WC: 344

For the first time in what seemed like forever, Kiara and her puppies were all able to sit down and rest. Both Kohaku and Lucia slept together in a heap, the rag doll crushed beneath them both and safe next to the warm belly of their sleeping mother. It had been a while since the underground den was quiet, and Kiara enjoyed every minute of it. Recently, she had been plagued with nightmares. All of her friends had disappeared in a puff of smoke, her puppies corpse's strewn across the den, while the incidents with Amy and Rojo played almost without end in her mind. But at that moment, her sleep remained undisturbed by horrid thoughts and the young family slept without a care in the world.

A familiar cry drifted over the lands and sapphire orbs were revealed by cracked lids. A white ear twitched atop her head as her sleepy mind dissected the howl. Kiara's tail wagged a little as she recognized Tharin's voice. Slowly she picked herself up and the cries of her children filled the den as they stirred awake. Two pairs of bright blue eyes stared up at her as she moved towards the tunnel entrance. Immediately, the two tried to follow after their mother, stumbling after her on small legs. Kiara paused, she couldn't leave them. Not when they were trying to follow her out into the unsafe world. Frantically, the young mother looked around. Her tired eyes fell onto her precious blue scarf. It's silky lengths formed a small ball in the corner of her den. A wicked smile crossed her face as she quickly retrieved the scarf and dropped it on top of the puppies. It would be several minutes before they managed to untangle themselves, just enough time for Kiara to go fetch her friend.

The arctic female raced to the boarder, her well toned body pushed to the edges of it's speed and endurance. It wasn't long before the silver male's larger form appeared in the distance, and soon Kiara was by his side instinctively submitting to the more dominant wolf. She dropped to the ground and licked his muzzle as her tail wagged quickly and low. Soft whines sounded from her as she nuzzled him in greeting. Kiara knew they weren't pack, but she believed that they still held a close bond. Neither was infected with the luperci virus, and the common state had formed an automatic kindship in her mind. He wasn't Ichikan, but he was like her and that made him almost as close as family.

When their greetings were done, Kiara stepped back and looked towards her den. Tharin! C'mon, we should head back to my den. If we aren't quick I'm afraid...well, lets just say they are at a difficult age.

Table by: Cait

WC: 569

It had been a long time since Kiara had experience the natural order of dominance. For one reason or another, most of the luperci in Ichika seemed to forgo to the strict rules of dominance that Kiara instinctively adhered to. However, around Tharin, things seemed to fall into place. He was naturally dominant, she was naturally submissive, it worked. She would follow his lead, although she often had to remind herself that they weren't pack. Speaking of pack, Kiara paused as he picked up the dead fawn to take a good sniff of his coat. The scent of pack lightly coated his own scent, and the heavy musk of a loner had all but disappeared. Kiara's wagging tail slowed as she recognized the distinct smell of New Dawn. She had met several of the New Dawn members, including that male who had formerly been her pack brother. The pack scent made her heart sting as she was forced to truly recognize he was not pack.

At his direction, they moved quickly towards Kiara's den in the heart of Wentworth Valley. Tharin's present had not gone unnoticed by the female, but it was less important then her puppies. Once again, the larger male stopped at a respectful distance from the mouth of the earthen den and Kiara took a moment to check on her children. Kohaku was still trapped within the silky confines of her scarf, his small growls turned into whines as his blue eyes begged for her to help him. Lucia, who had managed to escape, was on her way out of the den with the rag doll hanging from her mouth. The young mother grabbed Lucia and dragged her back into the den before she turned to Kohaku and diligently freed him. She licked each one on the head before departing to the outside world.

The arctic wolf climbed out and moved towards the prize that Tharin had kindly brought. Sorry about that, their eyes are open and both are trying very hard to explore in places that they shouldn't. Is this for me? This was what she needed, a male to help her hunt. She needed to start feeding the puppies meat to help them grow, but getting her hands on food was difficult when she couldn't even leave them alone for more than a few minutes. Sapphire eyes studied the male before her as the wheels in her head turned. He would make a great mate...if only he had arrived two months earlier.

A tiny yip sounded through the forest and Kiara wheeled around to find that not only were both puppies out of the den, but Lucia had pushed her brother over again. Kohaku stumbled a lot as he tried to move away. Lucia allowed his retreat and decided to focus on the grass beneath her paws. The white female immediately went into paranoia mode and rushed to return her children back into the den. She quickly scooped up Kohaku into her gentle jaws, his complains loud and persistent. Once she had deposited him into the den the worried mother turned around to grab Lucia. As she turned to leave she saw her son push Lucia over in what Kiara could only describe as an act of revenge. You two be good and stay here. Exhausted she departed the den and sat at its mouth to make a living barricade. They weren't escaping again.

Table by: Cait

WC: 295

There weren't enough words in the world to express the gratitude she felt towards Tharin. He wasn't even a member of her pack, yet he cared for her and brought her food when she needed it most. He checked on her, cared for her, helped her hunt. He was a great friend, and whoever won his heart would be lucky to have him. Kiara smiled but her heart ached. The mention of her packs...situation, didn't make her feel better either. The diminished size of the pack had been weighing on her mind for a while. Her friends had left and the recent events with Salsola only made her even more nervous. If the Salsolan's found out about her and her children, their future would be jeopardized. Kiara ran up to Tharin and rubbed her head under his chin. Thank you!

