A blanket of white covered trees, hills and valleys in the well kept territories of Jasper National Park. The chilly air had long since banished those that hibernated to their dens or sets. Noon day sun touched territories the western pack called home. For most of the pack, today was a day of rest, relaxation and staying out of the cold. A few omega wolves played in the snow together, ever joyful.
Near the western edge of the territory two grey wolves hurried along, their fur frozen from a long time traveling in the freezing cold. They bore a multitude of scratches, cuts and even a few bite marks near their necks, clear signs that both had been in a big fight with other wolves. The wounds were scabbed over but not yet truly healing, a sign that whatever had befallen the unfortunate family had happened within the last few days. Upon the back of the omega male, a young pup lay, seemingly at pace. The female omega wolf by his side crashed into the soft snow as her injured left foreleg gave out. Her mate skidded to a halt, careful not to dislodge the pup on his back, he hurried to assist.
"Come on dear, we have to find shelter," Silver, the male omega wolf pleaded.
"No... we're almost there, I can feel it," Blazer, the female omega stood slowly, favouring her foreleg and shook her head. "We have to keep going..." her eyes fell upon the sleeping pup.
Without another word, she stalked off, her mate followed obediently behind. Nothing but the soft sound of paws compacting the snow they trod on could be heard by the pair as they forced themselves onwards. The shewolf's head was bowed, her nose to the ground and her ears flattened as she struggled onwards to a place she had left long ago.
"Who goes there?" an authoritative voice rang out.
"My mate and I are hurt, we need shelter!" the omega who carried the pup urgently called back.
"This is the territory of the western pack. Outsiders are not welcome here," the owner of the voice appeared from behind a bush further up the hill. The young wolf was flanked by a grey-black companion who scowled at the pair.
"We mean you no harm, we are lone wolves and I only wish to see an old friend." The shewolf collapsed upon the snow once more.
"Who might that be?" the grey-black wolf challenged, his guard faltered as he realised the pair were seriously injured.
"Eve. I believe she is the alpha around here," the omega met the guards question lying down upon the frozen earth.
"You know Eve?" it was then the first wolf realised there was a young life on top of the male newcomer. "Quickly, follow me. Their den is not far."
"Wait, just let me help my mate up," the omega male nosed his way under his lover's left side, mindful of her crippled leg.
He used his head to assist her as she rose slowly. Rather than risk pushing her baby off, the shewolf slid down her companion's side to stand in the snow on three legs. She leant heavily against her mate and simply stood for a moment while she gathered her strength.
"Are you sure you can make it dear?" Silver asked, clearly worried for his mate's wellbeing.
The shewolf nuzzled her mate, their grey muzzles rubbed together warming their otherwise frozen bodies as they enjoyed the sweet contact. "I'm fine," while it was clear from the pain in her voice that she was anything but, it did not stop the mother wolf from leading off.
The pair remained seemingly glued together for support. The useless foreleg was tucked up where it could not accidentally come into contact with anything other than the soft icy coat of her mate.
The two guards lead the injured family toward the den of the alpha couple in charge of the pack. By the time they arrived, the couple looked shattered.
The grey-black wolf motioned for the pair to wait outside while they went in and informed the alpha's of their guests.
"We made it..." panted Blazer as she sank into a seated position.
Despite the fact that Silver felt ready to fall over, he lay protectively across his mate in an attempt at warming her frozen body. With a gentle shake of his head, the omega dislodged his sleeping son and placed him between his wife's forepaws. They both gazed down at their only remaining puppy who stretched and unleashed a yawn that was massive for a three week old. He snuggled into the forepaws of his parents, at peace despite his frosted over coat.
Without a word, Silver slowly began to clean the frost off his son. As soon as the worst of it was off, Silver stopped. He drew his son in closer so that both adults could enjoy the feel of their only child as he snuggled further into the warming embrace of his parents.
A shocked gasp broke the peace and quiet. "Blazer?"
The poorly wolf turned her gaze toward the speaker and smiled weakly, "yes and I'm home at last..."
"Quickly, come in. You two look terrible!"
