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

[tenebria]

Willow whimpered again, then began nursing hungrily, pausing as she heard her mothers angry growl, looking up and letting out a terrified yip at the sight of the creature holding her sister. She pressed against her as she was set down, then returned to nursing.

Autumn nuzzled the pup again. “They will be ok, and I know they will succeed.” She said reassuringly.

Fang crashed through the brush alongside his mate and his pack, keeping an eye on his Alpha’s plumed tail bobbing ahead of them, Drake running just behind the Aussie’s shoulder. Beside the husky, Brutus was crashing along, his mate slightly behind him, and behind them surged the rest of the pack. They would succeed, they would return with their Luna and the pups.

[Abbster]

Bella nuzzled all four of her pups lovingly, watching the Upright with anger in her eyes as she walked away from Bella and her pups. She knew Thunder was looking for them. She just had to hope he would find her. “Dadas going to find us” she said as Daisy let out a yip. Bella licked her behind the ear. “Please find us Thunder” Bella whispered

Clover sniffed the air. “This way!” She said, turning and racing through the trees.

Aurora looked at Autumn. “What if…what if they can’t find her?” She asked

[tenebria]

Willow whined again, nuzzling into her mother, the only comfort left.

Thunder had already caught the scent and altered his course, plunging through the undergrowth with a slightly reckless abandon as his pack followed.

Autumn nuzzled her again "Do not worry, those dogs have good noses, I know they'll find her" she reassured.

[Abbster]

“It’s ok Willow” Bella said. “Mamas here. And she’s not going anywhere” Bella promised as Saylor hid her muzzle against her mother. Bella could feel the fear coming off her pups…and she didn’t blame them. She was terrified.

Clover sniffed the air and her hackles raised as upright homes came into view. She looked at Fang, slowing a bit. “You ok to go along with this?” She whispered.

Aurora nodded. “C…can we go back to your den?” She asked. Atlas smiled. “Of course we can” he said, nudging the frightened pup back to their den.

[tenebria]

Willow snuggled against her mother, feeling Sage creep over as well, huddling against her in fear.

Fang snarled in anger at her response "More than you can imagine" he said, vengeance flashing in his steel eyes.

Thunder let out a sharp bark and slowed, the others following suit, dropping into the underbrush to conceal themselves from sight as Thunder scented the air. "There are too many of us to all go together, split up into groups of 2-4, duck into any openings you can find, stick to the shadows, and follow the scent. The hope is to find them in a place we can easily break them out of, but if not, if it seems to be more dangerous than we expected, only I shall enter. If somehow something happens to me, melt into the shadows, stick together, and wait until I can give you some signal" he said, then glanced to Drake "Drake, you're with me. He glanced over the rest of the dogs "Fang, Clover, you as well" he added, then prepared to move forwards, slowly creeping through the brush until he reached the edge of a thunderpath, waiting to be sure no one was around before dashing across, diving into the shadows as he waited for Drake to cross next, which he did swiftly, his paws flashing as he almost flew over the hard path.

Autumn nodded and padded slowly after the two.

[Abbster]

Bella let out soft barks to let her pups know she was still there with them. The upright had disappeared…but Cookie the cat was in the same room, grooming her pelt and draping her paw over her ear. Bella glared at her and pulled her pups closer to her as they trembled. “It’s ok my darlings” Bella said softly. “I promise your dada will find us.” Bella said softly. “Why don’t you pups get some sleep?” She suggested. Saylor blinked up at her mother and curled up in a ball beside Daisy, as the four pups fell asleep. Bella heaved a huge sigh and looked out the window. The rain was getting closer. She sighed again and curled her head around her pups so if the upright returned, she couldn’t pick up Bella’s pups. “I’ll keep watch” cookie suddenly meowed. “You get some sleep. If the upright returns and tries to pick up one of your pups, I’ll make her go to me” cookie said. Bella blinked. “You’d do that for me?” She asked. Cookie nodded. And Bella…almost smiled before closing her eyes and managing to fall asleep.

