Wild Berry Meadow full dark no stars

vuk had grown somewhat accustomed to the new roundness that weighted her, but even as her sides swelled, the angularity of her already-slim body began to stand out. she managed to hunt sometimes, but most often scavenged, eating whatever she could find, even to the rotting carcass of a fox, which she promptly vomited up. the thought of the ridge drew her, the ridge with its protection and its filled caches, her small warm den shared with kind illea, but the memory of taggarik's harsh words in their even tone came to her, and she kept the former packland at her back.

today a rainstorm rose up and seized the girl in its grasp -- she shrank beneath a clump of berry bushes but their small leaves did little to keep the deluge from soaking her through and through. 

vuk wept.

Assuming a few things in my timeline. <3

When Capri told him of her mateship with Taggarik, he'd gone mad. His vision had blurred and turned red, and all logical thoughts had fled him. Terich hadn't been involved much in pack life, having been dealing with his own anxiety and fear of heights, and that had been the last straw upon his back. Without words or explanation, he left the ridge and had not looked back. As much as his heart railed against him, Terich would not watch his beloved be mated to another, especially one as vile and lowly as the one she had chosen. Not only had he mated with the first thing he'd seen and brought her home, he'd taken Vuk right in front of Capri, and had broken her heart. How could she forgive him?

Terich didn't understand it, and yet that didn't matter to him. What mattered was the fact she'd chosen someone above him, and in his fit of rage, he'd abandoned her. Apparently she no longer needed him in her life, having taken a mate for her own, and without saying so much, had driven Terich from her. His love for her was still true, but there was now an overlay of hatred for Taggarik within it, and he did not want to be there when she fell pregnant and bore his enemy's children.

With a snarl, Terich burst through he undergrowth that caged him, and began running. The rain pelted down across his grey fur, and slicked it back. He was thin, but muscled from months on the ridge. He was a handsome fellow, and the rage that boiled inside him made him harder for it. Eventually his paws slowed, and he hung his head in shame. Breathing hard, he walked until his lungs resumed their natural pace, and that was when he heard weeping. Ears perked, he found the berry bushes crying, and poked his nose into the darkness to see Vuk there, fat and crying. Though he wanted to be angry with her, he couldn't; this wasn't her fault at all.

But he was surprised to see her there, so far from the ridge, and by the scent of her, pregnant. Vuk. His voice was soft despite the rage that warred within him, and he laid on his belly, only his head covered by the bushes in which she hid. What are you doing out here?

<3 thanks for joining...lol'ed aloud at "fat and crying."

despite the falling rain, vuk's exhausted state caused her to half-doze between her sobs, so that she did not sense terich-mir's approach until he had pushed his muzzle beneath the leaves of the berry bush. a flash of her fangs accompanied a low snarl; she shrank away from the familiar smell of the ridge, comforting though it was, but her gaze soon cleared of its initial fear.

had taggarik sent him after her? had no one missed her absence there? hurt, wary, vuk shook her head so that droplets of water flew 'round, mingling with the water that fell from the skies. she had spoken to no wolf since departing her home; she shifted to reveal more clearly the swell of of her belly, and looked into terich's eyes, lips parting to croak a few rusted syllables.

"h-he ... s..said he w-would kill t...hem," she sobbed, fresh tears springing to her eyes. "n-not going b-back."

LOL Terich is really a jerk in disguise. :P

She recoiled in fear, her teeth flashing toward him. Terich jerked his head back just in time, and only returned it tot he bushes when she calmed and shifted. Her belly was swollen far more than he'd thought, and it was now clear to him that she was without a doubt pregnant. But with whose children? They could be Taggarik's or the wolf's, their former beta. Ears flattened on his head as she spoke, and his heart, surrounded by hate and anger, softened so slightly he was unsure if it truly happened. But when he spoke, Terich knew his heart had softened, despite his best efforts to remain sheltered against the world. He's a bastard, so don't listen to him.

