A brown and white wolf sat close to the Little Pebble Stream. Almost close enough where he could fall in. He was huge! His noble head secured onto a thick neck which led into his muscular frame with surprisingly long legs. His light blue eyes watched the little currents from the stream’s movement. However, a bustle of laughter wrecked his sense of calm. He looked to the east to see a blue gray she-wolf followed by three of her friends. A pinkish red one, a cloud patched one, and the last one was burnt tan. All four where laughing about some joke. "What are you looking at?" The blue gray spoke as she noticed him looking.
"Just watching a fool walk, White Toes." He snickered. Her fur bristled as she shot him a stone hard glare. "Don’t get funny with me Earthquake!" She snapped. Earthquake stood and walked closer to White Toes and her group. The pinkish red was the smallest of the group and she huddled behind the burnt tan known as India. Earthquake chuckled.
"Scared Red Dream?" He asked as he bent his head down with a smirk. She growled.
"Why should I?" Her head raised a bit but it lowered quickly when he growled. White Toes put herself between Red Dream and Earthquake. "Go pick on someone your own size." Cloud, the patchy pattern one spoke.
"Yes, we were having such a nice time until you popped in!" White Toes stuck her face inches from Earthquake’s.
"Well I was enjoying some rest before your noisy crew came bustling in." Earthquake said in his defense. White Toes rolled her eyes before walking away with her nose a bit in the air.
As Cloud and Red Dream followed White Toes, India stayed behind. "What do you want?" He asked gruffly. India took a breath before she replied, "Tell Nevada I said hey." She turned and trotted toward her friends. India had a crush on one of Earthquake’s friends, Nevada. Earthquake chuckled. Nevada wasn’t a social butterfly and yet India found him.
***
The whole valley knew Earthquake and White Toes hated each other. White Toes was disgusted with him for no reason and he thought she was a bit too stuck-up. Nothing caused it, it just started.
Earthquake strode into his den a bit furious with White Toes. He was so tired of her. "Hey bro?" One of his sister’s voice carried to him in his den. He got back up from his relaxed position and made it outside. There stood his sister, Aries. "What’s up?
"Oh not much." Earthquake’s head was low.
"You and Toes had another spat?" She asked him before she sat. She could tell by his expression.
He couldn’t lie. "Yeah…over by the stream. It was nothing compared to the last one." He smiled and Aries laughed.
"Oh…sorry, I forgot the real reason I am here. Nevada and Tasik were wondering if you just wanted to chase some rabbits up." Aries tried to smile innocent, which caused Earthquake to laugh. He stood and started walking past Aries but she stopped him.
"And Earthquake… just ignore White Toes." Earthquake nodded before Aries dashed off into the bushes. He gave a small sigh before heading to the meadow. "How can I avoid her when my heart tells me other wise…" He wondered to himself.
***
"Hey there’s Earthquake!" A brown wolf with white stockings spoke as his tail wagged.
"Hey man, how’s it going?" Tasik the black Balto looking wolf asked as Earthquake slowed to a stop.
"Nothing really." Once the words were out of his mouth, Nevada gave him a "yeah-right" look. Earthquake chose to ignore it.
"Why we sanding around? Let’s chase!" Tasik barked excited as the speed built wolf took down the ridge. Nevada and Earthquake took after him.
After an hour, Earthquake had chased up none. Tasik had 5 and Nevada 3. "Alright Earthquake you get the next one." Nevada spoke jokingly.
"You’re just saying that to get some rest." Earthquake responded. Tasik broke out laughing while Nevada grinned. "You know…India really cares about you…" Earthquake spoke. Nevada gave a bit of a growl.
"Haven’t you noticed the way she looks at you?" Tasik brought up. Nevada lowered his head with an annoyed look. "I think you should go out with her. I would if I wasn’t so in love with Sierra!" Tasik added.
"I didn’t realize that I had joined this dating service!" Nevada snapped. Earthquake chuckled.
Suddenly, a rabbit burst from the bushes. Earthquake took off after it, toward the forest. "Run!" Nevada yelled. As Earthquake and his prey came closer to the wooden border, he had to charge through the thorn bushes. Just as he caught sight of it, the rabbit disappeared into some more bushes.
"Damn rabbits…" He muttered and just as he was about to jump the barrier, he heard the rabbit cry and a growl. When he landed did he then recognize that it was White Toes who had killed it. "Hey that was my rabbit!" He snapped angrily.
