Home Sweet Home

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Zeke sat back upon his haunches and watched his sons squirm around at their mother’s stomach. He saw the stunted puppy stand, but flicked his eyes away almost immediately. If the pup had been born into a different pack, he might have been taken and left out to die. Zeke had no compassion for his deformed cub, but he would not show any resentment in front of his mate, out of a desire to spare her kind heart.

He turned his gaze instead to two of his other sons. Ty, a scrawny silver little thing, and Heracle, the pale yellow pup. Heracle was a fierce little pup. Zeke wondered how this pup would grow up. What would be in his heart? Good? Evil? Or would he find himself somewhere in between? The silver pup, Ty, was indeed scrawny, but Zeke did not turn his attention from him because of this. There was something about this one of his sons that demanded attention and whispered of great things to come. Zeke smiled, before turning his gaze to the last of his unnamed sons.

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He could smell the warm, flowery scent of his mother-the first scent he had ever known. The sweet, rich scent of her milk made his mouth water. He yipped his displeasure and he began to wrestle his way through his siblings. His little spotted muzzle wrinkled with effort as he made his way blindly towards the source of the rich, milky scent. At last, he reached her warm stomach and began to nurse vigorously. Whenever one of his siblings tried to nose at his place, he would hook his front paw around their muzzles and push while he growled greedily.
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Zeke’s icy blue eyes flashed with pride and pleasure as he gazed down at the lively pups. ”Ajax.” He said suddenly. "The spotted pup shall be named Ajax.” He smiled knowingly. Mourner. That was the meaning of his son’s name.

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"Sweet Heracle, shy Ty, confident Ajax, wild Rico, stubborn Valor, and strong Kaden. Our pups." Shiver sole softly, predicting the attributes of her sons. Though, enough in the future, the time was now. The present!!

Shiver grinned and looked up at her black and white mate Zeke with glowing golden eyes; a mischievous glint hidden in their molten depths. "My pups are fed." She stood, shakily. Legs wobbly from lack of use. "I will be back at sun high." With that she padded over her children and rushed out of the den. Her body ached, she needed to take her mind off of the pain, and she couldn't stand one more minute in that whelping den. She needed to move. Shiver stared at the outside. Soft snowflakes already beg hinging to fall. She grinned in delight and rushed off.
-exit Shiver-

OOC: off to meet Striken. Will be back soon!

Valor whined as his mother's warmth left. He squeezed between two if his brothers for warmth.

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Shiver was back, at sun high no less. Well, she assumed it was sun high, it was pouring outside. It seemed that her little drizzle had sparked a thunderstorm. The mother had arrived dry, despite the rain outside. She had greeted her mate and then had fallen asleep with the six pups she had birthed.

~Seasons later~

Shiver yawned, her fat pregnant belly had disappeared, along with the exhaustion in her eyes. Now her pups were nearly yearlings. They were tough and beautiful, their coats sleek and shining. Some were bigger than their brothers, others were...not. Well, it seemed that the rest if the pups were very large and formidable, Valor was the exception. He was very well muscled though, his body toned through days of hard work. Each day Valor had worked, trying so very hard to get stronger. It had worked, perhaps he could even beat his brother Heracle in a fight. With his strength and smallness, Valor could quickly escape attack and deliver his own in the same movement. Shiver saw greatness in the little green pup. All her pups were strong and healthy, they fought like brothers tend to do, but nothing she couldn't qualm. Zeke was always very involved with the pups, he seemed to like parenting even more than she did.

Valor pushed against a fallen log with his square shoulders, heaving with all his might. Here on the edge if the meadow, trees were bound to fall in the thunder storms. This specific trunk had been struck by lighting, and burned. It's wood charred and black, flaking off in coal like chunks. Grunting, he shoved the thing down the small slope and into the Amoux Creek to flow away from their den.

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Zeke sat quietly at the entrance of the den, a slightly brooding expression on his face. His icy blue eyes watched the smallest of his sons with barely suppressed scorn. He did not see the quickness or the hard won muscles of the young wolf. His eyes saw only his stunted weakness and his upper lip longed to curl in distaste. In truth, there was nothing Valor could do to win his father's approval. No matter what great deeds the wolf accomplished, Zeke would always see him as a disgrace. At times, he had even wondered how he had produced such a stunted and deformed wolf. He snorted and turned his gaze to another of his sons. To his pride and joy...the perfect son...Ajax. Pride and love crept into Zeke's eyes as he gazed at the young wolf who was nearly a spitting image of himself. Alas, the time was almost upon them. He had lingered in this pack too long, and the goodness of his pack mates trapped him like a caged animal. He longed to take his chosen sons and be free...yet still he lingered. Zeke's ice blue eyes cut towards his mate. He knew why he had not left. Though Zeke's heart was of a darker nature, he could not bring himself to hurt her. He winced inwardly at the thought. Despite himself, Zeke loved Shiver. Smiling, he stood up and padded over until he stood over her. Leaning down, he nuzzled her between her ears. With a grin, he nipped her ear and whispered. "Let's say you and I ditch these wargs and go for a romp in some wildflowers..." His voice was heavy with wicked suggestion. 

