Liseli

Liseli had left the den and the pups in gentle care, wandering about for no good reason, other than that she was lonely and bored. Where was her mate, her three other pups? She did not even suspect his betrayal, though she was beginning to be worried for his safety. Working herself into a tizzy, she finally threw back her tiara and let out a howl, calling for someone to come.

Lady

Lady was wandering around. there was nothing to do and no one around. She hadden't seen v.estige in forever and was quite worried about him. Her white ears pirked at the sound of liseli's call. She howled back and started to run toward her packmates call. "Hay Liseli." She said smilling at her friend when she found were liseli was.

Aloysious*Pups

Aloysious came upto his mate, his head lowered while the three pups stood close to him. "I-" he began in a deep tone glancing away with a low growl. The oldest pup Maska looked at him strangly. He shook his small head and his sturdy black body walked up to his mother with a slight smile. "I cannot stay," Aloysious muttered. Malai rolled her amber eyes with tan rings around them. She stood strongly beside him and glaring bitterly to her brother. "I must leave," he stated strongly lifting his head. Nukpana's narrow jaws drapped, "So your leaving us!" she blurted out in anger jumping beside Maska. Dazzle nodded slowly turning away. Malai was following him, and before he disapeared he looked down at her with a poisonous glare. "Your staying with the others," he growled then whispered in her ear, "but keep your dark litle gift," then lifted his muzzle to the skies and trotted off. The three pups looked up at Lesli and Lady in confusion. "What now?" Nukpana asked nervously.

Liseli*Kimama*Altan*Taini

She had been about to turn and greet Lady when her mate ubruptly turned up, and hurt when he left so quickly, before she had a chance to ask an explanation. Aloysius! she called after him, but he had already disappeared. She carefully hid her hurt and confusion behind a mask, and nuzzled each one of her pups, smiling softly. Hello, my little ones. Did you enjoy traveling with your father? She let out a low, musical howl, bringing her other children to her.

Kimama was in the lead, pounding along with a speed lent to her by her father's muscular form. Her dusty gray bod streaked along ahead of her siblings, skidding to a halt in front of her mother.

Altan was just behind her, and did not manage to stop in time to avoid colliding with his sister. The two fell in a graceless heap, laughing breathlessly. Beat you, beat you! taunted Kimama, laughing still. I'm much faster than you!

The cloudy Taini came puffing behind them, stopping short as she finally neared them, calling, Not so fast! Wait for me!

It was Altan who first recovered and realized who these three foreign pups were. Hey guys!

Nukpana*Maska*Malai

Nukpana smiled kindly to her brother. "Hello!" she shouted blissfully, her black tail swaying from side to side. She looked up at her mother with a worried look. "I hope I never have to travel with him again," she said in a low tone turning to the others her smile returning. Maska trotted up to his brother, much larger then all the others. He was looking for a tussle. "Trailing behind these two I see," he chuckled playfully. Malai rolled her eyes, she certainly had her fathers personality. She turned her lean body around and her dary eyes glared to the horizon. She threw back her head with pride and started to walk away so valiantly.

Liseli*Kimama*Altan*Taini

Altan grinned at Nukpana, prancing from foot to foot, just waiting for some play. Liseli smile softly behind Nukpana: the dark pup was so like her aunt, Sauda. A dark coat, warm heart. But her child's word's disturbed her, and she leant down to Nukpana and spoke softly so the other's wouldn't hear. Who do you mean, darling? Her brow was furrowed, for it seemed odd that so young a anything.

Altan let a reckless smirk land on his face, and leapt forward suddenly, aiming to tackle Maska. Maybe so, but I can still out-wrestle you!

Liseli saw her distrustful daughter head toward the trees, and came forward to scoop her up. Sorry, sweetie. You are just a bit little to go out on your own yet.

Nukpana*Maska*Malai

Nukpana smiled back at her mother, "I mean seeing every terrible thing he's done," she muttered softly. Maska lunged at Altan before he lunged at him. His jaws opened to grab his scruff and knock him over with his strong body. Malai barked and yelped as her mother picked her up. She thrashed about between her mothers jaws crying as if she was being murdered. "Let me go you damn bitch!" Malai snapped bitterly.

Liseli*Kimama*Altan*Taini

Liseli had left Nukpana for a moment, though the pup's words didn't escape her. She spoke through a mouthful of scruff as she soundly cuffed Malai. You WILL NOT address me that way, and you WILL NOT use those words. What kind of company have you been keeping? The question was really more to herself, a thought.

Altan giggled as Maska pulled him down, twisting about on the ground to grab at his sibling's legs.

Kimama jumped into the fray, pouncing on Altan's back, giggling madly.

Taini was watching everything through attentive eyes.

Nukpana*Maska*Malai

Nupana shook her head listening to Malai. She trotted up to Taini and nipped at her ear. Maska felt Altan bitting at his legs, and he was biting at his ears and stomach, or nipping really. "You will not tell me what I can and can not do. That is my choice not yours," Malai snapped still thrashing about to break free.

