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It wasn't until the evening that the pack truly realized Anubis was gone, and the dinner was quiet once again. More of their pack was missing, and it sucked the joy out of the victory, though there were a few tales snickered over of Jack's total destruction of Grr'siv. The Alpha smirked a bit, relenting that it was indeed hilarious, but, glancing at the empty chairs beside him, he didn't much feel like celebrating anymore than anyone else.

The night watch were more alert than ever, easily catching a couple of young men hunting for any females that might be in the fields, but reported no sign of the stealthy hunter in the morning.

The dinner that next night was even quieter, save for the patter of the steady rain that had been threatening. Nova poked at her food without interest despite her sisters trying to talk her into eating. It was when they turned to try to elicit Denver's assistance that they noted they had not seen him since dinner last night, either. Long Fang mentioned sourly that his litter-brother had seemed distressed in the early morning, done his bare minimum chores, and vanished. Some of the other low ranks said they had looked for him a few times, but no one had found him.

Making sure no one saw her, Nova hurried through the rain and slipped into the animal barn. The stall Anubis had occupied when he had first arrived had been used for overflow storage and had since been returned to that use now that it was vacant again. Peeking around the stacks of hay, bags of feed and other clutter, she found Denver tucked into the tiny space there, hugging his knees, his face fur slightly damp and crusty.

"Hi, Nova," he murmured, hugging his knees a little tighter with a sniffle. "I knew it'd be ye."

Smiling softly, she sat cross-legged in front of him and feigned deep thought. "Well, let's see. Where's the only place 'round here that no one could smell ye, but it still sorta smells like everyone? I dunno why that don't make sense ta no one else." When Denver didn't respond, she sighed and pressed her back to the wall so she could pull her knees to her chest as well. "I'm really worried 'bout Anubis, too."

Denver whimpered. "It-It ain't even 'bout 'im, honestly. I-I mean, I'm worried fer 'im too, an' I re-really wish he were here cuz... cuz I-I-I dunno what ta do 'bout Fern. He-He's so... angry. He... He's never made me feel so... so scared 'fore."

"Scared?" she repeated, peering at him with concern.

Swallowing, his voice was barely above a whisper, fighting back tears. "H-He pushed me 'gainst the wall a-a-an' I thought he were g-gonna bite me." Nova gasped, but he continued. "He were drinkin' an-an' he looked like he were r-re-really hurtin'. I just wanted to help, b-b-but he's so strong an' he-he had me by the shoulders, an' I couldn't... I couldn't do nothin'." He shuddered in memory with a whine, rubbing his arms. "I-I-I were so scared lookin' up at 'im snarlin' like he'd lost his mind. He ain't never bared his teeth at me, n-n-not even- not even once. I-I told 'im he were hurtin' me a-an then he said... he said he don't care if I we-went away, too, an' told me ta get out. S-so I been hidin' here so I don't make 'im mad 'gain."

Getting to her knees, Nova took his hand in both of hers. "Oh, Denver! I can't believe he did that to ye! That ain't like 'im. It ain't yer fault at all! He can be mad at 'imself all he wants, but he shouldn't be takin' it out on ye! Ye ought ta tell Jack 'bout it."

Denver shook his head. "Naw. Th-that'll only make 'em both mad. I-I know he don't mmmean it. He don't know what he's sayin' right now. I-I'll, uh, I'll just, uh, s-stay in the hall. I-I-I were kinda hopin' Anubis would be there, but he's mad 'bout somethin' else."

Pursing her lips, Nova looked down and sighed. "I don't think he's mad. He's... got instincts. We don't hunt like the Wogtal, so we ain't got 'em like he do."

"I heard some o' the others say he's gotta kill somethin', like he's a wild animal, but I never saw 'im like that."

Sucking in her breath, recalling the feral rage of Anubis in the woods against the gregin, she glanced around nervously though there wasn't much to look at tucked in such a small space. "W-Well, I mean, ye... ye didn't exactly see 'im before.... But, I know he just needs a bit o' space, an' he'll be back when he's done what he needs ta do." Standing, she offered him her hand. "Right now, we ought ta get ye somethin' ta eat an' go ta bed. Maybe they'll both be back ta normal tomorrow."

Letting Nova pull him to his feet, she helped him find Long Fang, who was quick to get his litter-brother set up with a spare cot in the same alcove with him. Unable to sleep, however, Denver waited for everyone else to be out before slipping into Anubis' bed, hugging his pillow tightly while hoping he was safe and dry wherever he was.

It wasn't until after the overcast and gloomy breakfast that Long Fang and Nova were sure Denver was nowhere to be found. Together, they went to Iron Gale first, who helped them track down his paw prints in the mud, heading out into the woods at a gallop.

When the word reached Jack, sitting in his chair in the Great Lodge having a discussion with Cloud, he was already bitter and only grew more dour. Pinching his brow, he growled to himself, "Course. I'm surprised it weren't Nova."

"I mean, I could..." she started playfully, but his growl made her ears snap back and lower herself.

"No! No one else is goin' out to the woods! We can't afford to lose no one else right now. We ain't seen the last o' Grr'siv over this field, an' we're down a few, now. If he catches wind we're flaggin' like this, he'll be back in a moment." Turning away, he grumbled, "boy'll get an ass chewin' when he gets back."

