Chapter 3
Word Count -:- 4143 Words
A whole two months had passed since the sister pups had been left with Rae and her family. Gemma lived contentedly with Belinda while Dakota had settled in with Rae, Katelyn, Zander and Sasha. The sisters throughout the two months had come to refer to each other as cousins. Belinda had an important business meeting to attend out of town and had not long dropped Gemma off with Rae. The pup would be staying with them for 3 nights. Dakota and Gemma were currently talking excitedly about something as they rested by the fire place. Rae was talking to Zander, Sasha and Katelyn.
"Wolf thinks it would be a good idea to introduce Dakota and Gemma to Taneu tomorrow. So while he is at work, she will be spending the day here." Rae explained and the three nodded, they looked over at the two pups and smiled, their excited banter ceased as they both fell asleep.
Rae, Sasha and Katelyn all said goodnight to Zander as they retired to their rooms. Zander had come to sleeping near Dakota in case she needed something throughout the night. He shifted into his wolf form and curled up by the fire and the pups. Gemma rolled over her foot kicking the older wolf in the muzzle.
"Cousin!" Zander whined, like Dakota he and Sasha had started referring to Gemma as their cousin.
He pushed the small sky blue paw away before curling up, laying his tail over his muzzle.
“Brother, Brother!” Dakota yelled as she bounced up and down on Zander's sleeping body.
Zander growled as he shifted out from underneath the hyper pup and when Dakota pounced again she hit the ground in a stumble, but then was up again bounding on the spot as Zander struggled to his feet with drowsy eyes.
“What time is it?” He asked when he was fully stable on his feet.
He glanced up at the clock. “3:00 am... Damn it Dakota!” He growled as he fell to the ground and shut his eyes.
“Big Brother!” Dakota yelled in his ears, as he swiped at her, she jumped back.
“Go to sleep or wake me in another few hours.” Zander mumbled, then he rolled over and went to sleep.
“But I've got to go, badly.” Dakota explained and Zander jumped to his feet.
“Let’s go then” He yelped as he scampered into the hall and lead her to the bathroom.
Dakota went in and Zander sat down awaiting her return, he released a big yawn and wiped at his eyes. When Dakota walked out Zander picked her up by the scruff and walked back down the hallway, he then dropped Dakota beside Gemma and curled up by the fire. The both of them quickly went back to sleep.
That morning Gemma and Dakota awoke to the slam of a door, they glanced around and noticed that Zander wasn't lying by them but a very angry looking Rae stood in the lounge room entrance.
“You come back here now!” Rae yelled through the closed screen door.
“Make me!” A male response came from out the front and Rae huffed.
“Teenagers.” She muttered as she turned around and headed for the kitchen.
“I wonder what that was about.” Dakota whispered to Gemma who had her nose in the air.
“I'm not sure but I smell breakfast.” Gemma replied as she rose to her feet, her nose still in the air. She followed the scent of cooking meat with Dakota right behind her. They walked into the kitchen to see Zander and Sasha at the table eating, Rae was staring out the window with sad eyes. Gemma yowled and Rae jumped before she turned to look at them, her saddened features brightened.
“Your finally up.” She said in a soft, sweet voice.
Gemma and Dakota both stretched as they walked over to Rae, she grabbed two bowls from the table and walked out the back. Rae placed the bowls beside two more bowls then walked past Dakota and Gemma as she walked back inside.
Two of the bowls contained milk and the other two bowls were filled with cooked strips of meat.
“Yay!” They both yapped happily as they ran over to the bowls, they started lapping at the milk.
Rae walked back outside with another two bowls in her hands. She placed them down beside Dakota before placing her fingers in her mouth and started to whistle. Three planks of wood in the fence lifted up and a young dingo jumped through the gap, she trotted over to Rae wagging her tail. She rubbed up against her then sat down as a man stepped through the gap in the fence. The planks returned to their original positions as he walked over to Rae and the dingo pup.
“Right on time Cougar, as per usual.” The man appraised and Rae smiled.
“Anything to help out a friend Wolf.” Rae smiled as she patted the dingo pup.
Dakota and Gemma had stopped drinking, their whole attention was on the two new comers.
“And these are the two new pups in the family?” Wolf asked as he approached Gemma with an out stretched arm.
“Yes they are, cute aren't they?” Rae answered as Gemma snapped at Wolf’s hand in warning.
“Yeah they are, she’s got quite a set of teeth there hasn't she?”
“They both do.” Rae chuckled as she started towards the back door. “A cup of coffee before work, Sarge?”
“You know me too well.” Wolf said as he followed Rae inside.
The dingo pup sat were Rae and Wolf once stood looking Dakota and Gemma. Gemma was a little nervous, but Dakota gave a comforting smile.
“What’s your name kid?” Her voice sounded playful and happy.
“I'm Taneu, I'm a Dingo.” Taneu answered sitting up proudly, she sniffed at the air. “Your wolf pups right?”