Liseli*Kimama*Altan*Taini

Liseli kept a firm hold on her young daughter. I am your mother, for better or worse, and you WILL listen. You cannot escape as I hold you so I suggest you hold still and stop wriggling.

Taini was surprised to find a body hanging off of her ear, but she soon perked up and let out a cheerful yip, rearing up on two legs, smiling softly.

Nukpana*Maska*Malai

Nukpana jumped back her tail swaying behind her. Malai was now still and said nothing with the same bitter look on her face.

Liseli*Kimama*Altan*Taini

Taini giggled and pounced at her sister, coming forward to hopefully knock her down.

Liseli waited until Malai had stopped wriggling, and then gently set her down, saying softly but firmly, When you are older, you may travel with your father. But he seems to believe that where he is going is dangerous, and wants to make sure all of you are safe. Until he thinks you are old enough to go with him, you will stay here with me. Now go play, Malai. Soon I will take you on a hunting lesson. Won't that be fun? She was wondering to herself about Malai's violent nature, but none of this showed on her face.

Nukpana*Maska*Malai

Nukpana puased looking over at Malai as her paws touched the ground. Malai glanced up at her mother. "Join him? He left us, to travel with the dark side. Don't you see, thats it, we won't ever see him again," she said trotting up to Nukpana to play a few feet away from Liseli and looked back at her. "see ya bitch," she barked then bolted off and into the forest. Her strong legs carried her off quickly.

Liseli*Kimama*Altan*Taini

All playing completely ceased as Malai made her horrid statement. Liseli was about to head off after Malai, as any mother would, until she realized that she had five other little ones to care for. Kimama retreated from the tussle to nuzzle her mother, whining. The white fae stood so still, so quiet. Truth be told, she was fighting tears. Malai, devious though she was, had no reason to lie, and the longer she stood there, the more she realized that her daughter must be right.

The white vixen sank onto her hindquarters, eyes closing tightly. She was playing a pup's game with herself: if you can't see it, it can't hurt you. Counting slowly, she inhaled and exhaled in rhythm for a few moments, and the single word she spoke was completely level, if lacking its usual warmth. Nukpana...

Nukpana*Maska

Maska stopped playing with Alton and peered over to see the hurt his mother was having. "I'll go after her," he said valiantly. Nukpana trotted to her mother's side and nuzzled her gently. "Yes?" she asked as she was called then sitting beside her with empty dark eyes.

Liseli*Kimama*Taini*Altan

Liseli gave little Maska a soft, half-hearted smile, shaking her head. Thank you darling, but I need you here. And she leaned down to give him a nuzzle. You are my brave lad.

Then she turned her eyes back to Nukpana, thinking once again how much she looked like Sauda. But she spoke quietly, speaking mostly to Nukpana, but also to the others if they wanted to contribute. What did you mean earlier, darling? About something awful "he" had done? What exactly is so awful? She thought she might already know the answer, but she asked it anyway, visibly bracing herself for the answer.

Nukpana*Maska

Maska smiled to his mother, he was a very brave wolf indeed. Him and Nukpana took after their mother very much other then looks. Nukpana looked at her with her dark eyes and brown rings around them. "Death. He has caused many deaths. He has done many things and he was causing trouble," she said in a low voice so the others wouldn't hear what their father was really like. Although Maska already knew. It was as if it didn't really bother him. In a way he was like his father, but he would never do such things.

Liseli*Kimama*Altan*Taini

Liseli nodded, closing her eyes again. Though she had known what her daughter's answer must be, it still hurt to hear it out loud. I see... well. And it came to her suddenly. He hadn't wanted to be her mate at all. He had only needed a place to hide until those who were angry with him had lost track of him. She let out a sigh, and nuzzled her little daughter.

Nukpana*Maska

Nukpana licked her mother's muzzle gently.

Maska shook his head looking to the ground as he sat beside her and heard everything. "We need to find Malai. Knowing her if she's anything like dad, she won't be alone. I say she's in one of the dark packs," Maska stated standing back up. "Please let me go get her," he said.

Liseli*Kimama*Altan*Taini

The mother shook her head at her little son, softly. Maska, I know how worried you must be for her, but right now you just aren't big enough to defend yourself from everything yet. Suppose the two-legs found you, or our enemies, the ones who killed your Auntie Sauda. Perhaps when all of you are a little bigger, I will take you to look for her. Until that time, I will locate Lady and see if you may stay with her while I look for Malai. Alright, my darling?

Her voice was sweet and low, but lacking in its usual warmth and fire. So many losses... and so recent. Her dark sister would have known what to do. They'd had their differences, but Liseli had never wanted it to end this way.

She looked up at the setting sun, knowing that her sister could always hear her after dark. Sauda why did you leave me here alone? You could have stopped me from being so foolish. Now I've pups and no love at all. Help me, sister. Please...

But the night wind was silent, with no echoes of the warm, sweet voice so familiar to her. And the white sister let her breath out in a sigh, all alone under the stars and the morning long in coming.

Nukpana*Maska

Maska nodded listening to his mother then turned in the direction Malai had ran off to. Nukpana sat still wondering just how her dark little sister was doing.