He knew. He knew before the first pang in their sides. Before the first flash before his eyes and before his breath caught in her chest. Time had dragged worryingly long, his concern mounting with every passing sun. He could handle her discomfort, hoping their bond would lift some of it as he took it onto his own body. He could handle her nips and her snarls, leaving Whisper to soothe her with her soft spoken nature and a different kind of comfort he could not provide. Today and now, however, he would not be deterred. The moment the first clench of her muscles gripped her, Zharko was racing over the marsh land, his practice and ease carrying him effortlessly.

Though nearly blind with his need to reach Wren’s side, the small hellion was able to break through his haze just long enough to see Whisper and Metztli along his path to his Imprint. Friendly as ever, Whisper greeted him, but fell instantly silent at the look on his face. ”Wren?” she asked quietly. He did not even answer her as another pang shot through their bodies.

This time the blindness overpowered him. He raced over the ground, uncaring of any rocks that bit into his paws, ignoring the snaps of monstrous creatures lurking below the surfaces of the water. It was not until he slid into the large den, growling at no enemy at all did clarity slowly start to return to him. Her exhaustion and pain had triggered his need to protect her. With no enemy around, he had to battle the instinct within himself. Breathing deep between bared fangs, he forced himself into restraint, focusing on what was at hand. Slowly he came back to himself. Even slower, he stepped towards his Imprint and the two whimpering beings she had brought into the world. Looking at her, and looking at them, he could not comprehend that he had somehow played a part in this. These creatures were part of his creation. Still, looking down at them he felt the tug and the pull towards them. Snarls falling silent, he stepped forward and nudged the newborns towards their mother until they were secure. Just as silently he nuzzled his nose into her rough, inhaling to assure himself she was safe. In a rare show of outward affection the scarred male began to run his tongue over his Imprint’s tired face.

A sound outside the mouth of the den had Zharko on his feet again in a flash, his teeth bared to their fullest, ready to destroy anything that came unwelcomed through the hole. His snarls were answered by an annoyed an muffled growl as Metztli padded into the space, her mouth full of water rat. Quick on her heels was Whisper’s pale body, a couple of smaller mice dangling from her maw. Her face brightened at the sight of Wren and her pups. Tail wagging happily, she plopped the mice in front of Wren but when she moved to cuddle up next to the new mother, Zharko lunged at her, only to be swiftly snapped at by Metz’s suddenly empty jaws. ”Calm down, Zharko. We’re not going to hurt them. You know us. She said in an oddly calming, though still sarcastic tone, as if she was explaining this for the millionth time.

Zharko returned protectively to Wren’s side, still trying to fight the crazed emotions in his body. Meanwhile, eyeing the male warily, the other two women made themselves comfortable around the partners, settling themselves as the family they had become. ”What shall their names be?” Whisper asked excitedly, the sound of her tail against the ground only just covering up the sounds of the whimpering, whining, and suckling puppies.