“Yeah, I'm Dakota and this is Gemma.” Dakota explained as Taneu looked at them with her deep golden eyes. She then trotted up to Gemma and rubbed up against her chest, she then did the same with Dakota. Gemma growled warningly but Taneu ignored that, she stood not even a metre before them.
“That’s interesting.” She thought out loud.
“What is Taneu?” Dakota asked ignoring Gemma's reaction.
“You've already met your mate.” She responded pointing a paw at Dakota.
"Huh?"
“And how can you tell that?” Gemma asked speaking for the first time before Dakota could say anything.
“Well, it’s kind of hard to explain but I was born with the ability to sense relationships and the strength of their bonds. For instance the bond between the two of you.” She shut her eyes, for only a second then she reopened them. “Your bond is the bond between sisters.”
“But were cousins.” Dakota stated confused.
“Bonds are not always relations.” Taneu explained as she walked over to the two bowls Rae placed beside Dakota’s. She took a strip of meat into her mouth and laid down, gnawing on it. “Taneu, I'm heading off now.” Wolf yelled as he stepped out the back, Taneu scrambled to her feet and ran to him.
“Have a good day at work dad.” She said as she weaved between his legs.
“I will, you have a nice time with the girls. Bye Dakota, Gemma.” He called out and both wolf pups answered with a warning snarl.
Then Wolf left, Taneu trotted back over to her meat, laid down and started gnawing it again. Rae glanced out.
“You three play nice now.” She called out before she headed back inside to finish what she had to do today.
“Friends?” Taneu proposed not glancing from her bone.
“Sure.” Dakota answered and Taneu smiled, then her expression went neutral.
“Gemma?” She asked awaiting an answer.
“Alright.” Gemma agreed, but she seemed reluctant, then she turned to Dakota. “She’s more your friend though.”
“Agreed.” Taneu said with a smile and they all laid down with their food eating and getting to know each other better.
In less then ten minutes the three of them had fallen asleep sprawled around each other in the shade.
When Wolf got back from work around 6:00 pm, he knocked on the door and Rae answered. She walked him through the house and out to the backyard. He saw the three pups asleep and walked over to them, Zander had also walked out the back. Wolf picked up Taneu and went through the gap in their joined fence, which parted on his approach. He then walked down his driveway and went inside, where he put Taneu to bed. Zander picked Dakota up in one arm and Gemma up in the other. He cradled them as he made his way into the house, he then lay them down by the fire and just like the night before, he curled up by them and the fire and quietly waited for sleep to claim him.
The morning sun was positively one of the best feelings Dakota had felt as it washed over her fur.
“Dakota, Gemma...” A low voice asked and she twitched in annoyance, Gemma by her side rolled over to get away from the voice.
“Guys!” Zander yelled in Dakota’s ear, both pups yelped in surprise before sleepily sitting up.
“What, what?” Gemma asked as both she and Dakota rubbed their ears.
“Me and Sasha are going out, do you two want to come or stay here and hang with Taneu?” He asked and Dakota looked at Gemma, she tilted her head at her cousins expression and looked back at Zander.
“We'll stay.” She confirmed and Zander turned away.
“Alright, have it your way, I guess that's more Zebra for us.” He said and both their ears perked up.
“Zebra?” Gemma asked, licking her lips.
“Well, yeah. Of cause there's Zebra.”
“Can we come?” Dakota asked stumbling to her feet and walking towards him.
“If you must.” He sighed and the cousins both jumped up and down cheering before they both dived at him.
"Thanks Bro!" Dakota cried, licking the older wolf on the muzzle.
"We're going to have a great time!" Gemma added as Sasha walked in through the front door.
"You guys ready to go?" She asked.
"Yeah!" Both pups yelped in excitement, they then ran out through the still open door and waited on the lawn.
They started play fighting as they waited for Zander and Sasha to get ready to leave. Then him and Sasha joined them out the front, where all four of them started off down the street. Gemma and Dakota went to turn up the next street when Sasha and Zander crossed the road stopping on the footpath before the alleyway at the bottom of their street.
"Over here." Zander called out and both pups scampered across the road to keep up with the older two.
On either side of the walkway stood two posts. One had two paw indentations on it and the other had what looked to be a mid-thick rope indentation wrapped around it. The elders sat down looking at the two pole, watching as Gemma and Dakota started off down the alleyway. Sasha smirked at Zander before she walked over to the pole that had the mid-thick rope twirl indentation. She wrapped her tail around the pole, it fitting snugly into the indentation and a creaking sound reverberated through the alleyway. The sound spooked the pups and they started running, just as they were about to pass the metal divider halfway down the alleyway, the floor shifted and they both fell into the newly formed hole. Zander and Sasha ran through the alleyway stopping at the edge of the hole to peer in at the younger two laying on a concrete staircase.
"What happened?" Gemma whined as she shook her head and stumbled to her feet.