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Ajax watched his brother, Valor, with a smile. He considered going to help him with the fallen log, but held back, knowing that Valor would likely rather do it alone. Instead, he waited until he had completed his task before trotting over with his tail wagging. Ajax had grown into a fine, young wolf. His fur was sleek and pristine. His body was long and lanky with wiry muscle built for speed and endurance. He was a handsome male, capable or turning the heads of many pretty, young females. Quick witted and charming like his father, Ajax was sometimes a little over confident. But, like his mother, he had a good, loving heart. And there was nothing he cared about as much as his brothers. "Hey Valor.." , he whispered with a mischievous grin. "Let's go for a hunt...somewhere interesting." He glanced back at his parents and saw they were distracted. And flirting no less. Yuck. It was definitely time to get out of there and go for an adventure. He looked back at his brother. Despite Valor's shortcomings, he knew the wolf was very capable. He would trust Valor with his life, so he added the next part without hesitation. "...like outside the packlands..." 

((OOC: I can't help but picture that scene from the lion king where Simba talks Nala into wandering off hahaha))

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Shiver was watching her pups play, watching them with hawks eyes making sure they were okay. But when Zeke sidled over to her side, all if her attention was snatched away. Shiver remembered her old fear of falling in love. She remembered her vow to stay away from males. But now she scoffed at the idea. This was the purpose if life after all; to make more life. And if loving another wolf was included, then so be it. Shiver was in love with Zeke, nothing could change that. "I don't know darling...maybe we shouldn't leave them alone. They are our little wargs after all." maybe she could get Striken to watch them, they were in the same pack after all, not to mention the practical uncle of her six little boys. Shiver closed her eyes and grazed her sharp teeth on his cheek right under his gravely blue eye. Lately he seemed more reckless, wild. She liked that. Shiver wasn't all too sure about this settling down thing. Once the pups were grown, perhaps the two of them could go off into the valley, and experience all this land had to offer. That reminded her. "Oh, Dear Zeke? I nearly forgot...something strange happened ....it was awhile ago...but...look." Shiver withdrew and turned to show the black water mark on her blue saddle patch, right there on her sharp shoulder blade. "I never went to the white wolves...it's just...there. I have power over the rains." Her molten gold eyes net his icy ones. Her lips suddenly curled upwards. "Well, now that that's behind us...lets go to those tall grasses you spotted charmer." She stood and flicked her tail at his nose and walked away seductively, having forgotten completely her pups. While Shiver was kind and a great fighter, some things just manage to slip her mind. She's not a genius, lets put it at that.



Valor smiled proudly at the work he had done, head high, tail curled. Nevertheless he jumped when the sneaking voice if his brother Ajax sounded right next to his ear. Valor shook out his spiked up fur. "You surprised me, watch it Ajax." Valor nudged him playfully, but his grin quickly vanished as soon as the words tumbled out of his brothers sly lips. "Out of the pack lands?" His lavender eyes widened with shock, and awe. "I haven't even left the meadow!" wasn't this wrong? Sneaking? Poor mother....if mother found out there'd be hell to pay....though if they returned successful maybe he'd gain his fathers favor!!! Suddenly the idea didnt sound half bad. A determined expression set in on his pursed lips, his brows lowering and knitting together, his nose wrinkling. "All right. Lets go whole no ones looking." Valor lowered his head and edged into the green grass in which he blended so well. Valor hoped that Zeke would be proud of his nerve and bravery.

-exit Valor the stunted little pup who makes all the wrong decisions and will never be anything more than a weakling in his fathers sight.-

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Zeke buried his nose in the ruff of Shiver's neck, inhaling her intoxicating scent and waiting for her to give in to his suggestion. "They'll be fine. We'll catch them some live rabbits while we're out and bring them back for some hunting practice," he said reasonably, though his mind was far from rabbit hunting. The feel of her sharp teeth on his check sent a zing of excitement all the way to the zip of his tail. Shiver might be a good wolf at heart, but  she could also be a little fire cracker. HIS fire cracker. Her next words took him off guard. He cocked his head to the side and then sniffed the black marking on her shoulder. How had he not noticed it before now? A power! Zeke grinned at her and nuzzled her affectionately. "That is amazing Shiver!" He wondered what the power over the rains would mean exactly. Perhaps he should also get a power. Something he could really use...like fire. And wouldn't that just be perfect. Shiver's power would balance his...just as her heart balanced his.

