It was two full suns since the pack had hunted and they were all basking in the beautiful sun light not far from the den. Eloin had only just arrived back, she had stayed with the deer calf for as long as she could and now she had returned to tell the pack of her resignation of the Alpha spot. Finding Anlach sleeping under a tall oak tree she padded to wards him.

"It is time my love!" She whispered in his ear, and as he raised his head the sadness in his eyes almost broke her heart. Anlach nodded and stood up nuzzling Eloin under her chin.

"If your sure!" He replied and then threw his head back and let out a strong, loud howl. The pack turned to wards their Alphas and padded slowly to wards them, Cana at the front.

"Everyone, I have gathered you here because Eloin and I have some very grave news" Anlach lowered his head, he could not continue for it would mean losing Eloin forever.

"I have been Alpha female for two years now and as you all know I have not birthed one litter of pups, living or dead." Eloin continued, it was now or never. "I went to Liechin the healer for advice and this is what I was told; I am barren, I cannot birth pups, therefore I have resigned from the Alpha position and Cana, you will be my successor!" Eloin finished on a bitter note, It was hard enough losing Anlach, but losing him to her sister was torture. But there was nothing she could do, Cana was more than ready to be the Alpha female, she had only just lost to Eloin two years back and in that time her strength had increased.

Every wolf in the pack was staring from Eloin to Anlach and then to Cana, it was very unusual for an Alpha to resign, but then it was also unusual for an Alpha to be barren. No one new what to say and so once again Eloin addressed the Clan.

"I'm going to take my leave now, I will be back in a moon or so, I... I just need to clear my head"

Anlach nodded for he new the real reason for Eloins departure was because of the mating ritual that he and Cana had to do to be truly mates...

one month later...

As Eloin and the fawn padded back to wards the pack she already new they would never accept her, but Anlach might relent a little, for he new the pain she had been through these past moons. Only time could tell now and as she approached the den sight her heart began to beat against her chest, was she leading the only cub she would ever have to his death?!

"Anlach please don't be angry, the fawn has no mother and I have no cubs its only right!"

"Only right?!" Anlach's usual calm, beautiful face had become unrecognizable to the watching pack as anger and embarrassment now ran through his body. "Eloin that thing you are mothering is your breakfast! You are breaking Mother Natures oldest law!"

Eloin looked horrified at his words, at that very moment she new she no longer belonged to the Redwood Clan, but she was going to defend her 'cub' to thievery end!

" You talk of breaking Mother Natures laws, but the day you killed Tain's birth mother you broke her law that keeps the forest breathing and the food in our stomachs! Yes we should hunt the weak, sick and old, but never the young, healthy or mothers still bearing calves! You killed his mother against Mother Natures will! I was there to put your wrong doing right once again!"

Some of the wolves surrounding the former Alpha female snickered at her words, and Anlachs cheeks burned with further embarrassment.

"Eloin have you completely lost your mind?! This fawn, Tain as you call it, will never be your cub! You will never have cubs!"

As soon as the words were spoken Anlach regretted it. As Eloin flinched and a look of utter heartbreak filled her face, Anlachs own heart was very nearly torn out.

"Eloin, sister please, just take the fawn back to were you found it and we can all just forget about this little mis-understanding!" Cana stepped out from behind Anlach, her belly getting heavy with the pups she was now carrying. Eloin shot her a look of pure hatred and then turned back to Anlach.

"It didn't take you that long to get over me, did it?!" She growled at him. "No matter!" She turned back to her Cana. "I will never take him back sister! I am all he has in the world, and he is all I have in the world! You will never know my pain, soon enough you will have your own beautiful pups running around! As Anlach clearly stated, that will never happen for me! I am Tain's mother now!"

Eloin stood protectively over her young cub, who had been shivering in terror with all the yips, barks and growls that were determining whether she lived or died.

"Then you are dead to this pack! Go now both of you... This time, but if we catch either of you on Redwood territory after today you will be killed on sight!" Anlach growled, but there was also a deep sadness in his voice.

"Very well, you shall see neither of us again, but you will hear my call in your thick skull for the rest of your miserable life and with it shall come the guilt you feel this very second! Good bye Redwoods, may you be forever safe, you and your pups!" She spat, then she nosed Tain to his feet and both of them took off, with no intention of returning to Redwood forest again...