Clenching her teeth, Nova muttered, "not exactly a good reason ta come back fer...."

The glare he turned back to her was enough to make her shrink behind Iron Gale, who stared back at Jack with a concerned pursing of his lips. The older man had no problem holding his Alpha's gaze.

"It's all Fern's fault."

Everyone present turned to look at Long Fang after that bitter utterance. "What?" they replied in discordant unison.

All but Nova, who gasped and shook her head, which Jack saw from the corner of his eye. Glancing between them, he leaned over the arm of his chair and peered at him suspiciously. "How's that?"

Again, Nova shook her head, but Long Fang ignored her. "He told 'im to get out. Even told 'im to leave! Pushed 'im, an' snarled at 'im, an' everythin'! Had bruises on his arms when I checked 'im. So now he's run off cuz he'll do anythin' Fern says. Got 'im trained like a dog."

"What!?" Cloud and Iron Gale barked together.

Narrowing his eyes and wrinkling his snout, Jack stood and started toward the door.

Cloud followed after him. "Wait! Jack! What're ye gonna do now?"

"Talk some damn sense into 'im," he called back in a furious growl. "An' if I gotta do it with my fists or my teeth, then maybe that's the only way to get it into 'im."

Cloud glanced back at Iron Gale, and they rushed out after him.

Nova glared at Long Fang when they were alone. "Now why'd ye go an' say that? He said not to say nothin'!"

Crossing his arms indignantly, Long Fang bared his snaggle tooth further in a sneer. "Cuz I watched Fern groom my brother to be his 'good boy' from the start, soon as he even thought Denver were gay. Never lettin' 'im do nothin' 'dangerous,' keepin' 'im low rank just for the fetish, always in his business just ta tell 'im what he's allowed ta do. Then, he goes an' pulls this shit, knowin' Denver'll do it without even thinkin'." Turning away, his fur bristled. "No one's ever listened to me. Maybe now they will."

Storming down the street, Jack's teeth were bared and his fists balled. Everyone else laid back their ears, finding something to do far away from him with haste.

Banging on the door of the cabin, Jack yelled out for Fern to show his face. Throwing open his door at another pounding, Fern's reddened scowl was enough to give the Alpha pause, looking him up and down.

"The fuck ye want?"

Jack shook his head in disappointment. "Shit, man, the fuck's wrong with ye? What'd I hear 'bout ye assaultin' Denver?"

Eyes widening a heart beat, his shock was immediately replaced with a snarl. "It ain't none o' yer business."

"The fuck it's not!" Jack snarled back, stepping towards him menacingly, though he had to look up at his friend. "Everyone in this pack's my business. 'specially my Head Beta. How could ye do that?"

Glowering back at him in silence for a moment, Fern swallowed hard before growling "fuck off," and turned to slam the door shut. Stepping forward to hold it open, Jack started to speak when he was knocked back into the mud. Winded a bit, he sat up and touched the warm sensation on his nose before snarling up at Fern.

"Get down here an' do that again," he invited dangerously, baring his teeth with the trickle of blood slithering into the spaces.

Just as Fern started towards him with a feral growl, fists balled up tight, Cloud stepped forward, reached up, and snagged Fern's ear with her claws. The man's enraged expression became stunned and powerless in a heartbeat. "Ow, ow, fuck, ow, Omma, ow, shit...!"

Jerking him mercilessly to her level, she bared her teeth at him. "What on earth's gotten into ye? How can ye do that to yer best friend?"

Not meeting her gaze, he clenched his teeth but didn't struggle. "Ye ought to stay outta it, omma," he warned in a low rumble.

Cloud shook her head. "Not when Denver's run off 'lone in the woods!"

Blinking in surprise, Fern peered at her, suddenly very sober. "What?"

"Ye heard 'er," Jack growled, getting to his feet. "Denver did exactly what ye told 'im. An' now he's out there with a hungry skaowl an' a even hungrier Wogtal runnin' loose. Are ye gonna help me find 'im or are ye gonna sit 'round bein' a drunken asshole?"

Glaring at him, Fern shook his mother off and snorted bitterly. "Yeah, I'm comin. I bet I know where he is."

After checking a few spots Fern thought Denver might be, the two men split up, covering more distance. Trotting along near the place Nova had tricked Anubis to fall into the shaft, Jack sniffed the air and perked at their scent. He could smell that the two had been here and that made him curious.

Following the faded trail, he glanced up at the old fence where Nova had jumped up. Narrowing his eyes, he sniffed along the ground to the last post where he paused and scanned the area since her scent had not touched the ground again. It had been years since he had last run through here messing around with the brothers and Silver as young men, but he swore he remembered... there! The dip in the ground under the branch, a spot where the vegetation was disturbed and bent. Glancing around to make sure there were no other surprises, he approached the shaft cautiously. Peering down the hole, he smirked with the scent of Anubis and the rather obvious tumble he had taken. If a wolf is climbing a tree, wouldn't that make one wonder what was on the ground they were avoiding?

A distinct yapping sound in the far distance caught Jack's attention. His head jerked up, and he took off towards it. There was only one small critter that made a sound like that. Known as warq, the agile and highly intelligent little social hunters had a well known sound that they used almost exclusively towards the wolves of the prairie. Particularly vocal, the dinosaur-like sprinters had a sound for every kind of friend, foe and food, and it was difficult to shake them off once they located a wolf. Not usually for hunting, but as if attempting to communicate with another smart and social creature, and the yapping sound was the closest they could get to a bark.

