It has been known to Katja that more than one of Ebony's women are heavily pregnant, near to birthing. This is a problem, for the pack young must be fed by the adults, and heavily pregnant and nursing mothers must also be provided for by those who remained. Too many pups, too few capable adults to properly keep them all fed. She'd fretted for some time, but finally solved the problem by putting to work the elder pups.
She'd made the trip to check on the pregnant women several times since the meeting, most often simply ghosting up to where she could see them, see they were well, and leave once more without getting caught up in conversation. Today she had intended to do much the same, but as she approached the den shared by Devya and Ares the scent of birthing fluid touched her nose. Pups.
And, unfortunately, an intruder.
It is the most fierce instinct of animals to protect the young, and the scent of an invader so near to Ebony's newest members sent angry shards of ice deep into her dark soul and dragged from her chest a harsh sound of fury. Leaps and bounds brought her to the den of the new mother and her mate. Silver eyes captured the sight of a stranger, confronted by the two new parents as the infants cried fretfully for their mother's comfort.
Her first instinct was to attack silently and immediately, no warning and no quarter given. But the mewling of the pups gave her pause. If she attacked now, with the adversary so close to the delicate newborns, one of the combatants could be thrown onto their frail bodies. She wanted to rend this intruder limb from limb - but she could not risk the younglings without alienating the parents. "You are in my territory," the viking spat coldly as she appeared beside the white stranger. "You will leave now or you will be removed." Her warning was not an idle one, but was rather understated, for Katja was in the mood to remove more than just a few pints of blood from this bold interloper were she to remain within the pack's lands any longer.
|
