Carefree

[{♥L|uvy|Luv♥}]

I wondered idly what direction my life would take me in, while I walked slowly through the grass that caressed my legs softly. I considered settling down, starting a pack. Having kids of my own. I felt the wind brush softly through my fur, ruffling the delicate strands. The grass slightly charred as I brushed it. My tail drug slowly across the ground, turning the sand to glass behind me. My slender frame rocked gently from side to side as I stalked slowly forward across the ground. The tall wheat stalks swayed in the gentle breeze, adding a serene feel to the meadow. I spotted a large weeping willow tree that looked very inviting. I wandered closer to the tree, zeroing in on the rabbit wandering brainlessly around the base. I hunched my shoulders, and lowered my body to the ground, letting my self slip into stalker mode. I waded through the tall, cream colored grass, my eyes locked on the unsuspecting prey, so innocent and vulnerable. I felt a little bit bad in my subconscious, preying on the unsuspecting. But I needed to eat. I thought of the clean taste of the rabbit, it's blood flowing over my tongue, satiating the thirst in the back of my throat, the lean meat, so wet and juicy.

I continued to zero in on it, wandering closer and closer. There is no way he's getting away now. He looked up, and I sank to the ground. Then he went back to scavenging. I peeked up over the grass. Now was the time. He was facing opposite from me, not even paying attention. I jumped over the grass, launching my self, teeth first, at his neck. He heard the sound, spinnin around just in time to see me land just short of him. He darted away, but I was all ready on him. I nipped at his heels, enjoying myself. Small screams burst through his mouth as he panicked for his life. I launched after him, almost close enough. Then, as we danced across the meadow, he tripped on a small hole, tumbling across the grass. I grabbed his neck as he cartwheeled, hearing the muffled snap when my teeth came together. Blood filling my mouth, tasting even better than I had remembered. It had been so long since I had eaten; which was probably why it tasted so good. I ripped his neck open, making more a mess of it then necessary. I finished the rabbit in record time. Then I jogged gracefully back to the tree, laying against it and relaxing.

[mystic;]

Delilah::

A white form braved the tall grasses of her land. Content with how things were going with her mate, Kenyan, Delilah felt she could come here without thinking over things too much. She felt the gentle kicks of her unborn pups and smiled. Bright eyes searched the land around a familiar willow tree. She could smell something nearby, another wolf maybe? At first, she didn't think anything of it. But the sudden panic that thrilled through her body stopped her in her tracks. If it was danger....she didn't finish the morbid thought. She glanced nervously behind her, hoping beyond hope that Kenyan might be near. But she didn't see him. She approached the tree cautiously, desperate to find something other than danger. "Oh!" she gasped, seeing the bloody mass of rabbit. The smell turned her stomach and she kept walking. Then she saw the other wolf. What a mess, she thought. She was instantly ashamed she had thought it, but eyed the blood stains on the wolf. Then she noticed the peculiar markings....or was it flames?

Delilah approached the wolf slowly, undecided as to whether the she-wolf was a danger or not. Her brilliant blue flames danced around her, leaving black streaks on her tree. She eyed the charred grass around the beautiful wolf and tilted her head to the side. Never before had she met a fire wolf. This was a new, and scary, experience. She was more aware than ever of the soft kicking and nudging inside her. "It's alright, my babies," she whispered so softly she barely heard herself. Soon she reached the wolf. "Hello," she greeted her warily.

[{♥L|uvy|Luv♥}]

Jackie:.

I licked my paws, trying to get the blood off. Then I heard something. A slight feminine gasp as someone saw the bloody mess I'd made. I lifted my head just in time to see a very pregnant wolf make her way over to me. I saw her look to her stomach, and her mouth moved, but it was too quiet for me to hear. I raised one eyebrow at her when she came to me. "Hello," she greeted me. Her voice was guarded; cautious, but still beautiful. "Hey there," I said in my silvery voice. Like an angel singing to her newborn. I rose slowly from the ground, measuring her reaction before going any farther. When I was on my feet, I easily stood taller than her. I smiled. Brilliant, white canines gleaming in the evening sun. I carefully adjusted my focus, so that the flames that danced gracefully around my entire body, were focused more on my tail than the rest. "Are these your lands?" I said in an impish voice. I hated being caught trespassing on accident. I lowered my head some, looking up at her with an apologetic expression.

[mystic;]

Delilah::

The white wolf watched as the graceful fire wolf stood before her, now towering above her. A black maw parted and stretched over long white canines. She fought against the chill that threatened to race her spine. An equally soprano voice rang out, "Yes, myself and my mate, Kenyan's. But as long as you mean no harm, it's fine." Her voice shook a little, and what meant to sound authoritative now sounded more like a child asking for forgiveness. She could kick herself for leaving the den when her pups were now so close to being born. Especially for leaving Kenyan's side. When she thought the name, her eyes automatically scanned for any sign of her beloved mate.

