where are they?" To Pendzez, she spoke quickly. "We need to get her inside, away from the chilly air. Her house isn't far from here. Go to it and get any blankets she may have.
Iskata hadn't thought that anyone else would have appeared in the snowfall besides the Shaman but when she heard her name called out she raised her head and opened her eyes. She was rather surprised to see Pendzez running towards her through the quickly falling flakes. She closed her eyes again as she was littered with questions. The warm jacket was thrown over her before she could even respond but she could feel the heat starting to make the shivers reside slowly as she tried to respond to his questions. "I'm f-ine.. but the puppies.." She was cut off short at the sudden appearance of Deuce. Iskata's eyes flashed for a moment as she realized that she'd have to let Deuce see the young now.. she'd been the one who'd been caught off guard and out in the cold and now she needed help.
Iskata felt the young move closer to her as her heart beat faster. She wasn't even for certain that the larger twin would make it through the night but here she was in a damn snowstorm delaying help for her own children. She knew she was stupid for caring what Deuce thought of the father of the puppies but it didn't matter now, she had to protect them first. "What do you think Deuce?" She asked with slight desperation in her voice. She wouldn't be sitting around in the damn cold if she couldn't help it.
She sighed as her ears folded back against her skull, "I'm sorry.. Yes... they're right here." She said as she pushed the excess hay aside and lifted the jacket a fracture for the Shaman to see the young hidden beside her. Her eyes were on her co-leader as she waited for her response.
[html] http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j40/k ... _Table.png); background-position: top center; background-repeat: no-repeat;">
With the jacket covering them, he couldn't really see them well. With Iskata covering them too, it still made it hard, but mabye Pendzez should at least wait with her until proper help came. He wouldn't really know what to do in this kind of situation. Soft words spoke from the female. She was fine, however when she said something about the pups, Deuce came round. She came up beside Pendzez as she looked down at Iskata, before turning to the white male. He was given an order to go to Iskata's house to get blankets that she may have. Pendzez quickly looked at Iskata, then back to Deuce. "Right. I won't be long." Pendzez lept up and ran as fast as he could to the Matriarch's house.
He got to the door of the house as the snow started to pick up. He burst through the door in such rush, going through cupboards looking for what he was told to get. He checked every cupboard downstairs, in the hallway, to the living room, nothing. He bolted upstairs to have a look. He went into Iskata's room, checked that cupboard. He opened the doors, running his fingers along the shelves to get a feel of blankets as he went along with his eyes. He found the pile, but Deuce didn't really give a specific number of blankets that were needed. At first the white wolf thought of one per pup, then one per two pups, then he thought on how many pups there were. He couldn't really see many there were, but he thinks there was about four or five. Just to be sure, he grabbed five off the stacked pile. He closed the doors and bolted out the room, down the stairs, and out the front door.
He went running on the path back to where Iskata was. He was about halfway there, until he suddenly stopped. He just stood there, not evening thinking about getting the blankets to Iskata. He started to sniff the air for he picked up a scent that was so sweet and familiar. He completely got rid of the thought of the blankets as he realized who the scent was from. He looked around his surroundings, which was to see clearly because of the increasing snow. He looked through the trees and faintly saw a figure of a young female, roughly around three or four months. This wolf looked at Pendzez with it's eyes. Pendzez stared back until the figure disappeared in the blizzard. The white wolf snapped out the stare as he blinked to see if the wolf was still there. Nothing. "Was it really her? he said as he looked down at the blankets. His eyes saw the blankets, then he realized that Iskata needed these. "I'd better get back to Iskata." he said as he continued his course.
He got to the paddock and saw that Iskata and Deuce were still there where he left them. He rushed back to them, coming up beside Deuce as she knelt there beside Iskata checking the pups. He stood also looking at them with their colorful pelts. With the blizzard happening, he could remember when he was born. It was also in a blizzard, out in the open, but with a pack of wolves that were in a pack that was no more. Because of the snow when he was born, and because of his pelt, that gave him the name Pendzez, which meant Child of the Tundra. He smiled at that thought. Soon after, he came back to reality, handing the some blankets to Deuce. "Here. I didn't really know how many to get. You didn't really give a specific number."
[/html]
[html]  I didn't even think of Naniko coming! -headdesk- but I is here now!
It was bad weather, and she knew that she shouldn't have gone out...but it hadn't been enough to keep her home. Naniko enjoyed the winter time--the cold didn't feel that bad and the winds not that strong as she started out from Crimson Dreams. And she was bound and determined that she was going to find Iskata. She had heard that her mother was pregnant--something that she hadn't even known! Naniko had been so busy with the pups and the pack that she'd neglected to visit Phoenix Valley for quite some time. And nothing would keep her out now.
