Her voice was a soft whine deep in the den she had found for herself. It had been instinct that drove her to find a place secluded. Closing her eyes against the contractions that made her body convulse, she realized her lifelong mistake too late. The freedom to roam and be subject only to herself and her paws had led her to here and now. The excitement she had felt when she realized she was pregnant had faded as she realized there was no pack around her to support the pup. Another soft whine, this one having nothing to do with the pain in her stomach, all to do with her fear for her child. Closing her chocolate eyes she prayed to the skies and the gods, anything that would hear her, that any of those she cared about would find her. If she had not wandered away so often she might have been able to make it back to where she and Edrick slept. She had not had time, now she was here. Taika cried out again as her contractions began to increase.

The actual event was a blur. Before she knew it her vision had cleared to see two small puppies snuffling around in the dirt. Pain set aside, Taika looked at her children with pure adoration. Her tongue instantly went to clean the tiny, wiggling balls of fur. Nuzzles and croons assured both daughters they were loved, the world was beautiful and full of magic. They would be kissed by fairies and spirits would entice them to play. Every gust of wind would sing to them, every note would be harmony to their melodies.

Her pups clean and nursing, Taika admired each marking on her daughters’ body. One pup had clearly taken after her, tan and dark, golds and red. The other was an obvious descendant of her Imprint. A low groan and she fell onto the soft ground. Her body was worn and exhausted. Eyes flickering open and closed she sent a final hope into the air for any of them to find her. She was torn, all she wanted to do was she those she loved the new life, and curl up into their bodies and rest while her children curled up into her.