Only Us

Chapter 7

As the sun rose, Caden lifted up to his paws. "Mmm..." His tail flicked slowly as he gazed at the rising sun. Ears perked, he looked back to where Mark was to see that he too, was also awake. "Uh..."

"Hi, um... Glad to see you two weren't gone." He smiled and laughed. "Ah whatever, I told a few of my friends about Redina, hope you don't mind."

To respond, he just shrugged softly. "Eh, not really. But I just can't wait until I hear Mella's reaction..." He scoffed. "That'll be something else."

Mark whipped his head around. "Huh? Aren't you afraid of Mella? She's got a temper... Just like her sister." He looked down at Redina, who appeared to still be sleeping.

"What's to be afraid of? She won't hurt me. And besides, her sister's way better." He smiled at Redina, still asleep.

Mark's eyebrows raised. "You kinda gotta point there, Redina isn't as bad as I thought..."

Redina stirred awake, her fur a mess. "Eh..?" She sounded.

"Good morining, sunshine." Caden mused as she stood up. He could tell she seemed more restless, yet she could never get enough sleep.

Mark looked at Redina. He kinda had a petrified look on his face, as if he had never seen Redina's fur after she woke up. "G'morning, miss furball." He snickered.

Redina glared back at Mark. "Mornin' to you too, shitface..." She shook out her pelt, which got her to look half-normal. Her eyes glanced at Caden, who was also awake. "My fur is bound to revert back to normal, I'm just to lazy to change it myself." She flopped back down on her side. "Also, I think I'm just too tired to do anything today..." Her eyes closed once more and just like that, she fell right back into a deep slumber.

Mark cocked his head to the side. "Oh? What was that all about? She seems only half alive..." He prodded Redina, who groaned in return.

"Must be because she's pregnant. Is that what happens?" Caden looked down at Redina.

Mark looked at him. "Does what happen?"

His tail flicked back and forth in a informational manner. "Don't girls get like... Tired?" He asked another question.

"I dunno, I'm not a female." Mark in response to his own comment realized something. "Damn, since we're both guys, we're both gonna be rookies at this whole "understanding pregnancy" shit." He blinked slowly as his mind started to process more of what he just had spoken.

Caden just sat there and thought about his brother's proposed thought. "Hmm, you're right." He groaned. "Dammit..." Grumbled Caden. "Y'know if Redina gets over this sleepy stuff, she won't ever forgive us two because we don't understand." He reasoned.

His brother shrugged. "Yeah, but she's gotta cut us some slack, bro. I mean, we're not females, we don't understand..." Mark's eyes glimmered with annoyance. "Nor do we want to believe to comprehend what it's like to be pregnant." He commented.

"I'm sure she will." He took a glance at Redina, who slept heavily, not picking up anything from his and Mark's conversation. "And besides, it can't be that hard. We'll just help her with... Whatever that woman needs."

Mark rubbed his head. "Fine, if I have to help..."

From outside their den, news spread quickly throughout the area about Redina's pregnancy. And soon enough, the news was overheard by Mella.

"I- what...?" She stammered. "I-I can't believe what my ears have picked up..." Mella's feelings were inflicted with anger. "She's pregnant? Already?" Redina's younger sister growled. "They've only been together for a couple weeks now..." Her tail lashed out. "Caden must love her a real lot to already have kid. And what's the big deal? Big boy Mark kicked me out..." She paused. "And I don't wanna come back anytime soon."

She thought and thought. "Aha!" She laughed. "Maybe when poor Redina's farther into her pregnancy, I'll just kill her instead. Besides, the smaller the target, the more likely she'll be weak. Especially with the kid..." Mella mused. "If I can't have those two cuties, nobody can." Her mind glazed over the thought about killing her own family with the bigger picture of the romance she always wanted.

"Bro honestly, I think I'm chick-repellent." Mark sighed.

Caden flicked his ears towards his younger brother. "I wouldn't say that. I'd just say you attract chicks, just the wrong ones." He laughed in return.

Mark put on a sarcastic grin. "Oh- haha, you're so funny!" He paused. "Atleast I didn't get my mate pregnant."

"Oh come on, Mark! It's not even that big of a deal." He glanced at Redina, who had just awakened again, and was now looking at the sky, unaware of the two's talk session. "It's rewarding to take care of an impregnated she-wolf. And it'll be even more rewarding to take care of my own kid." He smiled happily.

Mark thought of an interesting conversation-starter. "What gender are you hoping for?" He asked.

"A male. Us guys are always fun. I've heard little females are brats, but I wouldn't know..." Caden's eyes flickered towards the sun, which was now starting to set.

Mark's paw dragged on the stone ground. "Good, 'cause that's what I want."

His older brother laughed. "Also, I think Redina also wants a boy." Caden glanced one more time at Redina, who seemed more exhausted than ever. "I'm still a little worried about Redina..." He confessed.

"Why?" Mark questioned.

Caden was at a loss of words. "I just figured out that when Redina does go into labor, what do I do then? Also, I'm pretty sure giving birth hurts... So that's another thing."

"Well, I wouldn't know what to do, but I'm pretty sure when the moment comes, you'll figure out what to do. And I'm pretty sure Redina will be fine with the pain. Sure it's probably really bad, but I'm sure she'll pull through." Mark reassured his older brother.

Caden smiled. "Y'know, you're right. I can stress over everything I want related to this pregnancy, but there's nothing to stress about." When he had finished his sentence, the cave had darkened. His eyes looked into the sky, which was a rich, deep, dark blue.

Mark also caught a few glances. "I think it's best we both head off to bed. I'm pretty sure Redina's just itchin' to sleep." He chuckled.

"Yeah, I can guarantee that. Hey Redina, wanna head to bed?" He asked.

To his response, Redina shakily got up and slowly and sleepily padded over to Caden and snuggled into his fur. She quickly fell asleep for the third time that day.

"Yeah, goodnight to you too, sweety..." He rested his head on Redina's head softly as he fell asleep as well.

Mark watched the two fall asleep and smiled. "Y'know, they're really cute..." He softly laughed. "I can't believe I said that..." He curled up and closed his eyes.

A few moments later he opened his eyes again. "Ugh, can't sleep. Too uncomfortable." He glanced at Caden and Redina, who where fast asleep. He thought a very interesting idea in his mind. "Dammit..." He got up slowly and lied down behind Caden and rested his head on Caden's side. He closed his eyes as he let his tail curl over Redina's small-framed body.

They were all sleeping. Sleeping as a family.