Looking into his mate's bright, golden eyes, he wondered how he would ever bring himself to leave her. It had been his plan since the moment he had first met her....but Zeke had grown to feel something for this she wolf that he had never felt for any wolf before. Love....and loyalty. The realization came to him suddenly in that moment and it could have knocked him off his paws. What if he didn't have to leave Shiver? What if he asked her to come with him? What if they could take their sons, all of their sons, and build a new pack? A strong pack. Or...what if they staid....and made the Eternal Snowfall a stronger pack? He knew the pack was disjointed and scattered. Zeke was no leader to pull them together...but his mate, his mate could do it. And Shiver would listen to him. What if they got rid of the weaklings and allowed only the strong? Good and evil. It didn't have to matter. What mattered strong and weak. From being mated to Shiver, Zeke knew that good wolves did not have to be weak. They could be fierce and brave. By the moon, Shiver was stronger than some evil wolves that he had met.

The spotted wolf's mind was spinning with the new possibilities and he felt a weight lift off his chest as he realized he really could have everything he wanted. All he had to do was convince his mate it was in the pack's best interest. He grinned as his mate flicked her tail seductively across his nose. Luna, she sure was something. He followed after her, not even bothering to glance back at their children.


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Ajax smiled guiltily as he startled his brother. He actually hadn't met to sneak up on him, but he didn't want to attract their parents attention. He shouldered his brother playfully and nodded. "My thoughts exactly. It's high time we get out into the world and do some exploring! I mean, we're almost grown and Mom and Dad haven't taken us ANYWHERE! They still treat us like newly weaned pups," he scoffed. "We need to show them we're not babies anymore."

Ajax grinned excitedly as his brother agreed. "You're the best Valor!" And he meant it. Valor really was his favorite brother. The mischievous wolf waited until he was sure his parents would not notice before following his brother into the grass and out of the pack lands.

*exit Ajax*

((OOC: I made the next thread here: wwm-5.proboards.com/thread/new/61 )

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Shiver slunk through the grass, shimmering fur very visible through the tawny blades and reeds. Her paws padding gently on the soft black earth. Her muscles rippled under her pelt as she moved, graceful and strong. The sky was a violent shade of blue, as blue as Zeke's icy knowing eyes. Black clouds accumulated on the horizon, gathering around the mountains mighty snow capped peaks. The wind was still, nothing there to drown out the flirtatious twittering of the songbirds in the brush. The trees further out, beyond the large meadow were close together and budding with bright new leaves, their gray branches alighted with new life. The air was clean and fresh, the Amoux creek taking away the awful stenches left by untidy beasts. It's waters were slow but string, winding through the meadow like a shimmering snake, its scales translucent. Shiver closed her eyes, relaxing, letting the cool air enfold her in its arms, waiting for her beloved to take her. Zeke was home, for that was where her heart was. Zeke had it. Home is where the heart is. She loved this place. She knew that she wouldn't want to be anywhere else. Eternal Snowfall was her home, and despite the promise that she had made to Snow, she knew she wouldn't give up this life. She even planned to rise up the empty ranks of this pack. She would help Piala strengthen the pack. With Zeke at her side of course. Zeke. The shewolf paused and turned about to see if her spotted mate was close behind her. The happy squeals of her younglings made it known that they were safe. Of course they were. Another sound reached her ears, the rustling of grasses. Shiver narrowed her golden eyes against the spring sun, there he was, black and white, lean and lithe, dashing and clever. The perfect one. He was the missing piece in her puzzle, he fit in like a key to its hole. They were made for eachother. Shiver knew she was thinking in a fantastic manner, but she couldn't help it. She was in love.

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One of the six sons had also grown well. He grew to be fairly lanky wth broader shoulders. Though he never attracted any of his dad's attention. Heracle watched different parts f his family leave to go in different directions. She was left with his two brothers Ty and Kaden. He frowned. They were no fun in his opinion. Heracle also was disappointed in his father ad when his mother followed after him blindly, it disgusted him a bit. He curled his lip and watched his brothers sneak off. He sighed under his breath and got up as well. He ran around the perimeter of their den a few times before running in a different direction of them all.

-exit Heracle-