A beautiful picture of Moondancer! Thank you StarWolfLegacy !!!!!

The sky was dark and gloomy, setting the mood for the dull day. Everyone was resting and preserving their energy for the battle tonight. Extra hunting groups were sent out to stock their preserves. They knew it would be awhile before they would eat again.

Misty watched Blossom pack medicine in a small pouch to carry along for the wounded. She rolled up strands of grass to use as bandages and shoved them in the deer skin pouch. Other little necessities were being sorted through.

All of the pups were pretending to battle. Ivy, Bolt, and Loki against Brave and Swift. They climbed on top of dens, jumping off to use as sneak attacks.

Misty was dreading their departure. She didn't like being away from Rascal, even for a minute. Her mate's presence always calmed her. Him being there gave her a safe feeling.

And now that he was leaving, Misty felt sick on the inside.

She was angrily glaring at feather on the ground. She mad Rascal had to leave, yet more afraid than anything else. For his safety. For his health.

Misty was pulled from her thoughts when a familiar black pelt entered camp.

Misty's face lifted. Rascal smiled, but it looked forced. The happy gesture didn't reach his eyes. They were filled with sadness.

"Catch anything?" Misty's voice was surprisingly soft.

Rascal nods. Behind him, Archie and Alusia were dragging an old doe. They dropped it in the usual spot and sat back to admire their catch.

Misty looks at the two of them. "Good work."

"Thanks!" They exclaim in unison before glancing at each other. Looking away with heated cheeks and flustered faces.

Archie clears his throat. "Uh, yeah. It was nothing."

"It practically ran into our paws," Alusia risked a sideways glance at Archie.

Rascal snickered and gestured for Misty to follow him. "Wanna walk with me?"

Misty wanted to stay and watch the awkwardness between Alusia and Archie. But she loved her mate more. She followed him out to the forest.

They decided to head down and take a path beside the creek. Misty walked to the edge of the water and let her front paws rest in it.

She looked down in the swirling creek at her reflection, her mate's appeared beside hers.

Misty realized how exhausted she looked. Her face was drooping, dark circles appeared under her eyes, and her ears weren't perked like usual.

Rascal must have seen the look on her face. He pressed himself closer to her. "You will always be beautiful to me,"

Misty's lips lifted in the faintest smile. Her heart was fluttering in her chest. She noted how warm the air was. Spring was right around the corner. The final of the Winter air will be carried away in the earthy breeze.

"You're leaving just before midnight, right?" Misty's lips quivered with the words.

Rascal nodded, a sigh barely reaching her ears. "Yeah. Tyrant wants to surprise them. Hopefully we'll catch them off guard and do some major damage."

"I don't want you to go," Misty's throat squeezed shut.

Rascal rested his cheek against hers. "I don't want to leave you."

Angry tears were in Misty's eyes now. "It's not fair."

"Nothing is fair anymore," Rascal grumbled to himself.

Misty's throat wouldn't let her speak. A single tear rolled down her face. She inhaled sharply through her nose.

Rascal stared into the water at Misty's reflection. "We'll get by."

Misty mumbled incoherent curses. She felt like throwing her head back and crying out all of her stress and dread. The emotions were eating her from the inside out.

"Try not to stress anymore. It isn't good, for you or the pups," Rascal murmured.

"How can I not stress?!" Misty demanded. "I'm-m fre-aking out!" Her breathing quickened, chest heaving with each inhale. Panic settled in her stomach. She felt like she would vomit.

Rascal rested his chin on her head. "Shhh...." He soothed. He closed his eyes, hushing his frantic mate.

Misty whimpered and nestled into Rascal's warm black fur. Somehow, again, Rascal managed to calm her panic. His reassuring voice and safe embrace surrounded her in a little bubble of peace and comfort. She sniffled, closing her eyes.

He lowered his head so their foreheads were touching. A tiny smile brightened his handsome face, pushing aside the dark mood. Misty always thought he looked better with a smile on his face. It caused his eyes to sparkle, his face relaxing in a content happiness.

Even after being mates for over a year, he still made her heart thump like crazy. Misty found herself staring at him, she blushed with a nervous chuckle.

Rascal looked like he felt the same. Eyes wide in awe with excited nerves. Misty could feel the heat radiating off his body.

They shared a moment of nervous laughter.

"You still set my heart on fire," Rascal's voice sent a shiver down Misty's spine. "That's a flame that will never die."

Misty smiled and looked at her paws. All of her previous worries have blown away in the breeze. She noticed the weight lift off her shoulders.