Clover nodded to her mate and licked his nose, following after Thunder. Bristling as they came up to a thunderpath. Thunder crossed it easily as did Drake. Clover sprinted across it with her mare by her side, she ducked into the shadows and waited for the signal to keep moving.

Aurora smiled and she pressed close to Autumn when they reached the den.

[tenebria]

Willow nuzzled as close she could get to her mother and fell asleep, Sage beside her.

Fang leapt across the thunderpath just after his mate, ducking into the darkness. "OK, let's keep moving" Thunder said in a low tone, scenting the air then taking off into the dark paths between the tall upright dens.

[Abbster]

Bella opened her eyes a little while later, and she looked around. The upright was in the room again..but like Cookie had said, she was distracting her. Bella licked her pups head and sighed, putting her head down on her paws as her heart twisted with pain. "Oh Thunder....I miss you so much" Bella said softly.

Clover looked up. She sniffed the air. "her scent goes into that upright house" Clover said

[tenebria]

Thunder growled in agreement. "I agree. Now here is the plan... you three stay out here in the shadows, wait for the rest of the pack to come. I will go inside alone, if you do not hear a bark from me in the next five minutes, fade into the shadows until morning. I will get in contact with you from inside" he said, his eyes fixated on the opening of the building. Drake gave a slight growl at this. "Drake, It does not matter if I get caught as well, I may even be able to help Bella from the inside if so" he said, and the Beta gave a slight nod, then motioned for the other two to follow his example as he slipped into the shadows.

[Abbster]

Bella looked up as the upright stood up and walked over to Bella. Bella stiffened, beginning to growl as the upright reached her hand towards Bella. As the hand came close to her head, Bella laned forward and bit the upright. The upright yelled suddenly and dashed out of the room and into another room to get their hand fixed up. Bella snuggled against her pups again and closed her eyes as she heaved a huge sigh. She lifted her head suddenly, thinking she had heard something from outside, and then she shook her head. It was probably the wind. Bella thought to herself as she lay her head down around her pups again.

[tenebria]

Thunder took a deep breath then plunged through the opening, sliding a bit on the slick floor and looking around. Where to go from there? Bella's scent seemed further up... finally he spotted some strange thing going up, which seemed to be for climbing and he bounded up them, finding himself on a soft, non grass, surface. He sniffed again, looking around. There were those strange things that opened into each home, and he sniffed under each one, but to no avail. Where was she? Did it keep going up? He sniffed again until he found the strange things that went up, and swiftly leapt up them, until he burst out on the next floor. Her scent was much much stronger here. Nose low to the ground, ignoring the danger of being spotted, he ran along, searching for his mate. Until he suddenly skidded to a stop, her scent so strong it brought tears to his eyes. There! Behind that door! But how was he to get in? He thought for a few minutes, then suddenly slammed his body against the door before scrambling to move against the wall, plastering himself there and breathing hard. It would work. He would get in.

[Abbster]

Cookie looked up from her grooming as she heard slamming against the living room door. She looked over at Bella, who didn't seem to be paying any attention. Cookie let out a hiss, and she jumped off the couch. Padding up to her cat door that lead out of the living room. She pushed her way through, and stared up at the dog. "who are you to enter my home" she growled, crouching low to the ground, pinning her ears to the back of her head, and hissing angrily

[tenebria]

Thunder jumped slightly in surprise. OH. A cat! Poor Bella! was his immediate first through. He growled low in his throat. "I am Bella's Mate, Thunder" he responded, beginning to eye the cat door. Could he get through that?

[Abbster]

"Oh!" Cookie said. "Bella actually asked me to find you, but of course I said no." she said, letting out a morrow of laughter. "You can't get through by pounding the door like that" she said. "follow me. I know a short cut" Cookie promised, although she could see the uncertainty in the dogs eyes. "my cat door is WAY to small for you" she added. "but....my human did teach me to open the door if I need to...I suppose I could just...open it for you" Cookie said, looking at the dog.

[tenebria]

Thunder growled at the cat's manner, glancing at the cat door again then growling again "Well i figured that if the Upright was home, it could open the door, but if you can do it then by all means, do it!" he said, trembling with eagerness to see his mate.