Thunder rocked the sky, sending the pack of wolves into fit of growls and snarls. They looked around frantically, trying to find the source of the noises. "Quiet!" snapped the tall, dark haired man angrily. The wolves looked at him, sniffing at his back. It was straight and stiff with stress, coated with perspiration. The wolves couldn't blame him for snapping. He was the alpha of their entire pack, and his mate was about to give birth to her second litter. Of the first ones, only a single pup had survived, a black furred one with blue eyes. Then, she had been healthy and strong. But now, with her so sick and frail, it didn't seem likely that even she would survive.
She couldn't have picked a worse day to have them, either. A terrible storm had covered the area, making it impossible to fetch anyone from the neighboring tribes. Not to mention the problems he was having with the taiyoukai. Any day now he was likely to come and demand compensation for them living in his lands, payment that they didn't have.
A sharp bark sounded from outside. The tall man stood, running to the entrance of the cave. "What is it?" he growled, glaring at the white haired man with the scar over his left eye.
"We've gotten through the northern tribes, Kaji!" he said in a rather guttural voice, nearly lost in the wind.
"And?"
"They're elder couldn't come, but they've sent a few of their females to help with the birthing! They should be here soon!"
Kaji nodded. "Good work, Hokuo!" he said. Their elder, and those she had taught, had all been lost less than a moon ago, leaving them all at a loss for healers or anything of the type. A young female had traveled into the northern mountains to learn what she could, but only recently. She was of no help to them now.
Wiping his brow he stepped back into the cave, walking to the very back. In a little niche at the end, laying upon a pile of furs, was a very pale, silver haired woman. She looked up at him with shining grey eyes, smiling weakly. "They're almost here." she said, taking his dark hand into hers. "Our son will be a big brother, Kaji. Can you only imagine?"
"I can hardly wait." he said, placing a kiss on her palm. "Citra, the northern tribes are sending healer down. She'll be here soon."
She closed her eyes tiredly, too exhausted to speak. Kaji settled himself beside her, rubbing her hand soothingly. She would get through this. He knew she would.
X
The rough looking, wild men stood at irregular intervals near to the cave. Nothing could sneak up on them, not at a time like this.
"Hokuo!" called a man young man with pepper-colored hair, who was standing farthest from the rest, a little ways into the tree line. His voice was surprisingly high-pitched, sounding a lot like a young child's.
"What, Gintaru?" he called from about thirty paces away.
"Someone's coming!"
A hand full of men ran forth, peering into the distance. Through the rain and fog, a red haired woman wearing white furs and walking alongside two white wolves.
"Are you the healer from the northern tribes!" called Hakuo.
"Yes!" she answered, never slowing. "I am Amaya!" she came to them, stopping and looking at each coarse, weather-beaten face. "Where is the female?"
"Inside the cave." came a tiny, cute voice. Amaya looked down, inspecting a young boy of about four. He had long black hair pulled back high on his head, with big blue eyes that looked close to tears. "What's wrong with my mommy?" he asked. "Will she be okay?"
She smiled warmly, patting him on the head. "You are the young Koga, am I correct?" he nodded. "You're mother shall be fine."
"Okay."
Tossing back her hair, Amaya strode quickly and confidently to the cave. For a few seconds nothing happened, then their alpha was seen being pushed from within by a pair of white wolves. (He later told them that Amaya had forbidden there being any men in the birthing area). Now, all that they could do was wait.
X
Many hours later, when even the storm had passed and the sun had started to sink below the earth, a loud squall broke the heavy silence around the clearing. Kaji spun around, seeing one of Amaya 's wolves just outside the entrance, it's black eyes fixated on him. It barked sharply, turning its back to him and going back inside. He stood and quickly followed, running in.
Amaya sat just in front of the area that held his mate, a tiny bundle in her arms. "Is they all right?" he demanded. "Did the pups live?"
Amaya smiled, holding out the bundle to him. "She had but one." she said. "And she is as healthy as I have ever seen."
"She?" he said, taking the tiny bundle, holding it near his face. A pair of silver eyes looked up at him from a tiny, white face. A spray of thick grey hair covered the top of her head, and as she reached out a tiny hand, a black, heart-shaped spot was made clearly visible. "A daughter…. She is perfect."
"Close enough." said Amaya. "She's rather small, but she will grow, I'm sure."
"And Citra?" he said, looking up.
The smile disappeared from her face. "I'm afraid… that she did not make it."