"We fell." Dakota growled at her cousins stupid question, she the glanced up at her older siblings
who were looking down on them laughing. “Come
on.” Sasha called as she leapt over the two cubs and descended the stairs into
the darkness below.
"Come on." Sasha called as she leapt over the two cubs and descended the stairs into the darkness below.
"Well, you heard the woman." Zander said as he nudged the two pups to their feet. "Lets go."
He then trailed down the stairs at a trot so he didn't loose site of the she-cats distinct brown and pink fur. Close on his hills, followed the two younger, reluctant wolves.
Dakota whined lightly in the dark, it felt like they had been walking down here for hours and there was no sign of an exit anywhere. She glanced up at the faint outline of Zander by her side. With her attention away from where she was walking she tripped up on a rock and yelped, throwing herself against her brother's side in hopes of comfort. Gemma was in a similar position on the grey wolf's other side.
"It won't be long now." He whispered reassuringly and as if answering his statement, both pups yapped in excitement as a small light came into view.
They both took off, tripping over air and each other in their vague attempt to reach the light, taking the stairs at a run they skidded to a halt as the light bathed their fur, the ground beneath their paws was now on soft and wet. They looked down and noticed they were standing on healthy grass that was covered in a thin sheet of freshly fallen rain. They sighed as the breeze blew the calming scent into the air and they breathed it in deeply. Zander and Sasha passed them in their momentary pause and continued forward. Both pups smiled at each other before following the elders though the peaceful scenery untill they walked through a rusted old gate just up ahead, it was old and uncared for but the two elders seemed at home as they strolled down the dirt path, Gemma and Dakota trailed behind them in confusion. The shrunk closer to the ground as they passed some erroded head stones in amongst the now dead grass.
"W-Where are we?" Gemma stuttered and Zander laughed lightly.
"You have nothing to worry about here. Its completely safe." He reassured them both.
Sasha walked up to the rusted, old door of the mausoleum and slipped into the building through a decient sized crack beside the door, Zander right behind her. Dakota and Gemma stopped before the rusted entrance and looked at each other un surely. After a moments reluctance they decided to follow, quickly passing through the break in the wall with light, cautious steps. The room was quiet large, but very ragged and worn. Sasha was sprawled out on a flat rock near the centre of the room and Zander was off to the left curled up on an old tyre, his neck hanging over the edge at a comfortable angle.
"Relax, we will be spending the day here." The wolf said as he shifted so he could scratch his back on the rough rim of the tire.
"Girls, come over here." Sasha called and the two trotted over to the tiger , sitting down before the slab of rock. "Grams said it would be best if, whilst she isn't at home, you two either stayed here or with Taneu. For safety reasons of cause, Zander and I may be bigger, but we are still new to the form. We can not protect you if something were to happen." She explained and both pups looked disappointed at the concept of being confined all afternoon. "So make yourselves at home, there is nothing to fear here."
"Where are we anyway?" Gemma asked glancing around the large, dusty space surrounding them.
"The abandoned Mausoleum out west." Sasha replied sleepily as her eyes drifted shut.
"Ohh..." Dakota muttered before she looked over her shoulder at Zander who was also dosing. "Come on Gem, we should get some rest." She muttered as she walked back towards the entrance, she laid down of a small bed of ripped and crumpled sheets with Gemma beside her.
Sasha opened one eye to make sure they were still there before she also slipped into the world of dreams.
'Faster Gemma, faster!' She heard Dakota's voice yell but she couldn't see her anywhere. From what she could tell, she was in a forest, a gazelle sprinted out before her through the stillness of the land. She pushed herself faster, smiling as the wind rushed through her fur.
'Faster cuz!' She heard Dakota's voice again and she nodded before she took off.
The chase barely lasted 30 seconds before she found herself pouncing on the fleeing beast. Suddenly the gazelle turned to face her and she stared into the crimson eyes of a wolf, the gazelle's body morphing to suit it's eyes, it's long sleek body covered in a thick sheen of dark purple fur marked with black and stained with blood. The wolf shot up at Gemma with blinding speed and sunk its abnormally sharp teeth into her tender neck, before everything went black.
Gemma shot up breathing heavily as she tried to catch her breath. She was visibly shaking as she glanced around, clamping slightly at the site of her family. She shifted to a sitting position before flattening her ears and closing her eyes.
"I'm alright, just had a nightmare that's all." She assured them and Sasha smiled.
"Come on girls, lets get you your Zebra before its time to leave." She said before heading to the back of the mausoleum and ducking through a break in the wall, similar to the one by the door. Zander slipped through after her, closely followed by Dakota and Gemma. They cautiously followed the older two though the graveyard, sticking close to Zander's hills till the leapt the fence and landed on the soft, wet grass again. They sighed in relief before looking around, they were in a large grassy area and there was prey everywhere, ranging from Gazelle calfskin to adult bull elephants, far off but still in sight was a waterhole where a lot of the animals were gathered.
