Milk's Favorite Cookie

Deimos slowly stalked behind a herd of deer that were grazing at the edge of their territory near Firefly Lake, shifting from one cluster of brush to another to keep himself hidden while he waited for a good opening to strike. It took all of his will power to not stay glued to Ikigai's side as they drew closer and closer to when they expected their pups to make their grand debut. The only reason he was out here hunting was because he knew for a fact that as soon as the pups were born he wouldn't want to leave them so he figured it was best to stock up their food stores as much as possible before then. Even though he knew his family would understand and would happily pick up the slack for him, the last thing he wanted to do was be a burden on them while he was enjoying the greatest joy of his life.

Just as he was coiling his legs to leap out at his prey, Ikigai's familiar companion came charging through the brush toward him, sending the deer scattering and leaping off into the dense brush of the nearby thicket. He sighed and looked over to the akita with confusion. "Tanuki? What are you-" But just as he began to question the dog, he suddenly realized the only reason why Ikigai's companion would come looking for him so frantically. "Shit," he muttered before he took off at a sprint, his large paws thundering across the territory to get back to the island as fast as he could, not waiting for Tanuki and just assuming the akita would follow. Of all the days for him to insist on going hunting...

He didn't pause for even a moment as he ran across the land bridge that connected the island to the main land and then up the mountain path to their den. By the time he made it to the entrance of their den he was out of breath and his muscles were burning, but it seemed like all his hurry was for nothing since when he slowed to a lope and walked inside he saw Ikigai resting in the basket she had crafted with three tiny pups resting at her belly. He'd missed their birth, but as he came over to see their children he couldn't even think about that. All he could think about was how beautiful they were and how much they resembled their mother. He slowly caught his breath, but a huge smile remained on his lips regardless, glancing between Ikigai and their pups with his tail wagging like a giddy child behind him. They had come into the world safe and sound and now finally, after all this time, they were parents. He settled down next to the basket and nuzzled his mate's cheek, unable to take his eyes off of the three absolutely astounding pups they had made. "They're beautiful... Absolutely beautiful."

"Deimos & Ikigai"