Finding Kenyan [Lexi]

[taelia]

Juive heard the pain in the words of the mother and daughter as they spoke. She wished that she could do that. She watched the pups and looked around, giving them privacy before they spoke to her. She heard the question and she felt like part of her died inside. I have no family. My mother and father were killed, my sister and my mate died in battle, and my only pup died from illness. I could not save her from what racked her body.

Juive let the words fade into silence as she thought of her family. Her mother had been jet black, her father a light light brown. Her sister had been the same colour as her father. Her mate, oh her mate, he had been gorgeous, a dark brown with black mixed in amongst his coat. Her only pup had been black with brown paws and a white spot upon her chest. She felt like crying but she wouldn't. Crying would help no one.

[mystic.]

Candice's smile faded, as did mine, and a look of pain stole her features. Mom cared about others; whether she really knew them or not. That's just how she was. And I admired her for that. There was no doubt she already liked Juive, especially since she had possibly saved her grandchildren, and myself, her only surviving pup. She must have been thinking the same thing. "I can sort of empathize, in a small way at least. When I was young, I was force-bred and became pregnant...but the father killed all of the pups...except Delilah," she smiled at me. "My only family is the one I've made since I met Quigley, and Kenyan's family. You have hope." She smiled sympathetically and I hoped this might make my new friend feel a little better.

I felt the need to go to her and comfort her, but then I had only just met her and I wasn't quite sure if Juive even considered me a friend yet. After all, you didn't have to like someone to want their pups to survive. Just meant you were decent. Nevertheless, I was considering Juive a friend. Once again, Kenyan crossed my mind as I remembered the days when we were only pups, crushing on each other. I smiled with the memory, but it faded as I contemplated raising his pups without him. No. He's alive. I know it... If no one else believed it, at least I still did.

[taelia]

The words of the she wolf struck her ears and sorrow struck her heart. She looked at her and thought of what to say. I am sorry for what you have suffered. It is okay though. Before my mate died we mated once more. I have pups within me. I will have them soon, I am just hoping to find a pack before they are born. She looked at the small pups and smiled. They were so cute, so adorable. She couldn't wait for hers. Delilah's were beautiful. Juive looked back at the wolves and smiled.

I shall always have hope. She stood up and stretched, looking each way for a wolf. Maybe her mate wasn't dead. Maybe he had escaped and was healing slowly. She wanted for him to be there. She knew that Delilah wanted Kenyan to be there too and her mother wanted her mate there. Things seemed to be going downhill for these three females. No mates, no pack, and pups. How would they survive.

It was then that she had an idea. She looked at the land and back to the she wolves. If we are to survive then we must make a pack. We can survive as a pack of females and pups. Males shall come later or one of your sons can rule when he is older. Everything will be good. Our mates will return, our pups will live, and we will survive. Her voice rang clear and strong. She had once been in power, she knew how to run a pack and she was sure the females were as well. Juive could do the hunting, she had powers, these females didn't look like they did.

We can recruit new members as we go. I can hunt for the pack until I have pups and even then I can hunt as long as they are protected. How does it sound Delilah and umm, Delilah's mother? Shall we make a pack and claim a land as our own? Juive was excited, her copper eyes filled with joy at the thought.

[mystic.]

OOC: Technically only males can claim the land, but they could stay there until one does.


Both myself and my mother listened to Juive's story. I was happy for her, that she still had a piece of her mate. To think, we would both be mothers! I was overjoyed at this notion. My ears twitched, and I smiled widely. "Hope is nice," I said, thinking of the hope I was still holding for Kenyan. Candice smiled sweetly. The evidence of her aging was becoming more and more apparent with the years. She still had a good life ahead of her, but she was close to becoming considered an elder. I tried to imagine my mom ever slowing down and taking being called 'elderly'. No, she'd live life to the fullest.

Juive started talking about packs. This had been an issue in the back of my mind since I had left our former land. I had hoped that coming onto this land that it had not been claimed, and it seemed I was correct in thinking it was open for now. But there wasn't a doubt in my mind that there would eventually be a male coming here in hopes of claiming it. And we were at risk of being claimed as well, should they decide we would be good for their pack. But then, Candice...well she would be overlooked because of her age. Typically, a wolf of six years had already settled down. And she had...there just wasn't any proof until Quig showed up.

