Moondancer found herself sprinting through the forest. She gritted her teeth and strained to run with only three legs.

She hobbled over logs and jumped across streams. Everything was spinning and blowing away in a blur.

This was the most inconvenient time for the pups to be born. Of all times, now really?

Moondancer panted, rounding a grove of trees and leaping up on a huge rock, chest heaving.

Where did Tyrant say they were going again?

She was mentally freaking out, wanting to find Rascal as quick as possible and bring him back to his laboring mate.

Moondancer's lungs were burning. She found herself gulping in the cool air. She pushed off the rock and followed her Pack's familiar scent.

Th moon was lighting her path. She followed a work down trail through scraggly trees and I've steep hills. Why did everything feel like it was taking so long?

Moondancer didn't see the terrain ahead of her ending. Too late, she tried to stop, tripping and rolling down the rocky hill.

At the bottom she sat up and noticed a long gash running down her shoulder. She forced herself to her paws, covered in dust and splattered blood.

She pushed the pain aside, continuing to run through bushes with thorns snagging her pelt.

By the time she reached the battle sight, cuts and dirt smeared her beautiful gray coat.

She anxiously searched the crowd for Rascal, pacing along the side lines.

"Rascal!" She screamed through the shouts of anger and cries of pain. "Rascal!" Her voice was hoarse.

A shadow loomed behind her. She turned and gasped. A midnight black wolf with haunting icy blue eyes snarled down at her.

She hissed and bristled her fur. She knew she was no match for Diablo. Especially with only three legs. But she was determined to show him that she wasn't afraid.

A strong figure appeared behind Diablo. It growled and hit him upside the head, knocking Diablo unconscious.

Familiar glittering green eyes meg Moondancer.

"Rascal!" She exclaimed in relief.

Rascal had a cut above his eye and a long, raw scrape trailing down his spine.

"Moondancer? What in name of Lifeless Forest are you doing out here in the middle of all of this? What happened to you?" He indicated her wounds while keeping an eye out for any wolf that might attack.

"Never mind that!" Moondancer said, breathless. "M-Misty! The pups are coming!"

His entire expression switched from serious to terror.

"W-we have to go! We need to hurry!" Rascal was bouncing nervously on his paws. "You ran the whole way?"

"Yes! Don't worry about me! Run ahead and go to Misty. I'll catch up." Moondancer ordered.