The pair slowly rose, Silver used his body as his wife's support and picked up his son in his jaws. The pair made their way slowly into the warm confines of the alpha couple's cave. In one corner lay two puppies, one pure white and one golden orange. Both glanced up at newcomers. The white pup appeared happy to watch on while her sister rushed over to check the new puppy out as he was placed carefully upon the ground.
"You poor dears, what happened to you? I didn't know you found a mate," Eve questioned the omega shewolf who smiled warmly up at the alpha.
"This winter sucked," Blazer summarised as a shudder wracked her frame.
Silver lay across his mate once more, his forequarters placed over her for what little warmth he could offer.
"I do hope you two are married," Eve could not help but smile ruefully as her eyes fell upon the tiny wolf between the two adults. "Because it seems you both have been busy."
"Yes..." Blazer smiled back, "this here is Silver. My mate. We've known each other for about five seasons now. And this here," she indicated the wide eyed pup between her forelegs. "Is Humphrey. My last remaining son from our litter of four."
"Four?" Eve gasped, her gaze met her own mate's. She could not imagine how hard it must be to lose one, never mind three puppies.
Two other fluff balls caught the newcomers attention. Humphrey's gaze was fixed upon the golden puppy who watched him back with great interest. One tiny grey forepaw rose as he was about to rush over to greet her, then froze. Why was everyone looking at him?
"It's alright, I'm sure my daughter won't bite you." Eve smiled down at the bedraggled grey puppy.
Without needing to be told twice, Humphrey leapt up and raced over to the golden pup who wore an amused smile upon her face. "Wow... you're really pretty..." he whispered in awe as his gaze wandered the face of the beautiful youngster who giggled back at him.
"You're funny..." the golden pup managed before more giggles escaped.
"Dad always says omegas are supposed to be funny," he puffed out his chest, proud of what he considered a compliment. "I'm Humphrey by the way."
"I'm Kate," said wolf smiled warmly back at the fuzzy new puppy.
"I think someone's just made a new friend," commented Silver with a smile.
"I think so," agreed Winston.
"Who's the white one?" Humphrey asked as he pointed behind Kate.
"She's my sister, Lilly's a little shy," Kate answered.
With the eyes of everyone upon her, Lilly hunched down, her purple eyes scanned the den shyly. "Hi..." she managed softly.
"How about you three run along and find a sheltered spot to play, the grownups need to talk." Winston told the young wolves in the den.
"Why can't we stay?" Humphrey's head tilted inquisitively as he gazed adorably up at the large alpha wolf.
"This is only for us big wolves. Run along son," Silver instructed.
"Fine…" wined Humphrey. He gave his parents a quick nuzzle before rushing out after the two other puppies.
After the youngsters had left the den, Eve looked to her long time friend "Blazer, I can't even imagine what you are feeling right now. I'm so sorry," she apologised for her friends loss with tears in her eyes.
"It's not your fault Eve, I'm the one who left..." Blazer replied solemnly.
"It was a trio of rogue wolves who did it," Silver added bitterly. "Alphas. They hated us for being omegas and took it out on Humphrey's older brothers while we were hunting. There was... nothing- nothing at all that I could do..." the normally smiling omega's voice faltered with pain. "Neither Blazer or I am fighters we-"
"Where are they?! I'll rip off their ears and fed it to them!" pure and unrefined hatred flared in Eve's eyes, left eye twitched, never a good sign.
"A long way away I hope." Blazer squeezed her eyes shut to suppress the tears.
"We- came here because this was where Blazer said she grew up," Silver's eyes stung with slight incoming waterworks brought on by the loss of his pups.
"T-this was the only safe haven I could think of," the wounded omega slowly nuzzled her mate for support. Her tears disappeared into his soft hair as she continued to share the comforting gesture of love with her special omega.
"Did you manage to catch their leaders name?" despite his calm tone, there as a strong undercurrent of anger in Winston's voice.
"He called himself 'King' but that young alpha was nothing more than a bully. He would never dare get anywhere near your pack," Silver hugged his lover tighter, his tail swatted the rocky den floor angrily. It was about to rise again before it was suppressed by its fellow grey bushy companion.