"Welcome to Ruthian Pass." Zander spoke as he lay down, rolling onto his back to enjoy the fresh grass on his fur, Sasha made herself comfortable beside him.
"Go on," she encouraged. "We aren't going to supply your food for you like grams does."
"Catch it yourself." Zander grumbled watching with a please smiled as both pups nodded and start to stalk away, in the closest herds direction.
Both Dakota and Gemma leapt at one of the Zebra, but they both hit the ground as the female stepped back, out of the way. Sasha rolled around laughing while Zander just shook his head. He made his way over to them, moving silently and lightly across the plains. He nudged the both of them and they responded by jumping to their feet, ready to go again.
"Here, you have to crouch like this." Zander instructed as he crouched low to the ground, with enough leeway that he would not disturb the grass as he hunted.
"Like this?" Gemma asked, imitating Zander's stance beside him and the older wolf nodded, beside them, at seeing Gemma's success, Dakota also copied, before awaiting his next instruction. "Now copy me." Zander whispered as he stalked towards the zebra, stomach just off the ground, careful not to alert the prey to his presence. He leapt from the low grass that barely covered half his body and the herd sprinted. With blood red eyes locked on. Hs target, Zander's teeth and claws sunk into the females hide. He twitched his tail signalling that Dakota and Gemma should join him and the two pups ran over before leaping onto the Zebra's back, where they dug in their still developing teeth, in an attempt to reach the Zebra's flesh. Zander let go when he thought that Dakota and Gemma could handle the weakened animal.
"Go for the throat, cut off her air supply." He called out as he retreated back to where Sasha was lying watching them.
Dakota's ear twitched at her brothers words and she let go of the shoulder she was gripping before dropping to the ground. She ran beside the bucking zebra before slipping in front of her and leaping up at the soft fur. She dug her claws into the back of the zebra's neck as she bit into the throat, with the force behind her body weight, her fangs pierced the skin and sunk into the flesh tearing at the meat in an attempt to cut off the air supply. The zebra stopped bucking as its energy quickly faded and Gemma took the opportunity to knock the beast over. She let go of the rump beneath her teeth and started jumping using her powerful paws to push the zebra's hind down, forcing her to sit, and in her weakened state the rest of her body followed till she was lying flat on the ground. Dakota bit down harder seeing that the zebra was still alive and Gemma joined her biting into the small neck space left. It wasn't long till life left the body and the zebra lay limp in their grips and they both let go. Licking the blood from their muzzles they looked over at Sasha and Zander, before beckoning the elders over. With slight smiles the tiger and wolf got up and crossed the plains to where the pups sat with their first kill. Then together the four of them shared the fresh kill. After eating they lay in the mid afternoon sun talking, until Zander noticed that the sun was starting to set. He got up stretching before leading the three female back through the mausoleum, down into the passage way, out into the alleyway and back up their street. Dakota and Gemma ran ahead once the house came into view and they entered through the open window, not bothering to go through the door. Sasha and Zander shook their heads at the younger two before they opened the door and entered the warm living room. Dakota and Gemma were curled up in front of the fire, they had already fallen asleep. Zander walked over to them and lay down, curling his tail around the pups. Sasha left the sight to retire to her own room.
Morning came and the shone in Gemma's face, she rolled over to get away from the brightness and hide in Zander's fur, but the older wolf wasn't there. Her ears perked when noises from out the back reached her ears and she shook Dakota awake. Then she, followed by a sleepy Dakota who stumbled into almost everything, made her way through the house, to the back door. She peaked out to see what was going on and noticed that Rae, Katelyn and Belinda were sitting around the table, with mugs of hot liquid in their hands, talking quietly. Zander and Sasha were tussling on the lawn. Dakota ran over and leapt at Zander, they hit the ground with a thud as Gemma tackled Sasha right down beside them. The four of them then started chasing eachother around the backyard, laughing good naturedly.
"They appear to have settled very well." Belinda commented as the three of them watched with amused smiles.
"Sasha and Zander have also taken to them better then I originally thought they would." Katelyn laughed as Zander tripped over Dakota, Gemma and Sasha falling ontop of them.
"I'm just glad they are happy." Rae said as she slipped her tea, she glanced to the door when the phone ran out and Dakota shot to her feet.
"I'll get it!" She yelled excitedly as she ran for the door, she morphed just as she crossed the threshold and picked up the phone.
"Hello?" She asked as she walked out the back and sat down by Rae at the table.
'Hello, I'm looking for the Dawsons," A soft, kind voice spoke.
"Speaking. Cousin, get over here." Dakota called and Gemma ran over to her.
Dakota put the phone on loudspeaker and sat it on the table.
'We need need you to come back up to the medical centre, Mr Aranson needs to discuss something with you.' The voice responded as Gemma morphed, looking at Dakota with a confused expression.
"Can we ask what it is about?" Gemma asked before Dakota could.
'Unfortunately I am not allowed to discuss it with you over the phone.' The voice answered, sounding slightly board.
