Kari and Sota ran as the hunters came after them. They could both hear the Dogs as they closed in on them, Their yipping and Barking echoed through the woods. Sota Stopped for a moment. "Here...Come in here" He panted and notioned to the hole. Kari follwed him in to the small fox's den that had been abandoned for sometime.
Panting heavily Kari, Closed her eyes to tried to calm down. Sota kept a close eye on her because of the fact she was pregnant with his pups. He turned and looked into the darkness trying to let his eyes adjust to the lighting. The dogs barking had softened and disappeared off into the distance. "I think we lost them...He sighed "Are you ok?" Said Sota somewhat relived "Yes..I..Think i should be fine.." Kari said in between breaths.

Sota then climbed out of the narrow passage way and then helped Kari out aswell.
Sota looked at kari straining to breathe and knew he had to get her to shelter. It had started to drizzle And Sota looked up at the sky then into the distance. He nudged kari to follow him. He walked pass a tree filled with vines hanging down from its limbs and saw a cave at the end of the feild. He bounded through the tall grass off to the cave with kari close behind. As they neared the entrance of the cave he Nudged some dry grass that had been on the floor and tried to make a pile. Kari layed down on the pile and started whining.
"Whats wrong.." Sota said sternly but with a worried expression "I think that trip was a little too much..I should be fine soon" She said closing her eyes and laying her head on her paws. She winced in pain.

They had not eatten in 3 moons and Sota assumed that could not be good for kari. He decided to hunt when the daybreak arrived. Sota's streak black pelt with a silver Stripe running down his back glistened in the moonlight.

Kari woke up that morning to find a small deer laying dead beside her. She blinked into the blinding sunlight that entered the cave. Kari Had a pure white pelt with a few dark gray streaks going down her tail. She walked outside the den and stretched. She looked up and saw birds sitting on a branch singing and the sunlight beaming down on the Wide feild of grass in front of her. She looked around and saw Sota laying on his back not to far away.

He was Laying in the sunlight at a near-by tree and seemed to be rolling around a bit.

Even though Sota acted very tough and was always serious, He had a play-ful side to him. Hidden to most wolves though for he thought it was a sign of weakness. Kari decided to sneak up on him.
Of course Sota wouldn't like it but that was the fun of it! She crawled silently through the grass towards him. Sota stirred for a moment and then settled back down. She continued to crawl through the grass towards him picking up speed with each step. As she was about to pounce on sota he quickly stood up and turned around leaving kari to land on her front paws surprised.
"So your awake huh?" He sat down looking at her playfully. His pure golden eyes seemed to look as if they were sparkling in the sunlight.
"You take the fun out of everything..." Kari said sitting down aswell.
Sota smiled "You make it to obvious"

"Well your too hard to sneak up on." Kari said mockingly. She didnt feel like aruging with him so she stood up and shaked a bit. She started wagging her tail softly and looked back at Sota.

Sota cocked his head to the side. "Did you atleast eat this morning?" Sota said Laying back down.
"No..I woke up and came to find you"
"Well you dont have to worry about me, You need to eat. Go"
Kari sighed and walked back to the den.
When sota was sure she was inside and sprawled back on the ground with his chest facing upwards. After about 2 hours Sota got back up and stretched.

"Hmm┘ it Dosn't take that long to eat. Great...now whats wrong" He said to himself shaking his head.
He walked towards the den and poked his head inside inside.
"Look i know your mad but why are yo-"

"Leave...Now" Kari said interrupting him. She was panting heavily and her fur seemed to stand on its end. Sota took a step Backwards. Never has Kari acted this way nor growled at him no matter how mad she got. He looked into her light blue eyes.
Surprised and worried Sota took a few steps in the den.
"..Kar"
"No! I need you to leave. Its time...And i cannot have you here. I will call you when im ready"
Sota Knew what she ment. She was in labor...And it was Forbidden to have a male wolf around when a she-wolf was giving birth. She had to do this alone...

Sota nodded firmly and headed to a tree near by. As the day went on Sota grew more anxious.He could hear whining,
Growling and soft yelping from the den. He hated not being able to do nothing while his mate was in pain. He growled in fustration and started scratching at the ground.
He remebered the day when he left the pack with her. He had to fight off a hell of alot wolves to be able to court her. Even after that was done he had to find a way to sneak out of the pack with her since he wasn▓t exactly alpha. Suddenly he heard Kari howling for out of his day dream He got up quickly and sprinted to the den. Kari was sitting in front of a tiny wolf sprawled on the ground. "Only one?" He questioned "look closely.." Kari said softly Sota looked down at the small gray wolf. He noticed right away that it wasnt breathing.
Sota growled and cursed himself. "It..It was my fault..I pushed you too hard. I am sorry. I-"

"Sota Sota, Its ok"
"How! How can you say that!" Snapped Sota

Kari walked to the back of the cave.
"Sota,come here"
Sota, Still fumed about the lost pup Timidly walked over to her with his tail between his legs. He looked down at her feet to see 2 squirming furballs in a patch of leaves. One was pure gray and the other was White and light gray.

