swing life away;; Raiden & Rose

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If love is a labour,
I'll slave 'til the end.
I won't cross these streets
Until you hold my hand.

She was weary, there was no denying it. Sometimes she felt as if it were hell to carry pups, when she was so full of them, breathing deeply. She'd made it to the river, and managed to find a calm enough area to drink. Then she sat, gazing out at the waters. Never really calm, the river rushed by, a true divide between the two lands. She looked into the land beyond, the Dancing Stars, thinking about how life used to be. She remembered what it was to grow up amongst a river that never stopped rushing. The uprising was clear enough in her young mind. Victory, yes, but it had all been taken away from them by mother nature. Perhaps this was the way, the Moons wolves didn't really deserve the best. They would always receive their come-uppance for the evil deeds they committed.

She was too tired for all of these thoughts, though. She laid down as the sun was setting, feeling the balmy spring evening descend on her. She must be due soon, surely. Worried, her ears flicked back, and she looked back into her own lands. She felt rather vulnerable, being so far from the dens, in her state, all alone. It was rare that Rose felt this vulnerable, but there were some situations you just couldn't think your way out of. Wit didn't help if you began giving birth right beside a dangerous river.

But she was too tired to move. She thought about Justyn, wondering how he was doing. He was only a howl away, but she did not need him at present. She knew, as the night fell around her, she was truly safe here in these lands. She had many wolves who would do anything to protect these pups. So her thoughts turned to Raiden. Older now, of course, but he was still as handsome as the first time he had seen her. It had never bothered her that he was quite a few years her senior. His maturity suited her. They had their independence, always had the space to be by themselves, but when they were together it was like being able to breathe again. She had not seen him for a little while, but he was still looking after her well. She did not in the slightest feel neglected, but to put it bluntly, she wasn't sure if she'd make it all the way back to the dens alone tonight. The tiresome job of pregnancy was fully upon her, as was the darkness now, and she stayed by the riverside, listening to the world around her.

[smilies]

<sub>He watched as the sun began to sink past the horizon, tinting the blue sky with oranges and purples that would fade within moments. All was silent in the night except for the chirping of the crickets, the fading sound of the birds' calls, and his own steps upon the familiar terrain of the Falling Moon lands. Returning his gaze to the earth, he continued his journey, eyes focused ahead. He released a quiet sigh, a feeling of nervous anxiety flooding through him.

He'd been following Rose's scent for quite some time now, and the faint aroma of the rushing river sent a pang of anxiety through him. He was all too familiar with the violent current of the river and the pregnancy had probably left Rose weak. And after finding her missing from the dens, he immediately began to worry. Despite the nervousness he felt, he couldn't help but acknowledge the wave of excitement that flooded through him. It seemed like ages since he'd last seen his mate, and he was eager to get to her now, if only to confirm her safety.

After a few brief moments that seemed to drag on much longer than they had, he could make out the familiar frame of his mate. He breathed a sigh of relief, watching as she drank from the water. Although he could clearly see she was alive and well, his worries would not cease until he saw her back away from the violent currents that made up the river. He approached her quietly, a smirk appearing on his maw. "Shouldn't you be back at the dens?" he questioned, a faint hint of reprimanding in his voice, covered by the teasing tone he'd taken on.

He buried his face in the familiar fur on her neck, taking a moment to breathe in her scent, while also offering his own body as support for her own in a subtle manner. He didn't want her to feel like he was depriving her of all independence during her pregnancy. But he'd been able to tell instantly that she was exhausted, the weariness practically written across her face. "I hoped that you would have cut down on the wandering so close to the birth of our pups," he said, pulling away to study her face. His tone was still teasing, but there was an obvious hint of worry in the undertones of his voice.</sub>

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There were simply no words to describe what it felt to hear his voice. The comfort was suddenly there, his embrace like a blanket sending lightning bolts through her body and yet instantly calming her down. Just to have her face pressed into his fur was wonderful, to breathe in his scent and close her eyes against the world was like pure perfection. She felt safe, suddenly, like she had no idea what fear even was. His tone made her smile, as she pulled back and looked at him, feigning indignance.

"I felt like a stroll," she remarked casually, eyes glinting slightly mischeviously. "And besides, I was thirsty. You can bring me food but you can't bring water to the dens," she reminded him. She then hoped that he wouldn't remind her that the Moon Stream was probably a safer, more appropriate place for a pregnant female to be drinking from.

