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"So, when will we go to your pack's village?" Kasala asked her mate as they rested together in her den. The two black pelted wolves were lying intimately close with their bodies intertwined.

"As soon as we are ready," the Alpha male answered.

Kasala happily nuzzled her mate's neck. The male responded by wrapping his arms tighter around the female and holding her close, breathing in her strong scent.

The morning was bright and welcoming. The warm, bright sunlight drifted in through the den's entrance, and the sounds of summer birds and the light wind lazily drifted to Kasala's ears. Both wolves could detect the faint scent of the forest's wild growth filling the air. The scents and smells blended easily with the environment, creating a scene of ease and comfort.

Gently and carefully, Sarad removed himself from the wolf bitch. Kasala moaned happily and rubbed her body against her mate's, enjoying the pleasing sensation. Kasala looked up at Sarad and beamed at him. The male smiled back at her as they kissed tenderly.

Now able to move about, the two wolves stood up and embraced. Standing tall, Kasala's muzzle rested right on Sarad's shoulder and the male's rested on top her head. The Alpha male and the bitch stood together for a moment, and then they disengaged.

Sarad watched as Kasala walked around the den. Evidently she was searching for something, but what it was Sarad could not venture a guess. The den had suffered no damage from last night's raid, and everything appeared to be where it should.

The den was nothing special. It was constructed of the strong wood of the forest trees. There was a small window above Kasala's sleeping spot. The entrance to the den was high enough that both sexes could easily pass through. There was little ornamentation in the room, and Sarad could not espy many personal belongings. What Sarad did see, was Kasala reaching down towards a small woven basket on the ground.

"What do you keep in the basket?" Sarad asked, sitting down next to the female.

Kasala laughed and opened up the small basket to reveal its lack of contents. "You thought I kept something important inside, didn't you?"

"Well, yes, I did," Sarad replied.

Kasala smiled and moved the basket aside. The female wolf then began to scrape aside the earth, and soon, the top of a wooden box was revealed.

Sarad was respectfully silent as Kasala reached for the box's catch. She opened it and revealed to the Alpha male the item contained therein.

It was a small stone, carved in similar fashion to the one worn around Sarad's neck. The stone was likewise suspended from a twine string, enabling its use as a necklace. Kasala held the item and her eyes softened. Sarad wrapped his arm around her and leaned his muzzle against hers.

"Where did you get that?" Sarad asked.

"It was my mother's. Before they died my mother and father were the pack Alphas. I don't know anything more than that. What I do know is that I have to live up to their legacy," Kasala answered, looking meaningfully at the male.

Sarad reached his hand down and tightly gripped Kasala's. He gazed concernedly into her eyes and then began, "Kasala, I will help you with this, if you wish."

Kasala smiled and kissed Sarad gently. "That is what I wish. I know that it's absurd for me to trust you, but...Last night, you didn't mate me out of cruelty and lust. You did it to save me...Didn't you?"

Sarad nodded and squeezed the wolf bitch's hand.

"And it also wasn't your command that the pack followed when they attacked, right?" Kasala asked.

"That is true," Sarad answered.

"And...You're here for me now. If you had simply wanted someone to mate, you wouldn't go through all this trouble, now would you?" Kasala asked, smiling at the Alpha male.

"No, I would not," Sarad agreed. He pulled Kasala closer and then lay down so that they were side by side. Kasala held onto the male and pressed against him, her eyes closed, her breathing calm, her heart aflutter.

"Sarad...I want to go with you, to your village. I was never truly at home with this pack, but I think with you...I think I could be happy," Kasala whimpered, looking up into Sarad's eyes.

"Kasala, I swear to you, I will do everything that I can to make you happy, and keep you safe," Sarad told her.

Kasala barked joyfully and nuzzled against Sarad, wrapping her body around his. The two wolves rolled over and over, enjoying the touch of their partner's body. Soon, they arrived at Kasala's bed, and there they rested.

"Sarad?" Kasala asked after a peaceful moment.

"Yes, Kasala?"

"Earlier, you said that...That we would have a litter...A litter of pups...

"Did you mean that?" Kasala asked. Her voice was calm, but her heart was pounding, waiting for an answer.

Sarad said nothing at first. He pulled Kasala close to him, placing his muzzle beside hers. He placed a gentle kiss on her ear and lay there in silence before he made his reply.

"Kasala, I don't fully understand these emotions that I feel for you. It began as just pity, but...I can't accept that this is nothing more than lust, but I also know that it cannot be love, not truly...What I said earlier, I said it in an attempt to comfort you and calm you, but...If I can reach an understanding of what this bond I feel for you is, then...