Trotting up to a large tree with many gnarled roots, Jack found the warq hopping and flapping excitedly all over the roots and climbing up the tree, yapping ceaselessly. Dozens of different colored fluffs, they waved their feathered arms, each tipped with a singular over sized hooked claw, and ran about on their hind legs. Noticing him, they turned their great big eyes towards him and grew more excited, wagging their tails as they hopped and darted around him playfully.

Shaking his head at the small creatures, the largest of which hardly reached his heel in his current form, he followed his nose and the crowd to the other side of the old tree where the warq showed him exactly which hollowed root Denver, in his feral form, was curled up in. Glancing up at him, Denver whimpered and curled up a little tighter while the creatures yapped with pride as if pleased they had reunited them.

Sighing, Jack pushed himself upright before kneeling down to speak. "Hey. I'm surprised ta find ye here. Fern an' I've been lookin' fer ye a while." He nodded at the question in Denver's expression. "I know Fern's been a bit of a ass lately." Touching his nose tenderly where the blood had dried, he winced a bit. "Trust me, I know. He's got a hell of a punch. But, he's real worried 'bout ye. I don't think he's meanin' none o' this madness. Why don't ye come back with me an' we'll try to get this all figured out together?"

With a deep sigh, Denver began to crawl out of his hiding spot.

In an instant, the yapping critters fell silent, perked, and fled into the brush behind them with haste. Jack didn't need to look up to feel every hair on his body stand on edge, but he did, staring up into the fearsome fangs looming over him.

With a surge of survival instinct, he jumped away just in time to avoid the first lunge of the skaowl, but his heel caught on a root and he tumbled to the ground. Again, the skaowl leapt, this time landing over top of him, hissing down at him so he could smell its breath and see the spittle on its teeth.

Denver's shrill barking caused it to snap around, growling at the sound. It was just enough distraction for Jack to scuttle out from under it, but as soon as he tried to turn so he could flee, he let out a sharp yelp as he felt his body hooked and jerked into the air. He hardly felt the massive claws rip through him so cleanly, but they caught deep and tossed him against a tree. Gasping in shock, he clutched at his side and grimaced at the soft sensation of his innards.

Turning over to prop against the tree in time to look up at his certain end, he bared his teeth to bite back when Denver jumped in front of him, his own teeth bared to the gums. His convincing snarl gave the predator pause, tilting its head at him curiously before stepping forward to finish its kill.

The expression of genuine horror from both wolves was dramatic enough to make the predator stop and start to look over its shoulder in time to see only the enormous mouth that clamped shut on the base of its skull. With the sickening crunch that didn't even let it scream before death, the brutal shaking that slammed the limp body into the ground again and again until every last bone was shattered was entirely unnecessary. Jack and Denver could feel each thud in the ground under them, watching in helpless horror.

Dropping the mangled body with a final snarl, Anubis turned his crazed attention to Jack and began to stalk towards him. Panting with feathers stuck to his tongue, his fangs were dripping with blood and brain matter,and his glowing gaze was as feral as Jack had ever seen in another wolf.

Swallowing the blood in his throat, Jack felt his eyes fluttering, his body no longer shivering since there wasn't any sensation left. No matter how hard he tried, he could not hang on, his last vision of darkness staring down at him before it enveloped him.

***

Snapping awake, Jack gasped and stared at the ceiling of the medical room. "Oh, shit, I'm alive," he breathed with relief before his eyes rolled up and he groaned in pain.

"I would hope so, otherwise I'm just pumping blood into a corpse."

Looking at the bench, he felt a little anxiety make his hackles prickle. Anubis sat there, back pressed to the wall, a knee up to lay the arm attached to the tube across it. He smiled at Jack's wide eyes.

"You nearly bled out. Unlike Fletcher, it takes a lot more blood to keep you going. Guess that makes you part Wogtal, too."

With a breath that made him wince, Jack groaned and pushed himself up to prop against the wall, as well. He was heavily bandaged on his side and part of his belly, with a cloth wrapped tight enough to make breathing a little difficult. "I, uh, I... I'm incredibly grateful. I... really didn't think I were gonna be wakin' up again. Heh, ye, uh, looked like ye were gonna finish the job."

There was a sting in Jack's chest at the way Anubis' face fell, looking away and muttering softly, "Denver thought the same thing." He took a deep breath before his face brightened with a little smirk. "He actually snarled at me." Jack peered at him incredulously, and he nodded. "It was really adorable. Burst into tears after, but I was convinced he'd bite me. I didn't want to risk it. Might've stung."

Shaking his head a little, Jack found the strength to smile vaguely before he perked. "What 'bout Fern? He were out there, too."

"Denver already found him," Anubis replied softly. "He told me he'd been out there looking for me, but that you and Fern were out there looking for him, so I carried you back, and I've been here since. Watched Berry put you back together. Glad her hands are so small. I couldn't've sewn you so well."

Groaning softly again, Jack mustered a fond though pained smile. "I adore 'er. Gonna have ta do somethin' extra special fer 'er after this."

"She adores you. It was pretty obvious. This whole pack does. That's pretty obvious, too. There's been a crowd at the door all day."