"In any case, I think it would be best for us to increase our patrols. We don't want them sneaking in," the lead alpha looked to his mate for confirmation.
"I agree. In the meantime, I think it's best if you two get some rest and something I'll get you both something to eat," without waiting for a response, Eve left the den.
"Thank you..." murmured Blazer softly before another rough cough escaped.
"Hush dear. Get some rest, I'm sure she will be back soon," Silver comforted his mate.
"I do hope that cough is not contagious," Winston warily eyed the ill omega.
"I believe its not." Silver replied with confidence despite the look of concern he wore.
Winston nodded slowly, "in that case, I shall have a quick meeting with the other wolves in our pack and I'll send the pups back here."
"Thank you," Blazer smiled up at her ex-pack member.
"I could never turn away a friend, or a pup in need. You two just happen to have both," with a brief smile, Winston left.
Several peaceful moments passed, the silence only broken by the odd cough from Blazer as she fought to rest.
Two sets of ears pricked up at the sound of approaching pawsteps. Soon after the smell of fresh meat wafted in, causing both lone wolves to discover miniature earthquakes in their tummies.
"Here you go." Eve set the meal down in front of the pair.
Without needing to be told twice, the famished couple dug into the meat before them. Eve watched with concern as they ate, her eyes only leaving them at the sound of tiny paws approaching. Pint-sized invaders of cuteness barrelled into the den, the trio all wore broad smiles upon the muzzles.
"Mom!" both girls rushed to their mother who smiled down in return.
"I hope you all had fun out there," Eve did her best to fix the roughed up hair on Kate's head as the pup rushed around her mother.
"We did!" Kate responded eagerly.
Silver paused his meal to meet his excited son's gaze, "how was that son?"
"It was so much fun! I like having other puppies to play with again!" Humphrey grinned.
Silver gave his mate a sad glance. He wished his son still had their puppies to play with as well as the two new friends his son had appeared to have just made.
"Hey dad, watch this!" Humphrey turned and rushed the golden pup. He pounced on her and the pair rolled around the floor of the den, rapidly filling the place with giggles and cries of delight.
All three parents watched on with smiles that only broadened when the shy white pup worked up the courage to throw herself into the fluffy ball of cute that had come to a stop. Humphrey only had a moment to relish his victory at being the pup on top before something plush, white and skinny impacted with his side and sent him tumbling.
"No fair!" Humphrey cried as he jumped up once more to face the second sister.
"I'm sorry... did I interrupt something?" Lilly asked shyly.
"Yes, now come here!" the grey omega puppy rushed at the pure white wolf who shrieked and sprinted off. The three puppies chased each other around the adults. After several laps, Lilly collapsed in a panting heap.
Kate gave one final burst of speed as she and Humphrey raced between her mother's forelegs. She leapt into the air and caught the soft grey tail with her teeth. As Kate crashed to the ground, her forepaws wildly swiped at the air in front of her and she managed to snag one of Humphrey's back legs. The omega promptly discovered firsthand what the the floor tasted like, "Oomph!"
The troublesome duo lay there, the tip of the grey puppy's tail still in the mouth of the golden one as they recovered from their explosive game around the cave.
"Now there's something I don't see every day," Eve commented with a smile.
Blazer laughed looking at the two, now shattered pups on the ground.
"Hey Kate?" Humphrey asked through ragged breaths.
"Yeah?" Kate replied, with an equal amount of exhaustion evident in her voice.
"Could you let go of my tail please? It's sore." Humphrey pleaded to his new best friend.
"Aww, I'm sorry," she relinquished the grey fluffy tail from her maw.
The released fluffy appendage wagged happily and Humphrey smiled as he stood. "Thanks. Now I feel like nap time."
"You can say that again." Kate commented as she trailed her companion.
Lilly quietly found her way over to the far end of the cave first and lay down. By the time the other two had made it over, the white puppy appeared to be sleeping. Kate lay down beside her sister and closed her eyes.
Humphrey stood uncertainly by as Kate relaxed. His eyes followed the slow movements of his new friends tummy as she breathed. Despite his apparent inability to lie down nearby, the sight was oddly calming to him and he found himself breathing in time with her.
