Shadow Claw: The Life Story - The Fifth Chapter

Ch. 3 - Protective Anger

Before I had a chance to curse off that no-good, two faced, back stabbing, double crossing boy, Shade burst through the vines of the cave, a deer leg in his mouth and a worried expression on his face. I snarled at him furiously, crouched over Snowy; he quickly realized his mistake and backed out, his ears lowered.
Snowy squealed and wailed, so I began to hush her but she continued, exhausting herself. James hated loud noises, and very much had a phobia of them, and so he left like a cheetah to a weakened antelope. I whimpered desperately, but Jenny took hold of my baby and rocked the little bundle in her arms, crooning. "Shh, shh, it's okay, Snowy." She dipped a finger into her belly, and Snowy calmed, batting at it to her hearts content.
"Shadow?" Came Shade's faint voice. Jenny looked to me but I shook my head and got up carefully, padding outside.
Shade pawed the ground, "I-" He started but I snapped at his ear and cuffed it rather harshly. He backed off a little bit, his tail curling, a trickle of blood seeping down his left ear. "Don't you dare do that again. I will protect my daughter." I threatened.
He hissed softly at me, his teeth bared, "She is my daughter too, Shadow. You know I'm not a threat." His voice softened and I lowered my head in shame, "I know a-and I'm sorry... just- after- my little boy..." I uttered, my voice breaking. Shade nodded and brushed our pelts, "I know, baby. I know. Come on." He nuzzled my cheek then we headed back to our cave.
The sun bled out to the distant hills, making way for a cool, barren night. While the days were hot, the nights were perilously cold, and so we had our caves to keep our heat for us in the day and dispell it gradually overnight.
I settled back into my leafy bed, allowing my mate to curl tightly around me like a personal hot water bottle.
Jenny rubbed Snowy's fur, though there were still tears in her eyes, and gave her forehead a small kiss before ushering her back to my warm belly and under my wing. I licked her lovingly and turn in my bed, so I was facing Shade with Snowy sleeping in between us.
"Sleep on it, Jenny. I'm sure Lucius has something to do with the letter." I murmured soothingly. She nodded lightly and stood up, "Goodnight, Shadow."
She left.
Shade sighed and gave our Snowy a couple of licks, "You're too stressed, sweetheart." He shook his head, "I'm not." He said weakly, but I could see it in his eyes. He was working much too hard for my liking. "Baby, you'll collapse! I need you on hand if I can't take care of Snowy." I licked his cheeks and he purred lovingly, "Alright, alright. I'm just a really good father." He teased, eliciting a playful growl from me. "That sounds very sexy on you, Shadow." He narrowed his eyes and leaned over the gap between us to trail his nose up my exposed neck. A purr escaped me, but I stole my desire and quenched it in the farthest reaches of my mind. For later. Shade got the memo, and nodded briefly before cuddling our daughter and falling asleep. I felt bad for him sometimes - so much work, and no sex.
*
The night journeyed on, and many sleepless winks from Snowy's incessant hunger drove me to the edge of every emotion and back like most nights, however in one instance, and what I had hoped to be the last, I wasn't awoken by motion inside my cave, but from dangerous shouting outside.
Shade groaned gently, "What's wrong, Shadow? Is it Snowy?" He mumbled breathily. I shook my head and responded, "I think it's Hawthorne and Nova..." I got up, tucking Snowy into my warm spot, and left my mate's side to investigate.
Sure as day, clear as crystal, Hawthorne and Nova were at each other's throats, snarling out insults and incoherent curses.
I saw Jenny and James across from them, sleepily trying to figure out what they were arguing about.
It seemed hazy, and quite unreal. Those two hadn't fought much at all really, I thought. However, theur relationship was very much not under sight or view of many people.
"YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED ALONGSIDE LOST!!!" The clearing went silent. Who had spoken the words? I looked to Nova, and saw guilt. I looked to Hawthorne, and saw hurt beyond belief.
"How- you...- our- my baby boy! Lost was my baby boy, Nova. It was your fault he- h-h-..." He collapsed into tears, rapidly shifting and disappearing into the inky darkness of the forest.
Nova gave an anguished cry of frustration, "Hawthorne!" She screamed, spiralling into a state of utter worthlessness.
I padded over gradually and rested my head on her shoulder, "Shh, shh." And I sat there with her for the rest of the night, with Jenny and James beside us too.
Nova cried, Jenny cried, James cried and I cried.
One for a lost love, one for a broken heart, one for a misunderstood heart, and one for a love that could never be bound.
Shade took care of Snowy, and I knew that he would be a significant figure in her life and for as long as he lived, he would protect her.
Hawthorne didn't return that morning, but when he did, late at night, another fight broke out and Nova had to be taken to Sara, the Healer.
Meanwhile, James was being taught to hunt better by a young warrior, and Jenny was sitting by the river, conversing with Willow, the Water Claw. They seemed to bond like they'd known each other all their lives - it wasn't strange, thinking about it deeply, because Jenny had always taken to the people she understood from the heart.
I sighed as I let Snowy suckle, laying in the sun and watching Nova sulk in the shadows with bandages over her paws, watching Jenny pour out her heart to Willow, watching James pounce on unsuspecting prey, and watching Shade take care of his clan.
"Nova." I glanced up, but I didn't need to, to know it was Hawthorne. He sounded hoarse and lonesome. I gestured with my head to my friend, lowering my wing over Snowy protectively. I felt Shade's stare, and I also felt him glaring at the green-furred male.
Nova turned away from him weakly when he approached, "I don't want you."