The Alpha and The Stray

Chapter 3: The Birth of New Life

Black Stripe lifted his leg to mark a tree. He shook his fur out as he padded along, the cool morning air turning his breath to steam. It's been several days since Alpha Dust Fur died, and Black Stripe needed some fresh air to clear his mind. Being Alpha so suddenly has thrown Black Stripe for a loop. He'd hoped he could raise his pups up before having to take over as Alpha. But Dust Fur wanted to leave, he remembered, his thoughts like ice stabbing his brain. He was in love with that dog we were tracking. How could he be so dumb to fall for a dog in heat? Black Stripe shook the thoughts from his head and continued on his morning patrol. A picture of his mate, now also his Beta, River, popped in his head. She was due in less than a moon, and he was feeling anxious about becoming a father. As Black Stripe continued to stew over his upcoming fatherhood, a scent caught his attention. It was the dog. She was back. Black Stripe smelled the air, tracking where her scent was coming from. She was close by, tinged with the faintest hint of milk, Black Stripe suddenly remembered she was due soon. Did she give birth already? he wondered.

" I know you're there." Black Stripe stood up tall and curled his tail over his back, showing his size and strength. From behind a thick bush, a mid-sized, white, fluffy dog stepped out. Her belly and teats swollen with her incoming pups and milk.

"What do you want." Black Stripe growled. The dog flinched away, terrified of this huge wolf. Not wanting to scare her more, Black Stripe sat down, reducing his intimidating stance. The dog stepped closer, low to the ground. She stopped a little ways away, keeping space in case she needed to run, though Black Stripe could easily catch her in her current state.

"Is...is he really dead?" The dog looked at Black Stipe with wide, sad eyes, genuine sorrow making him wince.

"Yes." Black Stripe responded plainly, not wanting to show his soft side to her.

"Can I see where he's buried? I just want to say goodbye." She practically whimpered 'goodbye'. Black Stripe dipped his head in agreement and turned towards the burial grounds. The dog scurried behind him as he took up a swift pace through the woods. Black Stripe glanced over his shoulder. He was surprised to see how well she kept up, especially so heavy with pups. Black Stripe slowed as the grounds came into view.

"This way." Black Stripe headed towards the freshly turned dirt, where Alpha Dust Fur was buried days ago. He stepped back and sat while the dog slowly stepped up to the dirt mound. She gently sniffed the dirt and then rested her nose against it. She mumbled something, but Black Stripe couldn't hear. Black Stripe sat politely while the dog paid tribute to her mate, his Alpha. After several moments, the dog sat up. Without saying a word, Black Stripe stood and led the way back to where they met.

"Thank you," the dog spoke as they reached the area, "once my pups are big enough, we'll leave. We won't come back to these woods."

"He wanted to leave the Pack." Black Stripes words shocked the dog. She knew Dust Fur loved her but never imagined him leaving his Pack. Black Stripes' words eased her a bit, knowing he was going to choose her, their pups, over everything else. Without another word, Black Stripe began to walk away. He glanced over his shoulder one last time and watched as the white dog disappeared across the border.

Jasmine walked quietly back to her den. Her head was spinning with questions, pain, and sorrow. She hadn't known Dust Fur for long, but she was already so attached. Losing himh has been like losing her family all over again. As she reached her small clearing, she began to think about where she'd go once the pups were old enough. There's another patch of woods not too far from here. Maybe I can raise the pups there.

A sharp pain suddenly shot through Jasmine's side. She winced and curled her body towards the pain. It lasted a few moments, then stopped. She was starting labor. As the pain subsided, Jasmine quickly went to her den and began to fluff up her moss, leaves, and shedded fur. The nest needed to be perfectly cozy for her incoming pups.

As the day went on, the pain came and went, holding for longer periods and coming in quicker each time. Jasmine could feel her puppies moving into position inside of her. Laid out on her side, Jasmine panted heavily. She knew to start pushing with the next pang of pain and prepared herself to welcome her first born pup into the world.

Jasmine pushed as the sharp pain echoed throughout her abdomen, pushing her puppy into the world, first halfway, then fully with a second push. Jasmine leaned down and picked up the wet sack and broke it open with her teeth. She ate the sack and began to roughly lick her baby clean, prompting the pup to take its first breath. As Jasmine licked the puppy clean, she took her time to get to know her new baby. A little girl, sandy colored like her father, with the thick fur of her mother. A small patch of white on her underbelly made Jasmine think of the night stars.

"Star Dust," Jasmine nuzzled her baby into her belly as she pawed around for milk, "your name is Star Dust, my first born baby girl." Jasmine was filled with overwhelming emotion seeing her first baby, knowing their father would never know them, and they would never know him. Another sharp pain rippled through Jasmine's belly, signaling the arrival of her next pup. Jasmine pushed as the next pang of pain rippled, pushing her next baby out quickly. This one didn't have a sack. Jasmine gently grabbed the pup in her teeth and placed it between her paws to begin cleaning. While she licked this new pup, another ripple of pain surged. So quickly? she quickly began to push, another pup slid out, a very large sack following. The pups were twins, formed in the same sack. Jasmine placed the new pup next to the previous one, licking them both at the same time. The pups squealed and tried to squirm away from the rough tongue of their mother. Two boys, identical to their father and to each other.

"Dusty," she licked the first, slightly bigger pup as she named him, "and Sand Fur." Jasmine nuzzled her baby boys in next to their big sister, who was latched onto a teat. The twin boys squirmed into position and nuzzled around for a teat. Jasmine could tell there was at least one more pup, and she took this break in pain to rest for a moment. The feeling of her puppies nursing was oddly soothing, helping her to relax as she got ready for the next pup. The biggest pain yet jolted Jasmine from her rest. She pushed as her next baby slid out into the world. Jasmine grabbed her pup and gently broke open the sack. Out plopped a white puppy, with a sandy colored, curly tail. Jasmine licked the puppy clean, her tiny squeals of protest echoed in their small den. Jasmine, now exhausted struggled to come up with a name for this girl.

"Dust Tail?" Jasmine shook her head, that name didn't fit for her baby.

"Sand Fluff," She joked, remembering the silly name Dust Fur guessed when they first met. Jasmine looked at her baby, she decided to keep the name, as a reminder of her father. "Sand Fluff," Jasmine whispered as she tucked her baby into her side. Drained from labor, Jasmine laid on her side and drifted off to sleep.

A sudden pain jolted Jasmine awake, causing her to ruff up her puppies, who squealed as the toppled off their puppy pile. Jasmine was surprised that another puppy was coming, she thought Sand Fluff was the last. She braced herself as another ripple of pain washed over her, she pushed. A wet bundle appeared and Jasmine gently grabbed the wet sack in her teeth, breaking it open. The puppy squirmed and wiggled, trying to break free on its own. Jasmine couldn't help but giggle at this fiesty little runt. Jasmine cleaned her last baby, visibly smaller than the rest. She was all white, just like her mom. Jasmine was too tired to name her now, so she just tucked the pup in and made sure she suckled before drifting off to sleep again. Jasmine was officially a mother, the birth of new life was complete.