Juive continued her pep talk, but I was wary. "I agree that we should stick together. But I am worried...that if a male comes across here, he might claim our land. We would be powerless to a strong alpha. Especially me, and my pups..." I couldn't think about their safety being in jeopardy. Candice shook her head. "Just call me Candice," she insisted. "And...if I may speak up, I think I disagree with Delilah...." I looked at her in shock. "Sure, a male could come here and claim this land...but who's to say they wouldn't allow us to stay? And I think that Juive and I are capable of protecting you," she explained. I shook my head. I wanted to bring up that she was getting older, but then typical Candice would simply shake her head and go on about how she'd always protected me. Again. It was her way.

If only Kenyan or Quigley were here... I thought, wishing they could be here to claim this land.

[taelia]

OCC: Shucks, I forgot that.

The opinions of the she wolves mattered to Juive so she nodded and listened carefully. They were both right. Yet, as she looked at Delilah she knew that would be her soon. She simply couldn't have pups and fight and Alpha. We should pray that Kenyan or Quigley shows up here soon. We can defend ourselves but for only so long. Besides, having an Alpha male to watch over us could prove useful. A silence fell over the land as a sharp pain ran up Juive's side. She winced slightly but ignored the pain. She couldn't have pups yet, that would prove to be even more useless right now.

Juive felt the pain again and knew she couldn't stop them. Excuse me Delilah and Candice. I will be back shortly. Juive set off at a lope as she went into the trees. She walked a few minutes before lieing down in the underbrush. Pain racketed her body and she felt like crying out in pain but she wanted to be alone, to have the pups on her own. She lie there and felt pain overcome her as she felt the urge to push. Why did you die Lanir? She wanted her mate to be there but she knew he wouldn't come anytime soon. She felt pain ripple through her and she pushed, her great body heaving as she took a breath. She pushed once more and felt the pain leave. She quickly licked her pup, cleaning it throughly. Juive licked it all over, cleaning every little inch of it before it began to nurse. She felt no more pain or pups and looked at the pup at her feet. One pup again. That was the only size litter Juive ever seemed to have. A smile appeared on Juive's muzzle as she realized it was a male pup. He was a light brown with 4 white paws. Upon his chest is a small white spot and his ears are tipped black. His adorable eyes opened, revealing green orbs. Juive let out a victory howl, he was perfect.

Hours seemed to pass before Juive felt strong enough to walk. She stood up and picked up the fragile pup in her mouth. She loped back to Delilah and Candice. Juive sat down a few feet from the wolves and put the pup down carefully. He squirmed slightly and Juive nudged and licked him gently. The pup yawned and curled up to sleep in the sun. She looked at the she wolves and smiled. My pup was born. I had only one. A male. His name will be Zephyrus or Zeph. She looked at her pup squirm again and she wrapped her tail around him. May I put him with your pups? I do not want him getting cold. Juive asked Delilah hopefully. She did not want to force it upon her.

[mystic.]

Candice and I silently agreed with her, nodding as she spoke of our mates. A moment passed, and Juive told us she would be back shortly. I was curious, but I didn't ask. Mom seemed to be thinking too hard to notice anything. She laid down near my and my pups and watched them. "They're beautiful, Delilah," she said again. I smiled and looked down at them.The pups nursed for a little while and I felt a little overwhelmed. I was alone with these pups. But looking at my mom, I knew that she and Juive were going to be there for me. As I would be there for Juive when she gave birth. Candice stretched and laid her head on her paws, just watching the pups squirm around. I wanted to name them. But Kenyan wasn't here, and I wanted him to see them and help name them. It was comforting that at least Dynasty, the pretty little gray one had a name. She seemed to be the feistiest one so far. But only time would tell, I guessed.

When Juive had been gone for a while, I started to worry. Maybe she's hunting... I thought to myself. Candice had fallen asleep, and so had the pups. I stood up and let them curl up together, close enough to Candice. I almost went looking for her, but I heard a howl. At first, I felt more worried, but then something told me it was a happy howl. Then I heard something coming closer and I saw her wandering across the valley, coming towards us, with something in her mouth. "I guess she was hunting," I said aloud. Mom stirred, blinking tiredly and looked up at me. "Hm?" she asked. "Juive, she..." I stopped, because as she came closer, I smelled another wolf. A pup. I checked on my own and then noticed Juive was carrying one.

My pup was born. I had only one. A male. she said, upon reaching us. She started licking the tiny pup and caring for it. She said she would name him Zephyrus. I nodded with a smile. "It suits him," I told her. He was adorable, with tiny white paws and light brown fur. Juive asked if she could place him with mine. Candice stood and stretched again and then came to admire the new pup. It explained why I hadn't realized Juive was pregnant at first. With only one pup, her stomach hadn't grown much. "Sure, I agree. He can sleep with them." I walked back over and laid near the pups in case they woke up again.

