A Pack's Journey Home. Private (2) with tenebria

[Abbster]

Bella nodded to the females. "We will meet at Remmie's den" she said. Remmie smiled, and nodded, and when Thunder dismissed the pack, Bella lead the way to Remmie's den. They entered and all sat around. "now" Bella said. "as we are all here, it is time to discuss the feelings of everyone" She said. "Who would like to go first?" Bella asked. Lulu stood up. "I would" Lulu said. Bella smiled at her. "go for it" Bella said. "well...as you all know, I've been trying to get closer to Rebel...to get to know him, and all that, ya know?" she said. "I really like him, and I hope he feels the same way about me" Lulu said. Bella smiled as Lulu sat down. "thank you Lulu" Bella said. Lulu nodded as she looked around. "who's next?" Bella asked.

The lab looked at Duke. "hi" she said. "and no, my name is Liberty" she said. Coco's eyes grew wide. "Liberty..?" she asked. Liberty nodded. "yea.." she said. "why?" she asked. Coco looked at her mate, and then back at Liberty. "Liberty, I think you're my sister" Coco said. Liberty titled her head. "how..?" she asked. "because, my father told me that my mother was a yellow lab, and that my sister's name was Liberty" Coco said. Liberty looked at Coco. "wait...Coco?" she asked. Coco nodded. Liberty gasped. "My mother told me all about you!" Liberty said, jumping to her paws, and rushing over to Coco suddenly. Coco stepped back a bit, and Liberty looked at her. "you need to trust me" Liberty said. "I believe we're sisters" She said, eyes glowing. Coco blinked, looking at her mate before back at Liberty. "are...are you sure?" she asked. Liberty nodded. "yes!" she said, smiling big.

[tenebria]

Thunder quickly howled, dismissing the pack. He smiled fondly as he watches me to pad away to go speak with the females. Then he moved towards Drake’s cave. Entering he dipped his head to the dogs gathered, and sat down beside his beta. Before them sat all the males, save for Duke, who would’ve most likely been confused anyway, so Thunder surmised he would simply speak with him one on one. “Now, who is willing to share first?” Thunder asked, looking at each. Fang hesitated a moment, then spoke up with an almost shy smile. “Well, Clover and I became mates yesterday” he said glancing down with a slight grin as Remus and Rebel enthusiastically began congratulating him. “We also adopted a stray pup we found in the woods on patrol, her name is Aurora.” He smiled over to Thunder, who was smiling broadly in return. “This is wonderful news, Fang! I have already observed you with your new family, and I am certainly overjoyed to see our pack growing closer, and larger.” He said this last part with a mildly pointed grin the huskies direction. Fang blushed slightly, but he too was thinking of the future pups he might have with the gorgeous German shepherd.


Duke gave a disappointed sigh as the dog said she had a different name than the one he had “remembered”, then looked over in surprise at Coco’s enthusiastic response. He watched the interaction, his tail beginning to wag slowly as understanding dawned. But he saw in a moment that his mate was feeling unsure and insecure. Gently he nuzzled her. “I think it is your sister, he’d scent matches yours. Do you think you could give her a chance? I think you two should talk.” He said in a sudden moment of wisdom.

[Abbster]

Bella looked around at the females of the group. "who wants to go next?" she asked. Clover stood. "I will" She said, shifting a bit on her paws. "I don't know if many of you know this...but yesterday, Fang and I became mates." she said, blushing as she thought of her mate. The females around her nudged her with congratulations. "Earlier this morning, while we were on patrol, we found a stray pup, we named her Aurora, and adopted her as our own" she said. Bella smiled. "I'm very pleased that you and Fang shared your feelings for eachother" she said, smiling again. Clover thanked Bella and sat back down, looking over at the other females in the group.

Coco shifted on her paws again, and looked down at the ground. "alright..." Coco said, breaking off a bit. "lets bring you to our.." Liberty cut her off. "Oh, I'm not going anywhere" she said. Coco looked at her. "why not?" Coco asked. Liberty sighed. "I grew up out here, this is my home, this is the only thing i've known my entire life" she said, looking at Coco. "I'm sorry, Coco, but I must stay here" she said. Coco nodded. "I understand" She said. Liberty looked down. "please come and visit me" she added. Coco nodded a bit, before she turned and walked back to the pack with her mate.

