I woke the next morning, feeling cold. I opened my eyes to see the sun just starting to come up and Lilly sitting outside, crying. I yawned and rubbed my eyes, getting the sleep out.
"Lilly?" I asked. She turned to look at me, tears flowing down her face. "Lilly, what's wrong?" I asked. She came back in and laid next to me, burying her face in my chest, not saying anything. I rubbed her back and said "Lilly, please, tell me what's wrong, okay?"
"You forgot the Moonlight Howl last night!" she yelled into my fur. I picked her face up and looked into her eyes. "No, I didn't forget. You were asleep and my leg just hurt to much to go." I said, wiping the tears off her cheek. "Well, you should've woke me up anyway!" she said, getting mad. I knew instantly it was a mood swing so I went with it.
"You were really tired! I wasn't going to wake you up just for a howl!" I said, acting upset. "Just for a howl!? What's that supposed to mean? You think the howl isn't anything special to me!?" she yelled. "No, it's not that special! It's just another night!" I said.
"You're such a fucking jerk! Why did I marry you!?" she yelled, getting up and walking outside. "What the hell was that!?" Eve yelled, coming over to me and slapping me. "Eve, relax! She's just having a mood swing." I said, calmly. Her eyes went wide and she said "Oh my god! Cody, I'm so sorry! I didn't realize-" she started when I said "It's okay. No need to apologize. I just hope Lilly realizes it was, too."
"I'll go see if I can find her. I'm sorry I slapped you." Eve said, walking outside. "You handled that well." Winston said, walking over to me. "Thanks. I figured by the way she suddenly shifted from being sad to mad about it, it was a mood swing." I said, smiling with blood running from the cut on my face.
"Just to let you know, don't do that when Eve's having a mood swing. She'll tear you apart. And don't worry about Lilly. You know she didn't mean it." He said. "Thanks for the warning. And I know she didn't." I said. A few minutes later Eve and Lilly walk back in. Eve goes to the back and Lilly lays down next to me and says "I'm sorry about that. You're not a jerk. I know exactly why I married you."
"Why's that?" I asked, smiling. "Because you're you. Sweet, loving and willing to put up with me." she said, giggling. I wiped the tears off her face and said "Of course I put up with you. You're my soulmate. It's kinda a requirement." She laughed and said "Yep. Same here. How's your leg feeling?"
"A lot better, but really sore." I said, turning my head to look at it. When I did, she saw the bleeding cut and yelled "Oh my god! Who did that to you!?" I turned my head and looked at Eve and she hung her head. "Mom! Why'd you do that!?" Lilly yelled. "When I heard you two arguing and you walk out, I got mad at him. I slapped him for treating you bad, but then he told me it was a mood swing. I'm sorry, Lilly." Eve said, almost crying.
"It's alright, Eve. Honestly, I barely felt it." I said, jokingly. She picked her head and said "Oh, so I can't hit very hard?", joking too. "Let's not find out." Lilly said, licking my cut. I laughed and said "Yeah, good idea. I'd hate to see how hard she hits when she's REALLY pissed off!"
Lilly licked my cheek for a couple minutes until the bleeding stopped and said "All done. Feel better?" "Yeah, thanks, love." I said, kissing her. "So, any plans for the day?"
"No, not really. Just figured I'd stick around here a while and make sure you don't pass out again." she said, smiling. "Oh, go have some fun. I'm sure you can find something to do." I said, nudging her. She smiled and said "Well, I guess I could just lay out in the sun later. Might be kinda warm today."
"Hm...Not a bad idea. Seeing you laying in the sun, glowing with life? Sexy!" I said, laughing. She laughed too and said "Down boy!" I licked her neck and said "Hard to with someone as beautiful as you!"
"I believe the lady said down." Eve said, smiling. We looked at her and laughed. "Don't worry, Mom. He won't do anything, right babe?" she asked. "Right...Stupid leg..." I said, laughing. Lilly laughed too, but we heard Eve let out a low growl, surpising us.
