Her Nature

|Chapter 14|

The day dragged on, an ache settling in my bones and a heaviness in my heart. Most of the mothers I met with were friendly. Or they just knew I was the only midwife in the pack.

Fathers were protective of their pups, struggling to hold back bared teeth. It was unsettling at the ferocity of the pack that was against me. Reasons unknown to me.

But then there were those who would rather indulge in a silence masking conversation than forcing a hostile air.

All pups were due soon, packing my week with checkups and appointments. The hard work that lay ahead of me had a shoulder curling weight nestling on a familiar spot in my bones.

My muscles sought out the usual position to be curled up with my friends—my slouching posture only added pressure to my joints. I felt a sting behind my eyes but I didn't let the wave of tears come.

Shoulders rolled back into their rightful position, up and back. My nose lift higher from its slight hang. Throwing on Vince's hoodie, I crept my way outside and into the woods.

Freezing temperatures blew a shiver through my body. How could it get so cold up here?

Telltale signs of frosty grass warned of the harsh winter to come barreling through. The blades crunched under my heavy boots leaving faint footprints.

The sun had already began to set, leaving a dim glow over the tops of the trees. Only a few strands of light broke through the canopy and onto the ground.

There was no path to follow, so I created my own. A slow pace comforted my raging mind. Touching the bark of the trees I felt a calmness from the rough trunks.

No animals were out to watch anymore, they were hidden away in hibernation. The snow must be coming soon.

Despite the cold and approaching darkness, I trekked ahead. The loneliness of my mock home didn't settle right with me. It had all the things I needed for it to be a house, but not a home.

It lacked love. Even the unstable Dawn was more of a home to me. The screaming planks are there to tell of another memory. Like the time Vince brought nails instead of screws. Now that board easily makes music when stepping on it because the nail slips right out when pressure is applied on the opposite end.

That time, Dani and I laughed at him the entire day and into the next. We were all red in the face, but his was out of embarrassment rather than the uncontrollable laughter that spilled from our lips.

I still remember when Dani tried surprising me after I came home from an awful day of training. The wooden bed frame in my room was put together seamlessly by her as she laid on her side, hand on hip and a smirk.

"Hey baby. Why don't you come and lay down with me?" her voice a few octaves deeper to appear as a male. She sent a sloppy smooch my way and I burst out in laughter.

My tired bones pulled me to the bed, aching for a comfortable place to rest. One step away, and the middle frame fell to the floor taking the whole mattress with it. The head board teetered back and for before falling on Dani's propped head with a loud thud.

I was holding my gut while rolling on the floor in seconds. I laughed so hard no sound came out and I struggled for air. Tears ran down my face and I hiccuped through my sentence, "Are y-you ok-ay?"

From under the headboard I could hear Dani start to giggle. "Hello family, I've brought us dinner!"

Slowly turning around I see Vincent with arms full of food and a broad grin on his face. "You two are something else." He chuckles while shaking his head. I still struggled to gulp in air from laughing while Dani started to hiccup.