Rascal stepped back, bright red under that dark fur. It felt cold and lonely without him right next to her.

She felt his eyes scanning her from head to tail. She scuffled her paws and twitched an ear.

Rascal ducked his head, embarrassed. "I have the best she-wolf in the world carrying my pups." He locked his gaze with hers. "I feel so lucky."

~~~

"We must hurry! If we want to be there on time!" Tyrant hollered. He raced back and forth between his Packmates, giving orders or words of encouragement.

Isaac and Blossom bent down to hug their pups.

"How long will you be gone?" Swift asked in a shaky voice.

"We'll be back by morning." Blossom answered softly.

Brave's eyes were big and watery. "B-but we don't want you to go!"

Isaac's face fell at his son's expression. He cuddled his pup to his chest for a while before letting go.

"You two be good for Moondancer and Misty. Do what you're told without causing trouble. Okay?" The second-in-command watched his pups nod.

Blossom smiled sadly.

Misty held on to Rascal and refused to let go. He wouldn't let her go either.

She closed her eyes tight and buried her nose in his fur. She savored his smell, touch, everything about him. 

Misty gritted her teeth. "Give them a bloody nose from me," she whispered.

Rascal's laugh was dry and sad. "I certainly will." He rubbed noses with Misty and lowered to her stomach. "I'll be back soon." He murmured to the pups. "Don't give your mother a hard time while I'm gone." He smiled and poked Misty's belly. In response, he felt a little jump.

He straightened up and licked Misty's cheek. The look in his eyes were enough to show how much love he was feeling.

Rascal gathered at the entrance, Ella beside him. Tyrant gave the signal and Flame Woods Pack filed out one by one. Misty felt her heart sink when Rascal's tail disappeared from view.

Brave and Swift were whimpering for their parents. Misty went over to them and let them nestle beside her.

"I want Mama and Papa to come back," Brave's lip trembled.

Misty ruffled the fur on his head. "They will," She couldn't force herself to believe those words.

~~~

After a while Brave, Swift, and the other pups calmed down enough to go and play.

Moondancer kept an eye on them while organizing through the medical stash. Misty sat beside her, hardly able to keep her eyes open.

The stars stood out from the sky. The moon shone down on the forest. Crickets played their sweet tune. The scent of spring was in the air.

"Maybe you should go lay down," Moondancer suggested. "You can't stay up all night and wait for Rascal."

Misty bit back a yawn, but failed. "I'm not going to sleep when he's out there fighting a battle."

Moondancer looked at Misty. "I'll be up all night anyway. I don't mind watching for them to return. You go sleep. You really need it."

Misty finally caved. "I guess you're right." Another yawn escaped her lips. "You sure you can watch the pups by yourself?"

Moondancer nodded. "I'll feed them then put them to sleep."

Misty stood and stretched. "Goodnight Moondancer."

" G'night."

Misty stumbled to her den and flopped down on the warm pelt. She sighed heavily, thinking of Rascal.

He'll be home soon.

With that self-reassurance, she finally let herself succumb to sleep and closed her eyes.

~~~

It took Moondancer long enough to feed the pups. It was even worse trying to get them to sleep.

Brave wanted to wait for his parents and Ivy was afraid she'd have nightmares of the battle being the death of her family. Loki and Bolt were throwing stones at each other. Swift was the only one eager to settle down.

Moondancer felt a stabbing claw strike her heart. She longed for parents to love her and siblings to play with. All of that was ripped away from her. She shivered, suddenly feeling lonely.

She shook her head, reminding herself she was an adult. Moping wouldn't bring Wren, Hawk, and Sparrow back. She comforted herself by realizing she would see them again someday.

Moondancer looked up at the sky, then down at the cursed stump where her leg was supposed to be.

She pushed away the negative memories of her puphood.

She stared at the constellations above. Tracing every shape they created. In her mind, she saw a picture of a wolf—a three-legged wolf—with another beside it.

Will anyone ever love me, and my ugly appearance?

She clenched her jaw and took in a deep breath. A voice pulled her from her thoughts.

"Moondancer!"

The gray she-wolf turned around.

Misty was standing in the mouth of her den, a look of pain and fear etched on her face.

"I need Rascal!" Misty paused and gasped, curling her body. "Th-the pups are coming!!!"

I know I was supposed to publish this Wednesday. Sorry for the wait!

THE PUPS ARE COMING! TIME TO RUN AROUND IN CIRCLES AND PANIC!!!!!!!!