Kiara had foolishly believed that being a mother wouldn't be much harder than being a puppy sitter. Yet, her children had proved her wrong during their first two weeks of life. When they were infants, it wasn't so bad. They were awake for only a few hours a day, and although they could get loud, it wasn't hard watching after them. But once their eyes had opened everything had changed. How could she survive the next few weeks as a single mother? The task seemed impossible. White ears flicked forward and sapphire eyes watched carefully as Tharin moved closer to the den. However, he stopped at a comfortable distance so his advance wasn't met with any challenge from the new mother. Kiara chuckled as he voiced exactly what she was thinking. Big handful. They do have names, their naming ceremony was several days ago. The mostly white female is Lucia, and her brother is Kohaku.

Table by: Cait

WC: 364

The young mother swelled with pride and puffed out her chest as Tharin nodded in approval of the names she had chosen. They were good names for her wonderful children. His comment only made Kiara feel even better. She, alone, had raised such amazing and beautiful children. Although one had died, she had managed to keep the other two safe and happy. Even if they were driving her nuts, she was still extraordinarily proud of her puppies and couldn't be happier. Her smile radiated and her tail thumped happily inside the den. Thank you, that means a lot to me.

The lack of yips, barks, or really any sound at all made Kiara's ears twitch nervously as she contorted her body to peer into the den. Without a word or glance back the worried mother quickly moved into the underground home to check on her quiet litter. The sight she was greeted with made her heart flutter as two sets of sleepy eyes stared back at her. Kohaku let out a missive yawn as Lucia's head began to droop to the side. It was nap time for the puppies, and Kiara was not about to disturb them. She moved carefully out of the den, backing up with practiced movements. Once outside, she turned around and strode over to the silver male with a wagging tail and cheerful smile.

The white feme went right up to Tharin, and without warning she launched her forepaws into the air. With the puppies falling asleep it was time for what she did best, play fighting. A friendly growl emanated from her throat as her paws landed heavily on the dirt. She dipped into a play bow and let her tail wag freely in the air. A huge smile was spread across her face, showing off a rather frightening set of teeth. Her pink tongue flopped over to one side and hung uselessly in the air. Whines and growls sprung from her lips as she danced before Tharin. Again, without warning, the arctic wolf charged forward. She leapt into the air and aimed her powerful jaws for the scruff of Tharin's neck, where the skin and fur were thickest.

Table by: Cait

WC: 253

In hind sight, challenging the much larger, much heavier Tharin to a wrestling match might not have been the best idea. Kiara was used to other wolves being bigger than her, but she wasn't used to them weighing more then her. As an arctic wolf, Kiara was gifted with all the strength and endurance her species allowed, yet Tharin managed to easily outclass the smaller wolf. In a contest of size and strength the mackenzie valley wolf was the clear winner in their friendly competition.

The two wolves squared off, the age old dance of play fighting played out between the competitors. Kiara was the first to make a move and she charged in on her opponent. Tharin easily dogged her attack and his gaping jaws clamped down on her and dragged her to the floor. It wasn't until their bodies connected that the arctic wolf realized just how big her opponent was. Kiara whined as her tail wagging in full force and an evil smile erupted over her face. She twisted and turned her body, contorting it into all different positions as she struggled to break free of the behemoths grasp.

Her back paws sprung up as she tried to push against Tharin's chest. All the while, playful growls eminated from her open jaws. Eventually Kiara managed to break free of Tharin's grip as she rocketed towards the other side of her den. She whipped around to face Tharin and again tried to charge him. This time, her aim was his ears.

Table by: Cait

WC: 261

Despite the vast differences in their sizes, Kiara had proven herself to be a handful. Tharin's jaws were clamped down on the scruff of her neck, his massive head shook a little and tossed the snowy female around slightly. She struggled to regain her balance, her nimble feet danced alongside her pinned body before she whined and began to twist about. A growl erupted from Tharin's mouth as she struggled to break free. The pressure around Kiara's neck tightened as the silver male tried to keep his grip on her and his head raised up. Even so, Tharin's attempts were wasted as Kaira broke free from his grasp.

Facing her friendly adversary, she smiled as he dipped into a play bow and whined at her. His challenge was met as Kiara dashed forward and managed to grab onto his ear. A yelp came from Tharin as she tugged lightly on the delicate appendage. The young mother had to work hard to keep her grip on the much larger wolf. She danced on her hind legs as her forepaws were wrapped around his neck. Her fluffy tail wagged cheerfully behind her as she danced with Tharin. He tried to break free, and managed to do so on his second try. The soft flesh slid easily from Kiara's mouth as she focused her efforts on just staying on top of him. Kiara growled playfully, but was eventually forced to back off again. It was her turn to dip into a playful bow, her tail high and her tongue hanging out of panting jaws.

