Aleu’s Pups

By: Wolf Cuz Luna

Ch: 1

It had been three months since Aleu rescued her mate from Raccoon, a crazy wolf that wanted her for his mate. She refused and was able to escape. But a few days later, her mate, Merlin was wolf napped and had to be rescued. So with a cunning plan, she was able to get herself and her mate away from Raccoon, safely.

It was also that she was three months into pregnancy. She was excited and scared at the same time. This was her first litter of cubs. She hoped that everything would go right.

She had something exciting to look forward to. The pack first, of many to come, group hunts. They found the caribou heard, and were going to hunt it. That night, Aleu called together her pack to discuss where the pack will be stationed to bring down one of the caribou. “Now we all know that in a few hours, we all will be having our first pack hunt. We will be needed in teams, Teams of three. Who will be the team to start driving the caribou toward us,” said Aleu. “We will Aleu. Sun Rise, Crane and I,” said Mirage. Aleu nodded in agreement. “Who will tighten the herds formation on the left?” “We will Aleu. Frost Paws, Jupiter and I,” said Mercury. Aleu smiled at this agreement and was happy that they all were working together. “Who will tighten the formation on the right?” Three more wolves raised their paws. They were Minnow, Snow Tail, and Dove. That left herself, Merlin, and Mira.

Ch: 2

Together they all headed out to go and hunt the caribou heard. She, Merlin, and Mira, will help close off one of the caribou, and she will deliver the kill. They searched for hours, until they found the heard. “Ok, lets go, everyone get into your positions, Mirage, your group wont start it until I give the signal. Ok?” Mirage nodded and the pack dispersed to go to their stations.

It didn’t take long for everyone to get into position. When Aleu and her team was in position, she howled, this would spook the heard a little bit. But this was also the signal that Mirage and her team were as waiting for, they sprang and started barking, growling, and yelped! This scared the heard a lot, and they started running, once the heard went passed the left side, the team on that side sprang out and drove the heard toward the right side. The team on that side, sprang out and started driving the heard out. They all picked one caribou, a straggler, and Aleu and her team jumped out and cut it off. The caribou stopped suddenly and reared up on its hind legs and came crashing down, but missed its attackers. Mirage and Dove jumped up on its back and bit its back trying to drive it down. Jupiter, Mercury, and Frost Paws went for three legs, and Merlin got the last. “ON MY MARK! PULL THE LEGS OUT FROM UNDER IT!” yelled Aleu. “READY! NOW!” All four wolves pulled its legs out and the Caribou fell. This was Aleu’s cue. She sprang up and bit the caribou neck. It struggled, but she bit harder, it shuddered violently, it went limp. It was dead.

Aleu released her grip and smiled at her pack. “You all did well, dig in to our feast!” The pack stood still, not moving. Aleu looked at them all. Than Merlin came up to her and said, “It is wolf tradition, for the leader to eat first.” He stepped away and allowed Aleu to go first. The pack backed away, and Aleu, wanting to honor tradition, stepped forward and began eating. Than one by one, the pack stepped forward and joined her.

Ch: 3

After the pack had eaten their fill, they all headed back to the cave for a well deserved- rest. Aleu rested her head on her paws outside, while the others went inside to sleep. She gazed at the stars that were out. What are you doing tonight Papa? She wondered. Tonight she saw Orion, Pegasus, Major, and Minor. With this wonderful sight, she got up and went inside for a peaceful nights sleep.

Ch: 4

The following morning, Aleu awakes to a queasy feeling. She looks down at her swollen stomach and wonders; it must be getting to be time. Suddenly she jumps up and goes behind a bush and throws up. Yep, almost time.

Merlin awakes a few hours later and comes to visit Aleu. She was in the sun, warming up in the gorgeous rays. He trots over and sees her resting, so he decided to leave her alone and have some of the caribou leftovers, from last night.

As he makes his way over to the caribou hide, he smells a group of wolves. They had recently been at the carcass. He smelled again and tensed, they were not from his land. He cautiously approached the dead caribou to eat. As he was eating he heard a faint rustle in the bush behind him. With the speed of thunder, he whirled around and pounced on something behind the bush, he found a group of wolves. He turned to every one of them, they were all about 2 years old, and on their own. “Who are you!” he growled to the 2 year olds. Each one of them lowered down, and flattened their ears. They showed their respect to him and one answered his demand. “I am Night Shade. We’re sorry to trespass upon your land, but we were drawn to the smell of food,” one said. Merlin turned to him and raised an eyebrow. “I am Merlin, Alpha male in these parts, I will take you to my mate, Aleu,” he replied. With that the 2 year olds stood and followed Merlin.