[tenebria]

Thunder smiled once more at the happy, quite unreserved husky, a drastic change from how he had been previously. "Now then, does anyone else have anything to share?" he asked, glancing around once more. Brutus blushed slightly, uncertainly, then nodded, glancing around then fixating his gaze on his paws, which seemed to be the natural response to such opening of his feelings. "Well.. I... Snowflake and I are mates now as well, just today" he said, blushing again as Rebel, outgoing as ever, almost tackled him in excitement. "DUDE!!!! You guys are moving fast!" the german shepherd said with a panting grin. Thunder chuckled at this, then smiled widely to the Cane Corso. "I'm so happy for you and Snowflake, Brutus! It's wonderful that you were able to open up to her! I know you two will be very happy together! If you both wish you may occupy one of the spare dens we have." he offered. Brutus gave a serious nod, feeling suddenly reserved after having opened up, but excited as well. He'd have to speak to Snowflake about acquiring a den to themselves, but only if she wanted to of course. Thunder smiled again, then turned to the other males in front of him who had yet to share, Cosmo, Remus and Rebel, and Ranger.

Duke smiled at his mate, nodding excitedly at her suggestion, then looking disappointed as the yellow lab swiftly demolished the idea. "It would be great if we could see you again some time Libera!" he said with a happy smile, then nuzzled his mate as she turned to walk away, seeming disappointed as well. "Hey, I'm sure we can go visit her a bunch, and you two can have uh... sister days!" he said hopefully, trying to cheer her up.

[Abbster]

Ranger shifted on his paws a bit. "Well...I.." he stared. "I know that Askari joined us a few season ago.." he broke off a bit. "but...I've developed feelings for her" he finally admitted, looking up at his alpha and then pack mates around him.

Bella looked around. "who else wishes to share?" she asked. Snowflake looked eager. "I do" she said, standing. "Today, Brutus and I confessed are feelings for one and another, and have become mates" she said, blushing a little bit. Bella's eyes widened. Wow. Two of her pack mates had mates of their own. That was amazing. "thats amazing Snow!" Ginger said, nudging her gently. "you two make a great pair" she added.

Coco sighed. "I don't know" she said, looking at her mate. "She didn't even try to come back with us" she said, looking down again.

[tenebria]

Thunder's eyes rose slightly, and he smiled broadly at the hunter. GOOD! perhaps this was the answer to bringing Askari more into the pack! "I am so pleased, Ranger! I know she's been feeling very alone, and I definitely support you in getting to know her more, if you ever wish to stand guard with her at some point to speak with her, just ask me and I'll arrange it" he said with a pleased smile. Brutus looked up and gave the hunter a slight grin, bumping him slightly with his shoulder "That's really great! It's so amazing when you find the one you know you love!" he said with a slight happy sigh. Thunder chuckled at the serious dog suddenly getting sentimental, then glanced around to see if perhaps anyone else had anything to say. Rebel piped up with an energetic voice "Fang, you gotta promise not to tell Clover... but her sister... well I gotta say she's one strong pretty dog!" he said with a grin. Fang let out a low chuckle. "I won't tell her, but you'd better speak up soon!" he said. Rebel snorted. "Well it's not like I get to see her much at all, just mostly from a distance." He gave a slight sudden sigh, his face clouding slightly. Thunder smiled at the younger dog "Well Rebel, I'm sure I could arrange for you to patrol with her one day, if you like" he offered. Rebel's eyes cleared and he grinned with a nod "Yeah, i'd like that! Anytime, any day!" he said, although he was acting a lot bolder than he felt. In reality... the female mildly intimdated him with her beauty and strength, and he was starting to think he'd taken more than he could handle by admitting his secret feelings.

Askari slunk into the cave a bit later than the others, heading to the furthest back corner, closer to Lulu, and laying down, putting her head on her paws and listening. A feeling of sadness struck her. All these dogs finding their mates and their true loves, looking so excited and happy about it. But she knew it was too much to hope that any of the males could ever like her, she knew she was too quiet, and what male wanted that? Her eyes were sad as she watched, shifting further back in the darker corner of the den.

Duke nuzzled her again "Hey, I'm sure it's just because she's been alone for a while, I think I remember Tanker saying something about Loners being really skittish or something" he said seriously, completely unaware he'd once again gotten his Alpha's name wrong. "She was probably just as shocked and surprised to find that you were alive as you were her. I'm sure she'll warm up" he said hopefully.

[Abbster]

Lulu looked over at Askari. "are you ok?" she asked her, nudging her a little bit. Then, Bella spoke again. "does anything else have something to say?" she asked. The females remained silent. "alright, dismissed." Bella said. The females each dipped their heads, and Bella padded out of the den. Her mind...well...whirling with worry for her pups. She padded into her den, and smiled as she saw Aurora snuggled close to a sleeping pile of pups. "thank you Aurora" Bella said. Aurora lifted her head, and nodded, carefully standing and padding out of the den as Bella took her place.