[taelia]

Juive smiled and thanked Delilah before picking Zeph up carefully. She put him near the other pups and he curled up against the others. She looked at Delilah and Candice. I shall hunt for us. I don't feel too tired so I can go. She looked around the land quickly, trying to find a place to hunt. She wanted to find some prey for them. She knew she couldn't take a deer down alone so she would stick to rabbits. She scented the air quietly and knew where to go. I will hopefully bring back enough for all of us. Juive then set off to hunt. She loped gently, extending her stride as she went.

[Switching to first person for the hunt] My eyes observed as my legs struck the ground silently. My mind raced as I picked up the scent of a rabbit. It seemed to be close so I knew it wouldn't be hard to find. Thoughts began to clear as my copper eyes found what I wanted. Sitting there, munching happily, was a brown rabbit. I wanted it, I needed it. I could feel it within my mouth already. As I crouched down low to move forward I smelt something else. The scent of a fawn overwhelmed me. My eyes looked around as I noticed the soft brown amongst the grass. A fawn was a better meal than a rabbit. I walked forward and noticed that more rabbits appeared as I got closer to the fawn. My mind paused and I thought about the greater meal. A fawn or a rabbit each. I turned my eyes from the fawn and focused my mind. Small rocks showed around the rabbits. They looked confused at the rocks and I smirked. I focused on three and quickly killed one. It squealed before dying, alerting the others. The other rabbits looked at me and I quickly grabbed another. The last ones tried to flee but the rocks prevented them. I grabbed a third and smiled. My wall of rocks fell and my mouth watered at the prospect of rabbit meat.

[back to second]
Juive carefully walked, trying to hold all the rabbits in her mouth. She had two by the necks and one by its ears. She finally got to the pack, her pack, and put the meal down. I hope a rabbit each is good enough. Juive let the she wolves pick first rabbits before she chose hers. Before she ate she picked up her pup carefully. Zeph squirmed gently in her mouth. She put him down and lie down to let him nurse. He nursed happily. Juive smiled. Her pup was adorable, he had the same colour eyes as Lanir. Zeph stopped nursing and yawned. She picked him up and placed him pack with the other pups before beginning to eat.

[Lexi]

As the three females enjoyed thier meals, keeping a close eye on the litter of pups and strong smell evident of a male wolf could be found on the light breeze. It would have smelled familiar to Candice and Delilah but it was different in a way too. A while after a wolf could smell the scent, a dark spot could be seen on the horizon. The male was quiet and moving slowly, one could tell just by looking out at him from a distance he was no threat. He was strong but older and not at all willing to put up a fight. Quigs lowered his head as he knew right where he was heading, straight for Candice. He was limping slightly, his fur scorched in places where the blaze had caught him, but he was silent, not annoucing his entrance to the land.

And then another male could be seen. A strong smell of an alpha male in his prime years. The white male lifted his muzzle to the sky and let out a long welcoming howl with his lips curled in a smile. "Delilah!" he called, not able to smell the strange female in the air, not able to smell his own pups yet. He was hopping towards his beloved mate, following behind her step-father Quigley on three legs. The fire had practically burned the pads off his right front paw and he found it much too painfull to walk on. His normally clean creamy fur was burnt black along his back and places on his sides and legs had the fur completely singed off. He looked in horrible shape overall but he'd kept searching and following his mate's scent all this time.

It had taken so much longer than he'd wanted it too but with Quigs help they had both finally arrived and Kenyan was so relived to be here with his girl again, he attemped to pick up the pace and gallop a few paces towards the girls only to find a new strange female which made him curl his lips and snarl in protection, Quigley caught the warning and also letting out a low growl as he came running to Candice, staring the female down, though distracted by the scent of brand new puppies and squirming figures in the long grass. He was no fighter any more, though still strong in his older age, he wasn't in shape and was weaker than normal after this journey, on the skinnier side and easily distracted.

[taelia]

Juive saw the two figures in the distance and knew that they could be trouble. She went and picked up Zeph and moved him. Her tail wrapped around him to keep him warm as the figures got closer. It was then that Juive noted they were male. Injuries and burns seemed to cover them and she wondered if she could help but she paused. They were Delilah and Candice's mates. They had to be. Juive picked up Zeph and moved a distance from the wolves to give them privacy. She licked Zeph quietly and he snuggled against her making her smile.

