I'll just hang out with myself then Em said walking off back to the hillside and just sat watching the clouds.

Dove and Star played with Mikael, not noticing that Em was missing.

" Come on Dad... pin me" Star said play bowing, swishing her tail happily. before attacking him head on, nopping his ears. Dove joined in the fight, making it harder to get his on his feet " Can beat us, Dad. Its two against one"

They both held him down before they finally saw their mother come by with a stag.

" Finally caught a stag for the meal" Em said as she limped towards them after dropping it off. " I know Im not the one who was supposed to go hunt, but I had to go. I hope Hunter didnt mind"

Mikael saw that Em was limping and ran over to her. "Are you okay honey? Is one of your legs hurt? Do you need to see Clay?" Mikael continued to worry about Em, with Star and Dove looking at her to make sure she was okay. "I... I'm sorry I didn't go with you, but we weren't with Star and Dove much yesterday, so I figured I owed them some time together." Mikael looked down, feeling slightly guilty about leaving Em by herself.

"Babe.. Im.. fine. Just fine." Em said nuzzling him " I dont need to see him. Its just the right leg acting up as usual. " GIrls, stop giving me that look. I wanted you girls to have fun with your father. I didnt want to interupt anything. lPus I had some thinking to do.

" Thinking about what, mother?" Star asked as she nuzzled her mother, trying her best to comfort her

" Children, mostly. Your father and I plan to have pups of our own soon. I... sould have told you when we desided, but I was worried you would hate me for that"

Star looked from her mother to Mikael then back to Em " Mother, you two were meant for each other. I see that now. But if you decided to have your own with him, dont forget us, ok?"

Em silently nodded before smirking at Mikael and attacked him. " "you and I need to plan for that day." she chuckled nipping him

Mikael nodded and nuzzled her in return. "I guess we do have some preparations to make for when that day comes. And I also apologize for not telling you two about the decision earlier; you're my daughters now, and I promise that I won't hide anything from you, okay?" He nuzzled both Star and Dove before turning to Em. "We should probably ask Hunter if we can either expand the den the pack has already dug out or maybe dig out a den of our own so we have some room to take care of them when they arrive." He looked over at Star and Dove. "I promise that I won't forget you two. Besides, who are you going to gang up on in wrestling?" He chuckled as Star and Dove wagged their tails.

" You" They said ganging up on him before tackling him

" Now now girs.. dont gang up on him like that, unless you want to win the fights against him. He might as well train you soon. Before the little ones come." she chuckled as she watched them play.

Her mind was only focused on one thing and one thing only. SHe got distracted during chores that HUnter needed her to do, but she didnt care. Well maybe a little bit. " Im sorry if I seem so slow, Hunter.. I just been thinking about timing and when Mikael and I should try for pups. Im sure I'll be back to normal afterwards. "

"I understand Em. I won't rush you in that regard, but as long as you don't slip and fall behind on your tasks, then it is okay." Hunter said, before continuing his work. Meanwhile Clay was talking to Mikael about their patrol tomorrow. "So, where specifically are we patrolling?" Mikael asked Clay. "We're starting at where you first met Em, ironically enough, with the ending being over where I collect mint, so where the pumas have been spotted." "Great... hopefully we don't run into any of them towards the end of the patrol, otherwise we may need some of that medicine you're making." Clay nodded, but a yelp attracted Mikael's attention. He ran over and found Dove clutching her paw. "What's wrong?" He asked her. "Star nipped my paw a little too hard and now it hurts." She said, raising the paw so Mikael could get a closer look. "Okay... it looks like it hurts, for sure." Mikael carefully licked her paw before nuzzling her. "I know you're a strong wolf, Dove. I know you'll be okay, just take a few minutes to rest the paw and it should be fine." He turned to Star. "Dove is younger than you, so you have to remember to take it easy when you play with her... okay?" Star nodded. "I know it wasn't an accident, so I won't punish you for it. Just be careful from now on." With that, Mikael walked back over to Clay and continued to talk about the patrol with him.

"I understand Em. I won't rush you in that regard, but as long as you don't slip and fall behind on your tasks, then it is okay." Hunter said, before continuing his work. Meanwhile Clay was talking to Mikael about their patrol tomorrow. "So, where specifically are we patrolling?" Mikael asked Clay. "We're starting at where you first met Em, ironically enough, with the ending being over where I collect mint, so where the pumas have been spotted." "Great... hopefully we don't run into any of them towards the end of the patrol, otherwise we may need some of that medicine you're making." Clay nodded, but a yelp attracted Mikael's attention. He ran over and found Dove clutching her paw. "What's wrong?" He asked her. "Star nipped my paw a little too hard and now it hurts." She said, raising the paw so Mikael could get a closer look. "Okay... it looks like it hurts, for sure." Mikael carefully licked her paw before nuzzling her. "I know you're a strong wolf, Dove. I know you'll be okay, just take a few minutes to rest the paw and it should be fine." He turned to Star. "Dove is younger than you, so you have to remember to take it easy when you play with her... okay?" Star nodded. "I know it was an accident, so I won't punish you for it. Just be careful from now on." With that, Mikael walked back over to Clay and continued to talk about the patrol with him.

Star whined " im sorry father... I really didnt mean to hurt her. I guess my strenth is too much. "

Dove whined as she walked off to where her mother was. She asked if she could hang out with her and Em smiled " of course my little one. " Em nuzzled her before getting back to helping Hunter with the chores that needed to be done. She worked her tail off all day non stop. She knew she had a lot to do, but nothing stopped her.

Star just hung out alone. What if my bad side is coming out.. she thought digging a spot to cuddle in before watching everyone walk around and get things done.

Mikael finished talking about the details of the patrol with Clay before Hunter asked him to help out. Mikael obliged but as he was walking over to help Hunter, he saw Star by herself, looking sad and guilty about hurting her younger sister. She still feels bad about hurting Dove. I may have to talk to her after I finish helping Hunter. Eventually, Mikael finished helping Hunter out and he walked over to Star and sat down next to her. "What's wrong Star?"

" I never meant to hurt her, dad... she wont talk to me now..." im turnin into Lilac she thought as she looked away " please please please talk to her...." she pleaded him

Em finslly finished up what Hunter wanted done for that day and spotted Star and Miakel talking. hmmm... she thought " Come on, Dove.. "

Dove snarled " no" as she glared at Star

" dove.. get your tail over here and you wont get punished" Em warned her. " Mikael... help me out please. " she asked looking at him when they eventually reached them " im done with Dove. Deal with her"

|

(sibling rivalry.....)