The Lone Wolf: The Fallen Branch

Chapter 1

Flame withered in agony in the mossy nest as Fawn pressed a paw against her side, she could hear the leaves flying over the ground, the cold icy rain beating against the den and she thought she could hear Smoke's heart beating, the young gray male was trying his best to help but Fawn gently said no.

"Relax Flame," She soothed as Flame whipped her head around in the nest glaring at Fawn and growled

"You try and relax when this is happening to you!" as she finished her flank rippled and her jaw clenched in pain.

"Yet I will never have pup's, the pack is like my pup's I take care of all of you as if you were my own and during fall the pack needs me more then ever." She whispered as her eyes misted with emotion as a pup slid out from under Flame's orange tail.

"A male, he will be the future leader of this pack." Smoke declared, placing the wiggling pup beside Flames belly "One more Flame you can do this." Smoke's gray fur was ruffled, Flame remembered that this was Smoke's first delivery.

"You're doing a great job Smo-" She trailed off as a spasm gripped her body. A small pale gray shape followed as the spasm faded away.

"There you have two health pups, a male and a she-wolf." Fawn cheered as a gray and white head poked through the den entrance, his yellow eyes full of worry.

"Flame are you... I have pups!" Hail howled with delight rushing over to nuzzle his mate's cheek "I will leave you to tend to your pups, howl if you need me or Smoke." Fawn ushered Smoke out of the den, explaining to him what to do for an infected wound.

"They are strong and beautiful just like you." He whispered softly, staring at the two pups as they wiggled beside Flame's belly.

"Their names are Mist and Ice." Flame decided, not taking her eyes off her firstborn pup "Hail, he will be the future leader of our pack." She echoed Fawns words.

Hail crouched to sniff his pups as he went to sniff Mist she lifted up her head touching her little nose to his, "Did you see that?!" Hail cried with joy, giving his daughter a small lick on the cheek as a rustle came from the far corner of the den.

"Looks like she accepted you as her father." A tortoiseshell wolf named Splash joked then looked at Flame, "You picked beautiful names for them." as Splash finished one of her pups let out a whine.

"Night and Spirit are wonderful names too. Although since Spirit is adopted she will have to become the new Omega." Flame commented, resting her head on her paws staring at her pups.

"I'll see you in the morning my love, sleep well you and our pups." Hail whispered, resting his muzzle on her head for a heart beat. Flame closed her eyes, letting the sound of her pups soft snoring drift her to sleep.

                                                                         *  *  *

Flame woke up to the sound of her pups whining.

"S-sorry for them waking you up, Flame. Fawn wanted me to check on you." Smoke stammered,

Flame yawned "Is it fine if I go for a walk?" She asked as Mist and Ice wiggled over to sniff Smoke,

"Well I guess it's okay as long as you don't walk too far I think it's okay anyway but if you start hurting just walk back." Smoke murmured sniffing each pup in turn "They are very health pups, You must be proud to have the future leader of our pack be your pup."

Flame sat up and stretched "I think I'm just going to go and get something to eat. Slate hasn't brought me anything today, that fluff ball." She laughed, walking out of the den, the sunlight warming her pelt.