Chapter ten
The first light of dawn woke Song as it trickled across her bedroom to shine across her eyes. Cracking one eye open, she glanced at her open window. She started to rise only to find herself pinned by something heavy and hot.
A growl sounded from behind her left shoulder as a hot breath warmed her neck.
"And where do you think you're going, women?"
Windsong chuckled, "Why, no where milord, but it is a new day and I'm late to perform my morning katas."
Kouga smirked behind her back as he tightened his grip on her naked form. "I think this morning they'll just have to wait. Sesshomaru can kiss my ass if he thinks you're going to spar with him today."
Song fought the urge to burst into laughter as a smile tugged at her lips. "Um, I don't spar with Sesshomaru in the mornings, Kouga."
He frowned, absently stroking the length of her back as he tried to focus on what she was saying, rather then the feel of her silky skin under his fingertips. "Well then who-"
"Rise and shine, little sister! The dawn has come and the sun is beginning its journey across the sky." New Moon strode over to the entangled lovers, "You had your chance for fun last night, wolf. Now my sister has katas to perform and a sparring match to participate in. You can bond after breakfast, and then I expect Song will want to return to her pack."
Song buried her face in the bed furs to stifle the laughter that bubbled forth. Kouga growled warningly and she quickly got herself under control. "Kouga, this is New Moon; shes Lotus Moon's blood sister."
New Moon crouched to put herself on a level with Kouga. Blue ice met glowing coals, and Song watch, fascinated inspite of herself as her mate and her pack sister pushed for dominance and reached an agreement, all without saying a word. Kouga finally flashed his usual grin, "Pleased to meet you, New Moon. Now scat, my woman and I need to dress if you want to see her again anytime soon."
New Moon smirked and rose to her feet. "Don't dally too much, wolf boy, or I'll give the bath and it'll be a cold one too."
"Enough! Up! Quick, before she does anyway!", Yelped Windsong as she whipped a stray fur about her body and threw another at her bemused mate. Moon chuckled and slipped out the door as Kouga climbed to his feet, wrapped in the fur.
"Whats the hurry?"
Song grabbed his hand and dragged him into her bathing room. "If we take too long she'll get Nightfire to chill a bucket of water and she'll dump it on us. Have you ever tried to beat an opponent after being drenched in icy water? The water she uses isn't just cold; it's the same temperature as the snow on the high mountains. I thought I'd never get warm again, the day she first did that to me."
Kouga chuckled and tossed the fur aside as she did the same with the one that enclosed her body. Flashing a grin over her shoulder, Song took two running steps and dove gracefully into the great sunken tub that filled about three-fourths of the room. This was why she lived on the ground floor. Carved deep into the stone floor and fed by an underground spring, her tub was deep enough for diving and large enough to swim in. an outlet at the opposite end from the spring let dirty water flow out, keeping the water of her bath forever fresh. Ledges that put the sitter at different levels in the water lined the edges of the pool where fresh water flowed in.
Surfacing with a splash, Song smiled, "Come on, its wonderful! Don't you want to get clean?"
Kouga smiled and copied her earlier dive, neatly slicing through the waters in one clean movement. Song giggled and shot for a ledge that would put her about waist deep in the bath. She had almost reached it when she felt Kouga grab her ankle, yanking her down beneath the warm waters. A playful wrestling match ensued, only to stop when Song heard her Sister heading for her bedchamber to check on them.
"Quick", Song hissed, tossing him a thick sponge, "We better get clean before she gets in here." Kouga laughed as Windsong climbed out of the bath to rummage around some shelves by the door. Picking a soap with a mild scent to it, she returned to the bath. "Here", she said as she handed him the bottle.
"Whats this?"
"Soap, lover. I don't know about you, but I could do with a scrubbing."
Kouga grinned, his ice blue eyes burning with a warmth that defied their color. Watching her dive back into the warm water, he growled as he took in her scent from where it still clung to his skin. Despite making love until the early morning hours, he still hungered for her touch. Still craved the feel of her skin beneath his fingertips, still-
Kouga paused and sifted through her scent again as something caught his attention. Her scent…its different.