He muttered and just as he was about to jump the barrier, he heard the rabbit cry and a growl. When he landed did he then recognize that it was White Toes who had killed it. "Hey that was my rabbit!" He snapped angrily."Well I didn’t see your name on it!" White Toes responded. "Besides you were too much of a slow poke to catch it." She added with a touch of sass. Earthquake growled.
"What’s going on?" Tasik asked as him and Nevada arrived.
"She stole my rabbit!" Earthquake barked.
"Oh stop being immature!" White Toes snarled.
"Watch who you’re snarling at…" Earthquake growled and puffed his chest. His head held high as he looked down on her fragile frame. He towered over her and she knew it.
"Look mister…" White Toes tried to stick her muzzle in his face. Even though he was only a few inches above her, she still was smaller. Earthquake snarled and her ears laid down. Tasik and Nevada watched the two glare at each other.
"I don’t have to waste my time on you." Earthquake spoke as if he was speaking to a mouse. He lightly pushed her aside and snatched the rabbit up.
"Hey!" White Toes yelled as she tried to regain her balance.
"Oh thanks for pre-killing it!" Earthquake called out as he, Nevada, and Tasik rushed for the clearing. White Toes watched them hop over the thorn bushes before she gave a disgusted sigh.
"Men…" She muttered to herself. White Toes turned to visit her mother.
She muttered to herself. White Toes turned to visit her mother.***
Tasik glared at Earthquake as he munched on the rabbit. Earthquake noticed it and snapped, "What?"
"That wasn’t a nice thing to do…" The black/white wolf replied coldly.
"Hey she didn’t chase it. I did!" Earthquake answered before he took another bite. Tasik rolled his eyes. A deep rumble of thunder was heard.
"Oh I don’t like the sound of that." Nevada stated. "Come on let’s head home."
Tasik and Earthquake agreed. "Hey Earthquake your place is pretty far. You can stay at my place until it clears." Nevada offered.
"Thanks but I think I can make it." Earthquake said. Nevada nodded before him and Tasik headed east. Earthquake headed west toward his home.
"You best be getting home now White Toes." Sun, her mother pointed out.
"Okay mother. Good night and take care." White Toes took to a run toward her place. Hopefully, she’ll make it there before the rain becomes unbearable.
As the rain came down harder, Earthquake sloshed through the mud. The rain felt like rocks more than water. It stung even through his thick coat. He had to take shelter and now! Meanwhile, White Toes was having trouble of her own. Out in the open, she galloped through the meadow but the ground grasped at her paws. As she neared the forest she was hoping for it to be better but it wasn’t. Trees were shaken, some limbs were already down, and the earth was like a swamp. "Goodness…the storm couldn’t have got this bad in a few minutes!" She thought to herself as she tried to dodge the upcoming obstacles. But it was difficult to see with the hard rain.
CRACK! White Toes looked up before being knocked to the ground.
AHH!
Earthquake looked to the southeast. "What was that?" He thought before he galloped toward the scream. He crashed through the bushes, leapt over fallen limbs, and tried to bear the harsh wind. As he neared the area, he gasped. There was White Toes trapped under a limb. The limb was stuck at a slant between two close trees but it still had her trapped beneath it. "White Toes!" He shouted as he slid to a stop in front of her. "Earthquake?" She mumbled softly. Blood was trickling down her forehead and her left shoulder and leg were bruised lightly.
"It’s okay…I’m getting you out of here!" Earthquake dug through the mud, moving it aside to make more room. Hopefully, enough room to move her out carefully. He panted hard as he tried to reach White Toes. "Almost there." He said more to himself then her. "Get me out of here." White Toes tried to say strong but her voice was weak. "Don’t worry…you’re almost out of here." Earthquake spoke to her softly to comfort her. He wasn’t sure she heard him through the rain.
There he was! Beside her…her delicate frame… He wasn’t sure how to move her but he clamped his jaws around her scruff and drug her out. Once she was out in the rain, he moved her onto his back. "There has to be shelter near!" He thought as he tried to look through the penetrating rain. He headed for his home with White Toes snug on his back. He galloped over the slosh earth for not only for his self but also for her.
Earthquake was worn and White Toes was injured. He stumbled around and then a scent of dry earth sparked his nostrils. Where was it? He pushed himself on with new hope. There it was in front of him! A small cave. He was delighted. "White Toes we made it to shelter!" He cried. White Toes gave a moan to show she was still breathing. Earthquake was so excited as he dashed into the cave, he nearly dropped poor White Toes. He looked around while his eyes adjusted to the darker area. Before he knew it, he was standing in a puddle and so Earthquake moved quietly close to the cave wall. In a mixture of dirt and sand, Earthquake carefully placed White Toes down in a laying position.
"Where are we?" She whispered.