"When do you want us to come in?" Dakota asked as Sasha and Zander ran over.
'Now if you could, It is slightly urgent.' The caller responded and Gemma nodded.
"We'll be right there." She said before hanging up the phone and heading for the door. "Come on Dakota."
"Wolf thinks it would be a good idea to introduce Dakota and Gemma to Taneu tomorrow. So while he is at work, she will be spending the day here." Rae explained and the three nodded, they looked over at the two pups and smiled, their excited banter ceased as they both fell asleep.
Rae, Sasha and Katelyn all said goodnight to Zander as they retired to their rooms. Zander had come to sleeping near Dakota in case she needed something throughout the night. He shifted into his wolf form and curled up by the fire and the pups. Gemma rolled over her foot kicking the older wolf in the muzzle.
"Cousin!" Zander whined, like Dakota he and Sasha had started referring to Gemma as their cousin.
He pushed the small sky blue paw away before curling up, laying his tail over his muzzle.
“Brother, Brother!” Dakota yelled as she bounced up and down on Zander's sleeping body.
Zander growled as he shifted out from underneath the hyper pup and when Dakota pounced again she hit the ground in a stumble, but then was up again bounding on the spot as Zander struggled to his feet with drowsy eyes.
“What time is it?” He asked when he was fully stable on his feet.
He glanced up at the clock. “3:00 am... Damn it Dakota!” He growled as he fell to the ground and shut his eyes.
“Big Brother!” Dakota yelled in his ears, as he swiped at her, she jumped back.
“Go to sleep or wake me in another few hours.” Zander mumbled, then he rolled over and went to sleep.
“But I've got to go, badly.” Dakota explained and Zander jumped to his feet.
“Let’s go then” He yelped as he scampered into the hall and lead her to the bathroom.
Dakota went in and Zander sat down awaiting her return, he released a big yawn and wiped at his eyes. When Dakota walked out Zander picked her up by the scruff and walked back down the hallway, he then dropped Dakota beside Gemma and curled up by the fire. The both of them quickly went back to sleep.
That morning Gemma and Dakota awoke to the slam of a door, they glanced around and noticed that Zander wasn't lying by them but a very angry looking Rae stood in the lounge room entrance.
“You come back here now!” Rae yelled through the closed screen door.
“Make me!” A male response came from out the front and Rae huffed.
“Teenagers.” She muttered as she turned around and headed for the kitchen.
“I wonder what that was about.” Dakota whispered to Gemma who had her nose in the air.
“I'm not sure but I smell breakfast.” Gemma replied as she rose to her feet, her nose still in the air. She followed the scent of cooking meat with Dakota right behind her. They walked into the kitchen to see Zander and Sasha at the table eating, Rae was staring out the window with sad eyes. Gemma yowled and Rae jumped before she turned to look at them, her saddened features brightened.
“Your finally up.” She said in a soft, sweet voice.
Gemma and Dakota both stretched as they walked over to Rae, she grabbed two bowls from the table and walked out the back. Rae placed the bowls beside two more bowls then walked past Dakota and Gemma as she walked back inside.
Two of the bowls contained milk and the other two bowls were filled with cooked strips of meat.
“Yay!” They both yapped happily as they ran over to the bowls, they started lapping at the milk.
Rae walked back outside with another two bowls in her hands. She placed them down beside Dakota before placing her fingers in her mouth and started to whistle. Three planks of wood in the fence lifted up and a young dingo jumped through the gap, she trotted over to Rae wagging her tail. She rubbed up against her then sat down as a man stepped through the gap in the fence. The planks returned to their original positions as he walked over to Rae and the dingo pup.
“Right on time Cougar, as per usual.” The man appraised and Rae smiled.
“Anything to help out a friend Wolf.” Rae smiled as she patted the dingo pup.
Dakota and Gemma had stopped drinking, their whole attention was on the two new comers.
“And these are the two new pups in the family?” Wolf asked as he approached Gemma with an out stretched arm.
“Yes they are, cute aren't they?” Rae answered as Gemma snapped at Wolf’s hand in warning.
“Yeah they are, she’s got quite a set of teeth there hasn't she?”
“They both do.” Rae chuckled as she started towards the back door. “A cup of coffee before work, Sarge?”
“You know me too well.” Wolf said as he followed Rae inside.
The dingo pup sat were Rae and Wolf once stood looking Dakota and Gemma. Gemma was a little nervous, but Dakota gave a comforting smile.
“What’s your name kid?” Her voice sounded playful and happy.
“I'm Taneu, I'm a Dingo.” Taneu answered sitting up proudly, she sniffed at the air. “Your wolf pups right?”
“Yeah, I'm Dakota and this is Gemma.” Dakota explained as Taneu looked at them with her deep golden eyes. She then trotted up to Gemma and rubbed up against her chest, she then did the same with Dakota. Gemma growled warningly but Taneu ignored that, she stood not even a metre before them.