She heard the growls from the males and she felt like moving farther away. The longer she sat near them the more risk she had. But surely Delilah would tell them how Juive had helped. Surely they would accept her and her pup...if they didn't then she didn't know what to do. Delilah, Candice, and the pups had been the closest thing to a pack that Juive had been with in ages. If she didn't get accepted into the pack they would create then she would have to wander about with her pup. A whimper escaped Zeph and Juive lie down so he could nurse. Her eyes watched somewhaat as she saw the wolves reunite. She wished Lanir hadn't died. He was so strong and powerful. He could have easily helped with the whole situation but he wasn't here. She swore she had seen him die but maybe she was wrong. Maybe he was just recovering. She shook the thoughts from her head and watched Zeph.

Juive stood up and wrapped her tail around Zeph to keep him warm. She looked at the wolves and wondered if Delilah would say she was friendly so she could move back. She watched the wolves out of the corner of her eye as she played with her powers. She moved pebbles and spelt out her name and Zephyrus' name. She looked at the males, their lips still curled, and she raised some pebbles around her and her pup. She was not going to let any harm get near them.

[mystic.]

Candice had at first been too distracted by her grandchildren to notice the new scent on the horizon. But suddenly, a breeze caught her attention, and carried with it, the scent of not one, but two males. Her first reaction was to guard her daughter and grandchildren. But the scent was almost strangely familiar. Then, a sound. Candice watched as her daughter stood, staring out at the horizon. She followed her daughters gaze and nearly lost her breath. She gasped, staring at the two figures, white and black like yin and yang, limping toward them. Though nearing old age, Candice felt the need to run to them. But she held back, in shock, watching the two male wolves approach their small pack.

Delilah stared in disbelief as Quigley and Kenyan limped toward herself and Candice. Quigley was headed right for her mom, and she smiled, ecstatic to see her mom's mate so bent on reaching her. But her gaze couldn't stay off of Kenyan for very long. With one final glance at Juive, she smiled and turned to Kenyan, about to take off running. But as the two males got closer, she heard them growling. She ran to Kenyan, licking his face. "It's okay, she's a friend." she whispered quickly. She didn't want this moment spoiled by Kenyan's over-protection, though it touched her that he felt the need to protect her from Juive. "Kenyan, I've missed you so much...I thought....I hoped it wasn't true, that the fire hadn't gotten you...Kenyan..." she nuzzled her face in his fur, breathing in his familiar scent. Oh, how she had missed her beloved mate.

Candice finally felt able to move. And she approached Quigley with a sweet smile, immediately embracing him, laying her head on his back. "Quig..." she whispered. She had thought he was gone for sure, even though she had not admitted that fact. Suddenly, she was overtaken with tears. She sobbed quietly, though they were tears of joy. "I'm so glad you are alive," she said. She had almost said 'okay' rather than alive, but it was clear that her mate was not exactly okay. The burns in his fur, his limp...she wanted to help. She wanted him to feel better, his normal self again.

Delilah gasped suddenly and stepped back, looking at Kenyan with a sparkle in her eye. "You need to meet a few someones..." she said with a smile. "Follow me," she said, and turned, leading him to her newborn pups. Kenyan's pups. She looked at Juive, giving her a look that said she could come meet her mate. A look that said she would be okay. She believed that if Kenyan heard her story, he would accept Juive and her new pup, Zephyr.

[taelia]

Juive let the pebbles fall as Delilah looked at her. She seemed to say it was ok to get closer but Juive was unsure. She heard Zeph give a small whimper and she pulled him closer with her tail. He squirmed against her tail and settled, his light coat standing out boldly against her darker coat. She looked at the two males, sympathy in her eyes. She knew they were probably starving and they looked thin. It would take a while for their burns to heal but Juive knew she could probably get a meal. For today though she was just too tired. She had hunted and been using her powers, something that made her abit tired. Her eyes wandered away from the couples so they could reunite and let tears fall.

A few moments later Juive walked over to Delilah, Kenyan, and the pups. She set Zeph down and he instantly curled up with the others, squirming as quickly as possible. She hoped Kenyan wouldn't mind her pup staying with his. She had no mate so she couldn't let the pup curl up with her mate, the other pups were the only ones. She looked away from Kenyan, letting him know he was superior to her. I am sorry I placed my pup with yours. It is his only chance of survivial. She hoped Kenyan would accept her like his mate had accepted her.

