*grins* ta...heres the last chap for this fic...(and no i am not planning on any sequels!)
Chapter 11
The following winter was mild and a lot of prey animals stuck around rather then migrating or hibernating. There weren't as many bachelor males roaming that winter either, which made it less likely for Ryke to hunt for Tilla without being challenged. Tilla stayed in the burrow, resting, only coming out for brief periods when Ryke was there to stretch her legs and to drive away cabin (burrow?) fever.
The coldest part of winter only lasted a few days and the spring thaw came early. This did make it a little harder to hunt as they hadn't shed their winter coats yet, and they stuck out like a sore thumb on the large patches of land that wasn't snow covered. Eventually their bodies caught up with the weather and within a week they had shed their winter coats and got in their summer ones.
One day Tilla, who was heavy with pup, was being a busy body. She had tossed out the old nest and was building a new one out of the freshly grown tundra grasses and lining it with their just shed winter fur. Ryke helped when he could, but most of the time Tilla would shoo him away, which was normal for a female who was soon to give birth. By mid-afternoon Tilla was finished and she slept for the rest of the day.
Early the next morning Tilla went into labor and by mid morning she had given birth to two healthy pups. The pups were covered with white silvery fur and their eyes were sealed suit; which will open in a couple of days. By mid-summer they would have reached half their full size and molted their 'baby fur' in exchange for a summer coat. But right now they were more concerned about food and they were nursing rather noisily as a proud Ryke watched.
"They're beautiful." Ryke purred as he kissed his mate.
"They have a handsome father..." Tilla purred weakly, exhausted from giving birth.
"And a beautiful mother." Ryke added, a tear rolling down his cheek.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing..." Ryke said with a sniff, "its just that...in all my life I have never felt so happy."
"Nor have I my love..." Tilla said with a smile, "Nor have I..."
~Fin~
[ October 09, 2001: Message edited by: Dragadon ]
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