“That’s interesting.” She thought out loud.
“What is Taneu?” Dakota asked ignoring Gemma's reaction.
“You've already met your mate.” She responded pointing a paw at Dakota.
"Huh?"
“And how can you tell that?” Gemma asked speaking for the first time before Dakota could say anything.
“Well, it’s kind of hard to explain but I was born with the ability to sense relationships and the strength of their bonds. For instance the bond between the two of you.” She shut her eyes, for only a second then she reopened them. “Your bond is the bond between sisters.”
“But were cousins.” Dakota stated confused.
“Bonds are not always relations.” Taneu explained as she walked over to the two bowls Rae placed beside Dakota’s. She took a strip of meat into her mouth and laid down, gnawing on it. “Taneu, I'm heading off now.” Wolf yelled as he stepped out the back, Taneu scrambled to her feet and ran to him.
“Have a good day at work dad.” She said as she weaved between his legs.
“I will, you have a nice time with the girls. Bye Dakota, Gemma.” He called out and both wolf pups answered with a warning snarl.
Then Wolf left, Taneu trotted back over to her meat, laid down and started gnawing it again. Rae glanced out.
“You three play nice now.” She called out before she headed back inside to finish what she had to do today.
“Friends?” Taneu proposed not glancing from her bone.
“Sure.” Dakota answered and Taneu smiled, then her expression went neutral.
“Gemma?” She asked awaiting an answer.
“Alright.” Gemma agreed, but she seemed reluctant, then she turned to Dakota. “She’s more your friend though.”
“Agreed.” Taneu said with a smile and they all laid down with their food eating and getting to know each other better.
In less then ten minutes the three of them had fallen asleep sprawled around each other in the shade.
When Wolf got back from work around 6:00 pm, he knocked on the door and Rae answered. She walked him through the house and out to the backyard. He saw the three pups asleep and walked over to them, Zander had also walked out the back. Wolf picked up Taneu and went through the gap in their joined fence, which parted on his approach. He then walked down his driveway and went inside, where he put Taneu to bed. Zander picked Dakota up in one arm and Gemma up in the other. He cradled them as he made his way into the house, he then lay them down by the fire and just like the night before, he curled up by them and the fire and quietly waited for sleep to claim him.
The morning sun was positively one of the best feelings Dakota had felt as it washed over her fur.
“Dakota, Gemma...” A low voice asked and she twitched in annoyance, Gemma by her side rolled over to get away from the voice.
“Guys!” Zander yelled in Dakota’s ear, both pups yelped in surprise before sleepily sitting up.
“What, what?” Gemma asked as both she and Dakota rubbed their ears.
“Me and Sasha are going out, do you two want to come or stay here and hang with Taneu?” He asked and Dakota looked at Gemma, she tilted her head at her cousins expression and looked back at Zander.
“We'll stay.” She confirmed and Zander turned away.
“Alright, have it your way, I guess that's more Zebra for us.” He said and both their ears perked up.
“Zebra?” Gemma asked, licking her lips.
“Well, yeah. Of cause there's Zebra.”
“Can we come?” Dakota asked stumbling to her feet and walking towards him.
“If you must.” He sighed and the cousins both jumped up and down cheering before they both dived at him.
"Thanks Bro!" Dakota cried, licking the older wolf on the muzzle.
"We're going to have a great time!" Gemma added as Sasha walked in through the front door.
"You guys ready to go?" She asked.
"Yeah!" Both pups yelped in excitement, they then ran out through the still open door and waited on the lawn.
They started play fighting as they waited for Zander and Sasha to get ready to leave. Then him and Sasha joined them out the front, where all four of them started off down the street. Gemma and Dakota went to turn up the next street when Sasha and Zander crossed the road stopping on the footpath before the alleyway at the bottom of their street.
"Over here." Zander called out and both pups scampered across the road to keep up with the older two.
On either side of the walkway stood two posts. One had two paw indentations on it and the other had what looked to be a mid-thick rope indentation wrapped around it. The elders sat down looking at the two pole, watching as Gemma and Dakota started off down the alleyway. Sasha smirked at Zander before she walked over to the pole that had the mid-thick rope twirl indentation. She wrapped her tail around the pole, it fitting snugly into the indentation and a creaking sound reverberated through the alleyway. The sound spooked the pups and they started running, just as they were about to pass the metal divider halfway down the alleyway, the floor shifted and they both fell into the newly formed hole. Zander and Sasha ran through the alleyway stopping at the edge of the hole to peer in at the younger two laying on a concrete staircase.
"What happened?" Gemma whined as she shook her head and stumbled to her feet.
"We fell." Dakota growled at her cousins stupid question, she the glanced up at her older siblings
who were looking down on them laughing. “Come
on.” Sasha called as she leapt over the two cubs and descended the stairs into
the darkness below.
"Come on." Sasha called as she leapt over the two cubs and descended the stairs into the darkness below.
