Shira's POV

Three weeks have passed since Christmas. It might as well have been three hours, though. It really doesn't seem that long since I announced to the heard that I was pregnant. Only a few things tell me that time has passed: that all the Christmas decorations have been taken down, that every last candy cane has been eaten – except Lornook, the hyrax druid's one. He uses it as a new walking stick, and Crash and Eddie have tried to eat it on several occasions – and that my stomach has started to swell a bit. Everybody can now see that I am pregnant .

On the plus side, I feel just as well as I did before pregnancy. No more nausea and no more puking. Plus I don't have to eat the peppermint herbs anymore. They were so strong that sometimes I thought my mouth was on fire. I hated that.

But I still feel uneasy, even though my pre-pregnancy health has returned. I can't stop thinking about the imminent reality of motherhood. I've never even thought about the idea of having cubs.

To be honest, I'm not entirely sure if I'll be a good mother or not. After all, I did spend several years as a ruthless, heartless pirate out at sea. And I have absolutely no clue on how to care for them. What if I hurt them, or worse…?


That's why I'm here, up at the top of a tall hill overlooking the beautiful forested landscape of our new home. I thought the tranquillity and beauty up here would sooth my worried thoughts.

I was wrong. They haven't changed one bit.

So here I am, sitting on a hilltop, alone with my thoughts. Sighing, I lay down, staring out at the sun as it slowly sinks towards the horizon…

Rustle rustle

My ears prick up. Someone – or something – is coming through the bushes towards me. I jump around, ready to defend myself from this stranger…

…but it isn't a stranger at all. It is somebody I know very, very well. It is a green-eyed, tawny-furred sabre that pokes his head through the bushes…

The face of Diego. My mate.

I relax as he enters the hilltop clearing. "Hey, Softie!"

"Hey, Shira," he smiles.

He gently nuzzles me, the way he always does when he greets me. I nuzzle him back, licking him fondly behind the ears. His loud, contented purring fills my ears.

He has always loved that. What a Softie he is.

Diego lays down in the soft grass, facing towards the spectacular sunset vista. I snuggle up into his smooth orange fur.

"Nice view," he comments.

Then I remember why I'm here. My thoughts, which had evaporated with my mate's arrival, hit me like an avalanche.

I sigh.

Instantly, Diego looks around at me, his eyes wide with concern.

Drat. He heard me.

"Shira, what's wrong?" he asks.

"Nothing," I say quickly, trying to cover up my mistake.

Diego give me a look. "Shira, we've been together for months now. If we're mates then why can't we be honest with each other?"

I look away from him, afraid to tell him what I'm thinking. But he's right, I must admit. If we're mates then we should be able to trust each other with our thoughts and secrets.

"I'm not sure I'll be a good mother," I say bluntly.

"What?!" Diego splutters. "Shira, that's absurd! What on earth makes you think you'll be a bad mother?"

"I spent years on a pirate ship at sea!" I point out. "I was taught to be cruel, heartless, and to show no mercy! But now here I am in a situation which requires the very opposites of the things I was taught: love and kindness!" I look back at him. "I've never dealt with cubs in my life. I'm not sure I'll know what to do. What if I hurt them?"

"Wouldn't your pack have given you at least some advice?" Diego asks. "I mean, you did have a mother, right? And it's not like there aren't female sabres in a pack."

I look away again, awful memories welling up inside me. "Don't talk to me about my pack."

"Why not?"

"They hated me. Because of my fur colour. They thought I was a curse, a burden to them. They always teased me and rejected me. I was forced to fend for myself. Nobody ever helped me, let alone explain pregnancy or cubs to me. I was lucky to be allowed just to live with them!"

Diego looks shocked. "Why would anybody want to do that? Reject you just because you looked different? Shira, your fur colour is what makes you look beautiful. I wouldn't want you any other way."

I smile, touched by his words. "You really think that?"

"Absolutely."

"Thanks, Diego."

Diego returns my smile. "And don't worry. When the time comes, you should know what to do. Motherly instinct."

I still feel uneasy, though, despite his assurance. "But if I don't…?"

"Shira, we're a herd. We always have each other's backs, no matter what. We'll always help each other. Ellie will give you tips. She dealt fine with Peaches, and she spent half her life thinking she was a possum."

I smile hopefully, my worries fading away with every passing second. "So everything's going to be alright?"

"We'll always be there for you, Shira. Especially me."

I smirk. "You know, you're a bigger Softie than I ever thought."

Diego grins. "I still happen to be an assassin! Don't you forget that, Kitty."

"Don't worry," I purr, snuggling back into him. "I don't intend to, Softie."

He smiles, resting his head on my shoulder. Together, we look out across our beautiful new home and out to the sparkling ocean, as the sun slowly slides below the horizon.


First proper chapter up! Bit short, but the others should be longer!

Yep, I gave Shira a reason to leave her pack. Don't you think it's cruel that they're rejecting her just because of her fur colour? :(

Please review!