Blacktail Deer Plateau With the lights down low

Grayday gave a happy wag of his tail. Catori was right - they were thriving. Not just physically, but in spirit as well. Their numbers tended to shrink and swell as naturally as the moon, but they were never alone, and never without. They had loyal brethern at their core, and their family at their side.

Things were good.

Grayday shifted, stretching himself along Catori's length and pillowing his head upon her shoulders. "Dawn and Aditya have paired off," he revealed, his pleasure at that fact easily detectable in his tone. "We talked, and... I'm not afraid anymore. Of the curse. We're stronger than that, and besides - someone has to break it before Dawn is ready to whelp."

He licked a patch of fur on Catori's shoulder. "What do you think? Will you mix your blood with mine?"