Shadow Claw: The Life Story - The Third Chapter

Ch. 3 - Female's Infection

Okie dokie, this chapter could be triggering or a little gory at times. It's not essential to the story line but it is what happened during Shadow's life, and I needed to add it. Enjoy... -_-

Shade's face hardened in concentration as he stared down at the dead Claw, his arm tightening on my waist as he pushed me very gently behind him. This had been happening for days; since it was mating season, many of the females had been getting pregnant, but the first three females to give birth, had died in labour  along with their cubs. The stillborns were always covered in a thin layer of greenish liquid, and it had the scent of death all over it while the mothers blood would boil and seep out of their mouth and any open wounds. Three poor males too - they had been heartbroken and the second one had actually committed suicide by drowning, believing he would be able to see his mate and cubs in the afterlife. The other two had been a little better on the situation.

I grimaced and buried my face in Shade's back, trying desperately to mask the scent. "It's okay, sweetheart." He murmured softly to me, turning in my arms and hugging me tightly. I gritted my teeth and nodded, "I'm okay." I croaked in a strained voice, but Shade shook his head and picked me up, "No you're not." He gave me a stern look, and ordered the pack to clean up the... mess.

Shade carefully carried me back to our cave, casting unsure glances at many of the pregnant females, almost in hope that they would survive giving birth. "Alpha, what's happening?" "Why is this happening, Alpha?" I heard many questions alike asked to my mate and all he did was shake his head - it was an unusual thing for an Alpha to not know what was going on in his pack, and that worried Shade very much.

He placed me in our mossy bed and I made a move to get up but he gave me a dangerous look and I shrunk back, curling up. He shifted and nudged me over gently, settling down and laying his two front paws over my belly like a blanket - the fluffiest blanket ever. I hummed happily at his warmth, cuddling his big pads. "I've asked Willow Claw to come over. I wanted to discuss the pack's... situation with her." His eyes grazed my body and I felt self-conscious, squirming under his gaze. He purred deeply, making me vibrate. I giggled, and nodded, "Okay, babe." I poked his cute, cold nose.

Willow Claw was the pack's aura, if you will. She was a Water Claw and resided in the Water worlds where only Water Claws could go. She studied the pack from her dimension, and rarely emerged from her watery home - in few cases, she had been summoned by the Alpha because there was something to discuss that she could not see, and what the Alpha did not know.

"You called, Alpha Shade?" A misty voice drifted through the vines of our cave entrance. A beautiful Claw appeared, her gentle fur like rippling water. She was the colour of a cerulean moon, while her deep mysterious eyes were like cloudy stones of lapis lazuli. Willow had a whiskery tail that flicked continuously with a thin body build; she did not appear as strong as me or Nova; her face was soft and almost motherly.

"Yes, of course. Willow, meet Shad-"

"Shadow Claw. Yes, forgive me Alpha, but I do know." Her voice held a subtle amusement, "You are worried about something, but I cannot see it. What do you wish to discuss?" She asked, sitting down gracefully. Shade cleared his throat and I stroked his paws absent-mindedly, "As you know, it is mating season, and many of the packs females are pregnant. Three have already been into labour... but none have survived. Their cubs have been stillborn, and one of the males have committed suicide from heartbreak." He stated seriously.

I reached into my black satchel and pulled out a small glass vile half-filled with the green liquid that coated the cubs, "That would explain why I saw that male do that... I did wonder." Willow mused quietly, her eyes misting over in thought. I held up the small vile, "This liquid always comes out with the kits - it wreaks of death and none of the healers have seen it before." I said, watching the Water Claw's eyes widen.

"It's happening again." She said quickly, "This is the Bloodfire infection. It originated in werewolves but as the Claws grew closer to them, it mutated to infect them too. It has no known cure, but the mother can be kept alive." She explained. Shade and I exchanged looks. This was interesting. I put a hand over my belly almost protectively and Shade gave me a thoughtful glance. I swallowed hard - I had to tell him.

"Willow, would you mind leaving us for a moment? Round up the pregnant females and escort them to the healers. Tell them what they have to do - if we can't save the cubs, we can still save the mothers." I ordered gently. Willow nodded, "Of course." She smiled and padded away.

"Shade." I said desperately. He shifted back and settled me in his lap, "Calm down, sweetcheeks. What is it?" He kissed my temple and tears sprung to my eyes immediately, knowing I should have told him days ago, when I first found out.

"Sweetheart, please, what is it? You're worrying me." Shade cupped my cheek after I said nothing.

"I-I.. I'm.. pr-pregnant Shade."

OOOH! boo ya peeps. I'm leaving this chapter until the weekend 'cause I'm working on a new werewolf story. Heheh >:3