Ch: 5

On their way home the Merlin asked them why they were here and why they were separated from their pack. “We were banished from our pack. We don’t like to speak about it,” Night Shade said. Merlin respected that and left that question at that. As they neared the cave, he saw Aleu had gone somewhere. Not worried, Merlin tried to enter the cave, only to be blocked by Mirage. “Why are you blocking me Mirage,” asked Merlin? “Aleu is in labor,” she replied simply. A look of shock crossed Merlin’s face. “Now?” Mirage smiled and nodded. “Congratulations Merlin, but I can’t let you in, on Aleu’s instructions. She asked that no one be aloud into the cave until she is finished giving birth.” “And how will we know?” “She will bark three times, by then, we all may go in a small group at a time and see them.” Merlin nodded, his heart filled with excitement.

The 2 year olds never left Merlin’s side. They didn’t want to be caught by other Gray Mountain wolves, mistaken for trespassing. “So, you other two had not told me your names,” Merlin said. “My name is Sun Eyes,” one said. Merlin turned to the other but he didn’t speak. “Quiet Streak can’t speak. Therefore he speaks by showing what he means in pictures and movements. He couldn’t speak from birth,” explained Night Shade. Merlin stared at Quiet Streak in amazement. Then Quiet Streak sat up and raised a paw and smiled. Merlin didn’t understand and turned to the other two. “I’m also Quiet Streaks interpreter,” said Sun Eyes. “Were brothers. He’s saying ‘Pleased to meet you sir.’” Merlin took Quiet Shades paw and shook it. Suddenly they heard Aleu’s three barks saying that it was ok to come and see her pups.

Everyone was assembled outside the cave waiting for Merlin. Mirage stepped forward. Merlin looked at her questioningly. “Aleu wishes for you to give the pack instructions on how to come and meet her pups, but you are Alpha male, you shall go first,” she said. Merlin nodded. “Please watch these three, they're not enemies, just keep them safe.” Merlin instructed.

Merlin entered the cave slowly; he followed Aleu’s scent and found her deep in her catacomb, resting after giving birth to 3 beautiful cubs. “We did it Merlin, we had our first litter, our first successful litter,” she said and smiled. Merlin knew she was tired so he came over to her and sat down. “Oh Aleu, their beautiful,” he adored. Aleu smiled weakly and laid her head down.

“Which ones are male?” asked Merlin. “The one on the right. The other two are female.” Merlin set his mind to work for a name. He noticed that his sons fir had a slight reddish tint, like his mother, but had a white lightning bold streak down his forehead. “How about, Lightning,” suggested Merlin. “I knew that you would suggest that, that’s what stands out the most about him.” Aleu looked at her two daughters and started thinking. One of them had a gray coat, like her father, and a rosy face. “How about we name the one on the left, Sunset, because of her rosy face,” said Aleu. Merlin nodded in agreement. Merlin looked at his last daughter. He saw that she had some light gray fur, reddish gray paws, and a tail with a slightly reddish crescent moon on it. Than at the same time Aleu and Merlin said the same name. “ Crescent.” They laughed and smiled at their pups. Merlin got up and started instructing the pack to go in and see their pups.

Merlin turned to the three 2 year olds. And thinks, well, it couldn’t hurt for them to see the pups. “All four of us will go and see the pups,” he said. He led them into the cave to see Aleu.

She smiled and when she saw the visitors, but she instinctively curled her tail around them and said, “Who are our guests Merlin?” “This is Night Shade, Sun Eye, and Quiet Streak. They were banished from their pack and wandered into our lands.” Feeling a little relaxed now, Aleu rested her tail on the cave floor and let their visitors to see the pups. Quiet streak started making motions with is paws and pointed toward the pups. Aleu looked at him quizzically. “Quiet streak is a Mute,” explained Merlin, “he was born that way. Sun Eye, what is he saying?” “He’s saying