Cosmo shifted a bit. "alpha.." he said. "is it...illegal...to have feelings for the omega?" he asked.

Coco sighed. "I know" she said, nuzzling her mate. "i guess...maybe we were never supposed to find eachother"

[tenebria]

Askari looked up slightly and nodded quickly, staying silent and waiting to be dismissed before swiftly fleeing from the group, back to the safety and solitude of the entrance of the guard den. With a sigh she lay down, laying her head on her paws and keeping in the shadow of the entrance. Why was it so hard for her to be near others? She sighed again sadly. Maybe joining the pack hadn't been the best idea.

Thunder's eyes rose considerably at this request and he glanced to Drake who frowned slightly, before responding slowly. "Well now... there is a reason we have an omega. Remmie did not see herself as able to take the place of guard or scout or hunter, and having been one of the newer to join, she found a submissive place in the pack was best for herself. Bu I suppose a short answer would be No, it is not illegal. It is advised against, as it can lead to unrest in her position." he paused again, then sighed slightly "I wished to honor the rules placed by my predecessor, but sometimes old rules are meant to be changed. You may speak to her after I do... I have some things I need to discuss with her first" he said firmly.

Remus glanced around at the more somber, surprised faces, then pipped up. "Well I don't know if i missed the memo, but my feelings are firmly grounded in scouting and my brother" He said with a grin, bumping his brother who looked over at him and grinned widely, his eyes twinkling with knowledge. If only his brother knew!!

Thunder smiled at this swift change of subject, chuckling and glancing over at Drake with an amused expression "Have you anything to add Drake?" he questioned. Drake looked alarmed at the thought and swiftly shook his head "I hide nothing from you my Alpha, and certainly nothing to do with the topic we are discussing" he said quickly. Thunder chuckled and nodded, then turned to the others. "Well then, this meeting has come to a close, and you may all be dismissed. Those of you whom may need help with coordinating your tasks with those that you wish to speak to, have no hesitation to come to me and I will arrange it" he said with a smile, his eyes glinting slightly at the idea of being a sort of matchmaker.

Duke frowned slightly, an unusual expression on his face, and he nuzzled her again. "Well you did find her, so I think it had to have been supposed to happen because it did!" was his simple logic.

[Abbster]

Cosmo nodded. "alright, thank you my alpha" he said, dipping his head before he padded out of the den, along with the other dogs.

Bella lay her head down on her paws, and without meaning to, her eyes closed and she fell into a deep sleep beside her four pups.

Coco sighed a bit. "I suppose that's true.." she said, looking down at the ground a little bit. She sighed and pressed close to her mate. "what if she didn't want to be found?" she asked.

Clover padded out of Remmies den, and she looked around for Fang, not seeing him, she joined Aurora at the food pile

[tenebria]

Thunder nodded and waited for the other dogs to exit before heading out, giving a nod to Drake, then padding to his own cave. He ducked inside, then swiftly stopped, smiling at the peaceful scene of his mate sleeping with the puppies. He watched them for a few moments then ducked back out, choosing to keep an eye on pack activity after the talks.

Duke smiled and nuzzled her again "Well it looked to me that she was pretty happy to see you" he pointed out.

Fang padded out and looked around, smiling as he saw his mate and their adopted pup down near the food, and swiftly loping over to join them with a loving bark.

Remus and Rebel emerged together, grinning and bumping each other at all the tidbits of news shared inside, although Rebel still had one in his mind that Remus didn't know, but he'd promised to keep quiet till ginger could work up the nerve... plus he really understood because he himself was unable to work up any nerve with Lulu.

Brutus trotted out and swiftly looked around for his mate, eyes bright with happiness.

Drake was last to emerge, sitting outside his den and watching the happy reunions and shy glances that were shot around, and sighing slightly. He liked his life... but there were times, like this one, where he felt a little left out. Then he shook himself hard. This was no time to be feeling sorry for himself, he'd chosen the life of duty over feeling. Determinedly, he trotted up to his Alpha. "Thunder, I was going to head out on a patrol, is that alright?" he asked. Thunder looked over and nodded quickly. "Of course Drake, I hope it is a peaceful one" he said with a slight smile.

[Abbster]

Snowflake's eyes brightened at the sight of her mate, and she ran up to him, pressing close to him. "hi my love" she said softly. "How was the talk with Thunder?" she asked lovingly, licking his nose as she sat down beside him, curling her tail neatly over her paws.