She snuggled into his fur momentarily again before pulling back.
"I'm so tired though. They kick, but I don't think there are many of them," she glanced back at her wide, round belly. It made her proud to think that she and Raiden had survived, long enough to have another litter. In no way it would replace the loved ones they had lost, but it was natural for them. Once their family was up and running again, she thought vaguely about moving on. She wouldn't want them to be raised in an uprising as she was, but it had made her tough. Just as Raiden was tough.

She looked at him, wondering if he would come away with her. Instantly she thought yes, as if he asked her, she would leave as soon as her family obligations were dealt with. If her father died, she wasn't sure how the pack would react, or handle it. She certainly had no intention of bringing her pups, or her and Raiden, into the pressures of ruling the pack. Too volatile. They were the calm amongst the storm, it had always been the way.

"I was worried that I wouldn't be able to get back by myself," she admitted, sighing. She never had to be false with Raiden, never played a part. She would never lie to him because truly, she believed he was the only wolf who would be able to handle anything she threw at him. That's why they'd lasted.

[smilies]

'I felt like a stroll.'

He shot her a look, before rolling his eyes. If there was one thing she was good at, it was making him worry. He released a sigh, and plopped down beside her, taking a glance at her swollen belly. It looked as if it might explode any minute. The birth shouldn't be far off now, and he couldn't help but feel relieved at the realization. Rose was too restless to be carrying pups, and frankly, he often wondered how she'd gotten through the last pregnancy without any complication. But he knew that as soon as their offspring were born, he'd relax a bit. Rose would be unable to move far away from the den, because her duty was to care for the pups. Being as protective a mate as he was, he knew he wouldn't have to keep a constant eye on her. Although, when the pups were born, he'd probably want to focus if watchfulness onto them.

"Going on a quest to the furthest water source in Falling Moon probably wasn't one of your brightest moments," he commented, glancing towards her and noting the weariness upon her face. He wasn't sure that she'd be able to make it back to the dens tonight, even with him by her side. He especially didn't want her to put even more weight on her already tired paws. He frowned as she mentioned the number of pups she assumed was in her stomach. He wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or disappointed. He'd liked having a large litter the first go around. It made the family that much more pleasurable. But in all honesty, Raiden was aging. Even Rose was, though she was quite younger than him. Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise that they hadn't conceived more pups. "We can stay here tonight if you'd like," he offered, letting his gaze wander to the river.

He peered about their surroundings for a brief moment. The area by the river was exposed, sure, but he was confident in his ability to fend off any predators. Of course, he'd help her move away from the river a bit if only to keep her from the many creatures that wandered here to drink. Again, he looked towards her stomach, as if all the answers to this equation were hidden there. Maybe it wouldn't be wise for them to stay out here tonight. It was unknown when Rose would go into labor, and if she were to do so out here, it'd be extremely hard to relocate herself and the pups after the birth. And that was if it wasn't impossible. He decided to let her make the decision. She probably had some sort of mother's instinct as to when the birthing process might begin. She knew her own capabilities better than anyone.

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She raised her eyebrow at him when he spoke. She knew that he knew that she was not stupid. Questioning her intelligence, no matter how offhand the comment was, irritated her. But because it was Raiden, and she knew he was only worrying about her, she let it slide. She made no comment because she was self-assured. She knew herself, she knew her body and she certainly knew her mind.

"I can make it back," she replied softly. "If you're beside me, then I won't have to worry so much about things sneaking up on me from the darkness. So I can go faster, get there quicker, and we can both sleep easy."

She smiled and pushed her nose briefly into his maw, as if telling him to stop worrying. He was very protective, but then again, she'd always had those who were protective of her. Duke, Raiden, Justyn- now all three at once.

"I like it here. I like the rush of the river and the fact I'm staring right into the enemy territory, but they can't touch me," she responded. She glanced back at Raiden, thinking he was still worrying about her. "It's okay, they won't be coming yet. A few more days at least. And I'll stay by the dens for all of that time," her tone became teasing at the end.

She paused, wondering about the pups in her belly. But it wasn't long before her thoughts drifted back to Bion. And her last litter, little Tammer with her legs and Blake, who never got the chance to come into his own. Bion was here, although he was a Stars wolf now. He'd always suited it, though. She sighed a little.

"What are we going to do about Bion?" she asked matter-of-factly, as if discussing where their next hunt should take place instead of their runaway offspring. "I mean, his memory is not all back yet. I'm not sure if he remembers or accepts who we are." She ended sadly, looking away into the Stars territory as if expecting him to turn up as they spoke.