"Well, I been more o' a Radkial all my life, honestly. Even Wild River said it, that I made a better Radkial than a Hammer. Kept tellin' me he'd... retire next year, then next year. 'Oh, just one more year, Jack, then it's all yers.'" He swallowed hard, a shudder causing him to grimace in pain. "Ah. An' then... that skaowl almost got me, too." Shaking his head, he turned a little to look at Anubis. "I think ye make a real good Radkial, too, an' I s'pose it's only right I... quit messin' 'round an' give ye some rank to thank ye, but that seems pretty hollow fer my life."

With a tense breath, Anubis muttered, "All I really want is Nova."

"Oh, that's all?" Jack joked mildly in response.

Anubis, however, was more serious than he needed to be. "Jack, I would be content to be your ox for the rest of my life, so long as I could just be with her. Everything here is so much better than how it was in my pack. I wasn't just treated better than the slaves when you considered me livestock, I was treated better than most of my own family treated me. I really only want the rank to be with Nova." Licking his nose, he added hurriedly, "uh, Silver told me I ought to... be more open."

After staring somberly at him a moment, Jack mustered a fond smile. "Good. He's real smart. Only talks when it's somethin' worth listenin' to." With a slow shake of his head, he leaned it back against the wall and stared at the ceiling. "Shit, Anubis. I just... ain't the controllin' type. That's not why I wanted to be Alpha. I can see the two o' ye are in love." With a sigh, he peered at Anubis a moment longer. "It don't feel right to make ye a Omega. That's fer pups an' folk who don't work. I guess a Sigma would be appropriate, for now. An'... whatever ye do with Nova, that's yer business. Tryin' to stop ye two's been like tryin' to stop the river with a net."

There was some extra pressure in the tube for his heart started to thump and his tail waggled just a little. Catching himself, Anubis began to reply when the door opened, and Berry gasped, rushing to Jack to hug him carefully and nuzzle him.

"Oh, Jack! Yer awake! Yer gonna be okay! I was so scared!"

Pressing their foreheads together, Jack smiled at her. "I got ye ta thank fer that."

Berry blushed and glanced at Anubis. "Oh, well, he were the one that saved ye from the skaowl."

Eyes widening, Anubis put up his free hand palm out and shook his head. "And he'd still be dead if you hadn't put him back together."

"Well, yer the one who's givin' 'im the blood ta live."

"There's others who could, I just have a lot to give."

The soft chuckle in Jack's throat made them both look at him. "So, it were a joint effort, then. Like a good pack should."

***

The morning was the kind of chill that one just knew would give way to heat waves by the afternoon. A thin mist hung low on the land, though the sky was mostly clear and vivid. The river was growling against its banks now with the rain that had sporadically blanketed the thirsty land, turning the water mill steadily while the pack got ready to start another day of harvesting.

Forcing himself out of his malaise, Fern was standing with the other high ranks. After ensuring everyone knew the tasks and dealing with a tool dispute, a familiar howl from the front gate perked his ears. Trotting around the corner of the Great Lodge to look down the street, he squinted at the figures, and his heart skipped a beat with recognition.

A joyous howl made several more until nearly the whole pack had come running to surround them.

"White Toe! My son! Ye came!" Cloud cried with joy, hurrying to hug him tight.

"Hey, Omma. Yeah, I got yer message," he replied with a smile, using one arm to hug her back, but the other remained on the pale leg of a young boy no more than 7 seated on his shoulders to keep him steady, peering around curiously with his tail wagging.

Pulling away, Cloud turned her attention to the grey, red and white woman standing beside him, her belly just getting round and 3 other pups standing behind her.

"Valley? Oh, sweetlin', it's been least 3 years since I seen ye! Think ye were lookin' 'bout the same but these 2 adorable puppies were the ones inside o' ye." The toddlers peeked around in curious caution from behind Valley's legs.

"Hi, granommy!" piped a mostly red girl, waving her black hands up for a hug. The dark brown and black boy on White Toe's shoulders wiggled madly to get down for his own embrace.

"Arrow? Yer so big now! An' so're you, Lightfoot! Oh, I can hardly pick ye both up, now! What're y'all doin' here?"

White Toe and Valley looked at each other. Snuggling against him, Valley smiled. "Well, gettin' ta wake up with 'im next ta me's been so nice. I love my pack, but... I love White Toe more, an' he just weren't happy."

Silver had waited as long as he could, but his excitement got the better of him. "Does that mean yer... comin' back?"

Just like that, the whole pack fell silent, everyone suddenly holding their breaths. Smiling, White Toe stared at Valley lovingly.

"I tried real hard to like it over there. Everyone were nice an' all, but..." his gaze swept around the hamlet, "it just weren't home." He looked down at Cloud. "It weren't my pack." He grinned at Silver. "Ye weren't there ta joke with." It was then he looked up and met Fern's wide eyed wistful gaze. "An', well, my brother weren't there."

Opening his arms in invitation, Fern came alive like a bolt of lightning. Rushing to him, Fern threw his arms around his brother and lifted him right off his feet, his tail causing his whole body to wiggle. "Oh, White Toe! I'm so sorry, White Toe! I swear I'll never prank ye 'gain!"

Coughing weakly as he was crushed, he patted Fern with a chuckle. "Yeah right. I like the thought, but I won't hold ye to it. Though, ye could put me down."

