Love Will Take You Places

Run Away

It had been half a moon since the four of us ran away. I was craving to go back home, but I knew that they wouldn't let me stay anyway. If a wolf ran away and tried to come back they would banish them from ever returning because, "If you wanted to run away in the first place then why don't you stay wherever you went!" and that's almost exactly what they'll tell you. On the bright side I was close to giving birth, I am getting heavier and heavier each day but we keep having to stop more and more and I feel as though I'm slowing everyone down. PawStep isn't as close to having her pups as I am; She won't give birth until almost half a moon after me.

I woke up in the middle of the night a major pain in my stomach; It took me a second to realize...I'M HAVING MY PUPS!! I was gasping for air, but I already didn't have enough energy to speak. I started kicking my legs around trying to wake someone—any of them—up. I let out a loud groan as I started even losing the energy to kick. I then felt PawStep lift up her beside me. I groaned again and I felt her bolt upright. "NIGHTSKY IS GIVING BIRTH!!" I just faintly heard her howl. She rushed to my side and started comforting me. "SkyCloud get a curved leaf and fill it with water—AND QUICK!" She was howling commands. MoonLight rushed to her side and him put his paw on my flank and put a bit of pressure. I gasped and let out a low groan; I never knew having pups could be so painful! I heard PawStep gasp and then growl, "You're hurting her! Stop! She's already in pain!" He looked at her and calmly said, "I'm one of the first litter that my mother had, I've seen her, and other wolves in my pack, give births tons of times......I know what I'm doing."

* * * * * *

It was almost dawn and I had just had my last pup. I had three healthy pups and.....one that had been born dead. I still refused to believe it was dead; I was still huddling it next to my stomach, begging it eat. Having one of my pups born dead rose PawSteps worries about her litter. I kept calming her down talking about how three of them were healthy and that she shouldn't worry. "Now we have an experienced wolf about having pups, I'll be able to help you—You don't need to worry," I mumbled to her while comforting her. MoonLight came back with a few mice and sat one in front of me, PawStep, SkyCloud, and then himself. I started eating when MoonLight asked, "What'll we name them?" I looked down at the little scrapes of fur suckling at my swollen stomach, and the one laying still, it's fur now cold. "We should wait till they open their eyes," MoonLight nodded then curled up around me.

It's been about a Moon since I had my pups. I woke up the next morning and heard the squeaky barks of a young pup outside of our makeshift den. I stood up and my pups started whimpering. MoonLight looked up questioningly at me. "Make sure they're warm, I'll be right back," I mumbled to him. I padded towards the entrance of the cave we found, and when I stepped out the squeaks got louder and more excited. I turned towards the sound of the barking; I slowly started padding towards them cautiously. I pushed aside the leaves of a bush and saw a little pup, only about a two moons old at most, looking up at me and yipping happily. I squatted down and asked, "What're you doing out here by yourself? Where's your mom?" She looked at me sadly and whimpered, "S-She left me. She said it was because I'm...'Special'." I growled under my breath then asked, "What's your name?" "Moon," she replied quietly. I picked her up by the scruff and she let out a squeak of surprise. I carried her back inside to the cave and lied her down gently. I could see most of her ribs, so I pulled her towards my stomach and she instantly started suckling. MoonLight looked at me in surprise, "I'll explain whenever she's done eating," I whispered. He nodded even though I could tell he was curious. I pulled my pups towards me and let the eat as well. I started cleaning Moon's fur as she was eating, then I felt a weird lump on one of her sides. I nosed the lump and a small little wing rustled itself out of her fur. My head jerked back in shock and I silently thought, This is why her mom didn't want her, but I'll take care of her no matter what, I tucked her wing back under her fluffy fur. Whenever Moon and all the other pups finished at started sleeping I explained how I found her and that I was going to take care of her to MoonLight, PawStep, and SkyCloud. They all agreed it was a good idea and since her mother didn't want her it was likely she wouldn't come looking for her.