The following morning, Lin was sitting in front of the cabin that Jake had let them use. Kang walked out and sat next to Lin looking out at the valley before them.
"So since you planned on dying here," said Lin, "What did you expect I would do?"
"Well," said Kang, "I had hoped you would find a place for Mudita to settle in."
"Well, you will get your wish regardless," said Lin, "You know if something had happened, I would never have put her back on the streets."
"I had hoped," said Kang, "but if not, I had hoped Ryder and the team would have taken her in."
"I would have kept her," said Lin, "while I understand you not telling me, I would have no longer wandered without you. I would no longer do anything. It hurts just to think that the spirits would have left me without you."
"Maybe this was their plan all along," said Kang. "Who's to say they weren't teaching me to see the value of the relationship I have with you and my mate. Also the humility of allowing another to take my place in the line of fire. I understand the meaning of sacrifice better with Yeshe's selfless act."
"Many lessons could be learned from the events," agreed Lin. "Regardless, I have come to the end of my wanderings."
"Are you unwell, master?" asked Kang, turning to Lin with concern.
"No, no nothing like that," said Lin. "I simply feel the pull to stay here and help Toby with the retreat. I have spoken with Jake and he has agreed to allow me to stay in the cabin until a room can be built for me at the Retreat."
"And am I to stay with you in that room?" asked Kang.
"While you and Mudita are more than welcome to stay with me," said Lin. "I expected you would want a place for you and your mate, and your future family."
"Well, that would be nice as well," said Kang. "I will still serve you as your guardian and companion. Wait, what future family?"
"Not my place, but you should probably speak with your mate," smiled Lin. Kang had already turned running toward the cabin.
Kang entered the room he and Mudita were sharing. She was sitting on the pup pad apparently waiting for him.
"I-is it true?" stammered Kang.
"Yes, my mate, I'm pregnant," said Mudita. "I was unsure until this morning. I woke more hungry than I was when I lived on the streets. Are you ok with that?"
"Are you kidding," said Kang, "I am ecstatic. I never dreamed of having a mate or a family of my own. You and Yeshe are pregnant at the same time, that has to be some form of irony from the spirits."
"Yes, well it appears the kennel will fill quickly," laughed Mudita.
"I, uh, I," stammered Kang.
"Why don't you go back to town and tell the other boy's," said Mudita. "I'm sure they will want to congratulate you and do whatever it is boys do when they get to brag about their future pups."
"I will," said Kang, "Did you speak with Lin?"
"Actually he came to me," smiled Mudita, "He's the one that confirmed I was pregnant. He did tell me we would no longer be wandering. It's so peaceful here, I'm really happy that it has been decided to settle here."
Kang kissed his mate and promised he would be back before dinner.
Kang came running up to the Lookout. Chase saw him coming and ran to meet him.
"Is everything ok?" said Chase. "It's not another attack is it? You should have called."
"No, I came to tell you guys that my mate is expecting," said Kang.
"Oh, well that's great!" said Chase. "Congratulations, Let's go tell the guys and most importantly the girls."
"The girls?" said Kang, "will they be happy too?"
"Kang, since you're gonna be around here," laughed Chase. "You will learn, the girls are actually in charge. They just let us think we are, but I for one know the truth."
They laughed and walked toward the Lookout.
The pups were all gathered and having breakfast when Chase and Kang walked in.
"Morning Kang," said the pups as they walked in.
"Is everything ok Kang?" asked Yeshe.
"Everything is excellent," said Kang. "I'm not sure if i'm supposed to say anything yet but Lin has decided we will be staying here and helping with the retreat."
The pups cheered.
"But that's not the best part," said Chase. Everyone stopped and turned back to Kang.
"Mudita is pregnant," smiled Kang, "I'm going to be a father."
"That has to be some spiritual irony," laughed Yeshe. "I guess the kennel will fill quickly."
Everyone laughed.
"Well let's go girls," said Skye.
"What do you mean?" asked Yeshe.
"Well we have to go congratulate Mudita," said Skye. "But mainly we have to begin planning the puppy showers for you and Mudita. We have to get the nursery ready, we have so much to do."
