Aranck watched Malleah from a distance as she slowly spawned more to his line. His eyes narrowed when at last it seemed she had stopped and he finally stepped forward. He thought about the other women he had mounted over the winter and if they, too had spread his line. A few of his children had gone missing. Those of lesser value, the deaf and the runts. Zuleika, however, her loss weighed on him. A quick growl, and the king stalked forward, his tail held high as he touched each of the pups in turn. For the most part, they all appeared whole and healthy. He gave Malleah and appraising look. She had done well. His smile faltered slightly at her words. They did not hurt, but they did disappoint. Pitty. Was all he said in response. We could have been great.

This entire situation confused and confounded Solstice. Arace, the mother she had found on the border seemed to care very little, if anything, for the children she had just birthed. She had dropped them off at the door to Iromar and all but walked off. Distressed, Solstice had done the only thing she could think to do. Very carefully she picked up the pups in her jaws and slowly carried them into the moors. With every step she took care not to jostle or hold too hard onto their fragile bodies. She needed to find someone who would care for the young souls. The only thought she had was there would be someone in the pack who would. Tavioria would have taken in any pups, this she knew, so she assumed Iromar would as well.

Once more the smell of birthing blood assailed her nose. A soft whine sounded from around the newborn pups in her mouth and somehow she picked up the pace. Something was not right here. She found the rulers of Iromar ankle deep in blood soaked grass. Solstice all but lurched forward in her concern for the family. First she set the pups down at her paws before inching forward to sniff at the air around Malleah. In a flash, she avoided Aranck’s teeth by rolling onto her back and immediately exposing her stomach in submission to the Alpha. I am here to help! She claimed in a whimper, wanting to get to the other pups that had been born. Quietly, Aranck sat back, his tail curling around his feet to see what this stranger had brought. Small whelps, that smelled familiar.

Solstices hesitantly approached Malleah, her voice crooning and nose working to intake as much of the scene around her. Something was terribly wrong, there was too much blood. You need rest… and you need food… She said softly, making sure to stay out of reach of any claws that might come at her. I can-

These are mine. Aranck stated suddenly. He had gotten up to smell at the pups Solstice had brought. His eyes narrowed at her, but he quickly gathered what had happened without needing her to explain. These are my pups. He stood once again, his fur bristling.

Solsice at once moved to stand protectively over the pups Arace had given her. Their mother abandoned them. Just after she named them. Kahina and…. Boneskull…

Aranck looked at her, resisting the urge to growl at her for cutting him off from his children. Hazel eyes looked between Solstice, the pups, and Malleah. You will take care of them. He purred to his mate. Treat them as your own. His fur bristled and teeth bared. It was clearly an order. Without another word to the females he stalked away.

Solstice watched him go, her nose twitching with uncertainty. She did not trust the safety of the pups with this stranger, but had no notion of how else she could protect them. Ever so gently she shuffled them over to Malleah, concern mounting with every moment. Is there anything I can get for you? She asked her in her sweet tones, though her voice was still clouded in her confusion over this strange family.