VOICES:

-Buck: Mark Harmon

-Kaya: Sasha Alexander

-Bristol: Patrick Swayze

-Bear: William Lee Scott

-Talon: Christopher Lloyd   

  The fresh, spring breeze blew into my face and I inhaled deeply. A month ago, I would have taken it for granted… but now I wouldn’t let it escape. I tried to listen to the rustling pine trees, but it was hard to hear. It would have been even easier to enjoy if Kaya wasn’t such a loud eater.

            I opened my eyes and watched my mate, stomach expanded with pups, practically inhale her food. The rest of the pack sat around her, mouths watering. No one said a word. The less they got Kaya to talk, the faster she would eat. I peered around at my pack and cracked a smile.

“Wow, you were that hungry and you didn’t even help hunt… and I think you’re gaining some weight” I said, trying to keep a straight face.

Kaya whipped around and glared at me. But since she had a full mouth, she didn’t say anything, just aggressively chomped on her food.

            “I think you look good for someone eating for, you know…more…” Bear said, laying his ears back.

“I thought you were supposed to back me up on everything!” I yelped, turning to Bear.

Bear shrugged sheepishly, keeping his eyes on Kaya.

            “If I had a choice between which of you two doesn’t get mad at me, I’d choose the pregnant one” he shrugged again.

                        “How do you even know I’m having puppies!? Do you think I look fat!?” Kaya snapped, turning to him so that their noses touched.

Bear shot backwards and behind me, his tail between his legs.

“Relax, Kaya. I guess mood swings are part of being pregnant…” I slammed my mouth shut.

For a second, I thought I was going to be in for it, but Kaya only glared, then gave in.

                        “I know! I just needed to let my anger out and there’s no pregnant one to choose” she shot back, glaring at Bear again.

I sighed and shook my head. The rest of the pack waited for Kaya to finish, not daring to upset her again. But like her mood, Kaya’s appetite swung rapidly. Halfway through chewing a mouthful, her face turned a different color and she spat out the meat.

                        “I’m done” Kaya moaned. “I’ll be back in the den if you need me”

 Atka, Kaya’s new best friend and care-taker until she had pups, snagged a part of the deer and hurried to catch up with Kaya as the alpha female headed for the cave.

As soon as her grey and tan tail was out of sight, the rest of the pack dove for our catch before Kaya changed her mind. Bristol sat patiently and waited with me, even though we were the two highest ranking in the pack and should have eaten first.

            “When is she going to have those puppies?! I don’t know how much more I can take!”

“I don’t know… it has to be soon though…” I said, absentmindedly looking over my pack.

            “How’s your side?”

“It’s better then it was” I said quietly. I didn’t want to admit that it still bothered me…

            When the pack started to clear out, Bristol and I where about to start eating when Atka charged back, skidding to a stop in the slushy spring snow.

 “I think Kaya’s having her puppies!” she barked excitedly.

The whole pack jumped up at once, following Atka back to the den in a mad rush.

“What should we do?!” I blubbered as I slid to the front of the den.

Why didn’t I know what to do? I’d never had puppies before! Bristol picked up the slack…

            “Atka, go in and help Kaya if she needs it and whoever’s scouting go to your usual places, the rest of you just relax and breath! She’s only having puppies…” the beta snapped.

                        “Only having puppies!” we heard Kaya laugh hysterically from inside the den. “Have you ever had puppies before?!”

             Her drama was cut short by a short whimper. I jumped to my feet. I had to help her! I made a break for the den, but Bristol blocked me.

“I need to help!” I said desperately. “She’s hurt!”

            “Calm down Buck, she’s fine. You’re just going to stress her out more if you go in”

With a small whimper myself, I ordered myself to sit. Bristol was right. But with another yip from Kaya, I dived for the den again.

            “Yukon, Bear, take Buck away from here!” Bristol ordered sharply.

I didn’t object. I knew I was being irrational. Yukon and Bear led the way back to the deer; I don’t think they had eaten much either. Even though Kaya was out of earshot, I couldn’t calm myself down. Would she be okay? What if the pups died? What if Kaya died? What if Boss killed them while I was gone?! What if the den collapsed?! WHAT IF THE MOUNTIANS EXPLODED?!

            “You really shouldn’t stress yourself. She’s going to be fine” Yukon said, blue eyes studying me.

“I just need something to eat that’s all” I said, shrugging him off as we approached the half eaten deer.

Yukon and Bear wasted no time digging in, but no matter how hard I tried, I just wasn’t hungry. I plopped down and tried to close my eyes, but I wasn’t tired enough to fall asleep either. Bear lay down next to me, shifting uncomfortably. Yukonsat down next to us and kept watch while Bear dozed and I tried to squeeze my eyes shut. But there was just no way that it was going to happen…

            We lay there for what seemed like an eternity before I just couldn’t take it anymore.

“Let’s head back” I moaned, getting to my feet.

Yukon nodded and Bear blinked the sleep out of his eyes and followed us, still drowsy. We trudged back until the den came into sight… If it was this dark out, the pack should have been asleep. But they weren’t at all. The entire pack swarmed in front of the den and a desperate Bristol was trying to ward them off. I broke into a sprint, heart beat accelerating wildly. The pack moved out of my way, smiles wide and tails wagging. Wait… was someone missing? I didn’t have enough time to mull it over before Bristol caught my attention and smiled warmly.

            “Congratulations”

I smiled nervously and hesitated at the mouth of the den.

 “Kaya?!”

            “I’m right here…” she said. I had never heard her use that tone of voice, ever. “I’m not going anywhere…”

I slipped into the den and made my way toward Kaya. My eyes adjusted to the dark and the first things I saw where the three shapeless lumps squirming next to Kaya. My mate looked up and smiled warmly, eyes sparkling. The three lumps wriggled and whimpered. The first born pup was easy to see, her coat bright white. The smallest pup looked like she was the same color as Kaya but with a white and the middle pup was the same color as me minus the white chest and paws. I nuzzled Kaya but couldn’t tear my eyes away from my new family..

“Wow” I said breathlessly. I was a father?

            “Yep. Not bad for a first time mom, huh?” Kaya said proudly.

“Not bad at all. I think we should name her Anyu” I said, motioning to the white pup.

            “Maybe, but I don’t want to name them just yet…”

I smiled and got up to leave.

“Just rest before you get cranky or something” I smiled.

            “I never get cranky!! When have I ever gotten cranky!?”

I backed out of the cave as fast as I could before Kaya could follow me.

Even though the pack was missing a hunter, we were able to catch another deer and various small animals because of the warm spring weather. During Kaya’s absence, I grew more on edge. It seemed like every once and a while, we were another wolf short, or like someone was sneaking around at night. However, I tried to ignore the feeling and worry about Kaya instead. We hunted without Kaya for a whole week but constantly stopped in to see the pups. They didn’t come out very