"Eve! What was that for?" Winston asked, sitting up. She looked at him and gestured to me. "He's thinking about "it"..." she said. Winston smiled and let out a sigh and said "Eve...Number one, they're married. They can do that if they want. Number two, he was joking. You really need to back off sometimes. And number three, he wouldn't be able to do anything anyway."
"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, joking. "Well, let's face it. You can't stand on your back leg so...how would you be able to-"
"DAD! WINSTON!" We all three yelled at same time, blushing. He laughed and said "It's true." I looked at Lilly, both us of blushing madly, and said "Yeah, but you didn't need to bring it up!" He laughed and said "Come on, Eve. Let's go for a walk." "Sure, I could use the excerise." She said, walking out with him.
"Wow, I've never seen your dad like that before!" I said, stunned at what he said. "Me either. Really surprised me..." Lilly said, still blushing. "Yeah, no kidding!" By now, the sun was getting a ways over the tops of the mountains, warming the air and ground. Lilly stood up and stretched, not noticing her butt was right next to my face. I smiled and nipped at her leg, making her spin around and yelp.
"Would you not do that?" she asked, giggling. "You're butt was right in my face. I couldn't resist!" I said, laughing. "So, if my butt's in your face, you decide to go for my leg?" she asked, laughing too.
"Well you heard your dad. I couldn't do anything right now." I said, smiling. "Technically, you could, but you wouldn't really benefit from it." she said, seducitively. "I don't know...Just seeing you happy is enough for me." I said. She giggled and said "Well, if I would've know that, then maybe I wouldn't of needed to be pregnant now." My smile instantly went away and I turned my head away, sad to hear her say that.
"Cody, what's wrong?" she asked, laying next to me. "It's just what you said about being pregnant." I said, tears coming to my eyes. She licked my cheek and said "I was only kidding about that. I'm very happy I got preganant. I shouldn't of said that. I'm sorry." I turned my head back, wiping my eyes, and said "I know you were. It still got me sad to hear it, though."
"I know...I shouldn't say things like that, huh?" she asked, smiling. I kissed her and said "It doesn't matter what you say. I will always be happy you're pregnant."
"Aw...Thanks. I'm gonna go lay down outside now. Enjoy the view!" she said as she stood up, giggling. She walked outside and layed down in the sun on her back and stretched out, getting warm. I laid there and stared at her for a few minutes until I decided to go out there too. I carefully got up and limped outside, laying next to her. She looked at me and said "What are you doing out here?"
"You looked like you were comfortable out here, so I decided to join you." I said, nuzzling her neck. "I am...Feels good having the sun warm me and the pups up." she said, closing her eyes. I put my paw on her stomach, feeling the pups kick, and started rubbing her. She smiled and started purring. I laid my head on her chest and said "Wow, you make a good pillow!" She laughed said "It's the fat from the pups."
"What fat? I don't see a bit on you." I said. "Aw, really? I feel so fat right now." she asked, smiling. "Really. You still look as slender as when I met you. Well, besides the stomach, but that just makes you even more beautiful." I said, kissing her neck. She giggled and said "That's sweet. You really mean it?"
"Of course I do. Any girl carrying pups looks 100 times more beautiful then normal. Except you...Make it a millon." I said, kissing her. She kissed me back and said "Wow! Do I really?"
"Yep! You look better then any girl in this pack. Or the world." I said, laying my head back on her chest. She blushed and said "I don't know if It's the sun or you making me hot. Either way, I like it." We lay there for about an hour until I noticed Lilly was asleep. Her belly was turning pink so I decided to wake her up.
"Lilly...Lilly, time to get up." I said, nudging her. Her eyes fluttered open and she yawned, saying "What is it?"
"You're starting to get a sunburn on your belly." I said. She looked and said "Oh, wow, I am. Let's go inside." We got up and I limped inside behind her. She laid down in the cool dirt on her stomach and I laid right next to her. I started rubbing her back with my tail, making her purr. "That kinda tickles." she said, giggling.
"Want me to stop then?" I asked. "No, it feels good." she said, laying her head down. I kept rubbing her back until she was asleep again. I smiled and laid my head next to hers, touching our noses together. I closed my eyes and fell asleep, feeling the pups kicking again.