Kang looked over at Chase with his eyebrows raised.
"I told you," laughed Chase, "get used to it, they're in charge. Trust me they'll tell us what we need to do when they want us to."
"Yeah, I'll call you when I need you to go order the cake," laughed Skye.
"Love ya," said Chase, laughing.
"I'll see you later," Yeshe told Rocky, kissing him as she walked out. Sunny and Obi followed the girls out.
"You'll get used to it," said Marshall. "I don't even ask any more."
"Yeah, just wait. They tell us what they want in time." laughed Rocky.
The day had been super busy planning and the boys had stepped up the efforts to finish the dorms and nursery. That evening Marshall and Everest were laying in bed talking.
"So with all the puppy talk," said Marshall, "have you thought anymore about wanting to start a family?"
"I don't want puppies," said Everest, "I'd be a terrible mother."
"Do what?" asked Marshall. "Everest, you are very loving, you would be a great mother."
"No,no I wouldn't," Everest said standing with tears in her eyes, she walked out into the night air.
Marshall stood to follow her out. He walked outside and didn't see which direction she went. He began walking around the Lookout. Finally he walked over to Skye's pup house and as he was going to knock Chase stopped him.
"Marshall, is something wrong?" asked Chase.
"I'm not sure," said Marshall. "Everest and I were laying in bed talking. I brought up if she had thought about pups, She got upset and left, did I say something wrong?"
"I don't know," said Chase, "It doesn't sound like it should have upset her. Have you asked before?"
"A while ago," said Marshall, "but we never really settled on anything."ss
"Well she came and knocked on the door," said Chase "I figured she wanted to talk to Skye. I decided to go use the tree and hang out until they are done."
"So have you and Skye discussed having a family?" asked Marshall.
"We have," said Chase, "we've decided to wait. We're having too much fun right now, we have time."
*** Meanwhile inside Skye's Pup House ***
"Ok calm down," said Skye to Everest. "What happened?"
"I think Marshall wants to start a family," cried Everest.
"Ok, have you not talked about it before now?" said Skye, trying to understand.
"A long time ago," said Everest, "he brought it up. I changed the subject and we haven't discussed it since then. I guess with Yeshe and now Mutida being pregnant, he started thinking about it again."
"Ok, just so I understand," said Skye. "Do you not want to have pups?"
"I'd be a horrible mother," said Everest.
"What?" asked Skye, shocked, "Why would you say that? I think you would be a great mother."
"What if I'm just like my parents and decided to abandon my pup at the Southpole?" cried Everest. "I had to learn to survive, I could never do that to a pup."
"Everest, I know you were left at the South Pole alone," said Skye. "And I'm so glad Jake found you. But just because your parents left you doesn't mean you will do that to your pups."
"But I don't know how to be a mother," said Everest. "I'm scared that I won't be a good mother and would ruin some poor pup's life."
"Everest," said Skye "I'll level with you. I want pups someday, but I'm terrified that I'll be horrible as well. I just plan on putting as much effort into taking good care of them as I can. The best part of all of us living this close together is that we can rely on each other for help and suggestions."
"But what if I screw up?" said Everest.
"You're going to," said Skye. "Everyone does something that they regret. Admit to it and learn from it. That's really all we can do. But when it comes down to it, you can't make yourself miserable. If you truly don't want pups, then discuss it honestly with Marshall. That's as big a decision as having pups is. You have to decide together. Tell him what your fears are."
"I'm just scared," said Everest.
"I know honey," said Skye. "But to tell you the truth. You survived the South Pole alone, You're stronger than any of us. You have a survival instinct that we could never have or truly understand."
"Thanks Skye," said Everest. "I'll talk to Marshall."
*** Back in Marshall's Puphouse ***
Everest walked back into the purpose. Marshall was sitting there with a hurt look on his face.
"Marshall, I'm sorry I ran out," said Everest.
"Everest, I'm sorry I brought it up again," said Marshall. "I understand you don't want pups. I didn't mean to upset you like I did."
"Marshall stop," said Everest
"I said I would," said Marshall with tears forming in his eyes.
Everest took his paws in hers, "Marshall, I mean stop talking. Marshall I haven't been honest with you and I apologize for that."
