Here is the beginning of the new story. If you haven't already, read 'The Problem' for some background.
Claudette's POV
"Ladies!" The instructor said. "You are all now trained Alphas, ready to defend the Central Pack against it's enemies. Do not fail in this mission, for you have been taught to perfection by your leaders and instructors over the season. You shall now go back to your families. Long live the Central Pack, and long live our leader Kate."
"Long live the central pack!" We all cheered in unison. After a whole season, I was looking forward to seeing Dad and Runt. Mom and Hutch did visit several times on lessons on hunting, pack management and fighting. I saw Stinky because he was at Alpha school with me, and Mom told me how Runt was getting on. She didn't tell me about Dad, her ears always drooped when I asked about him and she tried to change the subject.
I got worried a lot about him.
"Hey, Claudette." A masculine voice said. I turned around to see my boyfriend, Fleet. We had grown very close over the past few months.
"Hey, handsome." I said. He blushed.
"So looking forward to seeing your Dad and little brother?" He asked.
"Yeah! I mean he sounds like something bad happened." I responded as we started walking towards my Dad's den.
"I'm sure he's fine." He reassured me, walking closer to me as we got nearer to our destination.
"But Mom looked really sad when I asked about him." I retorted.
"Claudette, he's fine. Besides, if any one had done something to him, me and Stinky would kill them in a heartbeat. If anything tragic had happened to him, you and Runt would know how to cheer him up." That made me feel better, I do usually over react.
After several minutes of walking, we finally made it to his den where we saw a grey wolf look out towards our direction.
"Dad!" I shouted. "It's us!" I started to run towards him until I realised this large grey figure was not my Dad.
"Hey, Sis. I'm not that big am I?" Runt said jovially. He was almost my size, he seemed to be less thin, still thin tough, and a lot taller.
"Oh shut up you!" I said as I jolted him slightly.
"Hey, I'll get my fiancée on you!" He said, obviously joking. Wait, Runt has a fiancée? "Oh, didn't Mom tell you? Me and Jake can get married in the central pack because Mom convinced Hutch to let us marry. We're even planning to adopt!" He said with effeminate glee.
"Wow, that's brilliant for you! But, where's Dad?" I asked "I'm worried about him, Runt." He looked a bit shaken by this question.
"Claudette? Is that you?" A voice asked from inside the den. "You look so beautiful." When it stepped out, I saw a small, weak and fragile grey wolf stammering towards me. He was much smaller than me, and shook a bit with every breath of wind and movement he made. His breathing was irregular and it seemed to hurt him to intake and out take the very air he was breathing. I was horrified.
"Dad? You look so horribly ill. What happened?" I asked him, putting my paw on his shoulder.
"Nothing, it just usually takes a month or two to recover from that sort of thing. I'm fine now, the pack healer said that it won't happen again. I'm just getting use to walking alone and breathing steadily again." He told us.
"What 'sort of thing'?" I asked. His ears drooped.
"Oh, your mother didn't tell you." He said. I felt as if I was about to be told something horrible, and I was.
"What... didn't... Mom... tell me?" I asked, shaking and beginning to tear up.
"I had a two big heart attacks a few months ago. I lost a lot of weight and got a little weaker." That struck me. I turned to see Runt lower his head and ears, he was probably there when it happened. I felt tears begin to stream down my face, and Fleet come closer to comfort me. Soon I was bawling into the warm coat of my new mate.
"What... wh... Da..." I couldn't get out the words. "Are... your other kids... okay?"
"Sweets and James and Stephanie are all fine, Sweets was obviously sad, but at that time the kids didn't quite understand. We named the by the way." He said smiling, trying to comfort me. "Please, they where not THAT bad. Cheer up, Claudette." I didn't.
"It's... just that... you mean so... so much to me." I sobbed.
"You know, when you came down here, I didn't think it was you. Because I didn't think any wolf could be more beautiful than the one daughter of mine who went to Alpha school. But you are the most attractive, kind and beautiful wolf the world has ever known, you have no reason to be sad. I'm fine now, and you - my little girl with your now long, silky blonde hair that drapes off your neck and your beautiful hazel eyes - have nothing to worry about."
"Okay Dad." I said cheering up. I felt my Dad stroke my 'long silky hair' and I felt more warm and happy. "I was just so shocked."
"It's okay." He responded, pulling me into a warm hug.
"At least I get to see you." I told him. Runt gave an aww.
"Do you have anything shocking to tell me?" Dad asked as he noticed something odd about my body from putting his paws around my hips.
"Oh, yeah that." I said.
"Just getting some mood swings?" He asked, smiling heavily.
"Yeah, but I'm still shocked about that. But I'm pregnant with Fleet's kid."
Double or nothing right? Even with shocks. Review please!
P.S. Sad about David Bowie, right?