Setting him down, Fern hugged him close. "I'm so sorry, White Toe. That were such a stupid thing ta do. I missed ye so much. I just don't know how to be without ye."

"I know, Fern. I forgive ye. I just... had to cool off. It just weren't the same without ye. I'd see somethin' funny an' turn to say somethin' to ye but ye weren't there an' nothin' were funny anymore." Pulling away, he glanced around with concern. "An' Omma said Jack got hurt. He's still alive, right?"

Tails wagging, the pack made its way to the Great Lodge, while Fern and Silver took White Toe to check on Jack. It was there that the pups first laid eyes upon Anubis. They had to crane their necks as far back as they could, and they stared at him in wonder.

It was Arrow who stepped up close to him, measuring herself against him before looking up at him. "Yer taller than my pa."

Smiling, Anubis nodded. "Yeah."

"Kin I get on yer shoulders?" she asked bluntly, glancing between each stalwart platform. Her brother's tail immediately started wagging, his big brown eyes gleaming with hopeful excitement.

Grinning widely, Anubis chuckled. "And here I was afraid you'd never ask!"

***

The dinner that night was boisterous and jovial. Jack's seat was empty, but the pack knew it was for his own good. As a joke, Silver had drawn an awful likeness of him to set there in his stead and the 3 took turns impersonating him to the merriment of all as they drank. The extra chair beside White Toe brought an even greater cheer after the dismal days.

Denver had the whole low rank table utterly riveted while he told his harrowing tale of facing the skaowl. His tail wagged with every gasp and "naw!" he got from his audience. For once, his speech was quite clear, beaming with pride. Anubis decided not to correct him, though he rolled his eyes a few times about the sheer size of the beast that seemed to grow a little more each moment.

It was near the end of dinner after Nova and her sisters had gone to help wash the dishes that Anubis just happened to catch mention of what had occurred between Fern and Denver from Long Fang.

"Wait, what?" he growled with disbelief, his eyes scanning the crowd to find Fern, but he had already taken off with White Toe.

Realizing there might be trouble, Denver tried to play it off, waving his hand. "Oh, it-it were nothin', really. Just, uh, just, uh, he were just upset was all."

"It weren't nothin'!" Long Fang insisted. "He had no right ta be shovin' ye 'round like that, givin' ye bruises. It just pisses me off ta no end."

"W-We talked 'bout it," Denver defended, stroking the fur down on his arm. "He-He said he were sorry."

"Oh yeah, now that White Toe's back."

"Naw," Denver replied quickly. "He said he-he were sorry when we was in the w-woods." A little smile crept up his muzzle and he had a distant expression for a moment. "He even cried a li'l. I thought it were cute."

Standing, Anubis headed for the door. In a panic, Denver hurried after him. Marching through the hamlet, Anubis followed his nose and found his quarry standing by the lounge barn with White Toe.

Fern was quite unaware of his danger until his arms were pinned to his sides and he was lifted off his feet with the effort of a bucket of water. Suddenly staring into a fierce gold glare, he squirmed with a growl.

"Wha-What the fuck, Anubis!?"

His eyes narrowed dangerously. "How's it feel to be moved by someone a lot bigger than you?" he growled.

Glancing down at Denver practically holding his breath, unsure how to stop what was happening, Fern smiled warmly and relaxed. "Ah shit, Anubis. I got it. We talked it out. I were a hot mess an' I shouldna done that."

Snorting an indignant breath, Anubis set him back to his feet. "Yer lucky I wasn't here. I would've done a lot worse."

Brushing his fur down, Fern perked and snickered. "Wait, did I just hear that right?"

"I heard it," White Toe agreed.

Eyes darting between them, Anubis shook his head. "Don't change the subject."

"Which was?" White Toe questioned curiously, head tilted.

Fern sighed. "I were a ass. Can we leave it at that?"

Denver nodded in agreement, but Anubis gave another growl under his breath.

"You tell me to be gentle with him, and I've done just that. I'd like you to do the same for my enjoyment."

Fern barked out laughing at the playful tone Anubis had at the end. "Hey now! When I've got 'im, that cute li'l ass is all mine ta do with as I please." He grinned wickedly at Denver, waggling his brows. The boy immediately blushed and fidgeted with a little coy smile.

"Oh, so does that apply when I've got him?"

"Well, after ye've had 'im, then I just get all riled an' I need some o' 'im left over after that."

Poking the tips of his pointers together, Denver muttered playfully, "ye know, guys, ye-ye don't gotta fight over me. There's, heh, th-there's 'nough o' me fer ye both...."

Both men glanced at him. When their eyes met again, however, they shared a thought so obvious that when Denver peeked up, his eyes grew round and his ears fell off the sides in a hot blush at that pair of lecherous grins shining down at him. Heart racing, his tail wiggled rapidly with nervous eagerness as he realized that the rest of the evening was about to be with him helplessly sandwiched between the two, and did not resist being dragged away.

White Toe watched with a grin, waving and wishing him a good time with a chuckle. "Yeah, I missed home."

***

Eyes fluttering open, Anubis took a deep breath and realized something was on his chest. Looking down, he smiled at Denver sound asleep sprawled atop him. Fern was already gone, but he probably hadn't slept so well on the small couch and left early to do the job of the temporary Alpha.

Stroking between his ears, Denver squirmed and stretched before giving him that sweet smile he had come to adore on his pets. Something he hadn't seen before in all his years, and now he couldn't fathom never seeing again.

