CHASE

Chapter 36

Chase watched a few yellow butterflies float over the newly-sprouted flowers that had grown in their fox community. The snow had since melted as spring had ushered in. The air was warm again, the prey was coming back, and Chase felt at ease.

Besides the fact her stomach was so swollen she felt about ready to pop if another fox just touched her with its paw.

"A freshly-caught squirrel for my beautiful mate!" Rock exclaimed in a sing-song-y voice as he dropped a dead squirrel at her feet. Rock had since moved into Chase's den. The spacious den felt a lot less lonely now that he was here with her.

"You try being heavily pregnant and see how you like it," Chase snapped at him as she took a bite.

Chase was one of the last vixens to give birth this season. She and Rock had become mates in late winter, and now that spring was already mid-way through, there were already dozens of small fox kits tumbling around. Chase supposed hers would be doing the same when they were born.

She glanced at Rock as she ate, giving him a slight smile. She knew he would be leaving shortly for the annual hunt, leaving her to care for the kits alone. She wasn't worried. There would be other vixens and some young and old foxes that would stay and help care for any overwhelmed mothers.

To be honest, Chase had not expected to have kits so soon, but at the moment, it just felt right. Still, she, and she was sure Rock, felt too immature to care for kits. It would be their first litter, and to be honest, Chase had no idea what to do. All she had as a guideline currently was to do the exact opposite parenting of what her parents had done.

Chase frequently worried about being the same cruel, overbearing parent as her father was to her, even though she knew that was far too out of character for her. She couldn't ever see Rock doing something like that either. Still, Chase wanted to make sure her kits had the best possible life. She hoping she and Rock could stop each other from being too harsh on the kits once they were born.

Chase glanced ahead, watching foxes mingle about. In the past few months, she had helped transform the community into even more of a clan-like place. More specific dens for different fox ages, organized patrols and hunts. She'd even taught the other foxes some basic medicine for when the foxes got sick. She'd learned a bit herself from Claw and when she was traveling, but now she was starting to become a bit of a medicine expert around her.

Unfortunately, she'd had to take a break from all her work to care for her kits that were due to arrive at any moment now. She was hoping they would soon. Chase was getting tired of lugging around all the extra weight. She wanted to get back to hunting again. Not to mention, she had not gone to see the clan cats since she had discovered she was pregnant. The memory of her mother being attacked by the cats over a piece of prey stuck deep in her mind. She realized she could not do anything reckless now that she would have other foxes to care for.

It was later when the sun was descending behind the mountains that Chase began to feel the first waves of pain and knew her labor was beginning. She didn't wake Rock until the contractions got worse, and just as the stars began to shine, she gave birth to three kits of her own.

The other vixens were congratulating her after they had helped her to deliver while Rock scooted a leaf filled with fresh water toward her for her to drink from. She was tired and exhausted, never imagining how great the stress would have been to give birth. But once she smiled down at her three new kits, Chase's heart was filled with love. She could see the same love reflected in Rock's eyes when she stared up at him.

"Do you want to know what I first thought when I gave birth?" Chase asked after the other vixens had left and the kits began to suckle.

"What?" Rock asked.

"Thank goodness it's only three," Chase said, which caused him to laugh. Her litter was a bit smaller than normal, though that didn't bother her. It meant less little ones to manage.

Chase shuddered suddenly, thinking of Rush's death. She knew it was common for not all the kits to make it to adulthood. It seemed weird to imagine as she stared down at her three, perfectly healthy kits.

"What's wrong?" Rock asked, noticing her discomfort.

"One of my sisters passed away at a very young age. I just don't want the same happening to them," Chase said.

"They'll be fine," Rock said, licking her forehead. "You'll be a great mother, you'll see. In the meantime, why don't we name them?"

Chase nodded. She had given birth to one daughter and two sons. The vixen was a bit smaller than the tods, but she had had a lot of energy already. Chase hoped she'd have the same fierce spirit as her mother.

"How about we call the larger tod Fennel," Rock suggested.

Chase nodded, tilting her head as she thought of a name for his brother. "Heron?"

"Yeah. I like that a lot," Rock told her.

Chase stared down at her daughter. All throughout her pregnancy she had thought of names, but now she was at a blank all of the sudden. She thought for a few moments, then smiled as she thought of a name.

"Lily," she said. "We can call her Lily."

"I couldn't think of any better name," Rock told her. He settled down next to her and his new kits, staring at them eagerly.

"I'll go on a big hunt tomorrow and bring you all the food I can find," Rock promised her. "It'll be a mini annual hunt, just for you."

Chase smiled, already fearing his absence. What if something happened? What if she was alone again, just as she had been with Yew, except this time, she had kits to care for?

Chase tried to keep the thoughts out of her mind. Right now, she needed to rest. Her kits were growing drowsy too as they curled up next to each other. She smiled at them one last time before resting her head on her paws and falling asleep, still in awe that she now had a little family of her own.