"In a small cave until the storm dies down." He answered before walking a bit a ways and shaking some of the moisture from his soaked fur. When Earthquake turned to look at White Toes, her head was up and she tried to stand. "Easy Toes." Earthquake warned as he quickly came to her side.
"I can get it!" Right when she said that, her knees nearly buckled under her. Luckily for White Toes, Earthquake stuck his snout under her belly to add some support.
"Can you stand?" Earthquake asked gentleman like.
"I believe I can." She answered softly and so he removed his muzzle from under her. White Toes was like a newborn foal on it’s first time to stand. Wobbly before falling back to the ground. "Okay…maybe it’s best if I just stay down for a bit." She smiled weakly and Earthquake chuckled.
"Your leg’s a bit bruise and so is your shoulder but you’ll be fine." He reassured her. White Toes smiled before chuckling. "What?" His brown ears pricked up.
"Never thought I would be thanking you for saving my life." White Toes’s smile beamed. Earthquake smiled as well.
"Your welcome."
White Toes nodded her head just before curling up into a ball. Earthquake sat and watched her every breath. Sides up…sides down…sides up…shiver…sides down. A bit of a wheeze brought in a small cough. A concerned look crossed his face. Earthquake stood, walked around to the other side of White Toes, then laid down. Shaping his body around her to develop a protective ring. Earthquake sighed before closing his eyes.
***
Groan.
White Toes watched as the rain still carried on into the morning. "How can it rain this bad?!" She thought to herself. Her leg and shoulder was feeling better. White Toes chuckled as she realized she used Earthquake like a pillow last night. Yawn. White Toes looked to her right to see an opening in Earthquake’s eyes. "Morning sleepyhead."
"Morning." He responded before standing to stretch. Front legs out first then back like a damn cat.
White Toes watched him with somewhat of a glare. "I’m feeling much better today." She told him.
"That’s good. So that means you can stand?" Earthquake arched an eyebrow.
Slow but sure, White Toes stood with trembling legs. She righted her stance and became secure. Earthquake gave a nod of approval. "So what do we do?" Earthquake shrugged his shoulders. White Toes sighed. She really didn’t want to be stuck in this cave with someone she disliked…much. "Yeah sure he saved me but I don’t have to be nice." She thought to herself.
White Toes plopped down to the ground. No way were they going to talk.
"What were you doing all by your lonesome self?"
White Toes growled beneath her breath. "Heading home." She answered.
Earthquake sat feeling really uncomfortable. His ears laid flat to the side and his expression a but glum."Why is she being such a brat?" He thought. "She probably rather have me dead." He thought. Earthquake was going to try to break the ice a bit. "Sorry about what happened earlier yesterday. I was being really stupid and such a complete idiot."
White Toes was a bit surprised. No she wasn’t going to let her guard down. "It’s fine." She said flatly.
"No it’s not fine. So when it clears up I’m going to catch you a rabbit." Earthquake curled up by himself with his back to White Toes.
"If you can catch one."
Earthquake sighed. He decided to doze for a bit. White Toes waited for a minute then raised her head. A lone sigh escaped her as she pondered about her feelings. "I like him, hell on the second day since I knew him I liked him. And I’m not letting my brothers’ stupid teasing get me!" White Toes rose to her feet and shuffled over to Earthquake. When she reached him, she looked down on his face before the blue gray wolf settled herself between the front and back legs of Earthquake. Once she laid her head across his front legs, one last thought came to her. "Now I’m comfy." A smile appeared on her face.
Snooze…Earthquake and White Toes were like a big ball of fur. White Toes had her head buried beneath his neck scruff. Earthquake surrounded her with his body. White Toes without even knowing it licked under his chin as she was dreaming. "Whoa!" Earthquake shot to a stand nearly kicking White Toes in the head with one of his back feet. He looked under his self to see a dozing White Toes. "Stop making so much racket…" White Toes growled before curling herself up.
"What are you doing?" He asked with an arched eyebrow and his ears perked.
"What does it look like I’m doing." White Toes yawned when she raised her head. Earthquake tried to find something in her deep blue eyes. But it was no use. She was as clear as rock. Earthquake chuckled. "No way it can still be raining!" White Toes growled as her expression turned shock. Earthquake could hear the plink and tap of the rain.
"Mother Nature must think we’re thirsty."
White Toes smirked then watched Earthquake walk around the cave. "What are you doing? Trying to get yourself lost." She added the last sentence as he was poking his head and sniffing around in some barely big enough tunnels.
"Just checking around." He replied before he trotted around the cave. His little workout was a situation of lunging a horse. Just going along the cave wall at whatever gait he set.