"Yes, perhaps that is what may lay ahead...A family..." Sarad finished, looking into Kasala's eyes.

Kasala was silent. She smiled happily, her gaze both sad and joyful. The two wolves kissed, and then Kasala rubbed her muzzle underneath the male's.

"Thank you, Sarad. I...I don't understand this either, but...I feel that...If...If I'm ever to find love than I have to just...Let go, and trust that I'll find someone who cares enough to catch me and protect me....And that I would do the same for them.

"And I pray that that person is you. I...I can't say that I love you, not yet, but...I....I trust you..." Kasala softly told the Alpha male.

"I do not ask anything more of you than that," Sarad told her.

Kasala smiled as she and Sarad kissed again. She relaxed, at ease, the concerns within her mind that had disturbed her up to this point fading away as she let go...And he was there to catch her...

Sarad...

*** *** *** *** *** *** *** Sarad contentedly played with Kasala's ears. For some reason, it was quite entertaining to do so. He was wary of disturbing her, but she did not mind as he gently traced his fingers over her arched ears and gently appeased them with his tongue.

Kasala, meanwhile, found a source of entertainment with Sarad's tail. It constantly swept over his legs to rest on her, and the female would reach down and caress it, enjoying its soft feel. The two wolves explored more and more of their partner's bodies, being far more careful and gradual than they had been in their previous passions.

Soon, Sarad found himself being appeased by the gentle attraction of sleep. As he was about to give in and rest his eyes he heard a soft knock outside the den.

Kasala and Sarad immediately surfaced from their warm intimacy as they turned towards the source of the disturbance.

"Sarad? Are you ready to go?" came the sound of a female unfamiliar to Kasala.

"Yes, we'll be outside in just a moment," Sarad answered.

"Alright, Neran and I will be waiting," the female told the Alpha.

Sarad helped Kasala to her feet, looking about the room.

"Do you need anything other than your mother's stone?" Sarad asked.

"Ah, no. Who was that?" Kasala asked.

"My younger sister, Sarae," Sarad answered.

"You have a younger sister? What is she like?" Kasala asked, curious.

Sarad thought for a moment, a small bemused yet pained smile playing over his face. "Insatiable."

"I can't wait to meet her," Kasala said.

"Do you need your clothes?" Sarad asked. He had not worn any clothes when he had made his way to the village; he had received word of the attack on such short notice that he'd had no time to grab anything.

Kasala nodded and went to a small wicker basket near her bed. She opened it and found a set of soft, comfortable garb.

"Is your village close?" Kasala asked?

"It isn't too far. You can wear something comfortable, the climate is nearly the same as it is here," Sarad told the female.

"Alright," the female agreed. She quickly dressed, putting on a comfortable dark green skirt around her waist and a matching piece for her torso that covered her bust.

"Do you need any clothes?" Kasala asked Sarad.

"Ah, well, I didn't come here with any, I was alerted on very short notice," Sarad answered, looking around the house and finding small things to entertain himself with. Many of these items were small trinkets that looked like what he might find within his own den back at the village; trophies of kills, intriguing rocks or other rare finds, and finely crafted pieces of wicker.

"So would you like some clothes?" Kasala inquired with a small smile as she watched the male peruse her home.

"Your clothes wouldn't fit me," Sarad told her, reaching for a small dagger, one that he recognized as being overtly ornate and decorated; a ceremonial weapon.

"Remember what I said about my pack's Alpha bartering me off? He also offered a lot of decorative items and some other useless junk to the other Alpha," Kasala answered.

"What kind of a coward tries to 'barter' of a female in his pack? I know plenty of females within my pack who could easily hold their own in a fight and wouldn't give in to a foll like him. I would never even think of using them in such a way. My sister Sarae, she's killed before, and if anyone tried to use her like that, she'd be furious...Well, at least she'd be mostly furious," Sarad said.

"What do you mean mostly?" Kasala asked, intrigued.

"It doesn't matter," Sarad answered.

"Oh. Well, I have some clothes here that look like they might fit you. Apparently I was intended to go to the enemy pack with clothes for my new mate...I'm so happy that coward is dead," Kasala growled lowly.

"You're safe now, Kasala. I will not shame you in such a damnable way," Sarad told the female, going over to her. The Alpha male wrapped his arms around the female and kissed her, mischievously reaching his hands to her skirt, his hand slipping down it to stroke her hips gently.