"Well, you heard the woman." Zander said as he nudged the two pups to their feet. "Lets go."
He then trailed down the stairs at a trot so he didn't loose site of the she-cats distinct brown and pink fur. Close on his hills, followed the two younger, reluctant wolves.
Dakota whined lightly in the dark, it felt like they had been walking down here for hours and there was no sign of an exit anywhere. She glanced up at the faint outline of Zander by her side. With her attention away from where she was walking she tripped up on a rock and yelped, throwing herself against her brother's side in hopes of comfort. Gemma was in a similar position on the grey wolf's other side.
"It won't be long now." He whispered reassuringly and as if answering his statement, both pups yapped in excitement as a small light came into view.
They both took off, tripping over air and each other in their vague attempt to reach the light, taking the stairs at a run they skidded to a halt as the light bathed their fur, the ground beneath their paws was now on soft and wet. They looked down and noticed they were standing on healthy grass that was covered in a thin sheet of freshly fallen rain. They sighed as the breeze blew the calming scent into the air and they breathed it in deeply. Zander and Sasha passed them in their momentary pause and continued forward. Both pups smiled at each other before following the elders though the peaceful scenery untill they walked through a rusted old gate just up ahead, it was old and uncared for but the two elders seemed at home as they strolled down the dirt path, Gemma and Dakota trailed behind them in confusion. The shrunk closer to the ground as they passed some erroded head stones in amongst the now dead grass.
"W-Where are we?" Gemma stuttered and Zander laughed lightly.
"You have nothing to worry about here. Its completely safe." He reassured them both.
Sasha walked up to the rusted, old door of the mausoleum and slipped into the building through a decient sized crack beside the door, Zander right behind her. Dakota and Gemma stopped before the rusted entrance and looked at each other un surely. After a moments reluctance they decided to follow, quickly passing through the break in the wall with light, cautious steps. The room was quiet large, but very ragged and worn. Sasha was sprawled out on a flat rock near the centre of the room and Zander was off to the left curled up on an old tyre, his neck hanging over the edge at a comfortable angle.
"Relax, we will be spending the day here." The wolf said as he shifted so he could scratch his back on the rough rim of the tire.
"Girls, come over here." Sasha called and the two trotted over to the tiger , sitting down before the slab of rock. "Grams said it would be best if, whilst she isn't at home, you two either stayed here or with Taneu. For safety reasons of cause, Zander and I may be bigger, but we are still new to the form. We can not protect you if something were to happen." She explained and both pups looked disappointed at the concept of being confined all afternoon. "So make yourselves at home, there is nothing to fear here."
"Where are we anyway?" Gemma asked glancing around the large, dusty space surrounding them.
"The abandoned Mausoleum out west." Sasha replied sleepily as her eyes drifted shut.
"Ohh..." Dakota muttered before she looked over her shoulder at Zander who was also dosing. "Come on Gem, we should get some rest." She muttered as she walked back towards the entrance, she laid down of a small bed of ripped and crumpled sheets with Gemma beside her.
Sasha opened one eye to make sure they were still there before she also slipped into the world of dreams.
'Faster Gemma, faster!' She heard Dakota's voice yell but she couldn't see her anywhere. From what she could tell, she was in a forest, a gazelle sprinted out before her through the stillness of the land. She pushed herself faster, smiling as the wind rushed through her fur.
'Faster cuz!' She heard Dakota's voice again and she nodded before she took off.
The chase barely lasted 30 seconds before she found herself pouncing on the fleeing beast. Suddenly the gazelle turned to face her and she stared into the crimson eyes of a wolf, the gazelle's body morphing to suit it's eyes, it's long sleek body covered in a thick sheen of dark purple fur marked with black and stained with blood. The wolf shot up at Gemma with blinding speed and sunk its abnormally sharp teeth into her tender neck, before everything went black.
Gemma shot up breathing heavily as she tried to catch her breath. She was visibly shaking as she glanced around, clamping slightly at the site of her family. She shifted to a sitting position before flattening her ears and closing her eyes.
"I'm alright, just had a nightmare that's all." She assured them and Sasha smiled.
"Come on girls, lets get you your Zebra before its time to leave." She said before heading to the back of the mausoleum and ducking through a break in the wall, similar to the one by the door. Zander slipped through after her, closely followed by Dakota and Gemma. They cautiously followed the older two though the graveyard, sticking close to Zander's hills till the leapt the fence and landed on the soft, wet grass again. They sighed in relief before looking around, they were in a large grassy area and there was prey everywhere, ranging from Gazelle calfskin to adult bull elephants, far off but still in sight was a waterhole where a lot of the animals were gathered.
"Welcome to Ruthian Pass." Zander spoke as he lay down, rolling onto his back to enjoy the fresh grass on his fur, Sasha made herself comfortable beside him.
"Go on," she encouraged. "We aren't going to supply your food for you like grams does."
