little bit every day.

I was on my way to my mother's home when I saw her resting outside. It was a nice day, so she must have been pretty comfortable.

"Mama?" I said, with a smile. I try suppressing it, so that I didn't spoil the surprise.

She lifted her head from her resting position. "Oh, hello, Saba!" She stood up and nuzzled me. "What brings you here? I thought you'd be with Iron?"

"He's off training again, right now," I sighed.

"He's been training a lot lately, hasn't he?" Mama looked at me quizzically as we made our way onto the deck.

"Yes, he has, he's been training very hard," I tried to smile again. My smile grew large again when I thought about telling my mother the news. I couldn't keep it any longer. "But Mom, guess what?"

"What?"

"Iron and I are having puppies!" I squealed.

My Mother's smile was just as big as mine. "Oh, this is wonderful! Your father will be so excited that he'll finally become a grandpa," she giggled. She nuzzled me lovingly. "You should go see him now and tell him the news!" She pushed me with her head. "Go! And be VERY careful, ok, sweetie?"

I chuckled. "Yes, Mom," and I padded towards my father's boat. I really couldn't wait to tell him and my trot broke into a run. Without knowing, I slipped on the ice beneath my feet and skidded. Almost in a panic, I lost my footing and fell onto my belly.

"AHHH!" I cried out as my body bounced on the ice. Writhing in pain, I waited to move until I slid to a complete stop. I was slouched over myself, trying to stand. Thoughts were running through my head, "Oh, no! Please, oh, please, let my pups be ok! Let them not be hurt, please!" I was nearly brought to tears, until I looked up to see my father running towards me from his boat, which wasn't too far away now.

"Saba!" he gently pushed himself against me for support. "Saba, are you ok? That was a nasty fall you took, there."

I looked into his auburn eyes, tears dripping from mine. "Daddy...I think I hurt them..."

He was taken aback, but he seemed to know who I was talking about. He comforted me as we made our way into his boat. I calmed down when I rested myself under my father's blanket. He sat in front of me, watching me with concern. I told him about my and Iron's pups that would soon be born, and he smiled warmly at me.

"Saba, don't worry. They're going to be alright," he assured me, nuzzling my head. He was such a good father to me, I loved him so much. I stayed on his boat for a few more hours until evening commenced. He decided to escort me home, no matter how many times I told him he didn't have to. We approached my home and sitting outside was Iron, waiting for me. My father still didn't leave my side.

Iron's head lifted when he felt my presence. "Saba! There you are, you had me worried." He nuzzled me. "I wondered where you were."

"Iron, I'm ok," I said, trying to let out a chuckle. I looked back at my father who was watching me. "Thanks for taking me home, Daddy."

"Your welcome," he smiled, turning around to leave. He looked back at Iron. "Take good care of her, you hear?" And he departed.

Iron took a step back from me and eyed me from tip to toe. "What's wrong? What happened?" Tears welled in my eyes and I nuzzled him, telling him how careless I was today, how I may have hurt our children. He didn't say anything. He just let me nuzzle him.

"I promise not to let anything happen to you from now on," he vowed.

More weeks passed. During that time, Iron had grown to be very protective of me. He continued to train with his master and his team, but with every break he was on, he was by my side, making sure I was safe. He wouldn't even let me leave my house anymore. "Anything could happen. It's best you stay near your home so that your humans can take care of you," he would tell me. I was very thankful that he cared so much about me and our pups' safety. I couldn't wait to start our family.

I didn't have to wait long. One night, I felt my body shift and I knew that the time had come for the birth our pups. Meg sensed something was happening and she woke up. She seen me lying on my blankets, panting harder than ever, and she immediately woke her mother. Meg's mother called the vet and he took care of me throughout the night. Iron's master got word that his pups were being born and he brought him to my home to comfort me.

I was in such a daze trying to give birth to our pups; I almost didn't notice Iron's presence until he licked my hot face. I felt much safer. However, my sense of safety was overwhelmed by a ripping pain shooting throughout my body. I didn't pay attention to anything good or bad happening. I just somehow knew that I needed to keep strong.

The pain grew more immense another time. A sixth. A seventh. One final time, then I let out a big heaving sigh and relaxed. I had given birth to eight puppies and I couldn't wait to seem them, but my exhaustion kept me from doing so. I let the humans clean my pups, while Iron licked my face.