"Wonderful arent they...?" Kari said soflty laying down beside the cubs.
"Yeah.." Sota perked up "Yes they are" Sota then nuzzled Kari and started licking her all over her face as he did when they were young.
Kari smiled and laughed"Sota, Stop." She said playfully Sota stopped smiled. He loved seeing her when shes happy. Then looked down at his new pups. He saw them trying to crawl to Kari so he nudged them one by one to her Since they were still blind and deaf. They instincly started suckling the milk and settled down. "We still have to name them you know.." Kari said still laying down licking the pups while they drank.
"Hmm..." Sota sat there still looking at the pups.
" Well i sorta like the name Koda, for the boy." Kari looked up at Sota " Wait, how can you tell whether thier boy or girl?" Sota said looking at her confused.
" They have different scents Of course"
"So...The white one... Its a girl"
"Yes"

Sota laughed slightly embarrassed he wasnt able to tell which one was a girl or boy.
"Then...I like the name Luna"
"Luna..., Yeah i like that one too." Kari said rolling over.

"Well...You should get some sleep tonight. Im going to stay up for a little bit longer" Sota Said looking back at the pups nestled under thier mothers fur. Sleeping soundly, thier little bodys moved in a rythmic breathing. Kari curled around the pups and placed her head on her tail to keep them warm.

As soon as Sota was sure kari was asleep he walked over to the lifless pup who layed on the floor near the entrance of the den. "Never did you get to see life little one..." Sota sighed and picked up the pup in his mouth and carried him outside. He went to a tree and started digging a hole. He then placed the pup in the hole and softly put the dirt back over him.
"Fenris...Please watch over him..."

As Sota walked Back to the den head hanging low, his ears pricked up. He smelt another wolf.
Sota looked from left to right and didnt see any wolves though. He wasnt going to take any chances with his pups and mate being so close-by. Growling softly he ran to the den to find kari and the pups ok. The moon had risen high in the sky making the feild seem to glow. The wind was making the trees up above rustle. Sota Sat in front of the den. Not far off he then saw a wolf.
This wolf had white paws and a dark gray body with the exception of a scar over his nose.

Sota reconized him right away. It was kari's younger brother..Neko. Banished from his pack he was a loner, Forced to fend for himself. Compared to Sota Neko was smaller in size and didnt have a chance of winning a fight if he was to pick one with Sota.

"What are you doing here..." Sota said glaring at him.

Neko looked at him with his dark blue and green eyes playfully.
"Oh come on...Cant a famliy member see the new pups?"

"Hn...your no family to me." Sota said standing up. Sota thought of him as a tratior, Put his own pack in danger long ago And He didnt trust him at all.

"Well i dont care. I just came here to see kari. Where is she?" Neko said stepping forward.

"None of your business. How do you know about the pups?" Said sota standing up

Neko smirked "I have my ways, Anyway, so your not going to let me see the pups?

"I thought i answered that already..." Said Sota annoyed

Neko looked at him blankly

Sota sighed.
"No you cannot see the pups.." Sota said looking away from him

"Well...Do you mind if i spend the night here?" Neko said lowering his head

"...And why would i let you do that?" Sota said

"Cause im still family?"

"To whom?..Not to me. And as long kari dosent know your here i have control ov-"

"Neko!" Kari yelled standing at the den entrance wagging her tail

"...Shit..now you woke her up,Well...If you need me ill be...elsewhere." Sota walked off into the feild but not to far where he could keep an eye on Neko

"Whats his problem?" Neko said walking over to kari confused

"Oh,Dont worry about him. He'll be fine." Said kari looking off in the feild seeing Sota laying in the grass staring at her.

Neko looked at the ground and starting whining. Kari Looked at Neko and saw him coughing up blood.

"Neko..." Kari walked over to Neko hesitating.
Neko coughed and growled. When he realized he was growling at her he stopped quickly.

"Oh..um..Dont worry about me." Neko walked into the den not taking a glance at kari

Kari turned to go into the den but then looked back at Sota Laying down looking up at the stars. She sighed and turned back around and went into the den. She came in to see Neko laying down, eyes shut and he was clawing at the floor. There was a bite mark on his shoulder. From the looks of it it looked like a wolf bite mark but bigger than average. Kari walked over to neko and nudged him with her muzzle.

"Neko..What happened to you..."