Rascal didn't have to be told twice. He turned and ran like a fire was lit under his tail.

~~~

Rascal crashed through the camp entrance and looked around in a panic.

Misty was pacing back and forth, pausing and making a face whenever she was in pain.

Rascal scrambled over to her. She looked at him, eyes grateful, but couldn't process the energy to speak.

"I'm here, I'm here," Rascal tried his best to keep his composure. He knew he had to stay calm for Misty. He couldn't help the way his paws trembled with anxiety and excitement.

Rascal walked with Misty, stopping whenever she did and let her lean on him for support. Pain was written all over his mate's face. He wished he could take it away from her.

Misty groaned, taking a moment to stop and breathe. Rascal swallowed and did his best to keep a reassuring smile on his face, even though fear was eating him from the inside out.

Misty's face relaxed. Her breath was heavy, yet she looked over at Rascal and found the strength to murmur:

"Stay with me?"

Rascal rested his chin on her head. "I won't leave for a second."

Her lips lifted in the smallest smile. It disappeared the second another pain squeezed her stomach.

Moondancer limped in, racing over to Misty and Rascal. She examined Misty quickly.

"She better go lie down now. Things are progressing fast."

The other pups were watching from the mouth of their den, peering out at them with large eyes.

"Ivy, you're in charge. Don't come out. Don't bother us. Stay put," Moondancer ordered.

Ivy nodded slowly and whispered for the other pups to get back.

Moondancer gathered another fluffy pelt, some water, and a few herbs.

Rascal helped Misty inside their den. She lay down on the warm bedding, Rascal sitting by her head, letting her use his paws as a cushion to prop her head up comfortably.

Moondancer set out her supplies and rambled instructions to Misty; telling her to breathe for shift to a better position.

Misty was breathless at this point, her chest rising and falling in deep rapid breaths.

After a long, agonizing pain, she found the strength to glare at Rascal. He flinched under her look.

"This," she paused for breath. "Is...all...your...fault..." she let out a cry and closed her eyes.

"I'm sorry, then," he mumbled, cheeks heating up under Moondancer's pointed look.

He knew she was irritated. Of course she wanted to put the blame for her pain on someone else. Who better to choose than the one who put her in that situation?

"It's time, Misty," Moondancer announced. "You must listen to me when I tell you to push." It wasn't a question.

Rascal felt his heart speed up. He crouched beside Misty and saw the look of joy reflected on her face.

"We're going to be parents," Rascal whispered. He put his paw out, and Misty weakly placed hers on top. He planted a lick on her cheek. "You got this Misty."

"Now!" Moondancer ordered.

At her command, Rascal felt Misty tense up, her entire body stiffening, holding her breath.

Pain was clear on her face. She closed her eyes and ground her teeth.

There was a brief pause. After the moment, Moondancer ordered again...and again....and again....

After the sixth try, Misty's head fell back in defeat.

"I can't," her voice was strained.

"You can and you will," Moondancer replied firmly.

Misty shook her head. "N-no... I can't...I can't..."

"You can do it, Misty." Rascal tried to encourage his exhausted mate.

Tears of frustration were in her eyes now. "I can't. I'm exhausted. It hurts. I c-can't."

"Yes Misty. You're tough. You're strong. I know you can," Rascal looked straight into her eyes, seeing the pain, fear, and frustration all in her expression.

"Again!"

Misty dug in. She closed her eyes and let out a howl. Tears streamed down her cheeks. In that moment, Rascal deeply admired his mate. He fell in love all over again.

With a grunt, Misty's head fell to the pelt.

A whimper perked Rascal's ears up. His breath hitched in his throat when he turned around, heart swelling.

Moondancer set a healthy dark gray pup at Misty's belly. It crawled around and cried out in a shaky voice

Misty sat up, the exhaustion in her eyes instantly replaced with a burning love. Rascal bent down in amazement, unable to look away from his little pup.

"A healthy male," Moondancer commented. "The others are coming. Get ready Misty."

Time went by in a blur. More cries of pain, encouraging words from Rascal, Moondancer giving firm orders.

"That's the last one," Moondancer announced.

Two more male pups suckle at Misty's belly. One a red color—it looked like somebody familiar. And a blue-gray pup—also a familiar face.

Thank you, River. Thank you Jumper.

Misty looked at Rascal, exhaustion in her eyes, a lazy smile on her face.

Rascal nudged his cheek against Misty's. "I'm so proud of you,"

Misty started to smile but gasped and curled in pain.

Rascal's eyes widened. "M-Moondancer?"

The gray she-wolf crowned and pressed her paws to Misty's much smaller stomach. Her jaw dropped.

"T-there's one more!"

Misty groaned again. She takes in another breath and pushes. Rascal noticed she didn't appear to be in as much pain as before.

Rascal watched Moondancer, her expression went from joy, to confusion, to fear.

Rascal craned his neck to see, a gasp barely passing his lips. A too-small white pup lay at Moondancer's paws. Lips parted. Rascal almost thought it was dead, but the faint rise and fall of its chest made his heart leap with hope.

"What is it?" Misty asked from where she lay. "What's going on?"

Moondancer met Rascal's eyes. Worry was deep in her gray gaze. "I'll be back. I want to make sure she's all right,"

Before either of them could say a word, Moondancer grabbed the limp body and rushed out.

Rascal felt his heart squeeze. She...

He had a daughter. A beautiful daughter.

Rascal's eyes glimmered with tears in the dim light, lip trembling.

Let her live...

The pups are here!!!! AHHHHHHH!!!!! The LITTLE ONE MUST LIVE!!!!!

You'll find out their names in the next chapter ;)