The fire wolf seemed nice enough, she didn't like purposefully threatening. But Delilah knew of tricks from some. In one single attack, her unborn babies could be lost. If she did mean harm, maybe she would see her obvious pregnancy and have pity, mercy on her. "You're welcome to stay a while if you need...or want to. Kenyan should be around here somewhere," I hope, she thought. "We don't get many visitors." She tried not to think of why that was.

[{♥L|uvy|Luv♥}]

Jackie:
I saw my brother coming towards us, and my eyes narrowed. He came to me, his eyes locked on the female's stomach. I knew what he was thinking. He came to me, and nuzzled my nape, and growled a menacing welcome. My teeth bared and my hackles stood. A ferocious growl ripped through my teeth, my fur igniting, sending five foot flames dancing rapidly around me. His fur lit in surprise, but then his expected answering snarl ripped up his throat. My teeth parted, letting out a loud, deafening, bone-chilling snarl. "Leave." I warned. He stood taller, still only a little larger than me. "No," he said. His eyes flashed to the femme's stomach and then back to me. He wanted to wait around until she gave birth, then steal some or all of her pups. I snarled again, and stalked forward. "Now," I warned again, "Or you know brother, this is going to come to a fight." I spoke only truth. I knew my brother and I knew that if we did fight, it would be a fight to the death. And I would not lose.

He smirked. Then he sank to a battle position, and bared his long, sharp teeth. I snarled and launched at his legs, hearing it snap when my teeth connected. I made sure that he wouldn't get to close to the soon-to-be-mother behind me. He twisted to get hold of my leg, crunching it with his large incisors. I wailed in pain, but kept searching for somewhere to get a hold of. I grabbed his other leg, smirking when I heard him cry out when my teeth broke the skin. I grabbed the skin on his hindquarter, tasting blood when I ripped him head to the side. I felt his teeth sink into my front leg, and I reached down, gripping the skin of his nape, and pulling up, leaving jagged tears. He howled in pain, and let go of my leg. I threw him off of me, watching the horrified look on his face when he ran off, not look back. I limped back to the tree, slumping down and looking apologetically at the scared stiff female standing frozen, still staring after my brother.

[mystic;]

{You're powerplaying again... last sentence}

Delilah::

I closed my eyes and let a memory wash over me. I felt a subtle tear release itself. Just as I was about to explain, a snarl ripped from someone nearby. I opened my eyes and saw the male. They seemed to know each other and I backed up. A thrill of fear sent chills racing up and down my spine.I only vaguely heard their dialogue, for I was searching for any sign of Kenyan. I couldn't see him anywhere. A new feeling spun through me when the male glanced repeatedly at my stomach, where he would no doubt assume to be pups. I felt sick. My head was spinning. Would he try to kill them? It was normal wolf behavior for some males to kill other male's pups in a pack. If he wanted to fight Kenyan and take our land over, it would make sense. Unless he raised them himself... I shuddered and backed away again. I quickly thought over my chances of getting away in time to find Kenyan, but running like that so close to the birth would only send me into labor. I was due any day and to send myself into labor when this male obviously wanted my pups for one reason or another was insane.

Suddenly they were fighting. Blood went everywhere and they were both covered in it by the time it ended. It was over before I could use that as my chance to escape. The male ran away, and I stared after him, imagining him turning to come after me. I realized I was shaking when I turned back to Jackie. I stared at her for a long moment. "I...I need to find Kenyan..." I said, voice quivering with my obvious fear. He would have heard that. He'd be looking for me.

[Lexi]

Kenyan was oblivious to anything that was going on around him. He was in a deep sleep next to the waterfall, the crashing waves beating all other sounds away. He'd worked himself into a fit over his mate, worrying over her and their pups and thinking of every single thing that went worng. It seemed that sleeping was the only way he could get rid of the feeling of being on edge. And it sure didn't help that he slept so heavily, stupidly unaware of what was going on around him. But Delilah's pregancy was going well and he didn't like hovering over her, he didn't want to be the male who never let his mate out of the den until the pups were old enough to take care of themselves.

What woke him wasn't the sounds, but rather the smell of danger in the air. Right away the hair on his back stood straight up and he raised his head, looking for Delilah at first. But when he couldn't see her in his sights, he panicked. Where could she be, and who was she with. Surely this danger ment someone else was nearby, oh and she was so close to having their pups, anything could cause a devastating effect on their lives. He barked loudly, in warning and smelled the air, yipping against just so Delilah could hear him. He bounded off then, nose to the air and it didn't take long for him to find the charred trail that the fire wolf left. He didn't like the destruction to his land and let out a low menacing growl when he spotted the female so close to the one he loved. He had no idea about the male being here of the fight, he was zoned in on his mate and as he came closer, he could see her shaking. Nuzzling her, he could tell she'd been unharmed physically and was thankful but something had sent her to shivering in fear. "It's ok." he said in a soft hushed tones, hoping to calm and sooth her. He eyed the female laying by the tree, pinning this on her and was right away on edge. How would he fight off this large fire wolf to keep Delilah safe? He couldn't just give up his land and move with her so close to delivering their puppies.

