Zero stalked up and down the dens length. Creek had been in labour for what felt like a moon. Inside he could hear Copper moving about and whispering hushed words.

Zero turned when he heard pawsteps approaching. "Mylo," he muttered. Mylo dipped his head in greeting before settling across from him.

"Hey alpha. Everything going alright with Creek?" Mylo questioned tilting his head towards the den

Zero huffed and sat down. "Im not sure," He answered shaking his head. "I trust Copper would tell me if something was wrong." Zero lowered his head in defeat, "I am worried though. The other births never took this long."

Mylo nodded in understanding, "Creeks strong, she'll be fine." He reassured Zero.

Below the den the pack was starting to wake. Redwood padded out of her den, blinking sleep out of her eyes.Yippy followed close behind yawning.

Mylo nodded to Zero before heading down to the clearing. Zero stood up and paced anxiously. He knew he should go down and sort out some hunting patrols and border checks, but how could he when Creek was in there making life.

Zero sighed and steeled himself before trotting down to the others. A few of his packmates nodded to him as he went by. Zero lept onto the Zuhur Rock and looked down on his pack.

Smokey, with her calm eyes and, well, smokey fur, nodded to him. Mylo with his mismatched patches and stripes barked out a laugh at something Yippy said.

Zero gave a soft yip and the pack immediatly looked towards him. "With new pups coming we are going to need a lot of food. Yippy, Mylo, Rusty, and me will go out. The rest of you will stay here and protect our dens. I know many of you are expecting pups, which is why we will be staying here for awhile. Much longer then usual." Zero heard a few huffs in appreciation before he contiuned, "The goal is to explore more of this territory and mark out some borders. We should be able to bring back enough food for all of us."

Zero jumped back down onto the ground and motioned for Yippy, Mylo, and Rusty to follow him.

"Where we going today alpha?" asked Yippy. Zero flicked his ear to aknowledge the question and pointed to the East.

"We havent explored much to the East yet. Its a good enough place to start. We should return to the dens by midday." The group nodded and trodded the rest of the way in silence.

As the group neared unexplored territory Zero froze. He crouched low to the ground his hackles rising. "Rusty, you have the best nose. What is that smell?" Rusty took a deep breath, her brow furrowing.

"I- I cant tell. It's nothing I've smelled before." The groups hackles were raised, and Mylo had his mouth curled in a silent snarl. Zero glanced around for cover, or anything to use to give them an advantage.

The bushes infront of the rustled and they all froze, eyes locked ahead. Suddenly the underbrush exploded.

The 4 wolves yelped in surprise and jumped back. The black and white creature in front of them snarled aggressively. Rusty whined in fear and took a step back.

"Stay in formation." Zero growled, lowering his head. Yippy bared his teeth at the odd creature and let out a small growl.

"What's the plan?" Mylo questioned his hackles raised. Zero was about to respond when the thing launched itself at him. Zero yelped in surprise. The creature raked its claws on Zero's stomach. In retaltion Zero bite down on the things neck.

"Stay still alpha!" Shouted one of the other three. Zero could not make out who over the strange noises of the thing attacking him. Suddenly the weight on him was gone. Zero quickly got to his feet panting. To the right of him Yippy was wrestling with the creature.

"You alright?" Mylo questioned looking towards the grey wolf. Zero gave a sharp nod and quickly turned back to the batte. Yippy had the thing pinned beneath him, and was biting at its neck. Finally Yippy grabbed a hold and made quick work of the thing.

Yippy stepped back panting. "Do you guys think its edible?" asked Yippy licking the blood of his lips. Zero tilted his head and pondered the question

"It doesnt seem sick." He answered and motioned for Mylo to get started on a hole. "We'll bury it and grab it on the way back. The group nodded and quickly buried the food.

"Where to next?" Rusty asked, her fur having settled down. Zero looked back at her and looked around.

"This way." Zero answered leading them through where the creature jumped through. The group pushed their way through the heavy underbrush, sometimes snagging their fur on some branches.

Yippy sighed and shook his pelt. "I hate brambles." He mumbled. The others huffed in agreement and quickly made their way out of the brush.

They landed in a small clearing with a pond. Zero bent down to lap up some water and the other 3 followed.

"Rusty, do you smell any familiar prey?" Zero asked turning towards the she-wolf. Rusty took a sniff of the air and pointed towards a few bushes.

"Squirrel over there." She whispered. Zero nodded and crept forward. Eyes focused ahead of him, ears pricked to catch any sound of movement.

"Mylo, circle around behind the squirrel." Zero whispered. Mylo nodded and maneuvered to block behind the creature. "Rusty and Yippy, you two go gaurd the nearest trees." The 2 wolves nodded and crouched by the trees.

"Im going to scare the squirrel towards you alpha." Mylo whispered. Zero nodded and tensed up, waiting for the squirrel to burst out of the bushes. Mylo lept forward. A chunky black squirrel raced out from the bushes only to stop in surprise at seeing Zero running at it. The squirrel darted to the left, only to be met with Rustys jaws.

"Good catch Rusty." Zero praised. The gray and brown she-wolf mumbled a thank you around the squirrel in her mouth. "We can bury the squirrel here and go catch a few more peices of prey." The group continued on their way and caught a few more squirrels, as well as some rabbits.

As the 4 entered camp Copper raced up to Zero.

"Alpha! Creek had her pup." Zeros ears pricked forward and he started cantering towards the den.

Zero burst into the den to see Creek lapping at a small gray pup. Creek looked up and nodded at Zero to come over.

"Shes beautiful." He whispered, his tail swishing back and forth gently. "Do you have a name picked out yet?" He questioned laying down to look at the pup

Creek nodded. "I do. Wonker." Zero looked up and surpise and barked out a laugh.

"Its certainly an intresting name," He responed and went back to staring at his pup. "I'll make sure nothing happens to her." He whispered pressing his nose into her fur and inhaling her scent. "if anything tries to hurt her, it'll have to get through me first."

Creek huffed in amusement. "And the whole of the pack. They'll adore her." Zero nodded in agreement and postioned himself to curl up behind Creek. He rested his head on her body and hummed.

"Go to sleep Creek. You need your energy. I'll have someone bring you food." Creek nodded and rested her head on the ground. "Goodnight Creek. Goodnight Wonker." He said lovingly.