Remmie sat outside her den, and looked around. She realized something as she was with the females...being Omega....didn't seem like something she wanted anymore. She saw the relationships between each dog, and she wanted that, she wanted that badly. Remmie sighed, and stood up, padding over to Thunder. "my alpha" she said, dipping her head. "may I have a word?" she asked politely as he sat outside his den.

Clover looked up from the hopper she was eating, and stood, padding over to her mate, and licking his ear. "hi my darling" she said with a bright smile.

Ginger shifted a bit on her paws, and then spotted Rebel, she ran over to him, "Rebel, can we talk?" she asked, looking at Remus, and trying hard not to blush at the sight of him.

Coco sighed. "I suppose you're right" she said

[tenebria]

Brutus nuzzled her, licking her nose in return before sitting down beside him. "It went well, I was able to share about us" he said with a smile. "And i heard some interesting news, did you know Fang and Clover have become mates as well?!" he said in a surprised yet pleased tone.

Thunder watched Drake as he loped swiftly into the woods, his thoughts following him for a few moments. He had expected him to wish for a few moments alone after the talk, him being the only real loner in the pack right then. A quiet voice broke his thoughts and he turned frowning slightly as he saw Remmie, then realizing this was opportune as he knew he had to speak with her as well. "You may, Remmie, would you prefer to speak in your den, or perhaps the Beta's den as he is out?" he questioned, his tone a bit more courteous than it had been in the past.

Fang licked his mate's nose with a please smile "Hello my sweet clover, did you have a pleasant discussion with our Luna?" he asked curiously.

Rebel raised his eyes slightly, glancing at Remus before swiftly looking back to Ginger. "Well sure!" he said, turning to Remus. "See ya later bro" he said with a grin, trotting off with Ginger. Remus watched with a mildly confused expression, then grinned, thinking he understood. Hmm so a triangle eh? well it was just like his brother to get himself in such a mess!!

Duke gave a grin and nod "I think i am... at least this time" he said, admitting his mildly flawed knowledge most of the time.

[Abbster]

Remmie shifted again. “My den…if that’s ok” she said. When Thunder nodded, Remmie stood up and padded den. When they got there, she looked at her paws and then back up at Thunder. “My alpha..” Remmie said. “I’ve been thinking about this…a lot lately…and…I don’t think I can be omega anymore” Remmie said. “When the females were talking with your Luna, it made me realize…I want to have mate, I want to be in love like all the other dogs.” She said. “I know this is sudden, but I want a family, like you, and the Luna” she said. “Is…is that…” she broke off, looking down again.

Snowflake smiled. “I did hear that!” She said. “Darling…Bella seemed….off.” Snowflake said.

“Yes, I did” clover said. “Anything interesting with you?” She asked.

Ginger looked at Rebel. “Did…Remus say weather or not he liked someone?” She asked.

Coco licked him. “You’re always right in my heart” she said to Duke

[tenebria]

Thunder nodded and swiftly followed her, sitting near the entrance and listening, frowning slightly at her words. Which were extremely bold. "I do understand your want to have a family, I believe all dogs should have a chance at love. As such, I will allow you to move up from Omega... but only if you can convince me of your ability to take another rank, depending on what rank that would be of course" he said, waiting to hear her words.

Brutus tilted his head at her concerning words "Oh? how?" he asked worriedly.

Fang smiled and nuzzled her "Hmmm well yes, but I was sworn to secrecy" he said with a slight chuckle.

Rebel flattened his ears slightly in apology "Uhh no he didn't... he seems a bit oblivious right now" he offered. "But i mean i betcha you just need to spend more time with him, i'm sure if you asked, the Alpha could send you both out on more scouting trips" he added.

Duke blushed slightly and smiled warmly down at her. "I love you Coco" he said sincerely.

[Abbster]

Remmie shifted again. “Well….I….” She stopped and looked down. “I…I don’t know…” she said. “I’ve always wanted to be a hunter, but when I first got here….I didn’t seem I was good enough for it” Remmie said. “Before I joined the pack, I hunted for my mother and father. I caught longlegs, hoppers, and a bunch of other things as well” she said. “Multiple hoppers at a time in fact, and a few longlegs as well” Remmie said. “Please…I want this” she said.

Snowflake sighed. “Well…I don’t know….she just seemed….distracted, and honestly….” She looked down. “Brutus, she looked like she was…sick or something” Snowflake said. “I’m probably imagining it, but do you think we should tell Thunder?” She asked.

Clover looked at her mate. “Fang. We promised to tell each other everything!” Clover said. “Please darling, tell me” she said.

Ginger shifted. “Ok…I suppose I could…try talking to him” she mumbled.

Coco blushed hard. Did he…he really just…she blinked. “I love you too” Coco said, licking him