“Of course they’re welcome.” Nanook explained. “You guys will be safe with us, I promise.”

Dakota turned to head back to the densite, then waited to see if they’d follow.

Back at the Densite

Kai and Ahanu finally arrived, leaning on each other and giggling. Kai’s siblings watched, confused.

“What took you guys so long?” Tamaska asked. He had arrived a while ago, and they had left at the same time.

“It’s okay Tamaska,” Kai told her younger brother. She looked at a Atlas and smiled. Atlas understood.

“Seems as though we’re going to have a lot of tiny paws around here in a bit,” Atlas smiled. She was going to be a grandmother.

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Sol took a deep breath and nuzzled each of her pack mates goodbye. Banshee, Rapture and Sorrow done the same and began to follow Dakota. Sol lingered for a moment.

"I expect to return to a healthy pack, keep each other safe," Sol said before turning to leave.

Rum gathered the remaining pack members and began to head back to the meadow. Anzar stayed behind and bowed his head in respect to Nanook. Anzar seemed sad like he was watching his own pup leave.

"Thank you Nanook, we will repay you for this," Anzar said.

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Nanook began leading the group to their densit. He was excited for them to meet Atlas.

At the Densite

As Nanook approached, he greeted his pack. “Hello everyone, these four will be staying with us for the night. Their names are Sol, Banshee, Rapture and Sorrow.” He thought for a moment and decided to leave the details out.

Atlas sat on the hill by the mouth of the den. She hopped off the short, steep hill to greet the strangers. “Hello, I’m Atlas.”

Kai and Ahanu lates nuzzled together on the hill. Anoki, very clearly and elder wolf, simply watched the strangers.

“Atlas is my mate. Anoki over there is her father. The two black wolves that were with me at the river are Ahanu and Dakota, friends of mine. The rest are my offspring. Atlas is due any day now,” Nanook explained.

“Kai, our oldest, will also be having pups. Hers will be born just before winter.” Atlas told them. This was the first their pack is hearing of this, although pre-approved by Nanook and Anoki. Kai’s siblings jumped up at his.

“Kai!” Matsi exclaimed. “I’m going to be an uncle!” Matsi ran over and rubbed heads with both the soon-to-be parents.

“Those are gunna be some big pups,” Tamaska mumbled.

Nomad walked up to the strangers. “Hey, I’m Nomad,” he introduced.

“If you know any better, you’d stay away from that one,” Tamaska teased.

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At Nanook's den site...

Sol smiled and looked happy, Sol wagged her tail slightly. "Hello Umm...its nice to meet you all, you all seem like lovely wolves I hope my pups and I are not too much trouble to handle, I'll let you know a few things about my pups," Sol said.

"so to start off Banshee is only two years old but the biggest of my pups, she isn't very talkative but that isn't because she doesn't like you...She has trouble with her voice, other than that shes a great hunter," Sol motioned to the large wolf beside her who quickly looked at her paws nervously.

"Then we have Rapture, He is a year old kinda on the small side, He is also an albino and usually stays around the den site because he can't see and he is not the strongest," Sol says as Rapture dives for cover behind Banshee in an attempt to hide.

"Lastly Raptures twin Sorrow, She had an accident while training to hunt when she was younger and as a result her leg hind leg was damaged, however she is still determined to hunt so Banshee is teaching her how to hunt," Sol finished as Sorrow stepped forward to introduce herself.

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“Well, welcome!” Atlas said. “It’s nice to meet all of you.”

“It’s getting late, we better get to sleep.” Anoki suggested. “Atlas and Nanook sleep on the hill, the rest sleep at the bottom of the hill,” the elder explained.

The group all took their places and layed down. Tamaska and Matsi cuddled, their heads resting on each other’s bodies. Nomad layed sprawled out, and Catori curled into a ball next to Dakota, who tried to inch away from her. Anoki slept beside Tamaska and Matsi.

Ahanu and Kai decided to sleep beside the hill together instead of in front. The two cuddled together, and Ahanu fell asleep with his head on her stomach.

Nanook and Atlas fell asleep on the hill in front of the den.

Later in the night
Sometime in the night, Atlas woke up with pains in her stomach. The female had experienced this many times before, and she quietly rose and went inside her den to give birth.

Nanook dreamt that him and Atlas had 15 pups. He was scared, but still excited to have so many new additions. His eyes opened groggily. It was still the middle of the night, but he could hear some sort of... whimpering? Was he still dreaming? He looked down at his children and from what he could see they were all asleep... but Atlas was gone. It took a moment, but he realized his mate had given birth! Nanook ran into the den, and there in front of him was Atlas nursing her tiny pups.

“Hi honey,” she whispered. “There’s five of them, 3 girls and 2 boys.”

Together they came up with five names to suit the little rascals. Navaeh and Akela for the two largest. The boy and girl looked very similar. Elu for the little girl who wouldn’t stop whimpering for food. Wenona for the daughter who seemed to push around the others, and Paytah for the smallest; a little boy who was getting trampled by his siblings.

Nanook and Atlas stared at their tiny creations, completely in love.

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Some time in the middle of the night...

Sol was unusually on high alert and so woke to the sound of the alpha's moving, she watched Nanook enter the den and sighed. Sol knew Atlas must have had her pups but felt it wasn't her place to see the pups, she was an outsider. Sol was fulled with worry about her pack, she was done with turbo's behavior and wondered if kicking turbo out of the pack was best for the safety of her pack and children.

Sol could feel her eyes tear up at the thought but it would be best for her children. Sol thought she loved turbo but it was a mistake she couldn't love him not after how he treated her pups. Sol tried to hold back the tears but failed, Sol was still young maybe too young to be an Alpha thats why she had Anzar she guessed.