"You know, I remember telling you that she wont bite," Eve spoke up. "You're allowed to sleep here too."
"Okay, cool," the young omega pulled himself out of his trance then promptly lay down close beside Kate.
After a few moments, Humphrey was sure his amazing new friend had fallen asleep. He shuffled over till he was right beside her. As he relaxed into her soft golden side his tail began to wag. Poof, poof, poof. The fluffy grey tail impacted lightly with the golden backside of his companion.
A smirk appeared on Kate's muzzle, "not asleep yet."
Humphrey froze. That was bad, he was not supposed to get caught snuggling up to her. He glared back at his traitorous tail that refused to stop. A soft giggle escaped Kate. He was about to pull away in defeat when two strong puppy forepaws pulled him closer as their owner rolled over onto her side. A delighted grin erupted across his muzzle. This was not something he had been expecting, yet here his companion was, returning his cheeky affection. As the haze of sleep began to cloud his mind, the young omega decided his new friend truly was amazing. Right now, all he wanted was to spend the rest of his life like this, with her.
Kate was clearly spooning the omega. The sleeping pair both bore smiles upon the faces that could melt the heart of almost any grown wolf. They certainly seemed to have that effect upon all who were present and awake. Everyone wore smiles that mirrored the puppies joy. It was infectious and none of the grown ups tried to fight the light fluffy feeling.
"You know... I never imagined my son would play little spoon to a girl," chucked Silver as he observed the pair who arrived in the land of dreams.
"You always do the same with me," Blazer quietly reminded her mate with a sly smile upon her muzzle.
"Well he is sleeping with an alpha," Eve informed the couple. "Of course she will take charge."
"Who is?" all three adults turned to find Winston had just entered the den.
"Ssssh," Eve cautioned her mate. "Don't they look cute?"
A soft chuckle escaped the alpha male as he beheld his alpha daughter cuddling her first boy. At their age, it was easy to forget that there was a rank difference between the two puppies. "I have a feeling Humphrey will be missed when you two are strong enough to move on."
"H-he's staying if that's alright by you," Blazer looked to the alpha with a pleading expression.
The two alpha's gave their old pack member an odd look of surprise.
"Does that mean you wish to return to this pack officially?" Winston asked.
"No," the grey shewolf shook her head. "Not us. The two of us are lone wolves, I don't think I could ever adjust to pack life again. But could you raise our son? I have not seen him this happy since… since-" a sob escaped Blazer and she fell into tearful silence.
"I understand," consoled Winston.
"I would be honoured to help raise your pup," Eve spoke up, "but please do come back for the wee dear one day." Her gaze drifted from her ex-pack member to the grey puppy who slept peacefully upon the floor of the den.
"I would love to visit," Blazer smiled a sad smile, her eyes upon the puppies too.
"We cannot promise when that would be, lone wolves are not always popular around other packs and it leads to unsafe travels in many territories." Silver advised. "All I ask is that you help raise him into an omega like his parents, we do not wish the life of an alpha for him, nor do I consider him material to be an alpha."
Eve nodded, "that should be easy enough. My daughter Lilly is also an omega, he can learn with her."
"She's the gold one?"
"No."
"Then you might have to watch out, I think he may have taken a liking to the golden one," a cheeky smile appeared upon Silver's muzzle.
A suddenly engaged growl escaped Eve as she faced the omega male, "it had better be a friendly liking. I would hate to find myself raising an adoptive daughter, instead of a son." Her harsh exterior faded as her gaze returned to the sleeping ball of fluffy innocence.
Silver stared at the alpha female, shocked. "Sorry, I was just trying to be funny, but I'm also serious. If my son is anything like me, he might have trouble understanding the meaning of no, if you get what I mean," he met Winston's eyes with a hint of a smile.
"I think I do," Winston smiled back. "Since you both wish for him to be an omega, it should be easy enough to remind him that the most they can be is friends."
"And don't they make the cutest pair of new friends?" Blazer spoke up, a fond smile upon her muzzle.
"Yes they do," agreed Eve.