Song surfaced beside her mate and flashed him a grin as she plucked the bottle from his grasp. Pulling out the stopper with her teeth, she poured a generous amount onto the thick sponge he still held. "You first, love", she said as she corked the bottle and set it aside. "If I didn't know better I'd say you hadn't bathed since I left."
The smell of soap pulled his attention from the oddities in her scent, and he smiled. Taking the sponge from her, he set it on the edge of the pool and pulled her into his arms. Song purred and he leaned closer, his lips brushing hers in a feathery caress.
Just then the sound of footsteps ceased and someone cleared their throat. With a growl, Kouga looked up to see New Moon lounging in the doorway to Song's bathing chamber. "Must I call for that cold bath?", she drawled as the scent of his mate's desire teased his nose. A low growl was her only reply as he opened his arms and let Song slip free. "Mm, that's better. I will see you both in the dojo as soon as you have eaten. Don't be late."
With a smile and a wink, New Moon turned on her heel and slipped out the door. "That was close", Song whispered, flashing a quick smile as she retrieved the sponge and began to scrub herself down. Kouga chuckled and watched lazily as Windsong ducked under to rinse the suds from her skin. Surfacing with a gasp, she snagged the sponge before it could float away and held it out to Kouga with a grin. "Your turn."
Taking it from her, he quickly cleaned the evidence of their lovemaking from his skin while she washed her hair. Soon they were both toweling dry. A quick search of Windsong's bedchamber turned up Kouga's furs and armor and they wasted little time in getting dressed. Breakfast was interesting. For once, all for Song's sisters were present, barring Lotus Moon, and they had plenty of questions for her mate. Finally New Moon declared it time for Song's training and led them both to the dojo.
"He looks worn", New Moon murmured, handing Windsong her bow staff. "Your leaving him must have been difficult for you both."
Song nodded as she followed her sister to the center of the ring. "Yes, it was." She paused and took a defensive stance as New Moon did the same, her short, twin staffs at the ready. "Do you think I did that right thing?"
"Yes, I do. Now guard yourself sister. Questions can wait until another time."
With a smile, she leapt forward, her twin staffs a blur. Song blocked her attack, and a grim smile curled her lips as she settled for a long fight. New Moon was always a good sparring partner in that she was tough, fast, and unpredictable. Without her training, Song would never have beat Sesshomaru in any of her matches. As it was, she still had a lot to learn.
Suddenly New Moon did something complicated and Song's staff flew out of her hands. Stunned, Song stumbled back as her sister's staffs shot towards her abdomen in a blur. There was no time for her to react, and she brace herself for the hit even as blue white light flared up around her. A gasp sounded to her left-and then the light was gone and Kouga was pulling her into his arms.
"W-what happened", Song stammered out as her sister walked up, one hand painfully scorched. Blisters marred the skin of her hands, and the staffs she had been fighting with were blackened sticks. Song stared, shock making her tremble as her mate checked her for injury. "I…I burned you. But my power has never hurt you before. Why now?"
"Hush", New Moon said as she came to a stop before her. A smile curled her lips as she leaned closer to take in her scent, ignoring Kouga's warning growl. "Your scent has changed, sister."
Song frowned. "It has? But why-
"You are with child, of course", she replied as she stepped back and looked up at Kouga. "You should have spoken earlier. A dojo is no place for a pregnant hanyou."
Kouga bristled. "Do you honestly think I would've let my mate fight if I had known?"
"I think I need to sit down", Song whispered, feeling suddenly lightheaded. Kouga sighed and scooped her up like she was still the frightened pup he had found on the beach. Nuzzling her jaw, he pressed his nose against the crook of her neck and breathed deep. Her scent flooded his nose and a smile curled his lips. There was no doubt. She was carrying his pups.
Setting her on a bench beside the rack of weapons, he took a seat beside her and pulled her into his arms once again. Song sighed and one hand drifted down to rest over her flat belly. She had never dreamed this moment would come. No pack had wanted her, after all, but now….
Looking up, Windsong met her mate's concerned gaze and smiled. "Let's go home, lover. Our pack is waiting for us."
...
Author's Note: Ok, its finally here. I'm still not happy with it, and i think the whole thing is waaay too short and choppy, but its 2am and i have to be up at 6am...yeah. So please excuse the short choppiness and let me know if i did alright, ok? I'm off to bed. Toodles! :)