Sol tried to cry quietly hoping no one would hear her, it wasn't long before Banshee woke hearing her mother. Banshee sighed and simply put her large paw on her mothers, It was enough for Sol to know she wasn't alone.

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Matsi woke to hear crying. He opened his eyes and saw Sol and Banshee were awake. Quietly, he crawled over to them. “Hey,” he whispered. “I don’t know what your pack life is like, but know that we care for you guys. We don’t know you very well, but we do care for you. My parents are good, they are generous. If you want to stay, you’re welcome to.” Matsi layed down beside them, hoping he helped them to feel better.

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Banshee looked at Matsi with a small smile and bowed her head grateful for his words. Banshee hesitated before speaking hoping to get the words right. "t...thank you but we have...a pack to take care of..." Banshee would of had a beautiful voice if it hadn't been so rough and sounding as if she was strangled. It was painful for Banshee to speak but her mother was in tears and couldn't do it herself. Banshee glanced at her mother who seemed to be calming down. "W...we are sorry...to wake you" Banshee was careful when she spoke.

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“No no, it’s okay,” Matsi said, inching forward on his belly. ”Here, we’re a family. We take care of each other, no matter what. I hope whatever you guys are going through, you get through it. It’s going to be morning soon, what are you guys going to do tomorrow?” Matsi asked. He was curious if their guests were going to stay.

In the Den
Atlas fell asleep nursing her pups, and Nanook fell asleep with his head on her side. When Atlas woke up, she smiled at the feeling of pups suckling. She looked down at the tiny creatures, they’re eyes not open, stumbling around blindly. They reminded her of her first litter. Her first pups lost to winter. At least when winter comes, Kai will be in here with her, so more body heat might help. Also, with her four pups from two years ago now old enough to hunt, it should be easier to get food this year.

Atlas woke up Nanook, and he stared at the pups lovingly. “Can you go let the group know that they’re here? If they want they can come see them now.” Atlas told her mate.

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"You are very...Kind, What happens tomorrow...I don't know" Banshee said. Banshee looked at her mother and tilted her head as if she was asking the same question.

Sol took a deep breath before looking at Matsi and smiling. "unfortunately we will be returning across the river to sort out an issue with in our pack" Sol replied. Sol was calm and looked as if she hadn't been crying. "I just hope my pack supports my decision" Sol added.

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“Well I hope all works out for you,” Matsi replied.

The sun was beginning to rise, and Nanook stood on the hill. He looked down at his sleeping pack, then let out a soft howl. It is tradition to howl in order to bring the pack together when a litter is born.

One by one the pack opened their eyes and they made their way to the den to say hello.

“Do you guys want to see the pups? You can go in to see them.” Matsi asked. He stood and then began walking over.

Everyone was standing at the opening of the den looking in, except Catori and Dakota.

“Don’t you want to see them?” Ahanu asked Dakota.

“Nothing much to see at that age. I’ll see them plenty when I’m teaching them to hunt.” Dakota have a warm smile. “They’re getting lots of attention right now, I’ll wait.” He said warmly.

Ahanu and Kai waited a bit too. Kai was anxious to see them, to see what her fate was.

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Banshee looked at Sol as if checking it was ok to go with Matsi. Sol gave a small nod of approval and Banshee quickly followed Matsi. Banshee smiled at Matsi. Matsi seemed nice and he didn't seem to worried about her voice.

Sol began to look for her two younger pups, her search was unsuccessful. They were gone from the den site and Sol tried to stay calm but it wasn't long before panic began to set in. Sol bolted off following the pups scent trails.

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Atlas greeted Banshee and Matsi. Matsi walked in. The five pups were squirming blindly; Matsi smiled. These were his new brothers and sisters, and he loves them so much.

Outside the den Dakota sees Sol run away. Curious, he chases her.

“Hey,” Dakota calls out, running a ways behind the female. “Where are you going?” Dakota wasn’t sure what the problem as, but it seemed a bit... sketchy. Was she running to get her pack?

Suddenly, Dakota recognizes the scent she was after. Her pups. He had forgotten about them and didn’t notice they were gone.

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Banshee looked at Atlas and gave her a warm smile as if to congratulate her. Banshee then looked at the pups her tail wagging slightly, last time she'd seen pups this small was when her younger siblings were born.

"Names?" Banshee asked cringing in pain as she forced the word out.

Sol ignored Dakota's calls behind her and picked up speed as the scent of her pups grew stronger. Although the Alpha didn't know what to expect she charged forward. Sol had reached her pups in no time, she had no idea she had left Nanook's territory but she knew she had run far. How on earth did her pups get this far without her noticing their absence.

"Rapture! Sorrow!" she snarled.

Hearing their mothers angry tone the twins new they were in big trouble and turned to look at their mother, Just as they did so Sol spotted movement behind her pups, something had her pups in its sights. Sol had not raised these pups only to have them taken from her. Sol leapt forward and landed on the creature stalking her pups, as soon as she landed on it she knew it what it was. It was a young mountain lion she had no idea if they were common here or not but she didn't really care. The only thing on her mind was protecting her pups and so she fought the mountain lion with everything she had in her.

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“Akela and Paytah are the two boys. Elu, Navaeh, and Wenona are the three girls.” Atlas had never heard Banshee speak before, but the wolf seemed sweet.

It took a while for Dakota to catch up. By the time he reached them he was out of breath and confused. Just as he stopping to take a breath, Sol jumped on something in the bushes. A cougar. Dakota growled and sprung to action, trying to help Sol and her pups.

(Sorry it’s short, have a bit of writers block lol)

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