Table by: Cait

WC: 257

It had been a long time since Kiara had let herself go and just enjoy a friendly wrestling match. How she had missed the playful atmosphere, the sheer joy that came from playful antics with another. Ichika was great, but Kiara had lost most of her friends and a mate in the past several months. The added burden of raising her puppies left little room for her to be her usual, puppy-like self. In the past month or two, she had been forced to grow up quickly, and playtime was all but forgotten.

As the arctic wolf ducked into her play bow, Tharin rose his tail in challenge. When he realized that Kiara had backed of momentarily from their dance, he charged her. Muscles tensed under white fur as she readied herself to dodge out of the way. But Tharin was quicker than she had expected, and Kiara began to move to late. The silver male's massive body collided with her smaller frame and a yelp escaped the mother's jaws as they toppled to the ground. Kiara squirmed under his weight, her whines and playful growls resonated through the forest.

Her struggle was in vain as she twisted and moved underneath Tharin. Occasionally she would bring her mouth up to gently nip at his muzzle, her tail dragged through the dirt as she wagged it profusely. After a little bit, Kiara paused to take a breather, her sides heaved as she panted heavily. A wide smile spread across her face, while her tongue flapped down her jaws.

Table by: Cait

WC: 301

Kiara squirmed in every direction, but her smaller body made getting out of Tharin's grasp next to impossible. He held her down, trying his best to keep her in place and still. Large smiles stretched across their faces and the atmosphere between the two had become light as a feather. Despite the fact that both wolves were full-grown adults and were older than two years of age, they still played like puppies. His tongue flashed her neck, and his teeth gently nipped at her ears. Kiara let out playful growls and whines as she struggled, her own jaw moving to return his playful touches in kind. She too nipped gently at his muzzle, or tugged on his fur. Her tail thumped against the ground as she struggled, until she finally stopped to rest.

Tharin was quick to pick up on the change in situation, and with a quick muzzle he freed the snowy female. Kiara turned her head to watch as Tharin rolled in the mud and grass. Her legs toppled to the side as she relaxed. Her den was going to smell like Tharin for the next few days, yet the knowledge didn't really bother her. His powerful scent would help ward off predators and would keep her puppies safe. Kiara closed her eyes for a minute, simply content with the world. If only this moment could last forever. Soon they would have to part, Tharin would have to return to his pack and Kiara would be left with her puppies. Slowly, sapphire orbs were revealed and she stared intensely at the silver male. The arctic wolf stood and strode over to Tharin's side, her head pushed gently into his shoulder. He was a great friend and helped her so much with the puppies. She didn't want him to go.

Table by: Cait

WC: 260

Despite her puppies and the pack, Kiara still felt very alone. Ichika had grown so small, and the white wolf didn't often get visitors. On top of that, she had no mate to help her take care of her puppies, whom she loved dearly. The young mother missed being with adult wolves, she missed their companionship and conversations. Playing with Tharin was a complete relief, yet the knowledge that he would always have to leave her was a constant weight on her mind. Tharin, unlike Alonso, was there for her but wasn't part of her pack. That no good mexican had abandoned her and had provided her with a weak puppy. Kiara knew that wasn't true, but it was easier to blame him for Anna's death.

A soft tongue caressed her forehead that brought a smile whine from the white mother. The silver male's words rang in her mind and her tail hung listlessly behind her. I have to escort you...just give me a minute to check on them. Her voice didn't shake, but it still betrayed her sadness and longing. Slowly, Kiara turned and crept towards the den. She entered the mouth and moved her way through the narrow tunnel towards the main body of the den. There, Lucia and Kohaku slept peacefully in a small pile. Beneath them was the rag doll, Lucia's mouth was wrapped around its head as if she had fallen asleep while chewing it.

The young mother backed out of her den slowly so as not to wake her sleeping children. Ready to go?

Table by: Cait

WC: 295

Kiara exited her den to find a worried Tharin staring at her. She smiled, trying her best to reassure him. The arctic wolf wasn't being herself, and she knew it. Kiara was supposed to be a happy-go-lucky wolf, there was no reason for her to be so down in the dumps. Tharin's playful bump helped raise her spirits and a huge grin spread across her face. They could have one last game that day. Kiara bounced toward him, her tail wagging low and quickly. His comment made her blue eyes roll, As if I needed to be reminded. Kohaku is horrid, he keeps trying to leave. Lucia isn't much better. I blame their father for their rambunctious behavior. Kiara gave a quick nod, as if the spanish male was the root to all her problems. That is what she would do from now on, she would blame Alonso for her troubles. If anything, she would at least be partially right.

The silver giant gave her a quick wink and set off towards the boarder in a steady trot. Kiara smiled wickedly as she scooted behind him. Because he was so much larger than her, she had to three steps for every one he took. Kiara was almost running in order to keep up with him. Even so, the arctic wolf wasn't deterred and she skillfully moved behind him. Kiara watched his tail move and at the right moment she lunged after it, her jaws aiming to grab onto the fur of his tail. If she missed, she would keep trying till he either noticed her antics, or she managed to grab it. Either way, a new game had started.

Table by: Cait