business you may stop her in any way you want to." The dog he was talking to gave a quiet chuckle.

Kit didn't know where to go exactly. Jade was probably at the mail office, and if she headed in that direction, then she'll probably get in trouble. The best thing was to just go home. Jade may eventually show up, and her owners were probably there too, so her follower would'nt be allowed anywhere close.
She was still crying softly and she kept praying in her head for Clover. Heaven knows what he was doing to her back there, and she hated how helpless she was. She could see her front porch and couldn't wait to get inside.

Jade had just arrived at Nome. The mail run had been great today, perfect weather for it. He couldn't wait to get home to Kit, it would be soon that their puppies would be born. "Oh man Clover would go insane if she had to handle it on her own with him away" He though to himself before laughing. The team was glad to see him so happy again, he really deserved it.

 The musher had set them all off leash while he took in the mail bags. Jade was surprised, Clover had told him she was going to try and get Kit out of the house so they could walk together home. He looked around but didn't notice anyone. Jade headed in the direction of his house hoping he would meet them on the way, he was early after all.

Jade suddenly saw Kit walking past him in a hurry and some rotten stray dog following her. Jade growled angrily and attacked the dog without it noticing. The dog yelped in surprise and tried to break free but the grip Jade had on him was to strong. Kit spun around and releif washed over her.

"Why are you following her?" Jade shouted angrily but he could smell a faint smell of some other dog on him "JASON!" Jade growled. Kit was now standing in front of him crying "What happend?" Jade asked worried "Where is Clover?!?"

"Jade!" she cried in relief. She wanted to embrace him and hide her face in his fur, but there was no time for that "Jason attacked us! He has Clover right now! We have to hurry" and she ran right back to where she had been attacked, although she was rather slow from her pregnancy. She hoped they weren't too late!

Jade's fur bristled from anger and he ran ahead of Kit "Please be careful honey, you should wait there!" Jade called back to Kit not wanting her in more danger. 
Jade jumped into the alley, he could notice Clover crying in the corner. "You're to late!" Jason grinned and before Jade could stop him he had ran off. 

Jade went after him but Jason disappeared. Jade cursed him angrily, if he would ever see him again he would rip his head off.

Kit obeyed and slowed down to a trot, but she still wanted to be nearby. She couldn't bear not knowing what was happening, and she expected the worst to come.

"Don't let her be dead, oh no..." she said to herself, hoping that Clover was alive and well.

Jade walked back into the alley to meet his daughter. Jade suspected what had happened and when he got to Clover he knew he was right. Jade nuzzled her and hugged her close to him. "I'm so sorry honey!" Jade said and started to comfort his daughter.

"Jade?" asked Kit from outside the alley "Whats going on? Is she allright?"

Jade shock his head towards Kit with a sad look on his face. "Lets take you home Clover" Jade said and helped her out of the alley. From her expression and then scent that clung on her, Kit could guess what had happened, and the horror was engulfing. They all trudged home in silence, and Kit felt very sorrowful. Clover followed in a zombie like mode. They finally arrived home and Clover walked to a blanket in the corner of the room and lay down turning away from Jade and Kit. 

"I'm not sure what to do!" Jade whispered to Kit looking over his shoulder at Clover. "This must have ruined her!"

Kit looked at Clover sadly, and shook her head. She didn't know what to say either. What could be said? The act was unfair and unforgivable, but irreversable as well.

"Let me try talking to her" she whispered, and slowly made her way over.

"Clover, sweetie? I am really sorry" she said, brushing her tail against her flank "Do you need anything?"

Clover looked up at Kit "It's not your fault." She muttered. "I hate him so much! What should I do?" Clover cried and buried her head in Kit's fur.

Kit sought to find the right words. The right thing to say would be to forgive him, but she didn't exactly want to say that. Its not like he deserved it.

"For now, I think we should all be happy that you are alive. If he had killed you, then I would'dt know what to do. Your father..." she thought of how Jason had killed Aiyanna, and how Clover could've been next. The thought was unbearable and she forced it away.

"Maybe you-" she cut off abruptly and a sudden spasm of pain rippled through her. It was unlike anything she had ever experience. She gave an audible gasp.

Clover looked up in shock "Kit?" but before she realized what was happening her father was already by her side. "Lie down on the blanket!" Jade told Kit who was panicking.

 They had wished it would happen when they were at Kit's home, her owner was expecting this. Jade looked at Clover with a worried look. "Honey I know I shouldn't be asking this from you after what just happened but can you please find help?“ Clover nodded her head and ran out the door towards Kit's house. She met Utah outside the house. 

"UTAH, Kit is having the puppies now!" Clover called.

"Oh my-" Utah had ducked inside the house moments later, and ran up to kit, who was breathing heavily, whimpering

"Its okay little sister, you're gonna be fine“

"Its hurts!" she choked out, and another spasm rippled through.

She was panicking now, she didn't know what to do. She had never seen anyone else give birth.

Jade noticed that Kit was panicking and knew it wouldn't help with the birth. "Kit you need to calm down, I'm with you it's okay!" Kit did as he said although it was hard. "Okay now when I say push, you must push as hard as you can!" Jade said and licked Kit on the chin. "You can do it honey! NOW PUSH!"

Kit nodded and with all her might, she forced a push. The pain seared through her and she cried out. She just wanted to stop, but she knew that it would be far better if she just went through with it. The pain soon ebbed away and she knew that she had done her job

"Its a girl" beemed utah, looking down at a small blue bundle. He began to lick it, and its jaw's opened and inhaled "You're doing great. Just keep going!"

Several minutes later, Kit had given birth to 7 pups, and everyone was helping by licking them and guiding them towards her stomach. Kit felt relief wash over her and she lay there, very exhuasted. Despite her tiredness, she was overfilled with great joy. She looked up at jade and gave him an expression that replaced all words.

"Blimey, I'm an uncle" said Utah.

Jade lied down next to her and licked her head. "Wow seven puppies!" Jade whispered to her. "This family isn't so small anymore" he said and smiled. Clover watched her father and Kit with their new puppies and sighed before walking out.

"What should we name them" she said, leaning her head against Jade

There were 4 girls and 3 boys. Two of the girls were blue like her and had some traces of markings, and another was a light creme color and looked as if it may be floppy eared, a trait inherited from Jade's grandmother Anna. The last girl was a dark grey, nearly black. All three males were brown, with darker markings in several places. A good healthy litter.

"Maybe we could name them after gemstones?" Jade suggested with a smile. He himself had the name of a gemstone and also one of her sisters Ruby."

Kit like the idea, and agreed with it.

"Maybe she can be...Saphrina? Like Sapphire? And the boy...Malachite. I think thats a gem...and she can be Opal? What do you think?" she said looking at him.

Jade smiled "I like those a lot, the black one is a girl and should be Jet, dark brown one Jasper? and the last light brown one Garnet?" Jade pushed Jet closer to her mothers belly so she could get milk and gave Kit a nuzzle.

 Kit beamed at Jade and nodded
"Perfect"

Things were starting to look up, and she knew that Jade would be a wonderful father.

Meanwhile, Utah was outside, for he decided to give them some family time. He saw Clover walk out and greeted her

"7 puppies. You're gonna have a full house."

"Maybe even more" Clover whispered almost just to herself as tears started to fall again. 

Utah looked at Clover, feeling a little surprised. It hadn't even come to mind that she may feel left out, which was understandable. He draw her close and wrapped his tail around her

"Just because she isn't your mother, doesn't mean that you aren't part of the