"Sarad," Kasala moaned.

Sarad smiled and reached down farther. However, before he got in any further Kasala thrust a long waist cloth into his chest. "Put it on," she laughed.

Sarad obeyed, and he was soon dressed. The waist cloth reached to his knees and was a dark blue shade. The Alpha male looked down at his garb with an approving look. "I like it," he said.

"How do I look?" Kasala asked.

Sarad smiled as he looked upon the female. Her clothes suited her very well indeed, the skirt perfectly melding with her hips, and her torso covered suitably by the cloth. "You look beautiful, Kasala."

"Thank you," Kasala laughed. She walked over to Sarad and kissed him, and then reached down for her mother's stone. She wrapped the twine around her wrist and tied it so that she did not have to hold it.

"Let's go," she said, nodding to her mate.

Sarad wrapped one arm around Kasala's waist as they stepped out of the den, moving aside the dark cloth that covered the entry way.

Outside, the sun was shining brightly down upon the village. From what Kasala could see, there was little sign of the bloodshed that had occurred the night before. There were no dead bodies for her to see, and few of the homes had been damaged. She assumed that Sarad had commanded his pack to dispose of the fallen, likely out in the forest. It was a suitable thing to do, and she was glad that he cared enough to do so. She did not allow her sight to linger upon the camp and instead looked out to the surrounding woods.

The trees were tall, mighty, and proud. In this summer season, their leaves were full and healthy. The undergrowth was likewise flourishing abundantly. The wildlife that enjoyed nature's bounty could be heard as they moved through the woods. A few birds sang blissfully, and the noises of other creatures could be heard, dim and less recognizable.

The air was slightly breezy, bringing to Kasala's sensitive the strong scents of summer. She could detect the faint traces of powerfully scented plants, and also the normal smell of the trees. The wolf bitch took in a contented breath as she enjoyed her surroundings.

"Good morning, brother," Sarae called as she walked over to the wolves. The Alpha male and the female warmly embraced, and after they separated, the female smiled at Kasala.

"You're Kasala. My name is-"

"Sarae," Kasala interceded.

"Oh, Sarad told you already," Sarae laughed.

"Well, he hasn't told me anything. He's only described you as insatiable, but I'm sure he means that in the best way," Kasala smiled.

Sarae laughed and walked contentedly towards Kasala.

Kasala could tell that Sarae was slightly younger than she was, perhaps only a year beyond the main peak of her physical maturity, judging by her slightly shorter height. She was naked, and Kasala could see that she was very healthy. What she also noticed, however, were what looked like cuts along her arms and her sides. They did not seem to be from combat, for they were too straight, too precise. Kasala was intrigued by the lacerations, but she said nothing.

Kasala opened her arms and smiled at Sarae, understanding that she meant to hug her. The two females joined together in a friendly embrace, and then Kasala said, "Sarae, I have some clothes if you need any." Sarae was not the first barren female Kasala had seen, having lived her life in many diverse packs, but if they were going to be traveling through the woods then the girl should have her body covered.

"Oh, thank you, please," Sarae said. "Neran came and warned Sarad, and once they set off for the village I followed them. I was worried, and I didn't have time to fetch any clothing."

"You're not the only one," Kasala laughed, giving Sarad a mischievous smile. Together, the two females ducked back into the den, leaving Sarad with the other wolf who had been awaiting their presence.

"Good morning, Alpha," Neran said to his old friend.

"Likewise, Neran," Sarad responded. He walked over to the male and embraced him quickly. "How was my sister after I left you?"

"We fell asleep soon afterwards, behind a tree. She seemed to rest peaceably at first, but when I woke up she left me. I went after her and found that she was crying, so I comforted her," Neran answered.

"Crying? About what?" Sarad asked in concern.

"I think you know," Neran answered.

"I'm sorry that you have to deal with that, Neran," Sarad apologized.

"Sarad, do you doubt that I love your little sister?" Neran asked his friend.

"No, I have no doubt of your feelings for her," Sarad answered.

"Then you must understand that it doesn't anger me that she is always so sad. I just wish I could make her happy...If it was just us together then she wouldn't have to worry about what others think about her. It would just be us together, without any fears..." Neran trailed off.

Sarad's ears twitched in interest. It had been only two years ago when Neran and Sarae had requested the Alpha male's blessing to have pups, but he had not been able to grant them their request. However, what they had no spoken of was solitude, of being together without anyone else. Could this mean...?

"Brother, how do I look?" Sarae asked, stepping out of the den.