Neither would be returning. You and me both, sister. But now that he'd found her, Terich didn't want to leave Vuk alone. With a soft whine in his throat, he crawled a fraction closer, and whispered, Where are you gonna go? Terich didn't want to acknowledge it, but he didn't have anywhere to go, either. Perhaps...But no. Vuk didn't know him. There was no reason she'd go for that, even if was a good and possibly her only option. But he'd wait to suggest it, just in case she growled at him again. He couldn't help her if she didn't want it.

lol aww he is not

he did not draw near again immediately, but surprised her with his revelation that he too would not be returning to the ridge.  his eyes had roved over her belly; vuk drew herself more closely together, her turquoise gaze cooling somewhat. "beta," she muttered to his unanswered question, fighting the urge to snap at terich as he moved in beneath the bushes. she did not know what she was going to do; where she was going to go -- her body was inherently aware that she must deliver in some weeks' time, but where? she could not return to the ridge, and it was doubtful that any pack would admit a pregnant stranger.

she shook her muzzle at terich's inquiry and looked past him at the cascading rain, curling herself around the curve of her belly. was taggarik a bastard? truly he felt he was doing what was warranted for the good of the pack, but she felt the cold ultimatum of his words, and tears filled her eyes.

His ears flickered once atop his head at the single word answer, and though he still held quite a bit of anger toward Taggarik for mounting Vuk (though he didn't know the truth of what transpired, he only thought he did). Though it was not the alpha's place to mate with whomever he wanted, whenever he wanted, it was his place to establish his dominance. And while Terich understood that logically, that didn't mean his illogical, emotional self agreed with it. Terich replied with a quiet, hm, before letting the conversation come to rest. It would do neither of them any good to dwell upon it now.

When she shook her head, Terich sighed softly, and decided it was time to offer up his help. I know you don't know me, Vuk, and I don't expect you to accept this. But I have a proposal, his blue gaze lingered on her swollen belly for a moment more before returning to her own blue one. I will pledge myself to you, to protect and provide for you. Neither of us asked to be in this situation, and yet I can't leave you here alone. He paused, wondering if she'd even understand what he was offering. I'll even lie and say your pups are mine, and hope that someone has a kind heart to allow us into their pack. She couldn't give birth out here, even if he stuck with her. He didn't want her to do have to do that, so he prayed someone would be kind.

Terich's blue gaze settled into hers, and he waited for a moment more before ears tucked back and he asked softly, What do you think?

terich-mir spoke again, and vuk's eyes widened, though she remained silent as he gave forth his unexpected proposal. his kindness was welcome in the secret places of her heart, and yet she was wary -- upon giving up her virginity, she had fallen pregnant, and so was leery of intimacy altogether. was that what he wished. she leveled him with a hard stare, searching his eyes for any trace of his true intentions, but saw no darkness there.

exhaustion stole over her as she considered her options: return to the ridge and let her children meet their fate, though she would of course beg for their lives. continue to wander alone and perhaps starve -- the jut of her sharp hipbones was testament enough to the little she had managed to find -- and lastly, search for a place alone. 

her choices were few and dismal. terich offered something she had not considered; the security of a mate coupled with the promise that her children might live. vuk looked to him again, hackles rearing momentarily at the fear that he wanted only to mate with her, and then the fur smoothed as she gave a single crisp nod of acceptance.

He hadn't expected her to agree with him, but her firm nod revealed her desire to be safe. Okay. Terich smiled softly and returned her nod, but didn't move any closer. Though she had agreed to this, that didn't mean they were truly mates. He'd pretend for as long as necessary, and perhaps even come to care for her in his way.  For now, however, he'd focus on protecting her, and providing her with the best opportunities possible.

In this moment, that meant watching her while she slept. Go ahead and rest. I'll keep watch. With that, he retreated from the foliage and curled up in front of the little opening he'd found, hiding beneath some leaves to keep somewhat dry. And though he was tired, he kept a vigilant watch over her while she rested. Tomorrow they'd have to search for somewhere to live.