"Tis a shame," said a voice.

"Mommy, what’s wrong with them?"

"She went through all of that pain,"

"Eight innocent pups,"

"Only one survived."

One...That number rang throughout my ears. Reality set in, and I shot up, looking frantically for my pups. Where did they go? What happened to them? Why? Why did his happen? Meg's mother laid me back down on clean sheets and tried calming me down from hysterics. I cried out to my pups. I needed them. I wanted them to be safe. Why did this happen to them? I laid on my sheets and sobbed, Iron laying next to me, comforting me in any way possible.

I didn't calm down until they placed my surviving pup next to me. I broke away from Iron to look at it. Our pup was a bright crimson like me and had dark spots around her eyes like her father. I nuzzled her gingerly as she nursed. I was thankful that she lived.

Meg and her mother entered the room and watched me and my family.

"She's a miracle," Meg's mother said to her daughter.

"Miracle...what's another word for miracle?" Meg asked.

Not really knowing why Meg asked, she answered. "Well...let's see...there's marvel...wonder...stunner."

"We should call her Stunner." Meg stated, gently petting my pup. I looked up at Meg, then down at my daughter.

"Stunner..." I whispered. "...that's a cute name."

Again, weeks passed by like minutes. Watching Stunner grow was the greatest gift I could have ever asked for. Iron was often there with us, being a wonderful father. But whenever Iron couldn't be with us, my parents were there enjoying their moments as grandparents.

Meg loved Stunner also and played with her all the time. I was so happy that Meg got her new addition to the family like she wanted. Meg played with her and scolded her, when necessary. Playing with Meg turned Stunner into quite the little trickster. Stunner would always ask me riddling questions, some I could never really answer, but I tried my best. I often thought that she was interrogating me in some way, but I didn't let it bother me.

What bothered me was Iron's attitude as of late. If he seen me and Stunner often enough when he wasn't training, he was protective. But when he didn't see us often enough, he was very protective. He never let me visit my father at his boat anymore; he always made him visit us. I didn't think it fair, but I may as well have done as he asked just to make him happy.

"Momma?" Stunner asked me.

"Yes?"

"What's outside of town?"

"Well...there's your grandpa's boat, where he lives. And...There's mountains and the ocean."

"Is there something bad there?"

I looked at her, wondering what she might have meant. "Um...maybe. Maybe not."

"Then why won't Daddy let us see?"

I couldn't really say for sure. Stunner wanted to see the world, and Iron's protection kept me from showing it to her. My daughter meant more to me than anything in the world and it was naturally for me to give her what she wanted. "How about this, Stunner? How about I talk to Daddy tonight and then tomorrow I can show you the beach?"

Stunner's face grew into a gigantic grin and she pounced on me in thanks. Meg would surely understand if we left for a day, it wouldn't do anyone any harm. So when the evening sky fell and Iron's training was over with, he visited my home like he always did. I met him outside, not wanting to disturb anyone inside who was sleeping.

"Hello, Iron," I greeted, licking his cheek.

"Hey," he responded. "Where's Stunner?"

"She's just inside sleeping next to Meg."

"She's sleeping with her?" Iron's face grew serious. "That may not be very safe; Meg could crush her without knowing."

I rolled my eyes. "Meg's a pretty sound sleeper, I think I would know what was safe for our daughter and what wasn't."

"Aw, c'mon, don't be like that." Iron scoffed. "I'm all about the well being of the two of you."

"You're not here all the time to protect us, I think we can manage a couple hours, hon." I teased, brushing my tail under his chin. He chuckled. "Which, I've been meaning to ask you. Stunner really wants to get out. I was just going to let you know that tomorrow Stunner and I are going to the beach. She would like it if you went, but you have to train tomorrow."

"Which is exactly why you shouldn't go," Iron told me sternly. "I can't afford to lose either of you; I've already lost seven of our other pups,"

I cringed at his remark. He just had to bring up the terrible past. I couldn't bear to lose them either, but tried not to think about it. I had to concentrate on what needed to be done for our daughter. "We'll be fine. We're going whether you come or not." I turned around to enter my house, but Iron leapt over me to stop me.

"Don't go. I don't want anything to happen to you." he said, desperately.

"Iron...I'll keep us safe." I walked around him, but he pushed me ever so slightly off my balance. I looked at him in wonder. I couldn't believe that he would do that

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