Sarad turned towards his sister and saw that she was wearing garb that was in many ways similar to what Kasala was wearing, although the clothes were of a dark red shade.

Sarad smiled as he made his reply. "Those colors go well with your pelt."

"You think so?" Sarae asked happily.

"Yes," Sarad replied.

"Kasala, thank you again for giving me some of your clothes," Sarae yipped, giving Kasala another quick hug.

"Don't worry, it was my pleasure," Kasala told the younger wolf bitch.

"Neran, we will talk more of this later," Sarad quietly told his friend. The Beta nodded and walked over to Sarae.

"Neran, do you like my clothes?" Sarae asked.

"You act as if you've never worn clothes before," Neran laughed.

"Oh, well not clothes as fine as these. They're so comfortable and beautiful," Sarae laughed. She did a small twirl, turning towards Kasala. "Kasala, do you have any clothes for Neran to wear? The clothes he's wearing right now are fine, but what Sarad is wearing looks really nice."

"No, I'm sorry, that's the only male's waist cloth I had," Kasala answered.

"It's fine, Kasala," Neran said without any regret.

"And you are...?" Kasala asked.

"Neran, Sarae's mate," the Beta male answered.

"Oh. I didn't know that anyone in the pack was mated; I thought only Sarad had that privilege," Kasala said uncertainly.

"Sarae is an Alpha, but she is not the Alpha bitch. She and Neran are mated, but they do not have any pups; there would be too many mouths to feed within the pack," Sarad answered.

"Oh. I think I understand now," Kasala said, nodding her head. She smiled at Neran, and the two wolves embraced.

"Well, now everyone knows one another. Let's go," Sarad commanded.

Sarae eagerly grabbed Neran's hand, and together the two mates walked away from the Alpha male and Kasala.

As Sarad watched his sister and his old friend walking away, he couldn't shake the feeling that they were leaving forever. As much as Sarad wanted his sister to be happy, he was worried that if she left she would be in danger. If he wasn't there to protect her...He didn't want her to be hurt...Not again...

*** *** *** *** *** *** ***

The scent of blood was overpowering.

No other scent could be as terrifyingly disturbing as that of a person's freshly spilled essence. It pervaded all other senses and poisoned the mind, creating horrific phantasms and calling forth dread from the darkest reaches of the mind.

Sarad had faced the horrors of combat many times, and he was accustomed to the terrible scent of blood, but nothing could prepare him for this.

Sarae was dying.

She lay in a clearing, a vicious wound in her neck releasing all her essence out onto the cold snow, staining it a dreadful sanguine shade. Sarad could see that her eyes were closed and her breath was coming in shallow, pained efforts. A choked bark escaped Sarad's throat as he rushed to his young sister's side.

Sarae made no sign that she could detect the male's presence. Sarad rapidly checked her frail, shaking form for any other injuries, but found only some less serious superficial wounds.

Sarad was desperate to save his little sister, but he was stunned. They were far from the village, and Sarad did not want to move Sarae for fear of quickening the flow of her blood. From the amount that surrounded her, Sarad knew that she did not have much longer to live, and he knew that something had to be done.

Sarad reached for the heavy clothes he wore over his chest and waist. Without hesitation, he ripped them off and feverishly began to tie them together to cover the female's wounds. The male then reached for Sarae's own clothes, frigid and frost-covered as they were, and added them to the tourniquet. Soon, his work was done.

Sarad checked his work and found that the wound was bleeding less profusely now, but she was by no means saved.

Sarad lifted his younger sister up in his arms and let her rest with her muzzle on his shoulder. He then wrapped his arms tightly around her and began to run through the woods, back towards the village.

"Don't die, Sarae..." Sarad quietly whispered as he ran.

Sarae made no response.

'She can't die...Not like this...' Sarad told himself.

Sarae...

*** *** *** *** *** *** ***

"So, Kasala, tell us about yourself," Sarae said to the female as the four wolves walked through the woods.

"Ah, well, I don't know...What do you want to know?" Kasala asked. They had been traveling for some time and had now ventured far into the woods. Kasala hadn't the slightest idea where they were going, and so she followed behind Sarad. Sarae was behind her and Neran brought up the rear.

"Well...Were you an Alpha? Or a Beta? You couldn't be an omega; these clothes are too nice," Sarae commented.

"Well, I suppose you could say I was an Alpha. I wasn't entirely a part of the pack. I stayed there for shelter and protection, but I wasn't very involved with the others. The pack's Alpha was weak and cowardly, and when another pack began to encroach on the territory he offered me to them as appeasement. The others had to respect me, so I suppose I was an Alpha in that regard," Kasala answered.