"What do you mean?" asked Marshall.
"Marshall, it's not that I don't want pups," said Everest. "I, uh, I've spent my adult life afraid that if I had pups, I would abandon them like my parents did me."
"Oh, Everest," said Marshall, embracing her. "I'm so sorry that that fear has haunted you. But I don't think for a second you would ever do that. In fact I might have thought of a way we could settle your fear and offer help to somepup that is in a similar situation."
Everest looked into Marshall's eyes and saw that beautiful spark that made her fall in love with him years ago. "And what is that?" She was honestly curious now.
"Even though you are perfectly capable of having a pup," said Marshall. "What if we looked specifically for a pup that was abandoned and bring them to a home where we could show them that there is someone out there that cares. Change their fate of feeling abandoned."
Everest suddenly had open tears flowing down her muzzle. "Oh Marshall, I could be the parent I wish I had growing up and that the fear of being alone from a pup. Can we look for a little girl?"
"Why don't we look into it and see what we can find," said Marshall. "Who knows what is in store for us."
"Yes, Marshall, yes," wept Everest. "That would make me happy and change the world for somepup that feels like the world is against them."
The next day Skye was waiting for the other girls to walk into breakfast.
"Good Morning Skye," said Everest, walking into the kitchen followed by Yeshe.
A few minutes later Sunny came walking in.
"Morning girls," said Sunny "what's going on?"
"Well if y'all are up for it," said Skye, "I think we need to go pick up Mudita and Obi and have a combination girls day and planning party."
"By girls day what do you mean?" asked Sunny.
"I figured we could all go to Katie's then go to Mr Porters for lunch," said Skye. "Then we can come back here and take over the TV room for a little girls night slumber party."
"Ooo spa day and a slumber party," said Everest. "I'm game."
"Sounds good to me," said Yeshe, "but what about the boys? How do we get rid of them."
"Duct tape always works," said Sunny.
Everyone stopped and turned to her with a shocked look.
"And I thought Skye leashing Chase was bad," laughed Everest.
"I was kidding, I would do th…, you use a leash on Chase?" laughed Sunny.
"The other day I added a muzzle also," laughed Skye. "He loves it."
"Humm, that sounds fun," laughed Yeshe.
"So let me call Katie and get it set up," said Skye. "And don't worry about the boys. I planted an idea in Chase that should take care of them."
The boys were putting the finishing touches on the Dorm and Nursey when they decided to take a short water break.
"Guys, we haven't got to have a boys only camping trip in a while," said Chase.
"Sounds good to me," said Marshall.
"You think the girls will let us go?" asked Rocky.
"I think if we ask nicely and offer to do all the chores for a few days they'll let us," said Chase.
"Sounds good," said Rubble.
"I'll run down and speak with Zuma," said Rocky. "Yeshe said the girls were taking Mudita to the spa, maybe while they're relaxed we can call and ask when I get back."
"Sounds great," said Chase. "I'll call Kang and see if he'd like to go. See you when you and Zuma get back here. Marshall and Rubble, do you mind dragging the camping gear out?"
Rocky spoke to Zuma who agreed it sounds fun. Zuma allowed a couple of the surf team members to run the shop for the next couple days. Kang agreed that it would be a nice get away. The guys all met in the control room, they had invited Ryder as well who though using the Paw Patroller to carry everyone. Case called Skye and everyone offered to do all the chores for a couple days if the girls wouldn't mind let the guys go.
"What do you think girls?" asked Skye, turning and winking at them. They all agreed to the boys request. Skye hung up and all the girls, Katie included burst out laughing.
"Good grief Skye," laughed Yeshe. "The camping trip is one thing, how did you manage to get them to agree to chores for two days?"
"Actually I hinted at the camping trip," laughed Skye. "Chase must have come up with the chores himself. I guess it's the least they can do since we're left home suffering alone. Besides with them gone, the chores aren't that much."
The girls all laughed and sat back relaxing in the baths Katie had set for each of them. Needless to say the day was great and they planned the pup showers while enjoying the slumber party. True to Skye's reputation, the slumber party was ledgendary…