Post by lyceia on Jun 24, 2009 19:04:29 GMT -5
Lyceia's pure white paws daintily danced against the earth, only applying the necessary pressure to maintain her flying pace across the territory. Even at the quickest pace maintainable by her kind, she had still taken much time to cross the plains, then the tall mountains that seemed to shield the area from the remainder of the continent. She was well suited for the area, but at the time of passing the mountains, she was well aware of her trespass in claimed territory. However, any fair alpha would be wise to allow her there, as she was not only larger than any other wolf on the continent, but she was there with a noble cause. There was no harm intended by her invasion. She would be sure to note the alpha of her arrival once she had located the pups.
What stumped Lyceia was why the mother had left them alone. Weaving between trees and following the mild scent trail of the female, she had plenty of time to ponder this. There was no logical reason to leave behind newborn pups; even if the mother was hungry or endangered, many would never dare to leave behind their young. Perhaps a first time mother? she thought pointlessly. Right now, her only intentions were to find the pups. Perhaps then she would get the chance to locate their father and figure out what to do from there.
As she strolled further into the woods, the trees grew closer together and the brush was denser. It was obviously a good hiding place, and anyone searching for the mother would have been hard pressed to find her. There was no sign of the mother's return; all scent trails led away. She followed the squeaks and cries of the pups, startled as she approached a large tree to find two newborn pups nestled up to the roots in pure terror. She nosed them gently, licking their tiny bodies one by one. The male and female could be no more than a day old, and the femme had obviously not been gone more than a few hours, or the pair would likely have become chow for one of the forest's inhabitants.
Instinctively, though they were not her own pups, she laid down beside them, watching as they squirmed beside her and nursed greedily. Lyceia was somewhat relieved with her own pregnancy now. Without the lifegiving milk, the two young wolves likely would not have survived the night. Although she was much larger than them, she would have to suffice for now. If any Cyale pup were born that small, not only would they only be about half term, but we would likely have litters of seven or eight! she thought in amazement. But there were obvious differences between the pups and the size and coloration she would have expected from the mother. They were slightly larger than what a normal ethiopian pup would be. Although she had never lived among them, it was easy for her to gauge what would be realistic for the mother. These pups were most likely crossbreeds, which would make locating the father more difficult. Without a clear knowledge of what to look for, she was nearly in the dark. That was, unless she saw something.
Watching the pups with a sort of strange awe, she could not help but feel guilty. Not only for replacing their mother, but for abandoning the rest of the wolves back at the beach. It was a common occurance, but nevertheless, she still felt uncomfortable with her actions. Without having arrived, though, the pups surely would have died. After they finished suckling, she watched as they nestled up against her and promptly fell asleep. It was mesmerizing to watch their little bodies rise and fall with each breath. She had one disconcerting thought, however.
I can't keep referring to them as it. They have to have names. Lyceia stared at them, torn. She did not want to take that opportunity away from the parents. But she also did not wish to refer to them as this one and that one. "Temporary names," she muttered to herself. Perhaps they would stick, perhaps not. If the mother returned or she located the father, she would be quick to allow them to change the names. Glancing at the little female, she smiled. "I'll call you Adnessa... Dnes for short," she whispered quietly. Adnessa was a very formal name, so the quirky nickname would most likely stick. It was cute and fun, and she would have a good time with this little girl, that much she was sure of. "And you..." she muttered, her gaze falling on the male. "I'll call you Auden." She grinned. Auden and Adnessa. The two "a" pups, because they were first on my list of priorities. She smiled down at them. They were really precious, though they were a little rat-like in appearance. Their fur was not very full, and their eyes were crammed shut. It was uncommon for a Cyale pup to be born with its eyes closed for more than a few hours. Like the rest of their breed, the pups experienced rapid development and intellect supposedly above their age.
Glancing behind her, the female wolf sighed. "H'untryn, I know you aren't too far behind me. We've got a bit of a project on our hands." She would have to remain here until they had a chance to move the pups. That would be at least a few days, as she did not wish to jeopardize their safety by moving them to another area prematurely. "If you could howl to the alpha from a ways out, I would appreciate it. Dnes and Auden are asleep." She smirked slightly at this thought, knowing the brute would not have much of an idea of what she was talking about until he approached them.