Thoughts/Telepathic Communication between characters

Animals/Animal Spirits Speaking Human Tongue

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The family spent several days together as the She-Wolf's injury healed, growing closer as the days went by. Maurice found the company of the She-Wolf enjoyable, while Belle loved finally having a friend to share her love of books with someone her age.

Louata was not much of a fan of having to wear a dress every day but soon learned that she enjoyed the clothes. Even if they would get caught on branches as she played outside with Belle. They also made it easier for her to gather small treasures in her skirts, like shiny rocks, plants, or even bones she found on their adventures.

While the family grew closer over the days many of the villagers started to notice a strange fox, wondering just on the out skirts of the village, and wolf howls in the early morning hours, causing many hunters to begin patrol the village at all hours to protect the livestock. Some whispered tales of witches and evil spirts coming for them, while others just said the animals were passing through to their summer hunting ground and they'd be gone when their pups where grown and able to move on.

That was till one afternoon the family was having a picnic behind their cottage. Belle and Louata played in the tall grass while Maurice and the She-Wolf, who he had began calling Luna, watched them from their blanket as they ate steamed spiced vegetables and sliced meats. As the girls played Louata went to the bushes, pouncing on a critter hiding under them.

"Papa," Louata cheered as she came out of the bushes now holding a fox in her arms, "Belle! Belle, meet my Papa."

"Lou that's a fox," Belle argued, "Be careful he might bite you."

"Louata, dear, please put me down," Fox groaned looking up at his daughter.

Belle looked shocked, "You talk! Huh, sorry Lou."

"It's okay," Louata smiled ignoring her fathers reguest to be set down, "Mama's gonna be so happy to see you."

Louata carried him to their blanket, the poor fox's body swaying side to side as she walked, "Mama! Maurice! Look who I found!"

Fox tolerated his daughter's excitement as she carried him like a house cat. Belle followed beside Louata.

"Fox," Luna gasped seeing her mate, as her daughter set him down in front of her, "You should be careful. Hunters have been more active because of you and the pack."

"I had to find you and Louata," he replied, "I went to the den but you weren't there. I followed your trail till I lost it close to the village. I've been looking for you, praying that I wouldn't find your pelts stuffed or hanging from a hunter's wall. I'm glad to see you both well and alive. Your father and mother are just as concerned for you both, though they have been keeping a greater distance than I."

"It was close though," Luna sighed, "If it weren't for Maurice I don't think Louata or I would be here."

"Thank you my friend," Fox gave a small bow to Maurice, "I owe you a great debt for taking in my mate and pup."

"Im just glad I was able to help," Maurice gave a nod back, "But what will you do now? The woods of this area arent as safe as they used to be."

"Many of our trails have become unsafe as well," Fox sighed looking back at the woods, "Hunters, and loggers are a hassel as it is but now conflicts of borders have added to the uncertiant of travel."

"Which would mean that you won't be returning to your den then,"Maurice looked at Luna with a hint of saddness in his eyes

Luna nodded back, " It would be too dangerous and our pack wouldn't have enough members to watch us and hunt as well. My siblings have their own pups to take care of as well. Louata is still too young to join the hunts to feed her younger cousins."

"I'm getting there," Louata crossed her arms over her chest, "I caught Papa."

"Yes, but not all prey with be as easy as your father my girl," Maurice smiled at her patting her head. Louata gave an angry huff. Belle patted her back as she offered her a slice of bread which she happily began to eat with vigor still having a grumpy face.

"You should stay with us then," Belle said, "If the woods aren't safe anymore and your family has younger pups to worry about why not stay with us."

The adults looked at each other at this. Louata added, "I like having a playmate too. Why not stay, even if the dresses are annoying, I like it here."

"I like Louata too," Belle added hugging her, "She's like a sister to me. I don't want her to go away."

"Me either," Louata hugged her back, giving their parents a determined look as she held Belle close, "You'll never take me away from her."

"No one plans to separate you too," Fox chuckled at the girls.

"I doubt we could if we tried, " Maurice chuckled, "And I have also gotten very accustomed to your company with us."

"As have I," Luna smiled

"It would be best to have her keeping a foot in both worlds," Fox nodded, "I think it would be a grand idea. But my knowledge of humans is faint but having a mother and her child living with you would seem odd unless you were to marry her."

"What," Maurice looked to Fox, "Isn't she your wife?"

"Not in the eyes of humans," Luna explained.

"And it would only be a cover," Fox explained excitedly, "I am married to the She-Wolf while Luna is married to Maurice."

"I-it's a little t-too soon d-d-d-don't you think," Maurice stuttered.

"Would I be such an undesirable bride," Luna looked back at him with a small frown.

"Oh no you're beautiful and a wonderful mother but we've only know each other for hardly a week," Maurice shook his head. The two girls began to laugh at Maurice as he began to blush.

Luna giggled softly, "I tease my good friend. But it doesn't have to be right away. I am hardly recovered enough for such an idea to even think of a false wedding.'

"It would be a bit rash," Fox chuckled, "But if you are still willing friend I will gladly do what I can to aid our families if we merge."

Maurice thought for a moment looking over at the girls as they chased after a rabbit in the grass.

"We just wanna play," Louata called out to it as she chased the rodent. Belle was right behind her trying to stop her as she giggled. Maurice couldn't help smiling at how happy the two were as they played.

"That will work perfectly," Maurice nodded, "Once you've recovered, we can finalize our plans."

Luna smiled hugging Maurice and kissing his cheeks, "Than you thank you."

"Thank you, my friend," Fox smiled at Maurice, "I will aid you in any way I can when I am in the area."

"My pack will as well," Luna nodded excitedly, "They'll love Belle as our own."

"So, we're goanna stay," Louata cheered as she and Belle came rushing over to the adults, having forgotten of their previous chase. They nodded back causing the two girls to squeal, holding each other as they excitedly jumped around.

"We're staying," Louata said in a sing-song tune.

"We'll be sisters," Belle cheered.

"We'll have to find a way to introduce you to the pack sooner then later," Luna smiled at the girls.

"I'll gladly deliver the message to them," Fox nodded, "The Old Ones will be glad to know of our plan."

The girls went back to playing as the adults continued to speak on their plans. While deep in the woods at the center of their territory a single eyed greying black wolf sat outside a small den as younger wolves came, carrying with them a fresh deer carcass in their maws. As they approached a smokey wolf and a pure white wolf came from the den heavy from nursing pups.