Petra

Pello was angry at his sister. Why was she having such a late litter. The four she had were perfectly fine, wonderful wolves. But she felt the need to try and make her legacy. She hadn't even picked one of them to be her heir, but here she was, having more of them. He had helped her make a new nest and she spent a good deal of time in it. He groomed her a lot, her daughters came and did the same. He kept her with herbs and healing salves to help with her muscles and aches. He touched her nose with his own and settled down beside her

"I'm having them for both of us...puppies you should have had" He sighed and dropped his head down on her own, he didn't want to argue with her, he was too tired himself. He wanted to go with her when it was over. He wanted to be with her always, she was his best friend. His sister, his alpha, the connection to their mother. His nieces had come in and laid with with them both. Settling in for a sleep in the coolness of the cave Petra had given her brother a small smile and then rested her head under his muzzle

SpoilerHer heavy belly was weighing her down, she couldn't believe she had just ...gone off with the stranger and now here she was. She would blame it on a momentary lapse in judgment. But he had been a nice wolf with kind eyes and she had fallen for the moment.

Pello thought it was all too hilarious, he had bark laughed the entire time she recounted what happened and had rolled in his back in delight. He was excited to be an uncle

"Maybe our next healer is laying in there! I cant wait to meet them all..we have to prepare your nest!"

Pello had called in some of the best pup sitters who had discussed what would make the best nest. Straw, feathers and bunny fur was all added to the indent of dirt she had been digging. Rhea smiled and nosed her alpha

"A fine birthing nest..it's all very exciting!" Then others agreed with happy yips and nuzzles.

She announced it formally after their late meal and while everyone seemed uplifted she could see a few eyes roll and whispered head nudges and even a judgmental look. But they at least knew better than to say anything out loud in her presence.

As the sun was setting she walked the perimeter of their territory, scratching at trees and peeing where she had too. A few of the hunters following along behind her by Pello's directions. Returning to her dead she had flopped in the nest and sighed at being home. It was comfortable and she was tired. Petra was almost asleep when she felt the shove of amother body and she tilted her head to watch Pello maneuver into the nest with her.

"I figure it should be nice and lived in by the time the pups get here.." His eyes sparkled as he scooted in beside her, he smelled like mint and she inhaled deeply

""I knew you'd like the mint"

"I do, but you have to be quiet, I need to sleep...you can groom me though "

Since they were little they had taken comfort in grooming just like all other wolves did. Pello snorted but did as he was asked, licking her ears and nibbles at tangles in her fur until he felt her body relax and she was asleep. He dropped his head on her should and found rest as well.





SpoilerThis wasn't fair Petra thought. This wasn't at all fair. Why were they all leaving her?? She huffed angrily and pawed at the fresh dirt of the newest grave. Flowers and herbs along the soil, offerings from the pack. Even Lycus had brought something from his last scouting trip, but had huffed and walked away from her when she tried to thank him for it. Zagreus had been her mentor, her teacher...he had been....everything. Older than her, he had a bond with another packmate and he would never had betrayed those around him, but she had felt that connection, she had come close so many times to telling him.

But what good would that have done. "You would have known is what good it would have done" She growled at the dirt, answering her own question. A noise from her left put her on guard and her fur bristled as she turned to look. Stepping from the underbrush into the copse was Pello. She shook herself out and her fur smoothed out. He came closer and nosed her shoulder

"Little uptight huh?"

"I wasn't expecting anyone is all"

Pello snorted towards her and ran the length of himself along her side before butting his muzzle up under her own and he came closer to Zagreus grave, nosing the dirt and pressing his foot into it to leave an imprint before he turned back to her. Petra didn't meet his eyes, instead she weaved her way around the graves, paying mind to each of them.

"You never told him ...did you?" Pello asked of her and Petra just snorted in his direction, her hackles raising as she didn't respond. "Oh Petra..."

"Oh Petra nothing Pello, he had a bondmate...nothing good would have come from any of it, just more unrequited and unacted on feelings. Besides, I am sure he thought nothing more of me then a little sister that took his father's pack from him"

"Yikes, a little harsh on yourself aren't you? Zag never seemed the type to be upset about that sorta thing, besides, he'd never want to stop scouting long enough to manage a pack, not like you."

Petra came back around and dropped herself down in a huff, she didn't usually act like a sullen child, but this was with her brother, she could be whatever she wanted and he'd never judge her. Pello nuzzled her ear and then began to lick along her fur, grooming her and when she squirmed he smacked at her with a paw and continued.

"You know what Petty, I bet he knew. I know you meant a lot to him, he would talk about it a lot when I would care for him after a scouting trip... Maybe you guys will meet again in this world, or the next, you never know."