[mystic;]

Delilah::

As soon as I said the words, I caught his scent. A warmth ran through me, a feeling of peace. Safety. I turned to see him hurrying toward me. It took all I had to not bolt to him. If I ran now, what would the female do? What if the male came back and got me before I reached Kenyan? I suppressed a chill at that thought. "Kenyan," I whispered when he finally reached me, nuzzling me. His attempts at calming me worked, to an extent. I was worried about him now, and still my pups. That male had definitely wanted something to do with my pups, and he could come back. Somehow, I almost knew he'd be back. I shivered against Kenyan, suddenly feeling very weak. I leaned into him and stared up at him. He was warily eying the fire wolf. He was tense. Did he plan to fight her? It's okay he had whispered... "Yes, it's okay...now that you're here..." I sighed into his fur. Then I looked at the fire wolf. "Who was that male?" I demanded, suddenly feeling braver. I knew it was due to the strapping young male at my side. Did Kenyan know about the fight?

[{♥L|uvy|Luv♥}]

I saw the male running towards us then. My hackles stood up at his slight approach, but relaxed when I realized it was her mate. A small growl slipped through my teeth when she asked who he was. I formed it into words. "That male, that was my brother," I said in a low voice. My chest continued to rumble. Then I quickly tried to get up, only to be knocked to my feet again by a stabbing pain in my leg. A loud yelp erupted suddenly from my mouth. I moaned loudly. "My leg," I complained, "My leg, I think it's broken," I said in a whisper. I slowly shifted my weight so that it wasn't on my right back leg. I lifted myself slowly from the ground, and leaned on the tree. "I'm going to have to stay here if it's alright with you two," I asked subtly, "It would be mighty painful if I were to have to travel to somewhere else," I said in a small voice. I flinched at the thought of the travel. I directed my sight to the wolf's mate. "Might I know your names so I may address you properly?" I asked them both. Then I pushed from the tree to wander closer to them. Mine, and my brother's blood stained my black and blue fur, which licked at the air with the flames that spread from my fur. I fought to control them, wanting them not to reach out to the wolves that held my future. They pulled at my mental barriers, laughing as they gained ground, feasting on the oxygen that floated mindlessly around us. I waited.

[Lexi]

Kenyan stood strong next to his mate, letting her lean on him for support. His eyes, however, were glued on that female. She was part of all this. He slowly moved away from Delilah when the female got up and came towards them, placing himself between her and his mate. The two females taking made his realize there was a male here and that put Kenyan on edge even more. "I'm usually a very friendly male, and don't mind wonderers staying a few nights with us. However, I have no reason to trust you and I don't want to, hurt or not. You being here only gives this brother of yours more reason to come back. And I can't take that chance with my mate in the state she's in, so close to birthing." He turned to Delilah with a stern look, not taking anything but his words, even if she felt compelled to let this female stay. "You're welcome to stay in the caves, but I want you no where near us, we will be moving, just a little ways away, to another set of caves, and I suggest you don't follow. Now let us be." he warned, hating to sound rude, but he wouldn't take the chance of his mate of pups being hurt. Coming back to Delilahs side, he nudged her, heading her into the direction of a small set of caves, just south of the waterfall, where it would be safe for her to whelp in peace.

[{♥L|uvy|Luv♥}]

I nodded solemnly at his words, knowing that my brother was most likely coming back. I looked at the ground. "Thank you. I know it must be hard for you to let me stay here, and I thank you for letting me. I promise, if my brother comes back, I will kill him. You won't have a thing to worry about." The dead truth of my own words sent shivers down my spine. I looked back up at him, then at her, my eyes boring into theirs. I looked deep into Delilah's eyes. My fur flamed with the stress and anxiety in the air. "You have no worries Ma'am," I said in a low voice. The stress mounted, as did my flames. I staggered back a few steps, and sank down to the ground where I would be staying until my leg was better. I sighed deeply. "Have no worries. As long as you two stay together, the only person he will be after is me. And I will not follow you," I said in an exasperated voice.

[mystic;]

Delilah::

Kenyan blocked the female in front of them and she was relieved. Delilah stared at the female and listened to Kenyan's words. Despite knowing she was the reason for all of this, it hurt to think that she and her mate were being less than hospitable. Always wanting to help everyone, she thought. The female's flames rose and a chill ran through her. "Thank you.." she muttered at the wolf's kind words. She glanced at Kenyan and then back at Jackie. "I don't believe I caught your name?" she asked, a small smile on her lips. So her- trying to flip a bad situation into being kind.

[Lexi]

Kenyan watched the flame wolf and stepped closer to Delilah. He felt so bad in his heart for treating another wolf like this but he couldn't take the chance of Delilah being hurt now. Turning back to Jackie, he raised his head slightly. "If all goes well, and nothing happens, once the pups are safe and stable, and we're not worried about anything happening to them, maybe we can takl about you joining this pack. But that will be in the future." he said and took a few steps off waiting for Delilah.