"Catch it yourself." Zander grumbled watching with a please smiled as both pups nodded and start to stalk away, in the closest herds direction.
Both Dakota and Gemma leapt at one of the Zebra, but they both hit the ground as the female stepped back, out of the way. Sasha rolled around laughing while Zander just shook his head. He made his way over to them, moving silently and lightly across the plains. He nudged the both of them and they responded by jumping to their feet, ready to go again.
"Here, you have to crouch like this." Zander instructed as he crouched low to the ground, with enough leeway that he would not disturb the grass as he hunted.
"Like this?" Gemma asked, imitating Zander's stance beside him and the older wolf nodded, beside them, at seeing Gemma's success, Dakota also copied, before awaiting his next instruction. "Now copy me." Zander whispered as he stalked towards the zebra, stomach just off the ground, careful not to alert the prey to his presence. He leapt from the low grass that barely covered half his body and the herd sprinted. With blood red eyes locked on. Hs target, Zander's teeth and claws sunk into the females hide. He twitched his tail signalling that Dakota and Gemma should join him and the two pups ran over before leaping onto the Zebra's back, where they dug in their still developing teeth, in an attempt to reach the Zebra's flesh. Zander let go when he thought that Dakota and Gemma could handle the weakened animal.
"Go for the throat, cut off her air supply." He called out as he retreated back to where Sasha was lying watching them.
Dakota's ear twitched at her brothers words and she let go of the shoulder she was gripping before dropping to the ground. She ran beside the bucking zebra before slipping in front of her and leaping up at the soft fur. She dug her claws into the back of the zebra's neck as she bit into the throat, with the force behind her body weight, her fangs pierced the skin and sunk into the flesh tearing at the meat in an attempt to cut off the air supply. The zebra stopped bucking as its energy quickly faded and Gemma took the opportunity to knock the beast over. She let go of the rump beneath her teeth and started jumping using her powerful paws to push the zebra's hind down, forcing her to sit, and in her weakened state the rest of her body followed till she was lying flat on the ground. Dakota bit down harder seeing that the zebra was still alive and Gemma joined her biting into the small neck space left. It wasn't long till life left the body and the zebra lay limp in their grips and they both let go. Licking the blood from their muzzles they looked over at Sasha and Zander, before beckoning the elders over. With slight smiles the tiger and wolf got up and crossed the plains to where the pups sat with their first kill. Then together the four of them shared the fresh kill. After eating they lay in the mid afternoon sun talking, until Zander noticed that the sun was starting to set. He got up stretching before leading the three female back through the mausoleum, down into the passage way, out into the alleyway and back up their street. Dakota and Gemma ran ahead once the house came into view and they entered through the open window, not bothering to go through the door. Sasha and Zander shook their heads at the younger two before they opened the door and entered the warm living room. Dakota and Gemma were curled up in front of the fire, they had already fallen asleep. Zander walked over to them and lay down, curling his tail around the pups. Sasha left the sight to retire to her own room.
Morning came and the shone in Gemma's face, she rolled over to get away from the brightness and hide in Zander's fur, but the older wolf wasn't there. Her ears perked when noises from out the back reached her ears and she shook Dakota awake. Then she, followed by a sleepy Dakota who stumbled into almost everything, made her way through the house, to the back door. She peaked out to see what was going on and noticed that Rae, Katelyn and Belinda were sitting around the table, with mugs of hot liquid in their hands, talking quietly. Zander and Sasha were tussling on the lawn. Dakota ran over and leapt at Zander, they hit the ground with a thud as Gemma tackled Sasha right down beside them. The four of them then started chasing eachother around the backyard, laughing good naturedly.
"They appear to have settled very well." Belinda commented as the three of them watched with amused smiles.
"Sasha and Zander have also taken to them better then I originally thought they would." Katelyn laughed as Zander tripped over Dakota, Gemma and Sasha falling ontop of them.
"I'm just glad they are happy." Rae said as she slipped her tea, she glanced to the door when the phone ran out and Dakota shot to her feet.
"I'll get it!" She yelled excitedly as she ran for the door, she morphed just as she crossed the threshold and picked up the phone.
"Hello?" She asked as she walked out the back and sat down by Rae at the table.
'Hello, I'm looking for the Dawsons," A soft, kind voice spoke.
"Speaking. Cousin, get over here." Dakota called and Gemma ran over to her.
Dakota put the phone on loudspeaker and sat it on the table.
'We need need you to come back up to the medical centre, Mr Aranson needs to discuss something with you.' The voice responded as Gemma morphed, looking at Dakota with a confused expression.
"Can we ask what it is about?" Gemma asked before Dakota could.
'Unfortunately I am not allowed to discuss it with you over the phone.' The voice answered, sounding slightly board.
"When do you want us to come in?" Dakota asked as Sasha and Zander ran over.
'Now if you could, It is slightly urgent.' The caller responded and Gemma nodded.
"We'll be right there." She said before hanging up the phone and heading for the door. "Come on Dakota."