The alpha made her way over to the puppy who had no one to cuddle. She sat down, Lilly between her forepaws and proceeded to slowly encase her precious white pup in a loose hug. The sleeping beauty nuzzled her mother. Golden forelegs pulled the fluffy white package close and there she held her. Eve rested her head upon one foreleg and allowed the side of her neck to be used as her daughters pillow.
Winston warmly smiled at the display, he made his way over and lay down next to his mate. "As long as there's no funny business, you two are welcome to stay in here with us until you get better."
"Thank you for your kind offer," Blazer replied, "are you sure? We do not wish to intrude."
"You might as well spend all the time you can with your son before you go."
"I'm up for that," announced Silver. The omega promptly collapsed with a cheeky grin upon his face.
"Don't do that, you might hurt yourself," scolded the cheeky omega's mate as she carefully placed herself by her wounded lover's side.
Despite their injuries, the couple relaxed and as one, they closed their eyes in the hope of rest.
"You know, I think our lives just got a whole lot more interesting," noted Winston quietly to his mate.
"I think so too dear," Eve nuzzled her daughter who now wore a blissful smile upon her muzzle.
It was early morning two weeks later that Blazer and Sliver quietly left the Western pack's land. Despite the freezing air and soft snow, the couple struck out with determination. Neither would ever forget their son's cute face as they both said what could be their final goodbyes to him.
"I hope we get to see him again soon," Blazer broke the cold silent atmosphere with her soft voice.
"I do too, but you know it might be be a long time before we are able to make it back."
"I know..." Blazer trailed off, her tail between her legs.
Despite feeling certain that she had done the best for her son by leaving him behind, the mother wolf could not help but miss him. It already felt like they had been apart for months, yet it had only been hours ago when she had last seen his teeny cute grey face and adorable smile.
"Can we go faster?" Blazer asked her mate.
The omega in question gave his lover an inquisitive look.
"I just... its so hard leaving our only remaining son behind... can we just get it over with and get as far away as we can?"
"Do you have any place in mind my dear?" Silver slowed down to better grace his lover with his gaze.
"Out of Jasper... anywhere."
"Alaska... Idaho..." Silver began listing off places they could visit.
"Idaho sounds good love. It's already freezing, Alaska sounds like a bad idea."
"Idaho it is," Sliver turned and tentatively sniffed the air. "It's that way, I think... but another pack lies between us and them. I think we should take the long way around, just to be safe."
Blazer nodded in agreement as she resolutely set off.
"You lead, I'll follow…" Sliver mock grumbled to himself.
"Don't I usually lead?" it was not really a question, Blazer knew who normally took the lead in their travels together. After all, her mate was usually very good at getting them lost, not that she minded. Aside from when his sense of direction wound them up on another pack's land, the detours involved were often a lot of fun and it was worth it to poke fun at her prankster of a husband.
"You would think I know the way to my own home..." Silver grumbled to himself.
"I heard that Mr lets-get-lost-for-a-few-days," a playful nuzzle followed the shewolf's words.
Silver rolled his eyes, "you know you like it."
After many hours and a mixture of walking, running and even one occasion of playing together in the snow, the weather had began to deteriorate.
"I think we need to find shelter soon," commented Blazer.
Silver simply nodded and kept pace while Blazer fought the burn in her shoulder as they pressed onwards.
That night all the wolves in Jasper park hunkered down for a rough night. Many feet of snow fell and many wolves had to fight to keep their dens clear of the freezing substance.
Morning could not come quickly enough and while youngsters rushed out to play in the freshly fallen snow, their parents to watch over them with smiles.
This day also marked the second day of two wolves journey out into the wilds beyond. Toward a homeland Silver had not visited since he had left. While Sliver knew it would be easy enough to avoid his old pack, he could not help but wonder what the small group would think of his wonderful wife if they did happen to meet. His mother would be sure to love Humphrey if ever she laid eyes upon him. The only problem with that was that Humphrey was now far away.
As the couple made their way over the boundary of the park and looked back one last time.
"Good bye my son..." Blazer whispered. "Good luck."
A/N: At last my first A&O story is getting posted!
Its been over a year and a half since I started writing this story and it feels wonderful to at last start posting things up.
