mate panting and whimpering pleas of help. I grabbed her paw and told her it was going to be alright. She nodded and then let out a loud scream of pain. I tried to distract her by asking her random questions, “So whats your name?”

                “Sierra, who are you? – yelp —.”

                I started rubbing her paw and then responded, “I’m Brooke and this is my mate Aerik.” I nodded to Aerik who was standing behind me with Sierra’s mate, her mate then came up to her and started nuzzling her.

                “Hello – whimper — thank you so much for coming and helping.”

                “Anytime Sierra, so do you have any names you’re thinking about for your pups?”

                “Yes. – Shriek — for girl names I’m thinking about using the names Kenya, Luca, Rita, or Sadie. And for boy names I was thinking about the names Cooper, Capone, Buckeye, or Codi.”

                “Those are such beautiful names Sierra.” I responded, as I smiled.

                “Thank you Brooke – scream — I think their coming!”

                “Ok just breathe honey, in and out, in and out. Just like that dear. Ah! There’s the first one! And…….it’s a boy! Here comes the next one! My this one’s a big one, and it’s a boy! He’ll be nice and strong when he gets big. And the next one is a girl! What a pretty little thing. And the last one is……..a girl! Their all so adorable! Congratulations to the both of you!”

                “Oh thank you so much Brooke! You’ve been such a great help. You should have pups one day I bet you’d make an amazing mother.” Sierra smiled at me and Aerik.

                Aerik walked up to me and gave me an I-told-you-so smile. And I rolled my eyes. Sierra’s mate led up out of the cave and said, “Thank you so much! This is our first litter so I felt a bit helpless; I didn’t know what to do. But you, you were amazing, you knew just what to do! And for helping us I hope we can all become great friends.”

                “Like brothers.” Aerik said as he gave a wise and knowing full nod.

                “Like brothers.” Sierra’s mate said back in response to Aerik to state that we could count on them.

                “Well we must be heading home now. Hope to see you both soon. And congratulation to you, your mate, and your healthy and happy family.”

                “Thank you for helping, and good night.”

                We both loped on home to the den. I then sat down for I had a feeling that Aerik had something he wanted to get off his chest. I gave him a moment, and watched as he paced across the floor in front of me. He let out a sigh then said, “Not the ‘mommy’ type eh?”

                I rolled my eyes, “Because they’re not mine.”

                He finally stopped treading back and forth and sat down in front of me, “Please Brooke, please…….” Aerik sighed and put his head down, trying to avoid my sad gaze, “This has been all I’ve ever wanted since I was a pup, to grow up find a wonderful mate and start a family. I don’t ask for much.”

                After a long pause I soon responded, “I’m scared, I’ve never had anything to do with pups, besides when I was one once,” I exhaled deeply then continued, “My mother died when I was extremely young, as I told you before, I never had the chance to watch how she took care of us or make us laugh or any of that. It feels like…….your going into a battle all by yourself, only the scary part is that your blindfolded and you know nothing of where you are, how you’re going to concur the enemy, and why this battle arouse in the first place. So I’m sorry if my fear blocks the way to your happiness, I’m sorry that your life won’t be complete without being able to have a family! But I’m not ready! I’ll tell you when the time is right, when I believe that we are ready for a family. We can spend time with Sierra and her new family so I can learn if this is what you crave so badly, and maybe then you’ll realize how hard it will be, and all the challenges we’ll face, the fears, the tears we’ll cry, and the uncertainties we will be facing. So please give this time, you can’t just ask out of the blue for a family, it takes time for these dreams to become reality. You must give your dreams time to grow and love them anyways even if they choose not to bloom full of your hopes and wishes. And when the time comes it will bloom bigger and more beautiful than ever.” I let all my frustration out with a sigh, then to make it even more dramatic; I walked away into the sleeping cavern, where I soon fell into a deep sleep. And as you know I am extremely dramatic and make small situations into big things, but that’s just who I am. Aerik didn’t come to bed that night, I thought he probably needed some time to think over what I had recently said.

                The morning came as fast as it had left, and I bounded out of the den and into the bright sun of the new day. I looked around for Aerik but he was nowhere in sight, I sniffed the ground and quickly picked up his trail. I followed his trail in till it suddenly ended at the meadow. The meadow’s tall grass was bellowing in the morning breeze and the willow trees were gently swaying side to side. The creek was extremely still today and all was calm. I knew exactly where he would be now, I slowly walked over to the small pond where we always we sit and talk, with not a care in the world.

                And there he was, under the willows, right beside the pond, his eyes close, probably deep in thought. I ignored the ponds barer between us and swam right threw it as if it weren’t even there. I shook myself dry and took my place next to Aerik. He did not say a word, he did not even bother opening his eyes or even say hello to me. I immediately thought he was mad at me. and when I finally had the strength to talk I said, “Aerik?”

                He didn’t move all he said was, “Hmm?”

                “Aerik are you mad at me?”

                “Mad at you? Why would I be mad?”

                “Because of what I said yesterday and that I don’t want a family just yet.” I looked right into his eyes and felt them melt my heart and my guard quickly fell. I was calm, it didn’t matter about anything else just Aerik and I, and it was like we were the only ones on Earth.   

                “Of course I’m not mad, I shouldn’t have randomly asked you that question, I shouldn’t have pressured you, you are in charge of your life and how long you wish to have pups is up to you, or the choice to not even bother with them.” Aerik finally opened his eyes and smiled at me.

                I licked his check, “I love you.”

                “I love you too.”

                “I’ll give pups a chance, for you.”

                “Really?”

                “Yes, so why don’t we visit with our new friends Sierra and her family, so we can learn all we