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

[tenebria]

Thunder did not sleep one wink through the night, although he did almost doze off a few times, but jerked himself awake. He was exhausted by morning as he lay quietly by his mate. Suddenly she jerked awake and he swiftly nuzzled her "i'm here darling, it's ok, I'm here" he said reassuringly.

[Abbster]

Bella heaved a sigh of relief, pressing close to her mate and feeling his comfort. "how...how far is the pack from here?" she asked as she fed the pups quickly so they could leave before the upright woke up.

Clover pressed against Fang outside the upright's house. Every hair on her pelt tingled. "where are they" she growled.

[tenebria]

Thunder nuzzled her "Just outside, waiting for us. The rain has stopped, we should get moving as swiftly as possible" he said, rising to his paws.

Fang was already awake, and nuzzled her gently. The rest of the pack had arrived in the rain, and were hiding out in different shadowy corners around the upright's building. "I'm sure they'll be out soon" he said reassuringly.

[Abbster]

Bella nodded. "We should take Sage and Saylor first" Bella said as the pups finished nursing. As they were half asleep, it worked out better. Bella leaned down for Saylor and as her mate picked up Sage, they headed outside. When they arrived, Clover and Fang came from their hiding place. "Clover, you take Saylor" Bella said, as she put her daughter down gently, turning and racing back through the house for Daisy, as Thunder was hard on her paws.

Clover saw Bella walk out of the house with Saylor in her mouth, Thunder right behind her with Sage. Clover swiftly leaned down and picked up Saylor as Fang picked up Sage. A few moments later, they returned with Daisy and Willow. Bella was still noticeably trembling as they started their walk home.

[tenebria]

Thunder nodded, picking up Sage swiftly and silently heading down through the silent Upright's building. Only a few sounds came from behind the closed dens, and they made it to the bottom safely. Fang was watching the entrance and came forward swiftly as he saw their forms, sighing with relief then swiftly taking Sage at his Alpha's orders and melting back into the forest as the two leapt back inside.

Thunder charged back up the stairs, faster this time, grabbing Willow who had started whimpering in fear. He was halfway out the door when he saw the cat. He paused for a moment, then gave her a slight nod of thanks before leaping out and down through the building, bursting out of the bottom. Drake was watching carefully, and as soon as he saw all four pups in safe paws, along with his Alpha and Luna, he let out a sharp bark that echoed through the small thunderpath's. The shapes of the pack rose from the shadows. "Same formation as earlier, pair up in 2-4, we're going home" he barked commandingly, and the forms of the pack melted into the shadows once again, all running for home. Thunder nuzzled his mate as he held Willow, giving her a reassuring look before picking up the pace, slinking through the shadows, Drake ahead of them and fang and clover behind them.

[Abbster]

Bella looked over at Thunder. Her eyes warm with love...but her body trembling as they ran home. When they came to the first thunderpath, Bella froze. She stared down at the thunderpath as memories started flooding back. She blinked and backed up a bit, as Clover ran into her. "Bella?" she asked. "are you ok?" she had set Saylor down when Bella froze. She could see her trembling harder now. Swiftly, Clover picked up Saylor again as she saw Bella give a curt nod. She crossed the thunderpath with Fang beside her, sitting down on the other side to rest for a moment. Bella stared at the thunderpath...horror in her eyes. She and Thunder were the last two waiting to cross. "Thunder.." Bella mumbled. "I...I can't...I can't do it" she said looking at him, as she started shaking now instead of trembling.

[tenebria]

Thunder waited beside his mate, looking over and seeing the fear in her eyes as the other dogs crossed carefully at different points. The Thunderpath was basically deserted. "Darling, Just look at me, and everything will be ok. Just look at me" he said, having set Willow down to speak for a few moments. "I promise it will be ok" he said gently.

[Abbster]

Bella looked at Thunder, and she could see the promise in his eyes. Bella leaned close to him as she picked up Daisy again. "ok" she said, in a shaky voice. "I'm ready" she said. She raced across the thunderpath with her mate at her side. She could feel his pelt brush against hers every few moments to remind her he was still there. When they reached the other side, Bella's trembling stopped. "how much farther?" she asked, as her stomach growled loudly, and Daisy began whining. Bella looked at her mate. "Thunder....they're hungry" Bella said as she nuzzled Daisy gently

[tenebria]

Thunder nodded and picked up Willow, pressing against her as they bounded over the hard ground, reaching the other side without incident and disappearing into the woods. He stopped when they were safely out of sight, and nodded, setting down Willow who had begun whimpering as well. "You can nurse then now if they need it, we must wait for the rest of the pack anyway" he said gently as Fang set down Sage who ran to his mother.

[Abbster]

Bella lay down on the grass as Saylor scampered over as well, and all four pups latched on and started nursing. "the pack isn't to much farther" Clover promised, as she watched the four pups sleep. "Hopefully the last bit will be easier" Bella said. "If they nurse now, they'll get tired, and fall asleep which will make it easier for us to get back faster without having to stop" Bella added, as she licked her pups ears. "drink fast my darlings" she said to them, as a light breeze ruffled her fur.

Aurora had slept with Autumn and Atlas that night. She was beginning to worry as she woke up the next morning. She poked her head out of the den and sighed, pulling it back in when she didn't see any dogs.

[tenebria]

Willow swiftly began nursing hungrily.

Thunder nodded in agreement, staying beside his mate as Drake padded up. "All dogs are accounted for" he said seriously, then smiled and dipped his head to Bella. "It is good to see you again my Luna" he said, relief in his tone.

Autumn shifted as she felt the pup's movement, lifting her head and smiling slightly. "They'll be back" he said reassuringly.

[Abbster]

Bella smiled at Drake. "and you Drake" she said, as she licked her pups heads again. When they finished nursing, they became sleepy just as Bella had hoped. She carefully picked up Daisy, as Clover came to get Saylor, and Fang came to get Sage. "alright" Bella said. "Drake. Lead on" she said, as she pressed close to her mate as they picked up a slow run. Eventually, the forest became familiar, and Bella began to relax. Letting out a sigh of relief, as the entrance to the camp was spotted in the distance.

Aurora nodded. "I hope so" she said. She missed her parents...so much.

[tenebria]

Drake gave a slight smile then padded off to keep an eye on the rest of the pack. Thunder gave a soft bark for Clover and Fang to come back, which they swiftly did, and Fang picked up Sage. The pack moved out from the bushes on either side, surrounding them in safety as Drake lead them homewards.

[Abbster]

"Home" Bella whispered as they padded through the entrance to camp. She breathed in the scent and let out a happy sigh, as she headed towards their den. She carefully placed the sleeping Daisy in the bed, as Thunder, Clover, and Fang, placed Willow, Saylor, and Sage. She heaved another happy sigh as she curled up around them...but new memories now fludded her mind.

Aurora looked up as she heard pawsteps. She poked her head out of the den, and her eyes lit up. "MAMA!" She squealed, as her parents came from the alpha and lunas den. "DADA!" She ran towards them, pressing herself into them. "YOU'RE HOME!!" She said, as she pressed close to her parents again

[tenebria]

Finally the pack broke through the woods and burst into their camp, splitting and moving away from the Alpha and Bella, all eager to rest after a stressful night in the Upright's domain.

Fang followed his Alpha and Luna to their den, carefully setting down their son and backing out as Thunder lay beside his mate, nuzzling her, and obviously needing to spend some time with her. Drake picked up a position at the edge of the pack, staying alert although he had done so throughout the night as well.

Fang turned at a squeal, racing over to their adopted pup and hugging her. "Oh we missed you Aurora!" he said, nuzzling her and licking her ear.