A/N: Btw this is set in Montana. I meant to say that in like the third chapter but I looked over it and realized I didn't actually write that. Sorry! But now you know. I moved this under the category fairy tales because that seemed like the one closest to the original book. Whatever. :) R & R
I had assisted a midwife before, but all the mothers had been in human form. The women were bathed in sweat, crying and sometimes screaming. Compared to that, my actual labor is a relief. I feel only a slight discomfort in my abdomen. The whole veterinary staff seems to be waiting outside the kennel. They had even taken off my muzzle. My mind is in a hole of terror. I am a whole two months early. What is going to happen? As soon as the first pup is out, I began to lick her. My rough tongue is all I am able focus on and pure animal instinct takes over.
Glove-covered hands snatch my first baby away from me, but I am too preoccupied to stop them. Soon the second, third, and fourth are nestled around me. But as I lick and nudge them, I become worried. I whine and nose their little bodies insistently, but receive no response. Why won't they nurse?
Then I hear someone say, "…too premature, they won't make it through the night."
No! I won't let them die. Not again! They will make it. I have to protect them! I have to protect them for Luc. I nudge them in the direction of my stomach to nurse. Their small fragile mouths have trouble and I can only use my jaws to help them gently. I need opposable thumbs! There is only one nurse left; I figure I can risk a change. With much effort I manage to get that damn collar off. Then I change to my human form, as the newborns do. Mercifully, this does not bother my little ones. They continue to doze. At the back of my mind I am still worried about him, the first one, but of the ones I had left, there are two girls and a boy. They are the most beautiful things in the world. I hold the littlest girl that had the most birthmarks.
"It's startling how much she looks like me," I consider.
She has the same dark (with natural highlights) hair and green eyes. I realize, even after all this time, I am still unsure about names.
I could name her Laina, for both of her grandmothers that were named Laila and Lina. The name fits. She is perfect. I began to breastfeed her and eventually switch to the others. The other boy and girl are bigger, but not as feisty nor vigorous as Laina. I am empty of name ideas. Soon my eyes are fluttering and I am only staying awake by sheer will. So after I am a wolf again, I fall into exhausted sleep next to my darlings.
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When I wake up, I can tell something is wrong. There is only one pup sleeping beside me. Laina is breathing softly and her heart is steady. But where are they? My other babies? I whine softly. Then I see the nurse from last night leaving through the door. But what is she carrying? My sensitive nose has caught the stench of death.
No. It wasn't possible, it couldn't be. Then I hear a heart wrenching wail. It came from my own mouth, I realize. Slowly it fades into a strangled moan. They are gone. Dead. Their little lives cut all too short. Come on! Hold it together for Laina. Take care of her! She is the most important. It is at this moment that I grasp how much motherhood has changed me, to the very fibers of my being. My happiness will always take the backseat for her. I would sacrifice anything. I would kill and be killed before I let my child be harmed.
As all this dawns on me, Christopher, Carlyle, Angie, and Maelina appear at the door. They are all in human form.
"Come on Suki!" Christopher hisses, "We're going to escape. I brought this little guy."
I growl, "His name is Adrian," before I figure out that he can't understand.
Angie explains what I said to the wildlife worker as Carlyle walks over to me and undoes the latch. I grab the scruff of Laina's neck in my jaws and am racing out the door and through the hallways without a second thought.
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Christopher leads the way through the labyrinth of hallways to a restroom. We all manage to cram inside and Angie shuts the door. They suck air into their lungs, winded. I take steady intakes of breath; my wolf respiratory system is barely breaking a sweat. Christopher debriefs us.
"Okay guys, here's the plan. I lead the way while you listen for anyone who comes down the halls. There shouldn't be as much staff as there normally is because it's Sunday. I'll swipe my card at the east wing exit and everyone will head in the direction of the forest and lose any pursuers.
"We will meet at the cabin I told Carlyle about," he jokes "and I will attempt to send helpful smoke signals. I cannot guarantee my ability to light a fire." "Everybody clear? Comments, questions, concerns? We have really got to get out of here before anyone finds us."
(Suki is a human again)
Soon enough we are gathered around in Christopher's kitchen. He owns a small cabin near Helena, which was where we had been all this time. I have to admit, the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Animal Shelter know their stuff. My leg is completely healed; only a thin white line remains of my wound. Apart from some soreness as a result of stretching my legs, it is fine.
Suddenly, Carlyle announces, "We will go back to Wolf Point. I had time to think it through and we will not give up our home. Those who were in the city might not know and we'll have to tell the other packs of the abolitionists' new audacity. Revenge can wait; our ranks are severely depleted. I intend to stay, permanently."
I could hear my breath stop. After Angie and Maelina are busy cooing over Laina and Adrian, I turn to Carlyle.
"Can I speak with you alone, cousin?"
He nods and we walk off a ways so no one overhears our conversation.
"Carlyle, I think I want to go alone. I want to visit to…make a," my voiced cracks, "grave. I don't need an audience."
"How will you carry both Adrian and Laina?"
"If you help me make a sling I'll travel fastest by wolf. I can even stop by Dr. Sanger's office."
Dr. Sanger was one of the few wolves that worked for all of the packs. He and his staff treated all the local werewolf packs. He had treated me as a baby and now he would care for my own children. Finally Carlyle nods in acquiesce.
"I will allow it."
I sigh in inner relief. If Carlyle, as pack leader, doesn't approve he could stop me from going with a single command. I want to leave before others come to our pack. Once other members join, I am destined to become zeta again. A submissive wolf that is at the mercy of others. It isn't a very noble title, but someone has to bear it. Ever since infancy, I have been small. I was an easy target for the other pups to mark dominance over. I think Carlyle knows I plan to leave his new Golwyg Pack for good. So many memories are too fresh and painfull. Sometimes I wish the abolitionists had gotten me from the beginning; this agony is worse than death at times.
I could get a job, maybe even rent an apartment. I would go somewhere hot. No, I have no intentions of rejoining the pack.
He jolts me out of my daydreams, "When are you leaving?"
"Tonight."
I gather a drowsy Adrian and Laina from their babysitters, one under each arm. We have to get ready.
A/N: Do you like the way i wrote this in present tense or something, tell me? It was a little hard and i had to go through the whole thing and change it. Wolf Point and Helena are real places and I'll try to use real settings in this story. If u have any questions about the pack or werewolf whatnot, make sure to ask in a review. I'll answer you for sure, i have everything clear in my head but i might leave too much to be assumed. Chapter 11 will be about Suki the single mother at 18! lol.
Just to warn you, things are going to get more complicated after this chapter. I really want to write the POV of other characters. I will try to post longer chapters from now on, and i have a lot of time on my hands. My school is cancelled until May 11 for swine flu! So awesome!
4 reviews for this chapter? please? THe most i've gotten is 3 per chapter. I've noticed some of you have stopped. You do want chapter 11, right?