Lilac Dreamer*Liam

The white vixen closed her eyes against the biting wind and sent a prayer to whomever was listening that she would find shelter soon. An early winter's storm was brewing, and her tiny pup would surely die of exposure if she didn't find someplace to rest soon.

Tiny Liam hung limpy from his mother's jaws, the cold having taken his strength from him. He had been very tiny at birth, and did not yet have the thick adult coat he needed to survive these kinds of conditions. He drifted in and out of tortured conciousness.

At long last the desperate mother spotted a hollow log ahead, just on the edge of the territory's border. A sigh of relief was muffled by her son's scruff as she gratefully climbed in, turning her back to the cold as she curled around Liam, frantically licking his coat to keep the blood flowing. But the struggle through the wind had taken its toll on her as well, and she soon curled tightly around her son and fell asleep.

The storm mounted higher, hurling down sleet and light snow in its wrath at being denied victims. But much as it howled, mother and pup slept on until morning light blushed the sky and the storm surrendered its grip on the forest, retreating into the bright burst of morning.

Aaka

Aaka was moving as quickly as she could, which wasn't very fast. With a bullet lodged in her leg and her term of pregnancy coming to a close, the alphess was greatly hampered. She saw the log and knowing she had reached home she moved towards it, hoping to get out of the biting winds. As she crawled in, her eyes fell upon Lilac and Liam. Yellow eyes narrowed dangerously and a soft growl was emitted but she wasn't being as harsh as normal. She knew the hard ships of having a pup in a storm. "Wake up, young mother."

Lilac Dreamer*Liam

A harsh whisper brought the white mother out of her sleep with a start, reflexively growling before she realized that Aaka was not attempting to harm her. Finally, she filtered back into her eyes, and cleared her throat, speaking softly, almost hesitatingly. I... I'm sorry. I didn't mean... You startled me. And she stumbled to a halt before she turned to licking at Liam again, willing him to wake up and be okay.

Aaka

Her eyes were soft now, and an almost kindess came into them. "It is fine. Come with me, I have better shelter deeper in the terra." With that she crawled out of the log and began trotting away.

She headed deep into the Woods, where the wind could not reach them. She came to the creek and stared at it for a moment, uncertain if she could jump across. With a mighty leap she did so, but her hind end didn't make it and the white alphess was wet on her back half. With a growl she continued on however, into the deeper woods. As she came to a large over hanging rock, she nodded. IT was a cave of sorts, and provided much better protection then the log had. "You will be safe and warm. If you need another to help keep the child warm, just call. Aminita would not mind helping." The baby sitter. Not the best babysitter, but the hybrid was very sheepish for losing two of Aaka's children. The death of Laporta had been a shock, and Sang missing was yet another harsh blow to the white mother. A soft smile crossed her lips and she said softly "If you need me, I will be at the den. I have pups on the way." Just like that, the female seemed to disappear as if she had never been there, a ghostly form with haunting yellow eyes.

Lilac Dreamer*Liam

Finally convinced that Aaka meant to help them, Lilac braced herself and crawled from her hovel, Liam still hanging limply from her jaws. She leaped the river with almost as much trouble as Aaka, the wind and travel having sapped her strength. But she didn't say anything as her coat was soaked through up to her hocks, only continued forward with Aaka.

A murmured "thank you" floated after Aaka as she left, the only words she had the strength to utter before she curled round little Liam again. Desperate, she tilted her head, calling for this Aminita. She would take any help she could to save her son.

Taiser

When Aminita didn't reply to the call, Taiser decided to buck up and take responsiblity instead. Although he figured Lilac might be more comfortable with a female pup-sitter, Taiser hoped that she'd feel comfortable enough with him instead.

"Hello- I'm Taiser. I'm not sure where Aminita is right now, but I can help if you'd like." The long-legged wolf offered, moving closer to the pair, but waited for Lilac to give him permission before he did anything.

Lilac Dreamer*Liam

If she hadn't been so tired and worried, Lilac would have chased the male away... she trusted no male since she had been forcebred... but... she could deal with that again, if Liam were okay. Lilac was silent a long time, eyeing him carefully as she nuzzled and worried with her son, until finally she nodded, voice barely above a whisper. Please... my son. He's... I can't get him to wake up. Please... And she cursed silently. She would not cry. Instead, she continued rubbing her snout up and down that little furry body, the breathing its only sign of life. Liam... Liam baby... wake up.