She crossed the lands, heading for the packlands on four legs. Some days it just felt better to be in her four legged form. Caring for the pups was easier on two legs...but today Anu was watching them. So she could go unshifted. Naniko was just reaching the borderlines when she heard it, a loud howl from somewhere inside the territory. She could recognize the voice, Iskata's...but why would she be howling like that? The Commander hesitated for a few moments before crossing the border and going into the territory, heading in the area from which she'd heard the howl. Snow was blowing everywhere--the weather was far worse here--but she didn't care. What was wrong? And where was her mother at?
The large snow-colored female made her way deeper into Phoenix Valley. She had to be here somewhere. She sniffed a little bit, trying to catch a scent. She could see figures up ahead...but were they friend or foe? "Mom? Mom, where are you?"
|
| |
[/html]
Deuce waited for Pendzez to get back as she glanced at the puppies. Hybrids. Deuce tried to get angry, but failed. They might be more damned hybrids, but they were iskata's, and they needed help. Deuce knelt down, usingt her body to help shelter the pups from the biting wind. The snwo was worsening.
It seemed like an eternity before Pendzez returned. Deuce smiled a quick thanks before wrapping iskata in the first blanketr. The second she stuffed into her bag. The bag was roomy, thankfully, and she lifted the first of the pups and gingerly lowered them into the quickly warming bag. She moved the other two, closing the flap just enough to protect the pups from the cold. She looked to Iskata, then took the Matriarch's hand, leading her back to her house, the pups in the bag. The remainder of the blankets were handed back to pendzez.
Iskata was tired, but she watched the woman before her as she examined the puppies. Iskata knew that she was disappointed in her yet it had been her choice and the children would be loved no matter what. She watched closely as Deuce sheltered the puppies from the storm, though she trusted the Shaman they were her whole world for the moment and they were at their weakest. There was nothing to say, those tiny figures propped between them said it all.
Suddenly it seemed that the boy had returned and while the two were trying to make a nice little nest for the puppies she heard the cry of another on the wind. Those ears flicked back as she realized that the voice belonged to Naniko. She was being helped up by Deuce when she turned to Pendzez and asked. "Can you find Nani for me.. she's calling.." Iskata felt stupid asking the poor packmate that was so concerned for her state of being to go away again so quickly. She smiled sadly, "We'll be in the cabin.." She knew that the young male would find Nani, but she was too tired to be trying to figure anything else out at the moment but where she was going and that the puppies were ok.
It took too long in her mind for them to get to the cabin but the warmth that blasted from the fireplace was welcoming as Deuce helped her onto the nestbed she'd created with the warmest of blankets and furs. She smiled up at Deuce as she said quietly. "I'm sorry.." Her eyes cast towards the flames of the fire.
[html] http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j40/k ... _Table.png); background-position: top center; background-repeat: no-repeat;">
Pendzez looked at the pups as he rememebered himself when he was a pup. The comfort of his mother, the teachings of his father, and the love of his sister. The images flashed through one by one in his head like lights flickering themselve on. The images, however, were to shatter as the thought of Flayra, his sister, came to mind. When he was bringing the blankets, he saw someone in the blizzard. When this wolf looked at Pendzez, Pendzez knew the wolf. Around that time, he could smell those berries. When the thought that it was Flayra in the distance, Pendzez was trying to think of who else it could have been because though he still isn't sure that his sister was dead or not, he thought not to get too excited because he could mistake that wolf for Flayra when it could have been someone else.
Pendzez shook it out of his mind as Iskata said that one of her daughters were calling and asked him to g get her. He was told where Iskata would be, and he was off. He ran along the path, passing the spot where he saw the wolf in the blizzard. He couldn't smell anything anymore. Mabye it was her, or mabye it wasn't. He couldn't let the thought interfere with his job.
He soon got to where Naniko was. The stopped near and asked swiftly, "Are you Iskata's daughter that was calling out before?" Pendzez examined her from head to toe. She had a white pelt so it wasn't her that he saw in the blizzard. By memory, Flayra had a more greyish pelt, sort of light gray. He was said to in the past from other pups that him and Flayra weren't really brother and sister because of the pelt differences. Pendzez however got the better of them. "If you are, I show you where she is."
[/html]
[html]
She was interested to see what all the commotion was about, and why she'd heard that howl. When someone came out of the snow toward her she bristled, unsure of the wolf or his intent, but he reassured her quickly. He had been sent by Iskata. Naniko nodded quickly, though she wasn't sure if her action would be seen, and looked toward the area from which he had come. She couldn't see anything but swirling snow; was her mother really out there?
"Yeah, I'm Naniko D'angelo from Crimson Dreams--I was coming over to see her when I heard the howling. I figured that she was in trouble...but I'm having issues with finding her""
|
| |
[/html]
|