[Lexi]

Quigley's attention was immeadiatly taken away from the strange female and the puppies and directed right to Cadice. His heart nearly melted when she buried her head against him and he could feel her tears soaking his black fur. "Hey, it's ok." he voiced, gently licking the tears from her face. "I'll be just fine, I'm just sorry it took so long to get to you." His smile was bright and genuine as he stared into the white wolves eyes. He and Kenyan had done their best to make time following the mother-daughter pair's traili but their injuries had made the going slow and painful. He was just so glad to be back with the one that he loved, with family. Lowering his gaze back to the pups, he realized his family had grown, that Candice was now a grandmother and it hit him hard just how old they had gotten. How long it had been since they first met in that not so friendly situation. He put that thought away and thought of happier times as he looked at the little family in front of them, wondering why he and Candice hadn't had a litter of their own in all these years. It made him sad he hadn't shared that with her, hadn't given his love to her in that way.

Kenyan only barely heard Delilah say that he female was friendly. He didn't like having a stranger so close by but he wasn't sure why. He just chalked it to that fact that he and Delilah had been alone for so long, he just wasn't comfortable around strangers anymore. With a smile though, he liked his mate's muzzle, resting his sore paw on her soft back and nipped at her ear happily. "I thought I couldn't get here fast enough." he voiced with a smile, diverting his attention when she said he needed to meet a few people. He followed her curiously and stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the four tiny pups curled together on the ground. He wanted to cry and felt the tears threaten to fall. "I missed it." he whispered, lowering his head to the ground as he breathed in that new puppy scent. Takeing a few careful steps forward, he stopped and sat down next to the puppies to investigate them. "They're beautiful." he said looking up at Delilah. "And healthy too." Laying his sore and tired body down next to the pups, he nudged one of the brown ones with his nose, delighted at the little squeak he got in return. "Do they have names?" he asked curiously, licking the little white male ever so carefully with his tounge. "Hey little one, I'm your daddy." he voiced, raising his lip to show his sharp teeth when the strange female laied her puppy down with his offspring. He didn't appreaciate that at all. Didn't want his litter disturbed by this strange lone puppy. All he could do was narrow his eyes and stare at her when she spoke. 'It's his only change of survival.' No, she could be a mom and care for her puppy herself instead of pushing it on his mate.

[mystic.]

Candice knew she never wanted Quigley out of her sights again. She wondered if her felt the same way. She looked at Delilah, who was showing Kenyan his new pups. The sight warmed her heart, and she was glad that Kenyan could be there to meet his new children. Glad, also, to be there herself. To see her daughter's pups. She wished she had more of her own, sometimes, but she was glad to see that her only pup was happy. And the rest if her family was safe. She wandered over to everyone else, continuously glancing at Quig. Maybe she was paranoid, but she didn't want to lose sight of her true love, even for a moment. Even if they were safe here.

Delilah smiled as her mom approached them. When she turned back to Kenyan, she noticed he was looking at the pups. He said they were beautiful, and asked if they had names. "Only one. The little gray one, her name is Dynasty." I looked at the little gray female. "I wanted to wait for you, so you could help me name them," she said, nuzzling him. He looked at one of the little brown ones and spoke to it. She smiled, listening. But when he started baring his teeth at Juive, she felt worried. Did he not like her new friend? Delilah stared at the ground. Uh-oh... she thought. She heard Juive mention that it was necessary to Zephyr's survival. "I don't mind. I want him to be warm, and it won't hurt the pups." Unless Zeph was sick, but he looked plenty healthy to her. "It's alright," she whispered to Kenyan.

[taelia]

It took one look from Delilah's mate to make Juive move. She backed up and Zeph seemed to understand to move too. Juive put pebbles around her and Zeph again and moved away. I will leave you all alone. She picked up Zeph and moved, the pebbles still surrounding her. She walked into the forest and let the pebbles fall as she put her pup down. Delilah's mate seemed to be mad at Juive so she would avoid him. She lie dow at the forest entrance and let Zeph nurse. She licked him quietly. Zeph stood up wobbly and cuddled up against his mother. Juive licked him and smiled as he whimpered lightly.

She didn't look back at the family as she lie there. She would need to hunt soon and she was sure that Zeph would be ok by himself, or so she hoped. She didn't understand why Kenyan hated her so greatly. She just needed her pup to stay safe while she hunted. She would be gone from these lands soon enough so that the family could live here. She would find a land. Zeph curled up in the slight sun spot and Juive stood up. She shook her coat free of any dirt and cleaned off Zeph before hiding him in some grass. She then left to hunt but didn't wander too far away from her pup. She caught a bird and ate, watching the pile of grass that Zeph was mostly under.

Juive caught another bird and finished eating, her stomach finally full. She walked back to Zeph but found his grass bed empty. Panic filled her mind as she thought of where he could have gone. She looked around nearby and picked up his scent, leading into the forest. She walked into the forest and found him, lying beside a bush he seemed to like. She lie down beside him and licked him gently before they curled up and slept within the forest.