"Can I join you?"
"Sure."
White Toes staggered to her feet and when he came around beside her again, she went into a slow trot. Even though she winced at first from the bruise, she could bear it that it didn’t even matter. As she trotted next to him, her mind entered personal issues…again.
"Want to go into a run?"
"What?" Her thought train broke when Earthquake asked her that.
"Into a run." He repeated. White Toes nodded yes and Earthquake moved himself up into the run. White Toes broke into it easily.
"Good idea to get our blood flowing." White Toes spoke a little breathless. Earthquake just smiled. After a while, the two wolves slowed into a walk to cool down.
"What now?" White Toes asked as she plopped herself down to the ground. Earthquake stretched himself out as he laid beside her.
"I don’t know." He said before rolling onto his back. White Toes turned her head a bit to watch him then laid it down on her front paws with a sigh. Earthquake’s hazel eyes locked onto the right profile of White Toes head.
Earthquake flipped back onto his belly and placed a paw over her back and let it drape across her left shoulder. White Toes raised her head with pricked ears and looked at his paw as if it was going to bite.
Earthquake inched closer to her small body and started to lick the top of her head. White Toes was taken by surprise of his actions. "What are you doing Earthquake?" She asked softly but didn’t get a reply. He had started to nibble on her ears a bit then back to licking the top of her head. White Toes couldn’t take it anymore. She loved Earthquake! She couldn’t lie about it even if she tried with all her heart. He not only saved her but also completely changed to care for her.
"What the hell’s wrong with me?!" Earthquake asked himself. He knew the answer. He liked her. He loved her spirit and her fiery nature. But when she got mean, he got mean right back. Earthquake would do anything for her. "If only she knew…"
"I can’t take this anymore!" Earthquake growled as he stood and started to pace back and forth. White Toes was confused as her eyes followed him.
"What?"
"You!"
"Me! What did I do!" White Toes demanded.
"You’ve got me in a vice grip! White Toes I can’t deny it anymore. Since the first day we met I’ve always loved you." Earthquake was freaking out, as his cheeks were crimson. "Did I say what I think I just said?"
"Did he say what I think he just said?"
White Toes stood and carefully walked closer to him and nuzzled him under his chin. Earthquake looked down upon her with his handsome hazel eyes. White Toes smiled. "You were feeling the same thing…" She nearly whispered.
"What?" Earthquake now was confused. He confessed he loved her. Did she feel the same?
White Toes chuckled. "Every day I looked toward those spats. Just to see you look all angry." She giggled as she slid under his chin and flicked his snout with the end of her tail. "You looked even cuter when you were all mad." Earthquake blushed even redder.
"My brothers were always teasing me when I was just a pup. I guess I just grew into the thought I could never have you." White Toes confessed and her head lowered. Earthquake nuzzled her warmly then sank to the floor. White Toes fell onto his cream belly.
"You have me now."
"And you have me." White Toes added before their noses touched into a canine kiss.
"And I can handle your brothers."
White Toes chuckled. "Oh Earthquake." Earthquake’s tail thumped the ground with a mighty beat.
***
White Toes ears lifted up to listen. There was no plunk. No plink. No drumming. Slowly her eyes opened to see the sun peering into the cave. The storm was over! White Toes lifted her head then yawned. Her tail started to wag. "Earthquake wake up!"
"What is it babe?" Earthquake asked sleepily as he opened his eyes.
"The storm’s over!" White Toes sprang to her feet and dashed outside. She filled her lungs with the rain smelling air. Oh it felt so good.
"Hello beautiful." White Toes spun around to see Earthquake standing right behind her. White Toes like a nimble deer, trotted to him and got nuzzled by him. She smiled and in return he smiled back.
"Come on let’s tell the others!" Earthquake started to run but White Toes barked. Earthquake slid in the dewy grass and looked at her. White Toes chuckled as she trotted up next him.
"Let’s surprise them."
Earthquake smiled. "You go to your group and I go to mine?"
White Toes nodded and then they separated. "This is going to be fun." White Toes muttered to herself. The two went their different ways to get to the valley center where their friends lived.
***
"Oh thank goodness you’re alive!" Red Dream squeaked with delight. White Toes smiled as her friends were shooting out questions.
"How did you make it?"
"Were you able to find shelter?"
"Were you scared?"
"Okay settle down!" White Toes barked. "Yes I was scared to answer your question Red Dream. I almost didn’t make it if someone hadn’t shown up." India, Cloud, and Red Dream gasped aloud.
"Who came to your rescue?" India asked.
