Werewolves - Secrets of the Lupians

Surprise encounter

Three years had passed since the birth of the twins, Rin and Kurt. Three years of changes. The one thing that didn't change was Elise's treatment.
Sure, things weren't so bad immediately after the birth of the pups. Dara was naturally tired a long while after their delivery and was content to lick and cuddle and nuzzle them when they weren't nursing or sleeping. As a consequence, she wasn't interested in "playing" with Elise. Their games were too loud to be played around the pups, anyhow. The last thing a new parent wants is for sleeping pups to be awoken. It has a way of killing the mood of whatever you're attempting to do.

Thus, Elise had gone for a few weeks without participating in the dreaded games. She had still been beaten when she failed to perform her tasks up to expectations, of course, but it was nothing compared to what she was dealt before. As a result, her wounds had begun to heal, some replaced by scars, others simply fading away. She still wasn't afforded much to eat, stealing morsels when she could, and eating whatever leftover scraps remained after meals.

During this time, their unit had been moved to their new den; a larger version of their previous one, with stone floors and walls, and a wooden ceiling held up by thick beams. This den, like most, was built mostly underground, covered with dirt and moss. Small windows looked out from the kitchen and living area, but the rest of the house was dark, lit only by candles or lanterns. There was a cold room at the back of the den on the right side where Elise resided, sleeping with whatever roots, meat, and herbs she had foraged and stocked there.

The pups grew quickly, their cries and bites a constant source of annoyance for their parents. Brolyn and Dara's tempers grew shorter with each passing day, and Elise bore the brunt of their frustration. Her days were now filled with the endless task of tending to the newborns, whose sharp teeth and claws left her arms and legs a mess of bruises and scratches.

One evening, when the pups were nearly two months old, as Dara nursed the twins, she looked up to see Elise hovering nearby, her eyes weary and her body bent from exhaustion. With a snarl, Dara flung one of the squirming pups at her. "Take it," she hissed. "It's your turn to deal with these little monsters."

Elise caught the pup reflexively, her heart racing. The pup snapped at her face, its needle-sharp teeth grazing her skin. She cradled it gently, trying to soothe its cries with soft whispers, but it was a losing battle. The pup was hungry, and no amount of cooing would satiate its hunger.

She felt their ire like a physical presence in the room, the air charged with the promise of more pain to come should she fail. She rocked the pup in her arms, her movements gentle and rhythmic, trying to mimic the comfort of a lullaby despite the ragged edge of her breath.

The pup in her arms finally ceased its squalling and latched onto her finger, its teeth sinking into her skin. She winced but didn't pull away, focusing instead on keeping her voice steady and her grip firm. The other pup followed suit, its tiny eyes blinking sleepily as it settled against her chest. The moment was brief, but in that quiet, Elise felt a flicker of something she hadn't felt in a long time-peace.

But peace was a luxury she couldn't keep hold of. The whines returned and grew louder as the pup at her breast detached from her finger, its hunger unsated. It scrabbled at her tunic, its sharp claws catching on the fabric. She tried to calm it with gentle strokes, but it only grew more agitated. Dara's eyes flicked to her, the fury in her gaze unmistakable. "Can't you do anything right?" she spat, her voice a low growl.

Brolyn's ears twitched, the irritation in his wife's voice mirrored in his own features. He stood, the wooden chair groaning as his weight lifted. The floorboards creaked as he approached, the pup's desperate cries seemingly fueling his anger. He swiped at Elise with a massive hand, sending her sprawling. The pups were cast from her arms, landing with a thud on the cold, hard earth floor and skidding to a stop in front of their mother.