"Soon, little ones...Soon." I thought, smiling and drifted off to sleep.
4 1/2 weeks later
Lilly and I were walking around the feeding grounds. Well, I was limping still. Eve said I could start walking again, so I decided to take a walk to get rid of some of the fat I built up laying around the last few weeks.
"How much longer do you think until you give birth?" I asked. Lilly's stomach was much larger now. She was defiantely going to give birth in the next few days. "I don't know. I know it'll be soon. They're really getting antsy." she said, smiling. "Good. I can't wait to see our kids!" I said, nuzzling her neck. We kept walking until we got back to Winston and Eve's den and walked inside.
"Oh, hey guys. Back already?" Eve asked, seeing us come in. "Yeah, it wasn't a long walk, but nice either way." Lilly said, laying down. I laid down next to her and held her close to me. Eve smiled and asked "How are you feeling, Lilly?"
"Like I'm about to explode. I hope they decide to come soon." she said. "Oh, they will. It's been just under nine weeks now, so they could come today or sometime in the next few days." Eve said. "Good. My stomach feels huge." she said, laying her head down on my chest. A few minutes later, Kate and Humphrey walked in. Kate stomach was much larger too, but a little smaller then Lilly's. Lilly was always jealous about that.
"Hey, you two. Have fun?" Kate asked, seeing up laying together. "We just went for a walk, Kate." Lilly said, smiling. "Oh, Mom. Did you guys figure out how many you're having yet?"
"Yes, we did. Surprisingly, it's only one." Eve said, hanging her head. "It's okay, honey. It happens." Winston said, comforting her. "I know...I was hoping for at least two." she said, sounding sad.
"It's okay, Mom. Just think, with only one, it's a lot less trouble." Kate said, hugging her mom. "Thanks, Kate." She said, hugging her back. Kate suddenly jumped back in pain, yelling. "Kate, what's wrong? Did I hurt you?" Eve asked.
"No...I think...It's time." she said, laying down, panting. Humphrey ran over and said "Kate, are you sure?" "Yes, you idiot! I think I'd know when our pups are coming, don't you!?" she yelled, making him back up. She looked at him and said "Humphrey, I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me."
"It's okay, Kate. I forgive you. Just relax. I'm here." he said, walking back over to her and laying down with her. "You two may want to go for another walk..." Eve said. I nodded and said "Good idea. I don't want to watch this."
"What about when our pups come?" Lilly asked as we walked outside. "That's different. Kate's your sister. You're my wife." I said, smiling at her. We went to the bottom of the slope and walked around the cliff and sat in the shade. We could hear Kate screaming in pain and we knew they were coming now.
"Wow...that sounds like it hurts." Lilly said. "Yeah...I wonder how bad Humphrey's ears are ringing!" I said, laughing. Lilly giggled and said "Probably pretty bad." We laid down in the cool shade and relaxed until Eve came out and down to us about 30 minutes later.
"She's all done. They're beautiful if you guys want to come see them." Eve said, smiling. We stood up and went back in to see Kate and Humphrey cuddling in the back. They saw us come in and Kate said "Come on over." We walked back to her and saw their pups nursing off her.
"Kate, they're beautiful!" Lilly said, tearing up. There was three pups, just like Eve said. Two girls and a boy. The girls were both mostly tan but had some grey on their paws, ears and tail. The boy was identical to Humphrey. "Thanks, Lilly." Kate said, nuzzling Humphrey.
"Did you name them yet?" I asked. "Yep. Lupa, Candice and Colin." she said, pointing them out. "Good luck telling the girls apart." I said, laughing. She laughed too and said "Yeah, that's going to be a pain."
"Congratulations, guys." I said, hugging Humphrey. "Thanks, man." he said. "Why don't you get a little rest, babe?" he asked Kate. "I was just about to. That takes a lot of energy out of you." she said, laying her head down.
