Torak sat in the glow of the fire. A dark lock of hair brushed his cheek as he repeatedly plunged the water skin into the river. In the shelter he had hurriedly constructed Renn screamed until her cries sent Ripp and Rek flying away. She had collapsed next to the river clutching her swollen stomach and Torak had no choice but to build around her.
Again Renn screamed and Torak crawled next to her and desperately tried to remember what Renn had done when one of the bluejays had given birth. All he could recall was lots of flustered women and water was needed, he was told to stay out of the way and ended up talking to the mate.
" It's coming !" Renn yelled again , the vein in her neck sticking out. Wolf would be better help than I am Torak thought as he clutched Renn's hand, but Wolf had gone hunting along with Darkfur and the rest of his pack, which had increased in size enormously since they had left the old forest. Suddenly Wolf's howl rang out through the forest telling Torak they were coming back , it seemed to calm Torak and remembered that Renn and had told him to keep her breathing.
"breath!" he blurted out. Slowly Renn's chest entered a steady pattern of in out int out.
A crashing announced Wolf's return. Even through her pain Renn caught his eye that reflected his question.
"why is it only Wolf?" Wolf always brought up the rear since Nipper had lost to cub to a river. Their question was soon answered when they heard Wolf's bark
"Uff !" danger
Torak turned to crawl out of the tent when suddenly Renn screamed through her panting
" Torak! Help me!"
Propping up on her elbows Renn held out her hands,her face was pale and shimmered in the glow of the fire ; Torak thought she had never looked more beautiful than when she took her baby boy into her hands and whispered
"tell me the name of your father,Torak for that is your son's name."
"Neto."
"Neto" Renn echoed brushing her finger tips along his prominent cheek bones.
Whatever Renn was about to say was cut off by another one of Wolf's urgent warnings. Torak was about to go outside and ask him about it when a wolverine crashed into the tent,it's eyes ablaze with fury. Renn screamed and tucked Neto into her chest as she backed away , Torak stood there dumb, remembering when the bear had come for his father. He had been twelve summers old then and he wasn't now. He reached for his knife that lay in a pile with the rest of his and Renn's gear. He whirled around brandishing the blade when the wolverine ripped open Renn's arm and snatched the bundle of cloth that contained Neto.
" No!" Renn and Torak yelled in unison. Leaping to his feet Torak sprinted after the wolverine as it ran into the trees.
Torak heard Wolf running behind him and pushed his legs even faster. Wolf streaked past him on the heels of the wolverine , like Torak had with Nipper's cub , wolf was trying to save Torak's . Slowly they got further away from Torak until eventually a branch came out of nowhere and smacked into Torak's forehead . He sprawled onto the ground and watched Wolf melt into the trees.
Torak's thighs were burning as he staggered to his feet, Neto's fate was with Wolf and Renn was alone and injured, he had no choice but to get back to her. He looked around for his knife when suddenly Renn's voice carried towards him
"Torak! Hel-"
Forgetting his pain Torak left his knife and ran back. He burst into the wrecked and empty camp as Wolf's cry of defeat carried over the trees.