"Interesting...So then, you don't really mourn the loss of the pack?" Neran put in.

"Well, if I could have found some way to avoid their death then I would have preferred it that way, but...I wasn't very close to them, and there were no pups in the pack. Besides, none of you were involved in the fighting. And I have Sarad to thank for my life!" Kasala laughed, wrapping her arms around Sarad's neck.

The Alpha laughed as he made his reply. "No one in the pack will harm you. You're an Alpha now, and they will have to respect you."

"Oh, but I want to earn their respect. I don't want it to be just given to me," Kasala protested.

"Well, what can you do?" Neran asked.

"Well, I've never really been a hunter, but I know how to fight. And I know a thing or two about how to lead others, but nothing like Sarad," Kasala laughed, giving the male a comforting squeeze around his shoulders before she disengaged from him.

"I'm certain that we'll find something for you to do, Kasala," Sarad assured the female.

The wolves continued on their journey. By this time, the sun was high in the sky. The wolves did not suffer from the heat thanks in part to the shade that the trees above their heads provided and also to the soft breeze that ran through the forest. The prey animals made little noise as the large, dangerous predators roamed through the woods.

"Sarad?" Kasala asked hesitantly.

"Yes?" Sarad asked her.

"That other male...You said that he was your uncle...?" Kasala began, unsure.

"Esal...My father's brother...When he was younger he was disgraced by my father, and since then he has hated and despised me. He believes that it is his right to rule over the pack after my father's death, but he is severely mistaken. I would never cede the leadership of the pack to a weak, deluded old fool like him," Sarad growled.

"Oh...But....He's not an Alpha, is he?" Kasala asked.

"No, he is not. He will obey you, or he will answer to me," Sarad answered.

Kasala was silent for a moment. She could see that Sarad was tense and uncomfortable with the subject of his uncle, and so she did not press him any further.

"Sarad, what will happen with the territory of Kasala's pack?" Neran asked.

"We do not need their territory. I do not understand why my uncle ordered the raid, nor can I comprehend why the pack would follow his commands. He has proved to them time and time again that he is unfit to lead," Sarad replied.

"Neran didn't follow him! He was faithful to his pack and to his Alpha, and he went to you as soon as uncle Esal began talking with the others," Sarae chimed in, defending her mate.

"I know that Sarae. I do not doubt your mate's fidelity. He would not abandon his pack," said Sarad.

At the back of the group, Neran's ears tilted downwards and a pained expression crept over his face. He shamefully looked downwards for a moment but soon regained his composure.

To Kasala, these words carried no esoteric significance, and so she paid them little heed. She was slightly alerted by what Sarad had said about her former pack's territory.

"Sarad? Did the pack really only attack my pack for territory?" Kasala asked.

"We are not animals. We do not attack others without cause. If there had been something to gain from the attack and the pack was in need, then I would have authorized it. However, there was no cause for last night's senseless bloodshed.

"We do not fight for glory, or for greed, or out of bloodlust. We only concern ourselves with our pack, and our duty within it. Anyone who abandons their duties is not welcome among us," Sarad growled.

Again, Neran's ears descended. He bowed his head in shame and found his steps slowing. He looked to Sarae and saw that she shared his shame. Both wolves knew that Sarad was berating them on suspicion on what they planned...And his supsicions was right...

"Do not worry, Kasala. I trust Neran and Sarae more than anyone else in the pack. Should you need anything, you may go to them. I'm certain that they would have no qualm with aiding you," Sarad put in, his tone light and cheerful.

"Right!" Sarae yipped.

The brown and cream furred female looked back at Neran and smiled at him. Neran returned the expression, his ears returning to their content state. The male did not want to worry his mate. They would have time to talk with Sarad once Kasala was resting back at the village.

"Thank you, all of you," Kasala smiled happily. The others voiced their sentiments of welcome.

"Is it far now?" Kasala asked curiously.

"Just a little longer. Then we'll be home," Sarad answered her.

Further into the woods traveled the group. Kasala was leaving behind the village she had called home, and although this was not the first time she had made such a departure, it was certainly the most eventful, and the most promising. She had a mate, two new friends, and a new pack. Although she may be initially distrusted, she was determined to prove to them that she would be a valuable member of their pack. She was ready to embrace her new life, and a reassuring glance from Sarad reaffirmed her belief that she was safe with her Alpha, ready to move away from her despair and forward into that new hope.