"Good morning," he rumbled. "Guess we missed breakfast."

A little shiver rolled through Denver before he perked and glanced out the window, squirming to get up. "Oh no! Nova's rankin'! I-I'm late!"

Anubis sat up to watch him pull on his overalls. "Why do you get to go?"

Pausing, Denver giggled as he turned and gave Anubis a curtsy and a wink. "Cuz I'm a lady!" And he was out the door.

Chuckling, Anubis strapped on his kilt and ducked out. Turning the corner, he became a solid barrier that an entire herd of pups were unable to stagger. The only one not part of the pile up was Fletcher, bringing up the rear. As the dozen or so pups picked themselves up, he looked up and wagged his tail.

"Nubis! Nubis, look! I got 'nother new foot! Pa made this one!"

Plucking some of the pups off one another, he smiled warmly. "I'll wager it makes you even faster than the last one."

His ears lowered a little before they popped back up. "Uhh, well, yeah. But, uh, I... I were just stalkin'! Just like ye told me! Nice an' slow, catch 'em by s'prise!"

"Ye weren't stalkin' nothin'!" Arrow retorted, coming to stand in front of him, her fists on her hips. "I saw ye the whole time!"

Ears back, Fletcher glanced at Anubis before looking her up and down and grinned charmingly. "Well, maybe I like ye gettin' a look at me."

Her mouth pursed together to the side of her face, entirely unimpressed. Anubis, however, nearly choked trying to repress a laugh.

"Ye couldn't sneak up on me if ye tried!" she challenged haughtily, crossing her arms and flicking her one black ear.

"He sneaks up on us," offered a pup. The others nodded to agree.

"Not me! No one ain't ever snuck up on me in my pack!"

The boy's grin grew impishly grander, and he thrust his thumb to his chest. "I'm part Wogtal! I kin sneak up on anybody!"

Her brow furrowed deeply, looking him up and down critically. Though he was older than her, she was nearly as tall. Glancing over her shoulder to look at Anubis who was trying not to die, she turned back to Fletcher. "Part, huh? Which part? The toe?"

It was his wounded jaw drop that made Anubis lose it entirely. His guffaw easily drowned the yips and giggles of the pups. "You are one sharp little warrior. Are you sure you're not part Wogtal, too?"

Turning her critical little green eye on him, she thought about it a moment before giggling. "I'm not part nothin'. I'm a Arrow!" With that, she took off, leaving the other pups in her dust even though they rushed after her with cries of her to wait up.

Growling under his breath, Fletcher's ears were tight to his head and he pouted. "I'm faster than 'er!"

Smirking, Anubis kneeled down to put a hand on his shoulder. "A good Wogtal knows that a hunter must take patience as his mate. Let her think she's faster for now until you're ready to prove her wrong. There's plenty of time and it'll give you the best advantage."

Thinking it over, Fletcher grinned and wagged his tail. "Oh, I'll git 'er! She'll never see it comin'!" His brow then knitted together, and he put a hand over the area the skaowl's fangs had pierced his torso, looking up at Anubis. "Do, uh, do the Wogtal take naps?"

With a warm smile, he nodded. "All the time. I just... happen to be kind of weird."

Swallowing hard as he watched the other pups vanish around a barn, he let out a despondent sigh and turned toward the den, his tail limp. "Well, guess I'll go lie down fer a while, then."

Anubis ruffled him between the ears. "That's an excellent idea. Part of being a good hunter is being well rested and in top shape for the more... challenging prey." He smirked, glancing up as Arrow's blur raced between two buildings, the other pups trailing well behind.

After sending the boy off to rest, he headed for the Great Lodge, passing the female sleeping hall on the way, the front doors shut tight. His ears perked, and he smirked knowingly at the sound of libidinous giggling. Finding himself some scrapes of breakfast, he stayed busy until after lunch when Nova came out at last.

By the time Anubis remembered he needed to breathe, she was standing right in front of him and the sweet scent of the oil that made her cleaned and brushed pelt shimmer in the sun filled his nose. Whatever expression was on his face made her blush and fiddle with the braid on the other side of where it had been.

"I, uh, I'm gonna have ta get used to it 'gain. They had ta put it on this side cuz the other one ain't grown back yet."

A great stab in his chest caused his face to fall. Inhaling sharply, his hand reached out and touched the short tuft that was hardly finger length through her fur. "I... I didn't want him to do that," he murmured dolefully. "When I saw you without it, I think that's when I realized I'd made a mistake but... I was already too deep."

Nuzzling her face into his hand that she held there with her own, she looked up at him lovingly. "I think if it were the price fer freein' ye from that place, I can get used to it."

Raising a brow for a moment, a smile crept up his face before he scooped her into his arms. Squealing, she gladly snuggled into his embrace. "And now, here we are, about to be equal. I'll be getting my rank soon." A shudder rolled through her at his lecherous grin, realizing she was now trapped, and her belly felt warm. "Cloud doesn't care what you do, and Jack doesn't care what I do. We may not have a place to hide away for days, but I still have every intention of doing you full of my puppies."

Giggling, her tail wiggled with excitement. "I bet that sounded better in yer head."

Thinking on it, he nodded in agreement when they both perked to the sound of Jack's voice.