"Im..fine." Neko said hesitantly and sighed, relaxing himself "your pups..Their beautiful Kari"

Neko Lifted his head a bit and looked up at kari staring down at him sternly.

"What?" Neko looked at her hoping she wasnt mad

The pups started sqealing and moving around in the patch of leaves.
Kari shook her head and walked over to them.

She sat down an licked each of the pups to reassure them that she was there with them.

Neko trembled and got up quickly.

Kari looked up at him " What has gotten into you? Ever since you got here you've been acting..strange."

Neko Shut his eyes and opened them again. His eyes had changed. They no longer had that innocent look anymore. Now they had the look of anger. The look of a varg. From what Kari's mother told her of vargs was that they only lived to kill. To cause misery in ones life was pleasure for thiers. Kari quickly got up and stood infront of the pups in a defending postion.

"Neko..What happened to you? You must tell me. Now!"Kari said growling.

Neko looked over to her and then back at the floor. He turned to face her and laughed.
"Nothing has happened..Just..A fight earlyer." Neko walked over to kari who was now ready to attack at any given time.

"With whom...With who did you have a fight with!?"Kari said snapping back at him. She no longer could trust him. He had the look of a varg and would not take any chances with him. She had to get Sota but could not move for the pups protection. It was pure instinct to protect the pups at any cost.

Neko lowered his head. "Do you not trust me anymore Sister? your own blood...I dont know whom was the wolf i had a fight with but.." He stepped closer to kari and grinned " Nothing has changed..about me"

Kari growled. She didnt want to fight..in her condition she was still weak and had no intention of fighting her only brother. She didnt want him to get hurt but neko was now preparing to fight. She threw back her head and howled for sota.

In the middle of the howl Neko pounced on her knocking her to the ground and placed his paw on her neck. Digging his claws into her back and neck she yelped and bit his back leg not letting go. kari was surprised how strong he had gotten. Neko laughed and was about to snap her neck in half when he was then thrown to the wall with a great force. He Yelped as his body hit the rock wall and fell, whimpering in pain and layed on the floor not moving. He looked up as his vision came back together and saw sota growling and standing over Kari that was laying on the floor who was also whimpering.

"I knew i shouldn't have trusted you...How dare you touch Kari! Now your going to die."

Sota lowered himslef getting ready to fight when he heard kari whisper. " dont..dont kill him..please"She stuttered

"Kari..I have to. I am sorry" Sota said not taking his eyes off of Neko

Neko Slowly got up and looked at sota. " What are you doing here...This dosent concern-"

" Your in no position to talk!" Sota said cutting him off "Im not the type to engage myslef in a needless fight with with lower ranking wolves" He continued "...But kari seems to have sympathy for you. So i will make this as quick and painless as possible"

Neko and Sota started circling each other as most wolves would do to begin a fight. Sota looked in Nekos eyes trying to guess his next move. Neko made the first move by running at sota snarling. Sota stood and grinned. Neko jumped at his back and Sota dodged it lowering himself and bit his leg then jumping back. Neko stumbled and then caught his balance. Neko never knew sota was this fast. He would have to serious he wanted to stay alive. He still had the varg look on his face and knew sota wouldn't belive him if he said he was back to normal. He didnt want to fight sota, He had no comparison to him. He just wanted to slow him down so he could escape. That was going to be hard to do..

Sota noticed neko glance at the pups and then back at him. Sota growled and watched Nekos every movement. Kari strained to get up.

"Kari stay down." Sota said looking at neko while walking over to the pups and her.

Kari didnt listen. She didnt want the pups to be here while they were fighting. She would split Sota and neko up later after she hid the pups. Sota looked over to kari for a split second as she was picking up the pups. He made a bad move. In that second neko saw his chance and ran toward the enterance of the cave. Sota jumped in front of him. Sota then knocked him over pinning him to the floor. He bared his fangs and snarled at Neko as he looked down at him.

"Hn...Where did you think you were going..Were finishing this." Sota said

Neko trembled and strained to get himself unpinned from the floor. Sota easily kept him down and had a shine in his eye. He had a blood rush and couldn't resist his instincts to kill. The smell of blood drove him wild.

He opened his jaw and lowered himself to Neko. Neko saw his fangs inch closer to him and shut his eyes knowing he was going to die.For him everything seemed to be happening in slow motion. As Sota's Jaws wrapped around his neck and bit down Neko yelped and He whispered "Kari..Ill watch over you.."

Kari then knew neko had returned to normal and gasped. She ran over to sota and was about to tell him to stop but it was too late. Sota quickly snapped his neck with his powerful jaws and held onto him. There was a sharp yelp But nothing more. Sota had blood dripping from his chin as he threw up his head and howled in the air.

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Next Chapter coming soon. Tell me what you think!