"Okay, dokey. MOVE YOUR LAZY BUTT! WHAT ARE YOU, A DORMOUSE?" Willowbreeze screeched jokingly, as she had been awake before Flame. He moaned, and rolled over. "What now?" He complained.
"There's something over by the stream, and I didn't want you to wake up, come out looking for me, and fall into a pit because you were half asleep." Willowbreeze stated matter-of-factly. Flame groaned again, and rose slowly. "Good, meet me by the stream!" Willowbreeze said, bounding out of the den.
A small, very young, gray pup was crying, sitting on a rock in the middle of the stream. Willowbreeze gasped, and without hesitation bounded into the stream, which was swollen out of its banks from last night's rain. She scrambled onto the rock, grabbing the newborn pup, and started paddling back to shore. It was at that moment that Flame came through the bushes, and bounded in to save Willowbreeze, who was an excellent swimmer. He landed with a splash next to Willowbreeze, and immediately started to sink. Willowbreeze groaned, and set the pup on the shore before heading back in to rescue the red wolf. She dove down, quickly finding Flame's brownish fur. She sank her teeth into the smaller wolf's scruff, and kicked as hard as she could, pulling him to the surface, and soon to shore. He wasn't moving. She kicked him gently. He didn't even twitch. "I refuse to let you die, you idiot!" She howled.
Flame coughed out water, and stood up shakily. "Guess I'm a good swimmer, huh? Willowbreeze ignored him, and gave him a gentle, but stern, look. "What have we learned from this experience?" She asked.
"Don't drown?" He asked jokingly.
"No, you dense furball. DON'T TRY AND SWIM AFTER SOMEONE WHO CAN SWIM IF YOU CAN'T!" She screeched, softening her tone as he whimpered at the scary look in her eyes.
"Fine, come on. But first, what are we going to do with that little one?" Willowbreeze asked, starting to lick the tiny pup.
"Well, we can't just leave it here." Flame said, looking around. Willowbreeze picked up the pup.
"So we stay here until it's family claims it? My thoughts exactly." She said determinedly. Flame started to protest, then gave up when he realized how stubborn she was.
"Does it need a name? It seems too young to already have one" He asked timidly.
"It's a she-pup, not 'it'. It's fur is a beautiful shade of silver. So maybe Silver? Also in honor of our leader and my foster mom… And Brook or Stream would be good, because, well…" Willowbreeze gestured to the stream. Flame paused thoughtfully. "I like Silver. Brook and Stream seem cruel, because she almost drowned." He said. Willowbreeze nodded, and they carried the newly named pup back to their temporary den.
Flame stared at the pup, who was curled up beside Willowbreeze. "What?" Willowbreeze asked. "Nothing.." Murmured Flame. Willowbreeze sighed.
"Do you want to keep her warm while I hunt?" Willowbreeze asked. Flame nodded, and Willowbreeze stood up. The pup squeaked in alarm, and Flame quickly lay down beside her. "I'll be right back." Willowbreeze said, walking out of the den. Once she was out of view, she ran, letting her thoughts wander. Where did that pup come from? What was Flame thinking earlier? How are the others faring without us? Will Silver's mother claim her? Willowbreeze stopped as a rabbit raced across her path, and she raced after it, soon catching it. She carried it back to the den, and dropped it beside Flame, who was asleep. "Where's Silver?" Willowbreeze asked, worried. Flame jumped up. "She wanted to go for a walk… Wait! She can't talk!" He said. "You are such a beebrain!" Willowbreeze said affectionately, even though on the inside she was terrified. She raced out of the den, stopping when she saw a flash of gray. "Silver?" She called. A young gray she-wolf looked back at Willowbreeze, the pup in her jaws. Then she set down the pup, and looked Willowbreeze straight in the eyes. "This is Mist. She's one of my younger sisters." Willowbreeze sighed in relief. "So you're taking her back to her mother?" She asked.
"Her mother… is dead. I'm the oldest, and I'm taking care of the pups. She left, and I searched all over near the camp. I had about given up when I smelled you two. I didn't want harm to come to her." The she-wolf said.
"Oh, don't worry, we didn't hurt her." Willowbreeze said happily as the pup clambered towards her.
"I know. I'm wondering… I don't think I'm doing a good job of taking care of my siblings. Can she stay with you? I think you guys bonded." The she-wolf said, her expression slightly pained. "We can take care of her… but doesn't she have a family?"
"Tinker, my friend, is taking care of the others. There's Bell, Mist's sister, and Thorn, her brother. Thorn got taken in by Uprights who thought he was a dog, and we occasionally see him in their yard. Bell's so cute and well behaved, any Upright would take her in. But Mist, she's amazing, but not what Uprights want. And honestly, I wanted to find my father, who was taken soon after they were born by Uprights, but I couldn't leave them! So I'm asking again, will you raise her?" The she-wolf asked. Willowbreeze nodded, and the pup squeaked out a tiny howl. The she-wolf leapt off into the woods without looking back, leaving Willowbreeze wondering what had just happened as she curled her tail around the pup.
I'll always protect you, my dear pup. You will never be harmed if I can help it.
Aww! Such a sweet ending! Okay, Twolegs, honest opinion time. Do you want me to continue this story? I feel like the more stories, the less frequently I update each one.. (Time divided by amount of stories equals time spent on each story)
So, IS THIS THE END? You guys decide! (:
PLEASE REVIEW! (If you want me to continue, please also suggest something to happen! I'm having a serious writer's block for this story!)