"I know I gotta be lyin' down. That's why I'm gonna go lie down in my own bed. I can't stand it no more. It's too hot in there, an' there ain't no reason I gotta be in there an' not in my bed."

"What if ye pull a stitch?" Berry argued with concern.

"Then I'll bleed in my bed," he grumbled. "Better that than pullin' a stitch pantin' in there."

He had hardly hobbled a few paces before every pack member had gathered around with offers to help and words of encouragement and concern.

"Yeah, yeah, settle down y'all, I'm quite fine to walk on my own. I, uh, I just look like I'm leanin' on the crutch real hard," he jested meekly.

A honking and a howling in the distance made everyone turn and go back to the street that led to the gate. A truck with several wolves hanging over the edges and waving was rattling towards them. Squinting, Jack perked and his tail wiggled weakly. He tried to hurry to meet them, but many of the muscles to hold him up and walking weren't working, so he waited for them instead.

Just as they got close, the men of the group cried out lyrically, "Hey, Hammer bros!"

Grinning ear to ear, Jack raised his hand and returned the call as they pulled up and the ones in the back leapt to the ground. The pack immediately surrounded the newcomers with friendly eagerness, tails wagging all around. A short, plump, mostly brown woman with a Gamma's braid hopped out of the passenger seat and hurried to hug Jack carefully.

"Oh, Jack, my boy, ye ain't even come back ta say hi, then ye go off an' try ta get yerself killed! I taught ye better than that!"

"Ha, Omma, I sure weren't tryin, but s'pose I shoulda come by sometime."

"Naw, Omma," spoke up another man with a light hearted grin, a little younger than Jack but a similar brown. "Jack's too busy with his ladies ta worry 'bout the rest o' us hard workin' folk!"

"Oh, right, workin'. Didn't know that were a word ye knew, Jastin," Jack countered fondly, taking a swipe at the man's Delta braid.

Standing in the shadow near a barn, Anubis observed curiously while the two packs caught up. From the sound of it, the others were Jack's siblings. Nova had joined the group, beaming when her new rank was acknowledged by the ladies with the newcomers.

After a few more quips, it was Jastin's gaze that noticed him and startled a little. "Hey, is, uh, is that the Wogtal we been hearin' 'bout?"

Glancing over his shoulder, Jack smiled. "Yeah. That's Anubis."

One of the women, also as brown as Jack, leaned over and muttered, "An' he... listens to ye?"

It made Jack chuckle. "Naw, naw, not really."

The grey and tan woman beside her wagged her tail looking Anubis up and down. "Is he friendly?" The other ladies nodded with curiosity.

"Wait a second," Jastin barked, "we didn't come 'ere for tail huntin'."

She glared at him with a raised brow. "Oh really? Then why's White River on yer arm?"

Perking, Jastin looked down at White River nuzzling up to him and grinned wickedly. "Oh well, shit, how'd ye get there, gorgeous?"

"Been a while, hot stuff," she purred.

"Hmm, only a couple weeks," he murmured as he gave her a muzzle.

Swift River perked and glared at his litter-sister. "An' ye got on me 'bout goin' to the river, bitch," he muttered under his breath, conjuring a plan to catch her in the act later.

Rolling his eyes, Jack glanced around. "Well, c'mon guys. I wish I could stand 'ere but, heh, a brush with death sure takes it out o' ye."

Jack's mother perked. "Oh, course, Jack! We was just on our way home from town."

The all brown woman nodded. "Yeah, we stopped to talk to Mountain an' Stone Paw an' they said White Toe'd been there but came back cuz ye were hurt!"

As they passed by, the grey and tan woman stopped and looked up at Anubis, her eyes growing a little wider now that she was even closer. "Oh, uh... wow. I, uh, never knew the Wogtal were so... huge." When Anubis cocked a brow, she gasped, her ears back. "Oh, that mighta been rude, I'm sorry."

The side of his mouth curled up in a little smirk. "Actually, that's kind of nice of you to say. I happen to be the runt of my litter."

Her eyes got even bigger as she looked him up and down. "A runt? Naw! No way! Yer, uh, real well built fer a runt, heh."

Nova popped out from around the corner. "There ye went! Oh, uh, Anubis, this is Bell, Jack's litter-sister. She's just the best!"

Bell grinned ear to ear and squeezed Nova tight against her, her tail wagging high in the air since no one was around. "Aww, naw, that'd be you! Just look at my sweet li'l Nova, growin' up so fast! I swear ye was a pup last time I were here."

"Cuz I were," she giggled, her voice muffled against the taller woman's bosom.

"Nova were always the first pup ta come runnin' when I'd come by. Always had somethin' absolutely darlin' ta say!"

"Well yeah, cuz ye always brought treats!" Nova giggled in return. Then she looked at Bell with the saddest puppy face she could muster and pouted. "An' now there's no treats?"

Bell touched noses and puppy-eye pouted back at her, making them both giggle. "I wish I'da known I were comin here today." Then she perked, glancing around. "Oh right, had somethin' important ta tell Jack! Uh, maybe I'll, uh, see ye 'gain sometime?"

Smiling with a hint of smugness at her flirty farewell, he waggled a brow at her. "Well, I live here, so probably."

As Bell trotted off, Nova looked up at him with a knowing little smirk of her own before she took off to follow.

