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Chapter 8: a sad start
After 3 months, Spring was finally beginning to break through the heavy layer of ice and snow. Fresh blades of grass speckled the forest and young buds fought to flower. The forest was alive with the sound of song birds and elk welcoming young fawns into the world.
The seasons weren't the only things that were changing, from the den emerged a much rounder Eclipse, she was carrying pups and was ready to deliver any day now. She waddled into the bright morning sun and flopped over on her side, soaking up the rays to warm herself. Behind her, trotted Aki, he had been dutifully looking after and was excited to soon welcome his pups into the world. He nuzzled Eclipse before he set out for a morning hunt.
Eclipse was showing all the signs of a bountiful couple weeks hunting. Her coat was luscious, shiny and thick, and ribs no longer showed. Eclipse's constant care had also changed Aki. His wounds were healed and he was back to the same strong agile wolf he had once been.
Aki jogged through the melting snow, dodging constantly falling chunks of ice, that crashed down from the tree tops. He sniffed the air and found the scent of a newborn Elk calf. He drooled at the tantalizing smell and hoped he would be successful. He crouched down and continued on his way, slowly picking his way closer.
Back at the dens Eclipse felt a pain in her stomach, the pups were coming!
She waddled back into the den and laid down, her sides heaved with strong contractions. She whined and whimpered, panting heavily. She rose, and paced the den, trying to ease the pain. After a couple hours the first pup was born, but something was wrong....
Miles away Aki lay in the shade of a giant fir tree, he was just feet from a newborn calf and its mother. He prowled closer, his muscles twitched ready to strike. "Now!" He thought and lunged from his hiding spot. The mother elk panicked and charged him. He jumped out of the way, inflicting a painful bite on her leg. In fear, the new mother ran, abandoning her baby to its fate. Aki made the kill quickly and dragged the meal back to the dens.
Eclipse had given birth to 3 pups, but something was horribly, horribly wrong, none of the pups moved or breathed. She whined, nudging and licking them in desperate attempt to bring life into their tiny bodies. When she heard Aki coming back she raced outside.
"O Aki." She whimpered "th....th....the pu.....the pups, aren't alive." Her voice trembled.
Aki nuzzled his mate, he whined and threw his head back, a painfully sad song rose from his mouth, and sounded through the valley. Eclipse joined in with an eerie mournful song.
After 3 months, Spring was finally beginning to break through the heavy layer of ice and snow. Fresh blades of grass speckled the forest and young buds fought to flower. The forest was alive with the sound of song birds and elk welcoming young fawns into the world.
The seasons weren't the only things that were changing, from the den emerged a much rounder Eclipse, she was carrying pups and was ready to deliver any day now. She waddled into the bright morning sun and flopped over on her side, soaking up the rays to warm herself. Behind her, trotted Aki, he had been dutifully looking after and was excited to soon welcome his pups into the world. He nuzzled Eclipse before he set out for a morning hunt.
Eclipse was showing all the signs of a bountiful couple weeks hunting. Her coat was luscious, shiny and thick, and ribs no longer showed. Eclipse's constant care had also changed Aki. His wounds were healed and he was back to the same strong agile wolf he had once been.
Aki jogged through the melting snow, dodging constantly falling chunks of ice, that crashed down from the tree tops. He sniffed the air and found the scent of a newborn Elk calf. He drooled at the tantalizing smell and hoped he would be successful. He crouched down and continued on his way, slowly picking his way closer.
Back at the dens Eclipse felt a pain in her stomach, the pups were coming!
She waddled back into the den and laid down, her sides heaved with strong contractions. She whined and whimpered, panting heavily. She rose, and paced the den, trying to ease the pain. After a couple hours the first pup was born, but something was wrong....
Miles away Aki lay in the shade of a giant fir tree, he was just feet from a newborn calf and its mother. He prowled closer, his muscles twitched ready to strike. "Now!" He thought and lunged from his hiding spot. The mother elk panicked and charged him. He jumped out of the way, inflicting a painful bite on her leg. In fear, the new mother ran, abandoning her baby to its fate. Aki made the kill quickly and dragged the meal back to the dens.
Eclipse had given birth to 3 pups, but something was horribly, horribly wrong, none of the pups moved or breathed. She whined, nudging and licking them in desperate attempt to bring life into their tiny bodies. When she heard Aki coming back she raced outside.
"O Aki." She whimpered "th....th....the pu.....the pups, aren't alive." Her voice trembled.
Aki nuzzled his mate, he whined and threw his head back, a painfully sad song rose from his mouth, and sounded through the valley. Eclipse joined in with an eerie mournful song.
