Mitch walks over, and picks up one of the pups.
*Looks like you had a good sized litter.* Mitch says, examining the puppies. Mato looks from Mitch the puppies lying next to her.
*So what do you think of them?* Mato asks, looking at Mitch with questioning eyes.
*They need to transform into their full wolf selves.* Mitch says simply.
*How?* Mato asks, looking at Mitch with confusion.
*Persia!* Mitch shouts, looking toward the entrance of the den. Persia walks back into the cave, and over to the two of them.
*Are you ready?* Persia asks, looking at Mitch.
*Yes.* Mitch says in a serious voice. Persia nods, and transforms into her humans shape before one by one she puts some type of silver liquid on the pups heads.
"Now all we have to do is wait till the moon lights the den up." Persia says, taking a step back. Mato lays down next to the puppies, and looks up at Mitch.
*Mitch...I-* Mato begins, but is cut off.
*That's enough!* Mitch says, looking at her with serious eyes. Mato looks at the ground, and sighs. She curls into a ball.
A couple hours later, the moon inches over the horizon, and slowly begins to light the den up.
*It's time.* Mitch says, looking at the puppies. Mato looks up at him in confusion. When suddenly, the silver liquid begins to soak into the puppies forehead.
*What's happening?* Mato shouts, shooting to her feet.
*You mean you didn't do this for your first litter?* Mitch asks, looking at Mato with surprise. She glares at him with pissed off eyes.
*If I would have...don't you think I would know what the hell is going on?* Mato demands, glaring at him.
*I suppose...just watch.* Mitch says, looking down at his puppies. Mato looks at them, as one by one their colors before more dominant.
*Interesting.* Mato says as she smiles, picking up the puppy with a black stripe going down her back.
A year passes, and Mato is standing next to Mitch as the pack once again prepares to move to a different den.
*It's about time we got out of here.* Mitch says with a sigh.
*Where are we headed now?* Mato asks, looking at Mitch with unsure eyes. Mitch smiles as Domini runs around his feet.
*Back north. It's time we go back to our territory.* Mitch says, reaching down to nip Domini's ear.
*Okay.* Mato says, turning away from him. She looks at the hills in the distance, and closes her eyes. She stands with her eyes closed until she hears paws drumming in the distance. She instinctively gets into a pounce position and growls as the hair on her back stands up while Domini runs underneath her. *Someone's coming.* Mato says.
*I know. I arranged for a guest to join us on our trip.* Mitch says, looking at Mato with a grin at her protectiveness.
*Who?* Mato asks as she stands back up straight with a look of confusion on her face before turning back toward the hills. To her surprise, she sees a familiar white wolf running toward them. *I know her...she was in that horrible prison with me.* Mato says, cocking her head to the side as she tries to remember.
*You were also raised with her when you were a pup.* Mitch says with a blank face.
*Oh yeah! Now I remember. Quincie!* Mato says with a hint of excitement in her voice. The white wolf comes to a stop in front of them, and smiles.
*So you do remember me, huh?* Quincie asks, grinning her head off.
*Yeah...sorry. A lot had happened just before we saw each other.* Mato says with a sigh of embarrassment.
*That's enough! We have to get going.* Mitch says as he turns away from them, and walks down the hill.