Lilly and I walked back to the front of the den and laid down in the cool dirt. "I'm so happy for them!" she said, leaning against me. "Yeah, me too. I know Humphrey's proud of Kate. He's been waiting so long to be a dad and now he's got his wish." I said.
"I'm gonna take a nap. I'm a little tired from the walk earlier." Lilly said, resting her head on my back. "Okay, me too. Limping is more tiring then walking." I said, laying my head down. We drifted off to sleep after a couple minutes. I was dreaming about when my leg got broke, remembering every grueling detail. I could swear I could feel the caribou's hoof come down on my leg...
I woke a couple hours later and noticed it was around noon. I yawned and looked around. Lilly was laying next to me, shaking and wimpering. I quickly moved to comfort her and said "Lilly!? What's wrong?"
"They're coming!" she said in a panic. "EVE!" I yelled to the back. Eve got up and ran over to us. "It's time?" she asked. I nodded and she said "Alright, Lilly. Just relax and breathe." Lilly nodded and screamed in pain, hurting my ears it was so high pitched. I pulled her head into my chest and said "Lilly, calm down and breathe. Cry into me if you need to." Just as another wave of pain hit her, she bit down on my foreleg, making me yelp in pain.
"I'm so sorry! I needed something to bite on!" she said, crying. Eve ran back and grabbed a stick for her to bite on instead of me. "Here, put this in your mouth." she said, handing Lilly the stick. She put it in her mouth and bit down, cracking it. I pulled her close and held her, comforting her. A few minutes later, the first pup came.
"It's a boy!" Eve said, laying him next to Lilly and I. I smiled and said "Good job, Lilly. One more..." She nodded and soon after, the second one came. "It's a girl!" Eve said. Lilly started crying in happiness and Eve set her next to Lilly. "I'll give you guys some alone time now."
"Thanks, Mom. For everything." Lilly said, smiling and crying lighty. The pups started nursing off her and she laid her head down and looked into my eyes. "Lilly, they're beautiful!" I said, kissing her. "They are...The boy looks almost just like you!" she said. He did, actually. He was mostly black, but had the stripes I did and some more white on his face.
"Look at the girl. She's so cute." I said. She was mostly white, almost just like Lilly, but had black on her ears, paws and tail. "Yeah, she is! She's going to have the boys tripping over their own paws someday!" Lilly said, laughing. I smiled and said "That she is."
"I'm so proud of you, Lilly! We're parents!" I said, kissing her. She kissed me back and said "We are! I suppose we already know the names, right?" I laughed and said "Seems so. Are you okay with them?"
"Yep. I like them." she said. "Okay. Hey, Eve?" I called. "Yeah, what's up?" She asked, coming over to us. "Could you ask Kate and Humphrey to come see them?" I asked. They'd left to go back to their den already. "Of course. Congrats, you two!" she said, walking outside. "Thanks, Mom!" Lilly said.
"Wow, guys! Their beautiul!" Winston said, walking over to us. "Thanks, Dad." Lilly said, smiling. "Let me guess...Onyx and Krystal?" he asked, smiling. I nodded and said "Right."
"Well, I'm proud of you guys. You have some beautiful pups." he said, hugging me. "Thanks." He walked over and kissed Lilly's forehead and said "You should get some rest." "You're right. Thanks, Dad." she said. A few minutes later Eve, Kate and Humphrey walked in with their pups.
"Wow, guys! Congratulations!" Kate said, smiling. "Thanks, Kate." we said. "How's it feel to be a dad now?" Humphrey asked. "Honestly, really scary." I said. "Don't worry. You'll be a great dad." Eve said, walking back to Winston. "What's their names?" Humphrey asked.
"Krystal and Onyx." Lilly said, smiling at them. "I love it." Kate said. Lilly yawned and laid her head back down and closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep. "I suppose we should go now. Congrats, Cody!" Humphrey said. "Thanks, H." I said, giving him a quick hug. They walked out and back to their den.
I laid down next to Lilly with our pups between us. Lilly was asleep already, purring. I smiled and closed my eyes as well, falling asleep. We were parents now. Nothing could make our lives better now.