Kekechoi

She came trotting to the den, hurriedly cleaning it out. Stabbing in her stomach, she picked up the pace. Crawling inside, she lay down and whimpered softly, hoping her friend would arrive soon.

Not much later, two pups lay beside her, two females. Snow Angel...And...Condemned. She whispered softly to the two, and if Kianga arrived, her as well..

Kianga

The trotting of steps was soon heard, and she came just in time to hear the pups names. She whined, trying to fight back tears, though not really succeeding. It hurt her badly to see her friend so pained and unhappy. She crawled carefully inside and lay beside Keko on the opposite side of the pups. She began to wash up, letting her tongue soothe away the pain and shame, nuzzling here and there. Finally, she spoke, voice a murmur that would not carry even in the echoes of the cavern. Keko... oh God, Keko... I heard... I'd heard you... And she could not go on, could not say the word forcebred. The two of them had been through so much together, and they were bound together by even more than love, even more than friendship. They were bound by common pain, and that was an unshakable and intensely loyal bond.

Baby... are you okay? she asked finally, voice a little shattered, feeling tears slip down her cheeks. She cursed herself for them, for it was Keko who was hurting so badly, inside and out, but she could not stop their flow. What... what did they DO to you?

Kekechoi

I...I was looking for a friend...And...He was there. He was so much bigger then me, I couldn't stop him. Tear filled eyes turned towards her friend, the one who was more then a sister to her. I...I tried to stop him. She whispered. Lightly she licked the two pups at her side, her eyes filled with shame. She knew that the world was a cruel place, but why must it be filled with monsters such as these? She felt not joy for the birth of the pups, but great sadness. They would not have a father as she had had. They would know only a mother, trying to be both to them.

Snow Angel

The white pups began to growl under her breath and whine as a puppy would. Digging into her mothers soft pelt for the warmth until the summer comes. She could not speak at this young age and even with her sister next to her she was quite confused about the world and what was going on.

Kianga

The tears continued to slip down her face, crying for her friend's pain, and for the loss of it all. She could not mourn for Keko's lost innocence, for that was long ago stolen, but oh, she could mourn for this. As Snow Angel began to growl a little, she reached over Kekochoi and nosed her, nuzzling her gently, speaking soft words. There, little Angel. Rest easy, dream gladness... may you know only joy in your life... never have to know how terrible life can sometimes be. And she turned to Condemned, the same nuzzle placed, the same blessing given.

She turned soft, sweet eyes up to Keko, voice soft and determined, but warm. If they cannot have a father... then they will have two mothers. Your children will be my children always. And she placed a deft nuzzle on her friend's cheek, trying to wipe away the look of sorrow, and any tears she might shed. She then lay her dial upon Keko's back, licking comfortingly to soothe her friend. If the pups could not have a father, then she would be a second mother to them. Keko would not have to raise them alone.

Kekochoi

A tear slipped down her cheek at her friends words. Aye, that they shall and what better of two mothers then us, huh? She said in return. She lightly licked Snow Angel, gentle tongue warm and carressing. She looked at them and whispered softly They are my world now, Kianga. With that she lay her head down with a soft sigh.

Condemned whimpered and began to move forth, nursing on her mother making soft growls now and again at her sister.

Snow Angel

The white pup continued to whimper and gruff until her second mother spoke to her. The words were taken and the pup quited down, nursing from her mother until she was full and then laying in the warmth. Her dreams were of nothing but colored auroras. No shapes, no mass, just an array of colors and movement. It pleased Angel, and she slept peacefully.

Kianga

She smiled as Keko seemed to cheer a little, and spoke softly, so as not to wake the pups. Yes... two mothers. So they need never fear, never want for love. They will be our world. And she rested her dial once again on Keko's back, eyes wide open to keep watch, should her friend choose to sleep.

Kekechoi

With a last nuzzle to both pups, she smiled at her friend and rested her head down to sleep. So exausting, this birthing business.

Kianga

As her friend rested, Kianga's eyes remained open and alert. So much had been lost to both of them... Keko was the only friend she had, really more of a sister. Her head rested silently and gently on Keko's back, watching.

But a sudden, shrill howl split the sky and silence, and her head popped up almost instantaneously. Abamacho and Soleda... there were pups.