OOC: backdating this to mid spring when Valen found the pups!

With Chaos now brought up to speed on Valentine's new little...whatever they were (problems? blessings?), there was one other wolf that deserved to know. Rhythm. They'd been distant since Rhyme's disowning. She hadn't sought him out and he had decided to let her come to him, so needless to say, they hadn't seen much of each other. The timing for the pups couldn't have been worse. Though it was possible this would push them farther apart, Valentine wasn't about to hide it from her. She deserved his honesty and so even though the story was crazy and she might think him a lunatic, he was going to tell her the truth. Of course there was also the possibility that she would think he was lying about their origin, but that was a myth he thought he could bust pretty quickly since he hadn't hidden Esti or Cascade's children from her. Valentine howled for Rhythm. He'd thought about going to her, but he didn't trust the skunk to watch the pups and it was easier to call her to him than to haul the litter to her. So he sat beside his tractor with his butt parked in front of the entrance so none of the little ruffians could escape and waited for Rhythm to come to him. "Talk" "You" Think

She hadn’t thought it had been possible to be more miserable than she had been as a slave, but now with everything that had happened it was getting close. Her heart hurt. She had spent more time with Rhys, which was one of the few reasons she was not more distraught than before. Her relationship with Rhyme was all but finished it seemed, and she hadn’t sought the warm comfort of her mate either. The cause of her woes, but also the one wolf she would never be able to turn her back on.

Rhythm hadn’t wanted his comfort, it didn’t feel right. She had been self-soothing, but not very well. When he called for her, she wasn’t sure what to think. He was strong, emotionally and physically and she knew he wasn’t near as messed up about their falling out with Rhyme as she was. Deep down she didn’t want him to know how terrible she felt, or how much she hurt. She didn’t want to admit it to herself either, but there was a growing resentment. She didn’t want to foster it, but it had latched onto her like a parasite.

Hesitantly the Destruction woman made her way to the Range from her den in the knolls. Not knowing the reason he called for her Rhythm cautiously approached, her tail limp and her ears low before she realized her posture. She tried to lift herself up before Valentine saw her dejected form, pulling her tail up and perking her ears.

”Yes?” She asked softly as she came to a halt near the tractor. The scent of new pups wafted to her and she hid the confusion that surged.

His heart warmed at the sight of her. Even now with the distance she was keeping between them Valentine wouldn't have wanted to change that reaction if he could. He was happy to see her. "There's been..." How to put this delicately... "A development." Behind him a chorus of indignant squeaks could be heard as one particularly determined rascal climbed over the rest in search of something. Valentine's ear flicked back briefly to listen. He could hear Lefty rearranging them and trying to get them to settle. "I found or, rather, was led to an Imperialis litter." Omitted for now was the circumstances that led to the litter's discovery. "I know we aren't in the best place right now but to be quite honest I don't know what to do and...I could use some help." With all of his other kids he'd been half of a full time team. With these, while he had no doubt his family would help where they could, it wasn't the same as having another adult who was responsible for their care full time. "Talk" "You" Think

Rhythm wasn’t sure what to think as Valentine started speaking, cryptically to her. She tilted her head slightly, indicating he had her attention. She couldn’t find it in herself to smile, but being in his presence again warded off a little of the chill she had been feeling. She could hear the voices of some rather upset puppies as Valentine continued, these were Imperialis pups somehow found.. randomly? She wasn’t sold on their origin, but the sound of mewling babes was enough to melt the iciest heart.

The desperation that lingered in Valentine’s voice and his admission that he didn’t know the answer to the predicament further softened her. Rhythm knew she was never capable of saying ‘no’ to this question. She sighed softly as she perked her ears towards the sound of the pups. Memories of her own brood being seperated from her came flashing back and she tried not to visibly wince.

”Well, what are their names?” She asked as she brushed by him, ducking under the tractor to soothe the distressed pups. Rhythm curled around them instinctively, inadvertently adding Lefty to the mix.

Honestly Valentine wasn't sure what he had expected. A protest, maybe. Accusation. Suspicion certainly. The litter could have been dry kindling on the smoldering fire between them. Rhythm would have been justified in believing the worst and exploding in his face. There was no explosion. If there were any hurt feelings or misgivings Rhythm hid them well. She shouldered past him and slipped into the den as though she belonged with the pups inside. Rhythm's acceptance and willingness to help humbled him. In truth Valentine found her alacrity a bit distressing. It was a reminder that he didn't deserve her. Slowly Valentine followed after her. There wasn't room for both of them and the litter and that damn skunk so he settled for laying on his belly outside and only poking his head in. Rhythm had curled around the pups by the time Valentine's eyes adjusted to the light. He noticed that first. The second thing he noticed were the smug beady eyes of the skunk who lay curled up with the puppies and Rhythm. Lefty quirked a brow at him and then eyed Rhythm significantly. "See," she seemed to be thinking. "Even your lady likes me." Valentine scowled at the vermin and then made a point to ignore her. To Rhythm he said, "The boy at your elbow is Alarr." Beside Alarr and flailing his legs in an effort to keep his siblings away while he voraciously rooted at Rhythm's belly, was another little boy, this one with strangely over-sized paws. "The kicker in the middle is Tyrian." Lefty was licking at the last puppy's forehead. She wiggled her eyebrows at Valentine, very clearly trying to irk him. He ignored her. "And the one at your hip, the only girl of the litter, is Torrent." "Talk" "You" Think

She didn’t hesitate to nuzzle into the pups at her belly, though she couldn’t provide the sustenence they obviously needed. That was a problem she wasn’t sure how to overcome. She tried to nuzzle them softly, with a few comforting kisses as she tried to get them to settle. Rhythm listened as Valentine named them, and she gentle nuzzled each one in turn, memorizing their scent with their names. They didn’t have a mother, and she would do everything in her power to fill that role for them.

She kissed each one again, bumping into Lefty gently as she did so. The skunk had a musk to her, but even with Rhythm’s sensitive nose it was tolerable. ”Shh, sweet ones quiet. We will fill your bellies soon.” She soothed them, though she couldn’t fault their protests. ”Definitely Imperialis.” She cooed softly, a genuine smile playing on her lips as she let herself become immersed with their tiny forms. She was already falling in love.

His old crabby heart melted further upon seeing Rhythm's smile. She looked so perfect there with them. Bitterly he considered how different the years might have been had they not been apart. The horde of children they would have had and the flock of bouncy grandchildren who would now be rolling around at their paws. If she had been here. If Imperium still stood. So many ifs. "Is there anything I can get you?" he asked quietly, his eyes fixed on Rhythm's sweet face. Out of the corner of his eye he could see the skunk's beady little eyes, but as far as Valentine was considered, she didn't exist. "Talk" "You" Think

Rhythm was much too enthralled with the tiny brood to join Valentine in his silent memories. She had gone over the same scenario too many times over too many years. She sighed softly into the pile of puppies as she breathing in their new scent and allowed herself to be somewhere else. In the Knolls, settled underneath the boulder with Rhyme and Rhys at her side. Valentine curled around all of them as their protector and loving provider. If she could have one wish it would be to return to that time.


”Seems its lunch time.” That much was obvious in the way they claws at her belly. ”Have you given them anything to chew on?” Not that finding one willing to suckle a few pups was anywhere near an easy task. ”I miss when.. when they were this tiny..” Though she hadn’t meant to the amount of regret that dripped from her voice was palpable. She was an old woman, and all she missed came rushing back to her. The fact pained her as much as any flesh wound and her smile faltered for a moment.