White Toes took a breath, "My knight in shining armor was…" All three leaned in closer with their ears alert and eyes wide. Then she whispered, "I’ll let you figure it out."
"Aww man…"
"Just tell us!"
But White Toes wasn’t paying attention. Earthquake’s scent came to her. "Smell that ladies?"
Cloud took a whiff. "It’s Earthquake."
"No it’s another spat coming along." White Toes corrected her patchy friend. A playful smile appeared on her face. Oh was she going to enjoy the look on their face when they find out about her and Earthquake. She broke into a run toward her love.
"This early in the morning?" Tasik asked as he and Nevada followed the excited Earthquake.
"I’ve never seen him so happy for a spat!" Nevada exclaimed.
As Earthquake caught sight of White Toes an adrenaline rush ruled his body. He broke into a long stride run. A wicked grin was on his face. White Toes smiled a devious smile and when he got into her range, she pushed herself off the ground and pounced on him. Earthquake slid into the ground while White Toes nimbly jumped off him. Red Dream started to bark and Cloud joined her. Earthquake sprang to his feet and tackled White Toes and pinned her. Nevada and Tasik started to tease back at the now hushed Cloud and Red Dream.
Earthquake smiled at White Toes and she returned his smile. "Hello drop dead gorgeous."
Their friends gasped. "OMG!" Cloud barked.
"No way!" Tasik spoke.
"Earthquake…you and White Toes are…an item?" India asked.
Earthquake let White Toes up and she licked his right cheek. Another gasp. Earthquake looked at each of their faces then said a bit annoyed, "The world’s not going to end."
"Well congrats then." Nevada spoke then gave a little bow.
"Thank you Nevada." White Toes said. "Yep everyone Earthquake was my knight in shining armor." Then they started to tell the events that happened over the last two days.
***
Earthquake was snoozing in a sunny spot. He had just finished up a hunt and now was resting. "Hey buddy what’s up?" Earthquake opened his eyes to see Nevada coming toward him. "Oh hey." Earthquake stood and started to stretch as Nevada sat down.
"How are you and India?" Nevada and India started dating not to long ago. Nevada finally realized how much she loved him and how much he cared for her.
"Oh we’re doing fine. I’m thinking of asking her to be mine." Nevada smiled as Earthquake’s bottom jaw lowered a bit.
"Really?"
Nevada nodded. "So how’s White Toes? I haven’t seen her for a while."
"She’s got moody lately so I’ve stayed out of the den."
"You know what that means?" Nevada smiled and Earthquake was a bit confused. Earthquake wasn’t a fast thinker.
"Earthquake! Come quick!" Cloud was running like a madman and hopping all around him like a rabbit on crack.
"What is it?" Earthquake asked, as he suddenly became worried.
"Oh you are going to have your paws full now!" Cloud exclaimed.
"Will you stop hopping around!" Earthquake growled and firmly planted a paw on her tail. Cloud yelped. "Where’s White Toes?"
"In her den where else." Cloud answered disgusted but Earthquake was already gone. Nevada followed after him trying to keep up.
"White Toes?" Earthquake asked quietly. All he heard was squeaking. He entered the den and saw White Toes laying in a somewhat wallow. Her back was against the wall. Her mother, Sun was sitting not to far from her.
"Hello Earthquake." White Toes whispered as her side heaved a bit. Earthquake quietly walked closer and sat down where he faces the five pups.
Nevada finally made it to the den entrance and gasped.
"Come on Nevada let’s leave them alone." Sun spoke as she started to make her way outside.
"But…" Nevada started to argue but a deep growl from the elder hushed him. Nevada headed home to India. White Toes chuckled. Earthquake nuzzled her and she nuzzled back.
"Shall we name them?" Earthquake asked.
"Sure. Sun separated them into their genders. Those three are the males and these two are females. That are closer to my front leg." White Toes replied.
Earthquake spotted one of the females that looked exactly like her mother. "How about this one" He pointed to the one. "be named Fleet Foot." White Toes nodded then pondered about the last female. She looked Earthquake except for her white stripe between the eyes that led to her nose.
"For some reason I’m thinking Tilly." Earthquake looked at the pup and smiled. "And the one male that is all dark brown be Mudslide." Earthquake nodded.
He started to look at the last two males then found one with blue gray fur but a brown snout as well as white paws. "Disaster." White Toes chuckled then looked hard at the last one. Gray with a black face and the pattern of his sire. Also a brown tail completed his look.
"Storm Chaser?" She asked.
Earthquake smiled then nuzzled his love. "We’re so going to be busy." He added and White Toes chuckled.