Jack had made it to bed by now. His cabin was crowded with his family, and getting to the open window beside his bed was a challenge. At last, Bell burst through and leaned over the window so far that her feet left the ground and did a little twirl around one another at the ankles, her heart shaped butt perfectly outlined in her overalls, and her tail slowly waving in the air. The tail of every man standing there wagged briefly before catching themselves, glancing around and smirking at each other.

"Oh, Jack!" she blurted out, hanging right in front of his face much to his surprise.

"Shit, Bell!" he exclaimed with a grin. "I damn near died cuz a skaowl jumped at me like that, an' ye just gave me a flashback. What?"

She giggled, which made her tail wag harder, which made other tails wag along. "Ye'll never guess! We heard from Iron Thicket in town that the council's banned field grabs 'til they meet. Can ye even believe that?"

A stunned murmur ran through the pack while Jack's brow furrowed and he mouthed "what?" before his mother gasped and nodded.

"Ain't that somethin'?" she marveled with a bit of dread. "They ain't never done that."

"We just happened ta get lucky an' hear 'bout it 'fore they send the letters ta all the packs," Jastin added. "That's why we was up there talkin' ta Stone Paw."

Fern let out a growl. "I bet this got somethin' ta do with Grr'siv."

"Grr'siv!?" White Toe barked, peering at him. "What?"

Jack's family echoed the sentiment. "Ye mean Grr'siv from Connry pack?"

"Yeah, him. He's the new Alpha o' Dawson," Jack confirmed. "Found that out a few days ago when he tried to take wash field."

"What?" his mother barked. "At harvest? That's just contemptible!"

"That's what I said!" Cloud agreed.

"Wait, our brother, Grr'siv?" White Toe questioned with confusion.

Fern nodded and beat his fist into his hand. "I woulda liked ta punch that tooth outta his face, the dick. Can't believe he'd try somethin' like that. 'gainst us o' all people!"

Brow furrowed, White Toe was shaking his head. "Why would Grr'siv ask the council to stop field grabs if he's the one takin' fields?"

"Cuz he's a dick!" Fern returned bitterly. "Power's gone to his head."

Jack was shaking his head idly in thought. "Think I'm with White Toe on this. It's been least 6 years since we all went drinkin' together, but he just weren't the type. Yeah, a bit cocky, but he wouldn't go ta council over this. Not ta mention they wouldn't approve that."

He was quiet as he pondered when Nova suddenly appeared in the window, leaning over the edge with her tail waving in the air next to Bell. Plenty of her perky butt was showing up the legs of her shorts. "Hey," she started, looking at the other woman before leaning closer and cupping her snout to whisper, "we got a audience."

Grinning wide, Bell giggled and whispered back in kind, "I know. Ain't it great?"

As they tittered together with their tails insync, Jack's brow pinched together and he glared up at his sister. Putting a hand on her face, he used his good arm to shove her out, a movement that still made him grit his teeth to avoid a yelp.

"Heey!" She pouted as she put her feet back on the ground, and there was a collective disappointment through the crowd.

When Jack turned his glare to Nova, she gave him a pout and slipped back to her feet on her own. Shaking his head, he returned to his thoughts when he perked. "I bet this gotta do with Anubis."

"Wait, what?"

Jack was nodding to himself. "Yeah. That's what this is. I weren't really s'posed ta use 'im in a fight, but I bluffed."

Silver glanced around quickly before muttering, "maybe ye were."

"Yeah, so then he's a coward!" Fern insisted. "Probably thought we'd go an' try to take one o' their fields."

"But, that's our right," White Toe countered. "Council wouldn't ban it. That's like... bannin' road travel. 'sides, we can't use 'im to go pickin' fights."

Shaking his head, Jack let out a deep sigh, grimacing a little. "Well, we gotta wait fer these letters anyhow. Maybe it'll tell us more. I'm real glad ye guys came to let me know... an' just ta see y'all. Had one o' those 'life flash 'fore ye eyes' moments an' realized I missed ye guys."

Jack's mother instantly became weepy, throwing her arms around his head and shoulders to hold him close. "Oh my poor boy! Jist can hardly believe I almost lost ye!"

Blushing, Jack glanced out the window, realizing now that it was clear, the whole pack could look in. "Shit, Omma, really? I'm the Alpha."

"Hey!" Iron Gale called out. "My Omma's dead!" There were a few mutters of agreement.

Anubis' face appeared in the top corner of his door. "My mother never hugged me."

"Shut up, Anubis," Jack grumbled. "I already feel bad 'nough fer ye."

"Hey! My mother didn't love me, neither!" Silver countered.

"That ain't true!" Cloud yelled back. "I love ye!"

Blushing, his tail wagged. "Aww, shit, Omma, thanks."

Fern and White Toe perked when they noticed Cloud was staring at them now. Glancing at each other, they smiled and made heart symbols on their chests, and she beamed.

Rolling his eyes, Jack relented. "Yeah, alright. Love ye, too, Omma. I'm real glad ye came, an' ye guys are welcome ta stay long as ye like," he continued softly, "but I were on my way to go back ta sleep when ye showed up, an', ah, it's hittin' me pretty hard now."

Gasping, his mother released him and petted him between the ears. "Oh, o' course, Jack. Ye get yer rest an' heal up. We'll be sure ta keep in touch." Perking, she turned to Cloud. "Now, I heard I had some new granpups?"